2023-05, Journey to the West (5) – One of China’s Famous Classical Literary Works

Stamp Title: Journey to the West (5) – One of China’s Famous Classical Literary Works
Serial number: 2023-5
Values in set: 4
(4-1), Vanquishing Demons in Lion Mountain, 120 fen, 38 * 50 mm
(4-2), Subdue Evil Spirit in Bhiksuland, 120 fen, 38 * 50 mm
(4-3), Bottomless Cave, 120 fen, 38 * 50 mm
(4-4), Capturing Jade Hare, 150 fen, 38 * 50 mm
(1-1m), The Five Immortals Achieve Nirvana (S/S), 600 fen, 138 * 93 mm
(1-1s), Journey to the West (5) – One of China’s Famous Classical Literary Works (Mini Sheet), 1020 fen, 200 * 156 mm
(1-1s2), Journey to the West (5) – One of China’s Famous Classical Literary Works (Full Sheet), 8160 fen, 180 * 240 mm
(1-1fdc), Journey to the West (5) – One of China’s Famous Classical Literary Works (FDC), 510 fen
Date of issue: April 27, 2023
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Li Yunzhong
Size of stamps: 38 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13 * 13.5
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 Sets)
Size of sheet:
180 * 240 mm for Sheet I;
200 * 156 mm for Sheet II
Size of S/S:
138 * 93 mm for S/S
73 * 81 mm for S/S stamp
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

The cultural background of this set of Chinese traditional themed postage stamps:
“Journey to the West” is a novel written by the Ming dynasty novelist Wu Chengen, and is a classic of ancient Chinese gods and demons novels. The book has a total of 100 times, describing the story of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and the sand monk protecting the Tang monk Xuanzang Xitian to obtain scriptures, descending demons and demons all the way, experiencing 9981 difficulties, and finally achieving positive results. The book has created many vivid characters, full of romantic fantasy, containing rich life philosophy in humor and irony, showing the spirit of needle world, pursuit of ideals, and unremitting progress.
This set of stamps is the fifth set of stamps in the series “Masterpieces of Chinese Classical Literature” issued by China Post since 2015<西游记>, depicting five story scenes from the 74th to the 100th episode of the novel. The first picture, “Lion Moose Ridge Demon”, shows Sun Wukong’s fierce fight scene when he fought the three monsters of Lion Moose Ridge, the green haired lion, the yellow-toothed old elephant, and the Dapeng eagle; The second picture, “The Monster of the Bhikkhu Country”, shows the scene of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie taking the white deer essence and killing the white-faced fox with the help of the Antarctic Immortal Dragon in order to rescue the children of the bhikkhu country who were used as medicine; The third picture, “Filling the Bottomless Pit”, shows the scene of Nezha following Sun Wukong to trap the bottomless pit of the empty mountain and capture the golden-nosed white-haired mouse essence who wants to force the Tang monk to become a relative; The fourth picture, “Tianzhu Harvesting Jade Rabbit”, shows the scene of Sun Wukong leading the owner of the Moon Palace, Taiyin Xingjun, to Tianzhu Kingdom and subduing the fake princess Guanghan Palace pounding medicine jade rabbit; The miniature Zhang “Five Saints Become the Right Fruit” shows the scene of the four masters and apprentices and the white dragon horse returning to the Spirit Mountain after retrieving the true scripture, and the five saints finally achieving the right fruit and ascending to bliss together. The artist uses traditional brushwork and heavy color techniques, while paying attention to the depiction of God in shape, and the characters are realistically conveyed, vividly interpreting the well-known storyline in every inch.

中国邮政2023年4月27日发行《中国古典文学名著——〈西游记〉（五）》特种邮票1套4枚，小型张1枚。
（4-1）T　　狮驼岭降魔　　1.20元
（4-2）T　　比丘国伏怪　　1.20元
（4-3）T　　填平无底洞　　1.20元
（4-4）T　　天竺收玉兔　　1.50元
小型张 五圣成正果 6元

志号：2023-5
邮票规格：38×50毫米
齿孔度数：13×13.5度
整张枚数：版式一　16枚，版式二　8枚（2套）
整张规格：版式一　180×240毫米，版式二　200×156毫米
小型张邮票规格：73×81毫米（异形）
小型张外形规格：138×93毫米
小型张齿孔度数：13度
版别：影写
防伪方式：防伪纸张、防伪油墨、异形齿孔、荧光喷码
设计者：李云中
版式二边饰设计者：夏竞秋
版式二边饰资料提供：李云中
印制厂：北京邮票厂有限公司
计划发行数量：套票850万套，版式二99万版，小型张598万枚

另制作四方连邮票折：成品规格114×164毫米，面值20.40元。四方连邮票折设计者：夏竞秋。资料提供：李云中。计划发行数量：15万本。
另制作全张邮票折：成品规格202×93毫米，面值44.10元。全张邮票折设计者：夏竞秋。全张邮票折原画作者：李云中。计划发行数量：12万本。

P.S. 《西游记》为明代小说家吴承恩所著章回体长篇小说，是中国古代神魔小说的经典之作。全书共一百回，描写了孙悟空、猪八戒、沙僧保护唐僧玄奘西天取经，一路降妖伏魔，经历九九八十一难，最终修成正果的故事。全书塑造了众多栩栩如生的人物形象，充满了浪漫主义的幻想色彩，在幽默讽刺之中蕴涵着丰富的生活哲理，表现出针砭世态、追求理想、不懈进取的精神。
该套邮票是中国邮政自2015年发行的《中国古典文学名著——<西游记>》系列邮票的第五组，描绘了小说第七十四回至第一百回的五段故事场景。第一图“狮驼岭降魔”，表现了孙悟空在狮驼岭大战青毛狮子、黄牙老象、大鹏雕三怪时激烈的打斗场景；第二图“比丘国伏怪”，表现了孙悟空、猪八戒为救助被当作药引的比丘国众孩童，在南极仙翁帮助下收服白鹿精，擒杀白面狐狸的场景；第三图“填平无底洞”，表现了哪吒随孙悟空去陷空山无底洞，擒获欲强迫唐僧成亲的金鼻白毛老鼠精的场景；第四图“天竺收玉兔”，表现了孙悟空领着月宫主人太阴星君来到天竺国，收服假冒公主的广寒宫捣药玉兔的场景；小型张“五圣成正果”，表现了师徒四人和白龙马取回真经后，真身返回灵山，五圣终成正果，共登极乐的场景。画家运用传统工笔重彩的手法，同时注重以形写神，人物刻画逼真传神，在方寸间生动地演绎出大家熟知的故事情节。