Special 397 Ancient Chinese Painting
| Stamp SN | D397 |
| Stamp Name | Special 397 Ancient Chinese Painting |
| Stamp Cat Standard | Special Stamps |
| Stamp Cat | Calligraphy & Paintings |
| Issue date | 1999-03-02 |
| Suspersion date | |
| Dimension of stamps(mm.) | |
| Size of souvenir Sheet (mm.) | |
| Printer | Helio Courvoisier S. A., Switzerland |
| Drawer | |
| Designer | |
| Photographer | |
| Engraver | |
| Creative Director | |
| Sheet composition | 20 ( 5 x 4) |
| Print color | Colorful |
| Process | Photogravure |
| Paper | (1) 5.00-Phosphorescent stamp paper (2) 7.00, 26.00-Photogravure stamp paper |
| Back | |
| Perforation |
Description
In conjunction with government efforts to expand tourism and to disseminate Chinese culture, this Directorate has selected four ancient Chinese paintings depicting women and children with lanterns in hand playing in gardens during the Lantern Festival as material for four stamps and a souvenir sheet. These paintings are taken from a Ching Dynasty book "Joy in Peacetime"', which is part of the National Palace Museum collection. Two of the stamps will be valued at NT$5.00, the third at NT$7.00, and the fourth at NT$26.00. The stamps will be released on March 2, 1999, the day of the Lantern Festival.
During the Han Dynasty, the emperor would hold an all-night ceremony to worship the King of Heaven on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and many lights would be lit during this time. Later, the people adopted this ceremony for themselves, and ordinary folk would also light up many lights. During the Tang Dynasty, the court celebrated the occasion lavishly, and the people adopted those celebrations for themselves as the lantern festival. Since that time, the Chinese people's celebration of New Year's has ended with the lantern festival, at which time people take their children to visit temples with lanterns in hand, watch outdoor Chinese operas and attend lantern fairs in which each displayed lantern has a riddle written on it. In recent years, out of respect for the nation's great folk traditions, the Tourism Bureau and county and city governments have held lantern fairs every year. These provide proof of the nation's economic and political development, show that the people are well fed and well clad and provide an opportunity for the government and people have fun together. These fairs are very well attended.
During the Han Dynasty, the emperor would hold an all-night ceremony to worship the King of Heaven on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and many lights would be lit during this time. Later, the people adopted this ceremony for themselves, and ordinary folk would also light up many lights. During the Tang Dynasty, the court celebrated the occasion lavishly, and the people adopted those celebrations for themselves as the lantern festival. Since that time, the Chinese people's celebration of New Year's has ended with the lantern festival, at which time people take their children to visit temples with lanterns in hand, watch outdoor Chinese operas and attend lantern fairs in which each displayed lantern has a riddle written on it. In recent years, out of respect for the nation's great folk traditions, the Tourism Bureau and county and city governments have held lantern fairs every year. These provide proof of the nation's economic and political development, show that the people are well fed and well clad and provide an opportunity for the government and people have fun together. These fairs are very well attended.
By-issues
(1)First Day Cover in small size to be sold at NT$1.00 apiece.
First Day Cover in large size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece.
(2)Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece.
(3)Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the stamps to be sold at NT$4.00 apiece.
Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece.
(4)Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover to be sold at NT$16.00 apiece.
(5)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a low-valued stamp to be sold at NT$6.00 apiece.
(6)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$44.00 apiece.
(7)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$45.00 apiece.
(8)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover of Issue Maximum cards to be sold at NT$83.00 per set.
First Day Cover in large size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece.
(2)Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece.
(3)Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the stamps to be sold at NT$4.00 apiece.
Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece.
(4)Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover to be sold at NT$16.00 apiece.
(5)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a low-valued stamp to be sold at NT$6.00 apiece.
(6)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$44.00 apiece.
(7)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$45.00 apiece.
(8)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover of Issue Maximum cards to be sold at NT$83.00 per set.