2019-6 Journey to the West, a Masterpiece in Classical Chinese Literature (III) (Special Stamps)

Date of issue: April 20, 2019

(4-1) T Monkey King Hitting Lady White Bone Thrice                                     1.20 Yuan

(4-2) T Fighting the Red Boy with Wits                                                            1.20 Yuan

(4-3) T Magical Power Competition in the Kingdom of Tarrycart                     1.20 Yuan

(4-4) T Lost in Love in the Kingdom of Women                                               1.20 Yuan

S/S  Subduing the Demon Great King Rhinoceros                                          6.00 Yuan

Size of stamp: 38x50 mm

Perforation: 13x13.5

Sheet composition: A 16

                                          B 8 (2 set)

Size of format: A 180x240 mm

                                B 200x156 mm

Size of S/S: 138x93 mm

Size of S/S Stamp: 95x68 mm

Perforation of S/S: 13x13.5

Printing process: Photogravure

Anti-counterfeiting measures: anti-counterfeiting paper

                                                                anti-counterfeiting ink

                                                                heterotypic perforation

                                                                fluorescent code

Designer: Li Yunzhong

Source of B: Li Yunzhong

Side Drawing Designer of B: Xia Jinqiu

Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

Description:

  On April 20, 2019, China Post issued a set of four special stamps titled “Journey to the West, a Masterpiece in Classical Chinese Literature (III)” with a total face value of 5.40 yuan and a souvenir sheet with a face value of 6 yuan. The pictures on the stamps are respectively titled “Monkey King Hitting Lady White Bone Thrice”, “Fighting the Red Boy with Wits”, “Magical Power Competition in the Kingdom of Tarrycart” and “Lost in Love in the Kingdom of Women”. The picture on the souvenir sheet is titled “Subduing the Demon Great King Rhinoceros”.

  Journey to the West, penned by Wu Cheng’en, a novelist of the Ming Dynasty, is considered one of the most outstanding mythological novels of ancient China and a shining gem in the treasure trove of World literature. The novel is a fictionalized account of the legends about how the Monkey King, together with Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the White Dragon Horse, protected the Tang-Dynasty monk Xuanzang from demons and evils during their painstaking pilgrimage to retrieve Buddhist sutras from Western Heaven. The novel creates a fantastic mythological world, reveals to readers the truth of life with humorous language, and demonstrates its author’s criticism on social problems and persistent pursuit for his ideal. Through vivid depictions of countless characters, the novel abounds in romantic fantasies and shows a strong comedic atmosphere.

  What the first stamp depicts is based on the 27^th chapter. For a bite of the meat of Monk Xuanzang, which is believed to make those who eat it immortal, a demon named Lady White Bone transformed successively into a young maiden, and old woman and an old man. Her tricks cheated all except for the Monkey King who saw through the demon’s tricks and killed her. However, Monk Xuanzang still misdeemed the demon as a mortal, and wrongfully blamed the Monkey King for the killing. Instigated by Zhu Bajie, Monk Xuanzang wrote a letter to dispel the Monkey King. The latter said goodbye to his master with tears in his eyes.

  What the second stamp depicts is based on the 40^th to 42^nd chapter. The Red Boy set a trap to capture Monk Xuanzang, and the Monkey King was defeated by him with his Irresistible Flame. To rescue his master, the Monkey King invited the Dragon King to create rain, but the Irresistible Flame became even fiercer. Then, the Monkey King transformed into the Bull Demon King, the father of the Red Boy, but the trick was eventually seen through by the Red Boy. At last, Guanin offered help and vanquished the Red Boy.

  What the third stamp depicts is based on the 44^th to 46^th chapter. The ruler of the Kingdom of Tarrycart appointed three demons-Great Immortal Tiger Power, Great Immortal Deer Power and Great Immortal Antelope Power – “national priests”. To obtain a permit to pass through the kingdom, Monk Xuanzang and his disciples agreed to hold a magical power competition with the three “national priests” and won in the competition of praying for rainfall, sitting in meditation and guessing objects through a wooden board. The “national priests” refused to surrender and asked to compete with the Monkey King to see who could survive with the head cut off and the heart dug out and after taking a bath in boiling oil. The Monkey King trapped the three demons, who were killed and showed their original appearances.

  What the fourth stamp depicts is based on the 54^th chapter. Monk Xuanzang and his disciples arrived in Western Liang, a kingdom of women. The queen fell in love with Monk Xuanzang and would like to trade all her wealth for a marriage with him. However, completely devoted to Buddhism, Monk Xuanzang wasn’t swayed. The Monkey King asked his master to pretend to accept the queen’s proposal, so that they could obtain a permit to pass through the kingdom. Then, they took the opportunity of the queen seeing the disciples off outside the capital city to flee away.

  What the souvenir sheet depicts is based on the 50^th to 52^nd chapter of the novel. A demon named Great King Rhinoceros used tricks to capture Monk Xuanzang, and seized the Monkey King’s gold-banded cudgel with his magic ring the monkey king then invited deities such as the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, Nezha, Thunder God, Fire God, River God and the Eighteen Arhats to help him subdue the demon. However, their weapons were all grabbed by the demon. Tathagata implicitly suggested that the Monkey King ask assistance from Lord Laozi, who eventually vanquished the demon and withdrew the magic ring.