Scott No: 2855-58
Serial number: 1998-8
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: April 12, 1998
Designers: Xiao Rong; Yang Jiankun
Size of stamp: 50*30mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure

The special stamp set Dai Architecture, catalog number 1998-8, was issued on April 12, 1998. It consists of four stamps, produced using the photogravure process. The stamps measure 50×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11.5 degrees. Each sheet contains 32 stamps. The stamps were designed by Xiao Rong and Yang Jiankun and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

This stamp set features four of the most representative types of Dai architecture, covering dwellings, public facilities, religious pavilions, and pagodas. It comprehensively presents the architectural civilization formed by the Dai people of Yunnan in response to the tropical climate. Dai architecture uses local materials, balancing practical function with ethnic aesthetics, and is deeply integrated with local folk customs and Theravada Buddhist culture. Through different types of buildings, the stamps showcase the Dai people's construction wisdom in adapting to nature and their colorful ethnic culture.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

House

The design features a traditional Dai stilt-style bamboo house. The bamboo house is elevated above the ground, with the lower level open, which prevents dampness and protects against insects and animals, adapting to the hot and humid, rainy environment of Xishuangbanna. It is the dwelling of the Dai people for generations. The roof has a steep slope for drainage, surrounded by banana and palm trees, fully recreating the appearance of a Dai village.

Well

The image shows a Dai water well under a large banyan tree. The Dai people regard water as the source of life, and the well is an important public space in the village. The well pavilion is exquisitely carved and decorated, and the banyan tree provides dense shade. It both protects the cleanliness of the water source and serves as a place for villagers to rest and communicate, reflecting the Dai people's folk tradition of cherishing water sources and revering nature.

Pavilion

The design features the famous Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion, located in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna. It is an auxiliary building of a Dai Buddhist temple. The pavilion body has multiple corners converging upward layer by layer, with intricate and exquisite roof ridge decorations and a lively and elegant form. It is a masterpiece of Dai architectural art, serving both religious activities and folk gatherings.

Pagoda

The main subject is the Yunyan Pagoda in Yingjiang, Dehong, a group of Theravada Buddhist pagodas. The main pagoda is in the center, surrounded by dozens of smaller pagodas. Wind chimes hang from the pagoda bodies. It is a classic form of Dai pagoda, carrying the religious culture of the Dai people and serving as a landmark religious building in the Dai region of western Yunnan.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use a realistic painting style, combining the buildings themselves with tropical forests and village environments. The colors are warm and bright, reproducing the rich southern flavor of Xishuangbanna and Dehong in Yunnan. The four stamps present dwellings, public facilities, religious pavilions, and pagodas in sequence, transitioning from living scenes to religious architecture with clear layers, fully outlining the Dai architectural system and vividly presenting the unique architectural aesthetics of this southwestern ethnic minority.