Scott No: 2960-65
Serial number: 1999-6
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: June 3, 1999
Designers: Fan Yang
Size:
50*30mm for Value 1,3,4,6
30*50mm for Value 2,5
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: offset

The special stamp set Beautiful Scenery of Mount Putuo was issued on June 3, 1999. It consists of six stamps with a total face value of 5.90 yuan. It was designed by Fan Yang and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province using offset printing. Mount Putuo is located on Lianhua Ocean in Zhoushan, Zhejiang. It is one of the Four Great Buddhist Mountains of China and the bodhimanda of Guanyin Bodhisattva. This stamp set is the concluding work in the series of stamps on the Four Great Buddhist Mountains. It features six iconic landscapes of Mount Putuo, showcasing the unique character of this "Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea" where mountains and sea blend and Zen serenity prevails.

Mount Putuo combines island natural scenery with a thousand years of Buddhist culture. Mountains and sea accompany each other, and ancient temples stand in groves. The stamp set features six major scenes in sequence: temple, mountain gate, beach, strange rock, sea cave, and ancient temple. It balances Buddhist architecture and island natural wonders, integrating Sanskrit temples, ancient buildings, strange rocks, perilous caves, blue seas, and golden sands into stamps. It showcases the beautiful island scenery of Mount Putuo and carries the profound Buddhist cultural heritage of Guanyin's bodhimanda, completing the full series of the Four Great Buddhist Mountains stamps.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Puji Temple

The main subject is the Yuantong Treasure Hall, with a lotus pond of clear water in front of the temple, a stone bridge lying across it, and ancient trees surrounding it. In the background is the Duobao Pagoda of Mount Putuo. Puji Temple is the largest temple on Mount Putuo and the main temple of Guanyin's bodhimanda. It was first built in the Song Dynasty and is the center of Buddhist activities on the entire mountain.

South Heavenly Gate

The stamp depicts the natural stone gate of the South Heavenly Gate, with stone steps by the sea, surging waves, and the Nanhai Guanyin statue standing in the distance. The South Heavenly Gate is located at the southern tip of Mount Putuo and is a great spot for viewing the sea. The huge rocks form a natural mountain gate. From here, visitors can overlook the vast blue waves of Lianhua Ocean.

Baibu Beach

The stamp shows Baibu Beach, with golden sand stretching along the coast, waves gently lapping the shore, pavilions dotted along the shore, and Luojia Mountain faintly visible on the distant sea. Baibu Beach is a well-known seaside beach on Mount Putuo, with pure sand. It combines the pleasures of watching the sunrise and listening to the waves, making it an iconic island landscape.

Pantuoshan Rock

The stamp depicts the Pantuo Rock, formed by two huge rocks stacked together, with the upper rock tilted in the air, seemingly about to fall. The surface of the rock is inscribed with the characters "Pantuo Shi." Pantuo Rock is a representative strange rock of Mount Putuo. According to legend, it is the place where Guanyin preached. It is the core landscape of the Xitian Scenic Area.

Fanyin Cave

The stamp depicts the seaside Fanyin Cave, with steep cliffs and seawater surging into the cave opening, with waves churning. Fanyin Cave is a natural sea-eroded cave. The sound of the tide entering the cave roars like Buddhist chants. It has been a place for seeking the sacred and viewing wonders on Mount Putuo since ancient times.

Fayu Temple

The stamp presents the Fayu Temple complex, with halls rising layer by layer along the mountain and ancient cypresses towering. Fayu Temple is the second largest ancient temple on Mount Putuo. It was founded in the Ming Dynasty. The Nine-Dragon Caisson in the temple is an architectural treasure. It is an important Zen temple on Mount Putuo.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a Chinese painting style combining line drawing with watercolor. The scenery is delicately depicted, with elegant and warm colors, balancing the dignity of the architecture with the liveliness of the mountains and sea. The offset printing provides soft and stable colors, with rich layers of mountains and water. The six stamps alternate between horizontal and vertical formats. Each scene has its own appearance, encompassing ancient temples, strange rocks, beaches, and sea caves. It fully displays the unique character of Mount Putuo as a "Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea." It is the concluding masterpiece in the category of scenery stamps of the Four Great Buddhist Mountains.