Scott No: -
Serial number: 2010-14
Values in set: 3
Denomination: 360 fen
Date of issue: June 12, 2010
Designer: Ye Hua
Size of stamp: 30 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
9 for Sheet II
Size of sheet:
150 * 240 mm for Sheet I;
165 * 180 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Henan Post and Telecommunication Printing Works

On June 12, 2010, the special stamp "Kunqu Opera" (catalog number 2010-14) was officially issued, coinciding with the fifth "China Cultural Heritage Day." The set consists of three stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 3.60 yuan. The stamps were designed by Ye Hua and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using offset printing.

Kunqu Opera, originally known as Kunshan qiang, originated in Kunshan, Jiangsu, and has a history of over six hundred years. It is revered as the "ancestor of all Chinese operas." In 2001, it was inscribed on UNESCO's first Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The stamps feature three milestone works in the history of Kunqu Opera: The Story of the Washing Silk, The Peony Pavilion, and The Palace of Eternal Life, representing the maturity of Kunqu, the peak of literati romance themes, and the pinnacle of Qing Dynasty opera. Within the limited space of the stamps, the elegant and refined singing style and the standardized stage performance of Kunqu are presented, preserving the aesthetics of classical Chinese opera and promoting this intangible cultural heritage.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

The Story of the Washing Silk

Image: The main subject is the stage figures of Fan Li and Xi Shi, with Suzhou garden scenery in the background.
History: Written by Liang Chenyu of the Ming Dynasty, this was the first legendary play composed according to the Kunqu tonal system to be performed over an extended period. It truly brought Kunshan qiang from a folk tune to the operatic stage, laying the foundation for the dissemination of Kunqu. The story revolves around Xi Shi and Fan Li during the Wu-Yue conflict.
Significance: The iconic play marking the formal formation of Kunqu Opera.

The Peony Pavilion

Image: The classic dual-figure scene of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei meeting in the garden.
History: A classic legendary play by Tang Xianzu of the Ming Dynasty, telling the story of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei's love transcending life and death. With its beautiful language and romantic imagery, it is the most frequently performed Kunqu classic.
Significance: The pinnacle representative of Kunqu romance themes.

The Palace of Eternal Life

Image: The stage figures of Emperor Tang Minghuang and Consort Yang, in ornate and solemn costumes.
History: Written by Hong Sheng of the Qing Dynasty, this play uses the story of Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang to explore both romantic love and reflections on the rise and fall of a nation. With exquisite musical composition, it is a comprehensive masterpiece of Qing Dynasty Kunqu.
Significance: A classic of Qing Dynasty Kunqu.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform vertical long strip format, with unified composition across the three stamps, featuring opera figures at the center with garden views in the background, creating a coordinated visual system.
Painting Style: Delicate gongbi (meticulous brushwork) techniques are used to accurately reproduce traditional Kunqu costumes, facial makeup, and stage movements.
Technical Innovation: Incorporates multimedia video coding technology, enabling audio-visual integration on stamps, a pioneering achievement in Chinese stamp printing history.
Narrative Thread: The selected plays follow the development of Kunqu, outlining the trajectory of its rise to prominence.

This stamp set is a landmark issue in the intangible cultural heritage opera category, covering Kunqu art, world intangible cultural heritage, and the opera culture of the Jiangnan region. The innovative multimedia format is highly recognizable. Available in regular sheet and miniature sheet formats, it can be paired with other opera series such as Peking Opera, Cantonese Opera, and Yue Opera, making it an important modern stamp for traditional opera thematic collections.