Scott No: -
Serial number: 2025-8
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: May 31st, 2025
Denomination: 890 fen
Designer: Gao Yun
Size of stamps: 35 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 6 (1 Set)
Size of sheet: 135 * 220 mm
Printing process: Offset + Engraving
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post is scheduled to issue a set of 6 special stamps themed Chu Ci (Elegances of Chu) on May 31, 2025. The stamps feature the following famous lines from the classic:

"For what my heart holds dear, I would not regret dying a hundred deaths."

"The road ahead is long and far; I will search high and low without cease."

"True valiant and brave, they stood unyielding to the end; Though their bodies perished, their spirits remain sacred—Their souls shall be heroes among ghosts."

"From the primal dawn of time, who handed down the tale? Before heaven and earth took shape, how could it be traced?"

"O noble tree of heaven and earth, the orange takes root in this land. Ordained never to wander, it grows in the southern realm—Deep-rooted and unshakable, steadfast in its purpose."

"Upright and unyielding to the tide, I cherish the teachings of ancient sages."

The total face value of the complete set is 8.90 yuan, with a planned issuance quantity of 5.2 million sets.

Chu Ci is the first collection of romantic poetry in Chinese literary history, laying the foundation for China’s romantic literary tradition. Its influence permeates almost every field and genre of Chinese literature, which draws spiritual and artistic nourishment from it. Beyond shaping China’s literary development, it has deeply embedded Qu Yuan’s spirit of pursuit and patriotic devotion into the enduring bloodline of Chinese civilization, becoming a spiritual model for generations of Chinese people in their quest for progress.

Adopting traditional Chinese painting techniques, the stamps integrate classic verses with contemporary aesthetics, combining meticulous brushwork with freehand brushwork, and depicting scenes from both lofty and distant perspectives. With balanced compositions, elegant colors, and a harmony of void and solidity, the images exude a noble artistic conception. Contrasts in tones create a rhythmic flow, infusing the set with melodic charm and the profound connotations of Chu culture.

Detailed Stamp Descriptions

"For what my heart holds dear, I would not regret dying a hundred deaths" (from Li Sao / Encountering Sorrow):

Roughly meaning, "As for what my heart values—truth, goodness, and beauty—I would not regret sacrificing my life a hundred times for it." The stamp portrays a figure in a red robe advancing against the wind, artistically capturing the poet’s perseverance amid slander and exile, and his unwavering commitment to noble virtues even when his ideals were shattered.

"The road ahead is long and far; I will search high and low without cease" (from Li Sao):

Roughly meaning, "The journey ahead is long and arduous; I will strive tirelessly to explore the truth." Through an ingenious blend of clouds and light, the image is filled with a magical and romantic aura, depicting the poet’s relentless spirit of progress.

"True valiant and brave, they stood unyielding to the end; Though their bodies perished, their spirits remain sacred—Their souls shall be heroes among ghosts" (from Jiu Ge · Guo Shang / Nine Songs: Ode to the Martyrs):

Roughly meaning, "The soldiers who gave their lives for the nation were not only brave in battle but also unyielding unto death." Dominated by black and red—echoing the iconic color scheme of Chu lacquerware—the stamp depicts soldiers supporting each other amid war smoke, embodying the patriotic spirit of sacrificing one’s life for the country.

"From the primal dawn of time, who handed down the tale? Before heaven and earth took shape, how could it be traced?" (from Tian Wen / Heavenly Questions):

Roughly meaning, "Who passed down the story of the world’s origin? Before heaven and earth existed, how could its beginnings be verified?" With a deep blue-purple hue, the image creates a profound and mysterious visual effect, symbolizing the endless exploration of heaven, earth, life, and nature, and reflecting the poet’s pursuit of truth and ideals.

"O noble tree of heaven and earth, the orange takes root in this land. Ordained never to wander, it grows in the southern realm—Deep-rooted and unshakable, steadfast in its purpose" (from Jiu Zhang · Ju Song / Nine Chapters: Ode to the Orange Tree):

Roughly meaning, "O beautiful tree of heaven and earth, the orange adapts to this soil from birth. Destined never to migrate, it thrives in the southern land—Deeply rooted and hard to transplant, loyal to its singular purpose." Using the orange tree as a metaphor, the poem expresses patriotic feelings of devotion to one’s homeland, loyalty to the nation, and unwavering perseverance.

"Upright and unyielding to the tide, I cherish the teachings of ancient sages" (from Jiu Bian / Nine Elegances):

Roughly meaning, "Upright and refusing to follow the crowd, I admire and uphold the wisdom of ancient sages." The stamp features evergreen pines and cypresses—symbols of integrity and resilience—against lofty mountains, conveying reverence for the wisdom of predecessors.

Printing Technology

The stamps adopt the "offset printing + two-color engraving" process. The main images are set against an off-white background, with soft and calm tones creating an elegant, antique atmosphere. High-gloss, high-contrast engraving ink enhances the three-dimensional effect of key elements. The borders use a classic brown hue that complements the off-white background, while high-texture brown engraving ink clearly reproduces selected verses from Chu Ci. The layered two-color engraving and delicate multi-color offset printing complement each other, depicting the visual art of Chu Ci within the limited space of the stamps.

This set of stamps is designed by Gao Yun, edited by Li Jinwei, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Co., Ltd. using the offset and engraving combination process.