Special 411 Chinese Classic Novel “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms”(I) (D411)

Stamp SN : D411
Stamp Name : Special 411 Chinese Classic Novel “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms”(I)
Stamp Cat Standard : Special Stamps
Stamp Cat : Literature,Literature
Issue date : 2000-04-12
Dimension of stamps(mm.) : 30x40(mm)
Printer : China Color Printing Co.,Inc,R.O.C.
Sheet composition : 20 ( 4 x 5 )
Print color : Colorful
Process : Deep etch offset
Paper : Phosphorescent stamp paper
Perforation : 11 x l1/2
Designer : Kuo Su-yi

Most classic Chinese novels give expression to such traditional Chinese virtues as patriotism, loyalty, benevolence and justice. Having previously released stamp sets on “ Journey to the West ” in 1997 and on “ Dream of the Red Chamber ” in 1998, the Directorate General of Posts has now chosen the popular classic “ The Romance of the Three Kingdoms ” as the subject of a series of stamps. Scheduled to be released on April 12, 2000, the first set of the series includes “A Gathering of Three Heroes,” “Guan Yu Reading at Night,” “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage” and “Filling Boats with Bundles of Straw to Acquire Arrows.” At the same time, a souvenir sheet will be released. The stamps were planned by Mr. Wu Hong-yi, a professor of Chinese at National Taiwan University.
The Era of the Three Kingdoms was a time of wartime turmoil and chaos, when men battled with arms and wits. The author of this book took historical records and folk legends and then added his ample imagination and excellent writing skills to create this literary masterpiece. His characterizations of these historical figures are widely known among Chinese. Among them are Chu-Ko Liang, wise and full of stratagems; Guan Yu, loyal and just; Liu Bei, determined and lenient; and Tsao Tsao, who gives orders to feudal princes in name of the emperor.