Scott No: -
Serial number: 2007-8
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: April 13, 2007
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Jiang Weijie, Nina
Engraver: Offset
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 12.5 * 13
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was officially issued on April 13, 2007, as a joint issue between the postal services of China and Indonesia to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps were jointly designed by Jiang Weijie and Nina Nursiana (Indonesia), with Xia Jingqiu serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using offset printing.

Dragon dancing and lion dancing are highly representative traditional folk performing arts in China and Indonesia respectively, embodying the wishes of both peoples for blessings and good fortune. The postal services of China and Indonesia jointly issued this stamp set, featuring the iconic folk images of both countries. The stamps showcase the shared festive culture of Southeast Asia, bear witness to the deep traditional friendship between China and Indonesia, and promote cultural exchange through this miniature medium, symbolizing good neighborly relations, prosperity, and good fortune.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Dragon Dance

The stamp features the Tongliang dragon dance from Chongqing, with the dragon depicted in a dynamic and spirited pose, adorned with vibrant and colorful scales. The Tongliang dragon dance is a nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage, known for its grand and majestic performances. During festivals, it expresses wishes for national peace, good harvests, and favorable weather, making it one of the most classic folk expressions of Chinese dragon culture.

Lion Dance

The stamp depicts the traditional Indonesian Barong dance, a mythical lion-like creature with elaborate masks and flowing mane. The Barong is a thousand-year-old folk symbol from Bali, often performed during ceremonies to ward off evil and bring blessings. It is a highly recognizable traditional cultural icon of Indonesia.

Artistic and Design Features

The two stamps share a unified vertical format, rendered in a vibrant and festive decorative painting style. One stamp uses a light gray background to highlight the dynamic and colorful golden dragon, while the other uses a warm yellow background to accentuate the intricate and ornate mask patterns. The offset printing provides high color saturation and fine detail. The styles of the two countries, one from the east and one from the south, complement each other in a harmonious and symmetrical design, a characteristic feature of joint stamp issues.

This stamp set is a joint issue on the theme of folk culture between China and Indonesia, available in stamp set and large sheet formats. Collectors often include it in their international joint issue collections or folk culture and intangible heritage themed collections, making it a distinctive item in the genre of Sino-foreign cultural exchange stamps.