White Horse Temple and Mahabodhi Temple

Serial number: 2008-7
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 2.40 yuan
Date of issue: June 6, 2008
Designer of stamp: Yin Huili
Editor in Charge: Tong Liying
Size of stamp: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Sheet composition: 16
Size of sheet: 150 * 240 mm
Printing process: photogravure
Printer: Beijing Stamp Printing House

(2-1)T　　　　White Horse Temple　 　1.20yuan
(2-2)T　　　　Mahabodhi Temple　　　1.20yuan

On June 6, 2008, China National Philatelic Corporation issued a first-day cover, entitled "White Horse Temple and Mahabodhi Temple", containing a set of two special stamps, with a total value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps are entitled "White Horse Temple" and "Mahabodhi Temple", respectively.

The White Horse Temple, 12 km east of Luoyang, Henan Province, is China's oldest Buddhist Temple. The temple was built during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220) by Cai Yin and Qin Jing after they returned with scriptures from India. Revered as "birthplace and ancestral hall of Chinese Buddhism", the White Horse Temple plays a dominant role in Chinese history of Buddhism. The Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bodhgaya, 130 km southeast of Patna, Bihar State of India, is the earliest extant brick temple in India. This temple, where Sakyamuni attained enlightenment, was one of his four sacred places. The White Horse Temple and the Mahabodhi Temple are both renowned Buddhist sacred places. This set of special stamps was issued jointly by China and India.