Scott No: -
Serial number: 2020-9
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: May 17, 2020
Denomination: 510 fen
Designer: Xiao Yutian
Size of stamps: 40 * 54 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 Sets)
Size of sheet:
190 * 246 mm for Sheet I;
216 * 144 mm for Sheet II
Size of S/S: 138 * 93 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 48 * 66 mm
S/S Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post plans to issue a set of 4 special stamps and 1 souvenir sheet themed "A Dream of Red Mansions – A Classic of Chinese Literature (IV)" on May 17, 2020. The titles of the stamps are respectively: Yuan Yang Resisting Forced Marriage, Bao Qin Standing in Snow, Third Sister Returning the Sword, and Framed by Slander, the Garden is Searched; the title of the souvenir sheet is Xiang Yun Sleeping Among Peonies. The total face value of the complete set is 11.10 yuan.

"A Dream of Red Mansions", originally titled "The Story of the Stone", consists of 120 chapters. The first 80 chapters were written by Cao Xueqin in the Qing Dynasty, while the latter 40 chapters are generally believed to be a continuation by Gao E. Set against the rise and fall of the four prominent families – Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue – the novel takes the tragic love and marriage of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and Xue Baochai as its central thread. It truthfully and profoundly depicts a historical panorama of China's patriarchal society and vividly portrays a host of distinctive artistic characters such as Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, Wang Xifeng, Xue Baochai, You Sanjie, and Qing Wen. With its grand scale, intricate and complete structure, and masterful use of language, the work boasts profound ideological depth and outstanding artistic achievements, reaching the pinnacle of realism in ancient Chinese full-length novels.

This set of stamps is the fourth installment of the "A Dream of Red Mansions – A Classic of Chinese Literature" series issued by China Post since 2014, depicting five story scenes from Chapters 46 to 74 of the novel.

Designed by the renowned painter Xiao Yutian, Executive Vice President of the China Gongbi Painting Society, the stamps adhere faithfully to the original novel. Employing the gongbi heavy-color painting technique, the artist has created compositions that are rich and full, colors that are simple yet delicate, and characters that are vivid and lifelike, brilliantly presenting the story scenes described in the original work.

The set is printed by Beijing Stamp Factory using the photogravure process.