Scott No: -
Serial number: 2024-14
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: July 13th, 2024
Denomination: 510 fen
Designer: Bian Kai, Wang Yimeng, Peng Chuyue
Size of stamps: 40 * 54 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 sets)
190 * 256 mm for Sheet I;
194 * 180 mm for Sheet II
Size of S/S: 110 * 110 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 77 * 55 mm
S/S Perforation: 13
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post is scheduled to issue a set of 4 special stamps and 1 souvenir sheet themed Investiture of the Gods (I) on July 13, 2024. The stamps feature designs entitled Daji Entering the Palace, Leizhenzi Rescuing His Father, King Wen of Zhou Seeking the Worthy, and King Wu of Cheng Rebelling Against Shang, while the souvenir sheet depicts Nezha Troubling the Eastern Sea. The total face value of the set is 11.10 yuan. The planned circulation includes 6.8645 million sets of stamps, 831,500 sheetlets of Format II, and 5.302 million souvenir sheets.

Investiture of the Gods (also known as The Legend of Deification, Complete Biography of the States of Shang and Zhou, and The Conferred Gods List) consists of 100 chapters. Compiled based on Pinghua of King Wu's Expedition Against Zhou (a historical narrative) as well as other ancient books and legends, the work recounts the political upheaval at the end of the Shang Dynasty and the historical story of King Wu of Zhou's campaign against Shang. It is rich in descriptions of supernatural battles between immortals and Buddhas, concluding with Jiang Ziya conferring titles on the gods and King Wu enfeoffing feudal lords.
This set of stamps is created in the traditional Chinese meticulous painting style with heavy colors, inheriting the aesthetic connotations of Song Dynasty paintings. Featuring exquisite brushwork and elaborate composition, the images create a mysterious, ancient, profound, and magnificent epic realm.

The first stamp, Daji Entering the Palace, depicts Su Daji's first audience with King Zhou of Shang upon arriving at Chaoge (the Shang capital). Dressed in a red robe with an enchanting posture, she is accompanied by a coiled white fox, an allegory of her true form as a fox spirit. The fox's fur seems to emit a mysterious glow under fluorescent light.

The second stamp, Leizhenzi Rescuing His Father, portrays Leizhenzi—with a blue body and red hair—carrying his father Ji Chang (King Wen of Zhou) flying through the air, with pursuing troops in the distance. Fluorescent effects enrich the images of King Wen and Leizhenzi, adding a three-dimensional sense to the characters.

The third stamp, King Wen of Zhou Seeking the Worthy, shows King Wen searching for a talented advisor as instructed by his dream interpretation, finally encountering Jiang Ziya fishing with a straight hook by the Wei River. The scene of Jiang Ziya fishing appears more serene and profound under fluorescent light.

The fourth stamp, King Wu of Cheng Rebelling Against Shang, depicts Huang Feihu (King Wu of Cheng) riding a five-colored divine ox, with soldiers forming formations in the distance—integrating dynamic and static elements, and balancing density and sparseness. The mount of the main character comes vividly to life under fluorescent light.

The souvenir sheet, Nezha Troubling the Eastern Sea, captures Nezha holding the Qiankun Circle and draped in the Hunyuan Silk Ribbon, flying in the air to battle the Third Prince of the Dragon King. The stamp design creates a dynamic "horse lantern" visual effect. The golden sea water is formed by overlaying rich colors with gold ink, fully presenting the glossy texture of the water surface. Fluorescent technology is applied to the dragon's body and the Qiankun Circle, making the image full of movement and vitality under ultraviolet light.

This set of stamps was designed by Bian Kai, Wang Yimeng, and Peng Chuyue, edited by Wang Jing, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Co., Ltd. using offset lithography.