2003-18, The Double Ninth Festival《重阳节》

Stamp Title: The Double Ninth Festival
Scott No: 3311, 3312, 3313
Serial number: 2003-18
Values in set: 3
(3-1), Climbing Mountain, 80 fen, 30*40 mm
(3-2), Enjoying the Beauty of Chrysanthemum, 80 fen, 30*40 mm
(3-3), Playing Chess and Drinking Wine, 200 fen, 30*40 mm
(1-1), The Double Ninth Festival, 1080 fen, 185*115 mm
Denomination: 3.60 yuan
Date of issue: 4th October 2003
Designer: Liu She
Size of stamps: 30*40 mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition:
20 for Sheet I, 9 for Sheet II
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The Double Ninth Festival, falling on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, is one of China’s traditional festivals. It originated from the Han Dynasty according to historical records. As the legend goes, a person from Runan, following the instruction of hermit, wore cornel on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and climbed a mountain with his family to avoid a catastrophe. Later climbing mountain, wearing cornel and taking chrysanthemum brew became a folk tradition for praying for peaceful life and lasting happiness. In ancient China, the number nine was regarded as the largest number of yang, therefore the ninth day of the ninth month is also called the day of “double yang”. As the pronunciation of nine in Chinese is the same as that of “long time”, “double nine” implies “longevity” and respect for the elderly. It has gradually become a festival of the elderly people, and is widely known as “the Senior People’s Day”.

2003年特种邮票《重阳节》
国家邮政局2003年10月4日发行《重阳节》特种邮票1套3枚。
（3-1）T 登高 80分 1080万枚
（3-2）T 赏菊 80分 1070万枚
（3-3）T 饮酒对弈 2元 970万枚
志号：2003-18
版别：影写
邮票规格：30×40毫米；
齿孔度数：11.5度；
整张枚数：版式一20(4×5)、版式二9枚（3套邮票）（发行100万版）
外形规格：版式一150×240毫米、版式二116×186毫米
版式二发行量：100万版
邮票设计者：刘赦
版式二边饰设计者：史渊
印制厂：北京邮票厂

重阳节是中华民族的传统节日，古人以九为阳数，九月初九，两阳相重，故称“重阳”，这天也是敬老日。重阳节（农历九月初九，二九相重，称为重九，九是阳数，固重九亦叫重阳。重阳这天所有亲人都要一起登高避灾，插茱萸、赏菊花）

《西京杂记》记载：“九月九日佩荣英，食饵(即重阳糕)，饮菊花酒，令人长寿。”所以，重阳节又有“老人节”之称。关于重阳节的来历，有这样一个传说，东汉时有汝南人桓景拜仙人费长房为师。一天，费长房对桓景说：“今年九月九日汝南当有大灾难，应急令家人缝囊盛茱萸系于臂上，登山饮菊花酒，此祸可消。”桓景如言照办，果然平安无事，然而，夕还，却见鸡犬牛羊全都暴死。从此，民间逐渐形成了一种风俗：每到九月初九日，人们就登高、野宴、饮菊花酒、佩戴茱萸欢度节日。历代诗人都喜欢重阳登高赋诗，唐代大诗人王维的《九月九日忆山东兄弟》：“独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲，遥知兄弟登高处，遍插茱萸少一人。”已成千古名句。

全套邮票延续了《中秋节》古香古色的基调，将古人在重阳节的三项主要活动展现在方寸之间，在朦胧的山川衬托下，以占据大幅画面为视点，通过充满诗情画意的怡情格调展现每枚邮票色主题，使人感到赏心悦目。