Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-22
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: September 26, 2012
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Qian Zhe, Zhang Qiang
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 16
Sheet Size: 150 * 200 mm
Denomination of S/S: 600 fen
Size of S/S: 96 * 126 mm
Size of S/S Stamp: 40 * 86 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Liaoning Provincal Shenyang Postage Stamp Printing Works

On September 26, 2012, the special stamp set "Sanxingdui Bronzes" (catalog number 2012-22) was officially issued. The set was designed to showcase the bronze treasures of the ancient Shu Kingdom excavated from the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, Sichuan, and to reveal the mysterious ancient Shu civilization of the upper Yangtze River region to the public. The set consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, and one souvenir sheet with a face value of 6 yuan, for a total face value of 8.40 yuan. The stamps were designed by Qian Zhe, and the souvenir sheet by Zhang Qiang. They were printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province. The stamps measure 30 mm × 40 mm, and the souvenir sheet stamp measures 40 mm × 86 mm, with overall dimensions of 96 mm × 126 mm. The stamps were produced using offset printing with a new partial holographic hot-stamping process, and incorporate anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes, making the production techniques both innovative and distinctive.

The stamp set features three representative bronze artifacts unearthed from the sacrificial pits at Sanxingdui: a bronze mask, a ritual figure, and a standing bronze figure. These pieces encompass ritual vessels and divine statues from the ancient Shu Kingdom, collectively showcasing the unique aesthetic, religious beliefs, and advanced bronze-casting technology of this civilization. They also serve as evidence that the Yangtze River basin possessed a brilliant ancient civilization and affirm the pluralistic yet unified nature of Chinese civilization.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

1. Crowned Mask with Protruding Eyes

Image: The main image is the bronze crowned mask with protruding cylindrical eyes, with a faint Sanxingdui pattern in the background.

History: Unearthed from Sanxingdui's No. 2 sacrificial pit, this mask features eyes that project outward in cylindrical form, wide ears, and a tall kui-dragon-shaped crown on the forehead, with traces of painted decoration remaining.

Significance: One of the most iconic artifacts from Sanxingdui, this mask is highly fantastical and is believed to symbolize the worship of deities by the ancient Shu people. It is often referred to as the "clairvoyant and clairaudient" image.

2. Kneeling Figure with a Zun Vessel on a Trumpet-Shaped Base

Image: A kneeling figure holds a bronze zun vessel aloft, seated on a hollow, trumpet-shaped base.

History: Excavated from Sanxingdui's No. 2 sacrificial pit, this kneeling figure with a zun on its head depicts a ritual scene of an ancient shaman making an offering.

Significance: This figure reflects the ritual practices of the ancient Shu Kingdom, offering a vivid depiction of the religious customs of ancestor worship and reverence for the gods.

Souvenir Sheet: Standing Bronze Figure

Image: The standing bronze figure stands on a square base, surrounded by multiple bronze heads in the background.

History: Unearthed from Sanxingdui's No. 1 sacrificial pit, this figure stands 2.62 meters tall, making it the tallest bronze figure from this period ever discovered.

Significance: A representative masterpiece of Sanxingdui bronze sculpture, this figure is widely believed to represent a king-priest of the ancient Shu Kingdom, symbolizing the unity of royal and spiritual authority.

Artistic and Design Features:

Color Palette: The two stamps use deep brown and dark green backgrounds, creating a sense of solemnity and weight that complements the ancient, weathered texture of the bronzes.

Innovative Technology: The use of partial holographic hot-stamping creates shifting light and shadow effects on the background patterns depending on the viewing angle, enhancing the mysterious aura of this ancient civilization.

Composition: The main artifacts are clearly highlighted, while the background incorporates various Sanxingdui patterns in a subtle manner, creating a layered composition that blends reality with abstraction.

Souvenir Sheet Design: The souvenir sheet uses radiating wave patterns as a background motif, symbolizing the long and enduring history of the ancient Shu civilization, and is embellished with bronze face images, creating a powerful and immersive atmosphere.

This stamp set is the first complete special stamp issue by China Post to present the Sanxingdui bronze civilization. The distinctive holographic hot-stamping process is relatively rare among modern issues. The subject matter is important for thematic collections focusing on archaeology, bronzes, and the culture of the Ba-Shu region. With the growing recognition of Sanxingdui artifacts, this stamp set and its souvenir sheet hold significant educational and historical value, as well as high collectible significance.