Scott No: -
Serial number: 2017-7
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: March 30, 2017
Denomination: 540 fen
Designer: Li Yunzhong
Size of stamps: 38 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13 * 13.5
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 sets)
Sheet Size:
180 * 240 mm for sheet I;
200 * 156 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Works

China Post issued a set of 4 special stamps themed Chinese Classical Literature Masterpiece – Journey to the West (II) on March 30, 2017. The set includes four stamps depicting four classic episodes, namely "Subduing the White Dragon Horse by Wisdom", "Zhu Bajie Swearing Allegiance to the Master", "Taking Sha Wujing as Disciple at Liusha River" and "Stealing the Ginseng Fruit", which are adapted from the following chapters of the original novel respectively:

Subduing the White Dragon Horse by Wisdom: Depicts the scene where Guanyin enlightens the White Dragon Horse, corresponding to Chapter 15 of the original work.

Zhu Bajie Swearing Allegiance to the Master: Shows the plot where Sun Wukong tugs Zhu Bajie’s ear to make him swear allegiance to the master, extracted from Chapter 19.

Taking Sha Wujing as Disciple at Liusha River: Presents the battle between Mu Cha and Sha Wujing, derived from Chapter 22.

Stealing the Ginseng Fruit: Portrays the scene where the master and his disciples steal and eat the ginseng fruit, selected from Chapter 24.

Each stamp measures 38 mm × 50 mm, adopts gravure printing technology, is designed by Li Yunzhong and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing House.

Journey to the West is a chaptered novel written by Wu Cheng’en, a novelist of the Ming Dynasty. It is a classic of ancient Chinese mythical novels and a treasure in the world’s literary treasury. Comprising 100 chapters in total, the novel recounts the story of Sun Wukong’s birth and his havoc in the Heavenly Palace, followed by his journey to the Western Regions to fetch Buddhist scriptures together with his fellow disciples Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, protecting their master Tang Monk (Xuanzang). They conquer demons and monsters along the way and eventually attain Buddhahood. The novel has successfully created a series of artistic characters that embody the traits of humanity, divinity and animality, such as Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan, demonstrating the author’s extraordinary imagination. Designed by Li Yunzhong, this stamp set employs the meticulous painting style with heavy colors. It faithfully depicts the classic scenes of the original work, with vivid storytelling in the pictures, distinctive character portrayals and elegant, delicate colors.

This stamp set is the second installment of the Journey to the West themed stamp series launched in 2015.