Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-24
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: September 3, 2012
Denomination: 360 fen
Designer: Zhu Xun
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
15 for Sheet I;
9 for Sheet II (3 Sets)
180 * 190 mm for Sheet I;
180 * 150 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On September 3, 2012, the special stamp set "Yanbian Scenery" (catalog number 2012-24) was officially issued to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture and to showcase the unique Korean ethnic culture and the development of this border region. 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 Zhu Xun, with the sheet border design by Xia Jingqiu. They were printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. Each stamp measures 50 mm × 30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 13 degrees. The stamps are available in two formats: Sheet I contains 15 stamps, and Sheet II contains 9 stamps (3 sets). Anti-counterfeiting features include anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes. This is the first special stamp set dedicated to showcasing the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

The stamp set progresses through three thematic layers: harvest, development, and ethnic unity. It features representative Korean traditional folk song and dance activities, blending rural landscapes with new urban scenes. The set captures the ethnic character of Yanbian, known as the "hometown of song and dance," and reflects the harmonious life of its people and the prosperity and stability of this border region.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

1. Harvest Dance

Image: A Korean farmer's dance (Nongak) performance, with dancers wearing a sangmo (hat with a long ribbon) and spinning long ribbons, accompanied by drums and small gongs, set against a rural landscape.

History: The farmer's dance is a representative Korean folk dance and is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. It is performed during harvest seasons to pray for a bountiful harvest.

Significance: A vivid expression of Korean farming culture, symbolizing abundant harvests and the joy of the people.

2. Ode to Prosperity

Image: The main focus is on two traditional activities: the long drum dance and the seesaw game, with modern Yanbian city buildings and bridges in the background.

History: Both the long drum dance and the seesaw game are national-level intangible cultural heritage items, beloved by the Korean community. The modern buildings in the background symbolize the economic development achievements of the autonomous prefecture over the past 60 years.

Significance: The harmonious coexistence of traditional culture and modern development, symbolizing the flourishing and prosperous growth of this border region.

3. Ode to Harmony

Image: Features the Korean water-carrying dance, with a scene of Korean and Han ethnic groups dancing together, with city landmarks visible in the distance.

History: Yanbian is China's largest Korean ethnic聚居 region, where people of different ethnicities have coexisted in harmony and mutual assistance for a long time.

Significance: Embodies the theme of ethnic exchanges, integration, unity, and harmony in this border region.

Artistic and Design Features:

Artistic Style: The set uses decorative folk illustrations with vivid character depictions and rich, vibrant colors, imbued with the charm of ethnic art.

Narrative Structure: The three stamps present a progressive thematic development, from agricultural harvest to urban development and finally to ethnic unity, forming a coherent narrative.

Composition: The foreground features folk performances, while the background captures regional landscapes, blending the tangible with the abstract and reflecting both traditional culture and contemporary progress.

Color Palette: Each stamp adopts its own distinctive color tone, distinguishing the themes while maintaining a unified style throughout the set, making them easily recognizable.

This stamp set is a commemorative issue specifically for the 60th anniversary of Yanbian Prefecture and is an important addition to Korean ethnic-themed collections. Its subjects include ethnic dance, intangible cultural heritage, border development, and ethnic unity, making it suitable for collections focusing on ethnic customs and regional themes. As the first stamp set dedicated to Yanbian, it carries unique regional commemorative significance.