Scott No: 2904-06
Serial number: 1998-23
Values in set: 3
Miniature Sheet: 1
Date of issue: October 28, 1998
Designers: Li Defu
Size of stamp: 40*30mm
Size of M/S: 150*80 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 50
Printing process: offset

The special stamp set Yandi Mausoleum, catalog number 1998-23, was issued on October 28, 1998. It consists of three stamps and one souvenir sheet, produced using offset printing. The stamps measure 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 50 stamps. The souvenir sheet measures 150×80 mm. The stamps were designed by Li Defu and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory.

This stamp set takes the Yandi Mausoleum at Luyuanpi in Yanling County, Hunan, as its theme. Yandi, also known as Shennong, is a cultural ancestor of the Chinese nation. According to legend, he taught the people farming, tasted hundreds of herbs, and pioneered medicine, laying the foundation of Chinese agricultural civilization. The Yandi Mausoleum is a sacred site for sacrifices to Yandi through the ages and was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 1996. The stamps feature three core buildings within the mausoleum, showcasing the solemn and dignified appearance of the Yandi Mausoleum's ancient architectural complex, recalling Yandi's enduring merits, promoting the culture of this cultural ancestor of the Chinese nation, and strengthening national sentiment.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Meridian Gate

The image shows the Meridian Gate of the Yandi Mausoleum, with red walls and arched gates, yellow tiles and upturned eaves, and towering ancient trees in front. The Meridian Gate is the main gate of the Yandi Mausoleum complex and the first gate entering the sacrificial mausoleum area. It has a grand layout and is the iconic entrance building of the Yandi Mausoleum, carrying the spatial order of ancient sacrificial rituals.

Salutation Pavilion

The design features the Salutation Pavilion, located behind the Meridian Gate. It is a place for adjusting attire and performing salutations before worshipping Yandi. The pavilion is in the style of a traditional hall, with expansive roofing and surrounded by ancient cypresses. In ancient times, sacrificial ceremonies were often held here. It is an important ceremonial building in the sacrificial sequence of the mausoleum temple.

Tomb

The main subject is the tomb mound of Yandi Shennong. Stone inscriptions stand in front of the tomb, and the surrounding forest is deep and secluded. This place is said to be where Yandi was buried, also known as the "Tianzi Tomb" (Emperor's Tomb). It is the core of the entire Yandi Mausoleum. For thousands of years, Chinese descendants at home and abroad have come here to pay respects and worship their ancestors.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use a pen-and-light-watercolor painting technique, with soft blue-gray and ochre-red as the main tones, reproducing the atmosphere of southern ancient architecture blending with mountain forests. The three stamps follow the sequence of a mausoleum visit, from the main gate to the salutation pavilion and then to the tomb, with a coherent spatial narrative, fully presenting the sacrificial route. The souvenir sheet brings the three stamps together, with traditional patterns on the border. The overall style is simple and serene, enhancing the solemn and distant historical atmosphere of this cultural ancestor's mausoleum.