New Issue: Chinese Classic Novel “Journey to the West” Postage Stamps (Issue of 2010)／Les nouveautés:Le Roman Classique chinois “Le Voyage en Occident” les Timbres (l'Édition de 2010)

Date of Issue: July 7, 2010

In order to present the beauty of Chinese classic literature, Chunghwa Post is following up with a new set of four stamps on Chinese classic novel “Journey to the Wes,t” “Complete Enlightenment,” “Sun Wukong Wreaks Havoc in Heaven,” “Dreaming of Beheading the Jing River Dragon King,” and “Stealing the Ginseng Fruits.” The designs follow:

1. Complete Enlightenment (NT$ 5): The monkey king of Mt. Huaguo in the Water Curtain Cave, desiring immortality, made off to the Three Star Cave to study under the Buddhist Patriarch Subodhi, who gave him the name Sun Wukong, and from whom he learned secrets of magic. Later, because Sun would recklessly show off his magic, Subodhi renounced
him as a student. Furthermore, Subodhi gave him a pointer: “Whence one comes, one returns.”

2. Sun Wukong Wreaks Havoc in Heaven (NT$5): The Jade Emperor conveyed on Sun Wukong the title “Great Sage Equal of Heaven,” and sent him off to administer the garden of Queen Mother of the West’s peaches of immortality. Sun stole and ate some peaches, pills of immortality and wine prepared for Heaven’s Peach Festival. The Jade Emperor dispatched his forces to capture him and the monkey was imprisoned in Mt. Wuhang by Tathagata.

3. Dreaming of Beheading the Jing River Dragon King (NT$12): The Jing River Dragon King disobeyed the Jade Emperor’s directive to create rain. Consequently, the emperor sent Wei Zheng to behead the Dragon King, and the Dragon King appeared in Emperor Tang Taizong’s dream to ask for help. To divert Wei Zheng’s attention, Emperor Tang Taizong invited him to his palace to discuss affairs of state and then play chess. During the game Wei Zheng dozed off, at which time his spirit left his body to behead the dragon.

4. Stealing the Ginseng Fruits (NT$25): The Ginseng fruit was a great treasure of Longevity Mountain. After Sun Wukong and Pigsy were scolded for secretly eating Ginseng fruits, Sun Wukong destroyed the orchard in a fit of pique. Eventually the dew drops of the Goddess of Mercy saved the Ginseng fruit trees.