Scott No: -
Serial number: 2022-19
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: September 5th, 2022
Denomination: 720 fen
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Size of sheet: 192 * 122 mm
Printing process:
Value 1: Offset and Engraving;
Value 2 - 6: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Post Printing Works

China Post scheduled the issuance of a set of 6 special stamps themed "Tigers in Cultural Relics" on September 5, 2022. The stamps feature the following cultural relics respectively: Bronze Tiger with Two Tails and a Perched Bird (Shang Dynasty), Jade Tiger-Shaped Pendant (Spring and Autumn Period), White Tiger Eaves Tile End (Han Dynasty), Gilt-Inscribed Bronze Tiger Tallies (Han Dynasty), White-Glazed Brown-Patterned Reclining Tiger Pillow (Cizhou Kiln, Jin Dynasty), and Shadow Puppet of a Flying Tiger (Qing Dynasty). The total face value of the complete set is 7.20 yuan.

In traditional Chinese culture, the tiger is regarded as a symbol of the Chinese nation’s spirit. Ancient Chinese people drew inspiration from the "king of beasts"—its majesty, valiance, and strength—to shape the robust and resolute cultural spirit of the Chinese nation. In folk beliefs, the tiger’s fierce and awe-inspiring image was gradually revered as a mythical beast, endowed with rich and profound symbolic meanings, and became one of the traditional totems of Chinese culture. For thousands of years, people have worshipped tigers, carved tigers, and painted tigers, forming a distinctly unique Chinese tiger culture.

This set of stamps was designed by Wang Huming. Its design style continues the series characteristics of the Dragons in Cultural Relics and Phoenixes in Cultural Relics stamps, and adopts a horizontal composition based on the shape features of the cultural relics. The overall design is concise and vivid with clear layers, highlighting the historical texture of the cultural relics and the artistic beauty of the stamps.

Bronze Tiger with Two Tails and a Perched Bird (Shang Dynasty): It measures 53.5 cm in length, 25.5 cm in height, and weighs 6.2 kg. As the largest pre-Qin Dynasty bronze tiger ever discovered in China, it is known as the "Tiger King". It is collected in the Jiangxi Provincial Museum.

Jade Tiger-Shaped Pendant (Spring and Autumn Period): It is 14.6 cm long and 4.4 cm wide. The jade is slightly yellow, translucent, and smooth. The tiger is depicted with its head lowered, back arched, and tail tip curled upward. It features simple patterns, vivid shape, and exquisite carving. It is collected in the Henan Museum.

White Tiger Eaves Tile End (Han Dynasty): It has a diameter of 18.7 cm, a rim width of 2.1 cm, and a thickness of 2 cm. It is a circular gray pottery piece. A white tiger is decorated around the central knob using relief carving techniques—with striped fur, open mouth, raised claws, curved tail, and a powerful, majestic posture. It is collected in the National Museum of China.

Gilt-Inscribed Bronze Tiger Tallies (Han Dynasty): It is 19 cm long, 11.6 cm high, and 1.2 cm thick. The front of the artifact bears the gilt inscription "Royal Order for Chariots and Horses". It is the only gilt-inscribed bronze tiger tally ever discovered in China. It is collected in the Nanyue King Museum.

White-Glazed Brown-Patterned Reclining Tiger Pillow (Cizhou Kiln, Jin Dynasty): It is 34 cm long, 14 cm wide, and 10 cm high. The use of a fierce tiger as the shape of a pillow reflected the ancient people’s wish to ward off evil spirits and pray for good fortune. It is collected in the Zhoukou Municipal Museum.

Shadow Puppet of a Flying Tiger (Qing Dynasty): This shadow puppet from Qishan, Shaanxi Province, is 42 cm long and 28 cm high. The exaggerated tiger stands on auspicious clouds, surrounded by flames, with round, wide eyes. It has a majestic and vivid appearance, full of romantic charm. It is collected in the National Art Museum of China.

This set of stamps was printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Technology Co., Ltd. Six different techniques were used for the six stamps, respectively, based on the unique characteristics of each tiger relic:

The first stamp uses combined offset and engraving printing, ensuring the clear texture and lifelike image of the Bronze Tiger with Two Tails and a Perched Bird.

The second stamp adds jade powder to offset printing and embossing techniques to restore the natural luster and smooth texture of the Jade Tiger-Shaped Pendant.

The third stamp applies screen matte sand and embossing on the basis of multi-color offset printing, making the image of the White Tiger more vivid.

The fourth stamp uses cold stamping and embossing to replicate the ancient gilt technique, giving the Bronze Tiger Tallies a majestic and more three-dimensional look.

The fifth stamp uses varnish and embossing to create a serene and lovely image of the Reclining Tiger Pillow.

The sixth stamp adopts tactile oil technology to present the texture of the Flying Tiger Shadow Puppet, and the fluorescent ink glows brightly under a purple light.

The background of the stamps is printed with multiple spot colors, and the pattern incorporates unique tiger elements that perfectly match the theme of the "Tigers in Cultural Relics" stamps, enhancing the unique artistic charm of the cultural relics.