THE WONDERLAND OF VIETNAMESE  STAMPS _98

Quan Am Thi Kinh (Popular Opera) -    Code 774

Popular opera "Quan Am Thi Kinh" is an old tale that has been sung from generation to generation. This popular opera extolled the noble _ self-denial mercy of Ms.Kinh who cut her hair to disguise herself as a man _ go into a nunery. She still looked forward to the good deeds, mercy _ charity although being victim of an utter injustice and tied down by harsh feudal practices.

Popular opera "Quan Am Thi Kinh" is an old tale that has been sung from generation to generation. This popular opera extolled the noble _ self-denial mercy of Ms.Kinh who cut her hair to disguise herself as a man _ go into a nunery. She still looked forward to the good deeds, mercy _ charity although being victim of an utter injustice and tied down by harsh feudal practices.

In order to introduce an old popular opera handed down from generation to generation among the broad masses of the Vietnamese people, Department General of Posts _ Telecommunications (DGPT), issues the stampset "Quan Am Thi Kinh" (Popular opera). This set in se-tenant block of 6 stamps shows the proceedings of the opera.

- The 1st: Ms. Kinh - a victim of an utter injustice - face value: 400 d.

Ms Kinh was falsely accused of killing her husband when she prepared to cut an upside down thread of his beard.

- The 2nd: Ms. Kinh going to the pagoda - face value: 1,000 d.

After being falsely accused, she cut the hair to disguise herself as a man _ go into a nunery. Miss Mau - Phu ong_s (Rich man) daughter fell in love with the Buddhist novice Kinh .

- The 3rd: Miss Mau _ her family_s servant - face value: 2,000 d

Miss Mau had an affair with him and then she was pregnant.

- The 4th: Mrs. Dop _ Village Chief - face value: 4,000 d

- The 5th: Ms. Kinh being punished by a fine - face value: 6,000 d

Ms. Kinh was punished by a fine by her village people.

- The 6th: Ms. Kinh asking for milk - face value: 9,000 d

Ms. Mau took her newly-born child to the gate of pagoda. Feeling sorry for the baby, Ms. Kinh brought her up. This value features the image of her breast-milk begging. After Ms. Kinh_s death, she was cleared of false charge. And Ms.Kinh was raised to "Quan Am Thi Kinh" (The Kinh Goddess of Mercy).

This tale shows the utter injustice that Vietnamese women had to suffer from in the feudal society, who were tied down by harsh feudal practices without any counsel for the defence.

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