Scott Number: -
Serial number: 2010-28
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 480 fen
Date of issue: November 20, 2010
Size of stamp: 30 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 12
Size of Sheet: 190 * 176 mm
Designer: Li Chen
Printing process: photogravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

On November 20, 2010, the special stamp "Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacies" (catalog number 2010-28) was officially issued. The set consists of four stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 4.80 yuan. The stamps were designed by Li Chen and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a national treasure of China. The traditional preparation techniques of the four major time-honored TCM pharmacies—Tongrentang, Huqingyutang, Leiyunshang, and Chenliji—have all been recognized as national intangible cultural heritage. The stamps feature these four representative century-old TCM pharmacies from different regions of China, presenting the traditional model of "consultation in the front, medicine preparation in the back" and the ancient processing techniques. Through these stamps, the culture of TCM is promoted, the principle of "what is done in the back room is unseen, but conscience is known to heaven" is honored, and public attention is drawn to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Tongrentang

Image: The background features the old building of Tongrentang in Beijing, with an acupuncture bronze figure in the foreground and a physician consulting with a patient.
History: Founded in 1669 (the 8th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty), Tongrentang is a time-honored pharmaceutical brand in Beijing, serving as a supplier to the imperial court. It adheres to the ancient motto: "Though the preparation is meticulous, we dare not cut labor; though the ingredients are costly, we dare not reduce quality." It represents the northern tradition of TCM culture.

Huqingyutang

Image: The stamp depicts workers spreading herbs to dry and grinding herbs, with traditional tools such as mortars and jars.
History: Founded by Hu Xueyan in the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty in Hangzhou, Huqingyutang is known as the "King of Medicine in the South." It is an iconic representative of TCM culture in the Jiangnan region, preserving a complete traditional system of medicine preparation.

Leiyunshang

Image: The stamp shows workers reading ancient texts and decocting herbal soups, with the background featuring the old appearance of Leiyunshang in Shanghai.
History: Originating in Suzhou during the Qing Dynasty and later establishing its base in Shanghai, Leiyunshang is famous for its pills, powders, extracts, and syrups. It is a deeply influential time-honored TCM pharmacy in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Chenliji

Image: The stamp depicts workers selecting and drying Chinese medicinal herbs.
History: Founded in 1600 (the 28th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty) in Guangzhou, Chenliji has a history of over 400 years and has been certified by Guinness World Records as the "world's longest-lasting pharmaceutical factory." It is a core representative of Lingnan TCM culture.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform vertical stamp format, using a brown-toned vintage sketch style to create a consistent atmosphere of traditional pharmacy antiquity and depth.
Composition: Each stamp features a wooden plaque with the pharmacy name at the top, with the pharmacy building in the background and the medicine preparation scene in the foreground, creating a clear layered structure.
Content: The stamps cover four major pharmacies from the north, Jiangnan, the Yangtze River Delta, and Lingnan, providing a balanced regional representation and a comprehensive overview of China's time-honored TCM pharmacies.
Detailed Props: Traditional TCM tools such as the acupuncture bronze figure, medicine mills, jars, and bamboo sieves are faithfully reproduced, combining educational and aesthetic value.

This stamp set is the first special issue dedicated to time-honored TCM pharmacies in New China, featuring four nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage pharmacies with broad regional coverage. It covers TCM culture, time-honored Chinese brands, and intangible cultural heritage. Available in both stamp set and large sheet formats, it is often collected together with other TCM and herbal-themed stamps, making it an important modern issue for collections on traditional culture and medicine.