Special 274 Door Gods Postage Stamps (1990) (D274)

Stamp SN : D274
Stamp Name : Special 274 Door Gods Postage Stamps (1990)
Stamp Cat Standard : Special Stamps
Stamp Cat : Lunar New Year
Issue date : 1990-01-19
Dimension of stamps(mm.) : 30x40
Printer : China Color Printing Co. Inc.,R.O.C.
Sheet composition : S274.1-274.2 10×10
Process : Deep etch offset
Paper : Locally-made mat finished,
Perforation : 13 1/2
Suspersion date : 1992-01-19
Designer : Hu Zerman & Lee Kuang-chi

Figures of Men Shen-the Door Gods, which are sometimes threatening or scary, have been on the front doors of Chinese families for many generations. The gods, invariably two, one on each door, are always clad in military uniforms or official robes and carry weapons for purposes of exorcism, as well as for greeting happiness and wealth. Paintings of these auspicious graphics are normally pasted on the entrance-doors during the Lunar New Year season. The Chinese chiefly use as door gods the images of Shen Shu and Yu Lu two mythical figures (3.00). After the Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.), they also began to use historical heroes, notably Ch'in Shu-pao and Wei-ch'ih Ching-te (7.50). The latter two were brave and audacious generals who, according to legend, actually kept vigil against the darkness of the night and proved effective for their master Tang Tai Chung, the second king of the dynasty.