Selected Artworks of Zheng Banqiao 22.11.1993

Zheng Banqiao (1693-1765), born in Xing Hua, Jiangsu province, is famous for his painting and calligraphy, inscription of stone tablets and poem. He was the magistrate in Fan and Wei Counties in Shandong province when he was 49. Having been dismissed from the office, he returned to his hometown -Yangzhou and made his living by selling paintings. He was good at painting bamboo, orchid and stone. Particularly, the harmonization of poem, calligraphy and paintings gained widely popularity. Based on Chinese regular script, cursive script, official script and seal character, he created a new kind of style of calligraphy combined the characteristic of regular script and official script.

China issued a set of six sprcial stamps on 22.11.1993 entitled “Selected Artworks of Zheng Banqiao". The stamps depict respectively “Fan Painting of Bamboo and Rocks”, “Painting of Orchard”, “Large Central Scroll Painting of Orchard, Bamboo and Rocks”, “Painting of Vase and Chrysanthemum”, Chinese calligraphy on Fan.”

Thank you Merja for this lovely set if FDCs.

Chinese Folklore - Liu Sanjie

On August 23,2012,China National Philatelic Corporation issued a set of four special stamps titled "Chinese Folklore - Liu Sanjie" with a total face value of 4.80 yuan.

According to the local tale, Liu San Jie was born in a village along the Liujiang River of Guangxi in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). She was not only beautiful but also good at singing folk songs. At the age of 17, Liu San Jie fell in love with a handsome young man who was also a good folk singer. The two swore never separate in their lives. The peaceful happiness was, however, broken by a hooligan in the village who had been for a long time attracted by Liu’s beauty. This evil man decided to take Liu San Jie by force. He got his chance on a moonlight night when Liu and her lover were sitting on a big rock by the river side to enjoy the beauty of the moon. Suddenly, a gang of hooligans surrounded them. Liu San Jie and her lover had no way to escape, with no hesitation, the couple jumped into the roaring Liujiang River, hand in hand.

Nowadays, local people gather annually along the riverside of the Liujiang River, organizing a folk-song competition to mourn Liu San Jie.

The four stamps depict The Immortal Singer at the Zhuang Village, The Battle of Wits Through Antiphonal Singing, The Silk Ball Witnessing the Love between Liu Sanjie and Her Beloved A'niu, and Rising to Heaven on a Carp.

The story of Liu Sanjie who sang for freedom and fought for dignity reflects the Zhuang people’s pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty in their long song-loving tradition.　

Ci of the Song Dynasty

On August 31,2012, China National Philatelic Corporation issued a set of six special stamps with special first day covers titled "Ci of the Song Dynasty" with a total face value of 8.60 yuan. On view are all the six FDCs.

China has a long and rich literary tradition, not the least of which includes many forms of poetry and verse. Among them, perhaps some of the most beautiful, sorrowful and tangible are the ci 词 lyrics.

Ci poetry, like most Chinese literature, came about during the Tang Dynasty. However, ci lyric came into its fullest array later during the Song Dynasty, when the style was formatted and regularized. Ci lyrics are distinguished from other types of Chinese poetry by the fact that they are arranged to the tunes of traditional songs, known as cipai. To compose a new ci lyric, a ci poet would typically choose from a set of about 800 traditional tunes and insert his own unique words to fit the rhythm and meter of the song’s melody.

Early on in the history of ci poetry, the lyrics were sung more like a song, to the tune of the original melody. Later, as the art was adapted in the Qing Dynasty, ci poetry became more like spoken word, where the lyrics were read out in their own rhythm and meter, rather than sung. 

The themes of ci poems also differed from those of other Chinese poetry. Most ci poems centered around the tangible world and emotional state of the author, rather than military pursuits or epic adventures. A ci poem often seems to meander as though the poet were simply writing his thoughts down as they occured to him. One of the most famous ci poets, Su Shi, once wrote a well-known ci lyric after the loss of his wife in which he recounted feelings of loneliness and coldness, sitting by the window and looking upon the moon. 

The ci lyrics of the Song Dynasty comprises some of the most accessible and beautiful poetry within the Chinese literary tradition. These poems usually refer to emotions common to the human experience, making them exquisite compositions that have the possibility of touching each reader who comes across them.

These fantastic FDCs were sent to me by Dear friend Pin Ling.

China Merchants

On October 26,2012,China National Philatelic Corporation issued a set of three special stamps entitled "China Merchants" with a total face value of 3.90 yuan. The special stamps include three with the titles "Establishing Business by Pujiang River", "Development at Shekou", and "Making Greater Achievements". 

China Merchants, established in 1872 when China was still in the late Qing Dynasty, is China's first enterprise of China's modern history. It has experienced 140 years of development, symbolizing the uncommon development history of China's national enterprises. It is a good representative of China's national business and industry, which has established China's first modern industrial zone, the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province since the opening-up and reform of China in the late 1970s. It has now developed into a large corporate group with key businesses in transportation, finance and real estate in the new century. 

Thank you very much Dear Munu for these three lovely FDCs.

Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge and Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul(Jointly issued by China and Turkey) - Special Stamps

On November 26, 2012,China National Philatelic Corporation issued a set of two special stamps and a First Day Cover  titled "Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge and Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul" with a total face value of 2.4 yuan. This was a Joinbt Issue between Turkey and China.

Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge, in Eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, connects Taizhou City in the North to Zhenjiang and Changzhou cities in the South, playing a vital communications role in the Yangtze River Delta area and contributing to the expressway network of Jiangsu. Running 62 kilometres in length  with a cross-river main span of seven kilometres, it is a massive suspension bridge that includes three towers and two spans. Designed according to the standard of a two-way six lane expressway, the bridge was expected to be complete by 2012.

Bosphorous Bridge, in Istanbul, Turkey, spans the Bosphorous Strait, which connects Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and Mediterranean Sea. Linking Europe and Asia, it measures 1560 metres in length and 33 metres in width. The bridge deck is wide enough to accommodate six lanes of traffic and high enough to allow various ships to pass underneath. The bridge was built in 1973.

Thank you Munu for this lovely FDC. 

Joint issue by China and Singapore - City Outlook 9.10.1996

On 9^th October 1996, Singapore and China jointly released a set of stamps featuring similar designs on Suzhou’s Panmen area and the Singapore skyline and warterfront.

Chinese artist, Jiang Zhi Nan of the Central Academy of Arts and Design, painted the two beautiful scenes in watercolour. In spite of the obvious physical differences between  Singapore and Suzhou, Zhi Nan used his skill and creativity to produce two beautifully executed and complimentary paintings.

These two covers were specially produced to commemorate the joint release of the two sets of stamps by Singapore and China. The two matching sets of stamps and special cancellations, together with the signatures of the artist and the graphic designer, make these covers a special memento of the two countries’ collaboration in this issue.

China Maritime Day

Harry from China sent me this nice FDC. On 11th July 2010. The China National Philatelic Corporation issued this FDC with one commemorative stamp entitled "China Maritime Day".

China Maritime Day falls on 11th July, the anniversary of the date  Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty royal court set out on his first overseas voyage. Designated by the State Council in 2005, it is  a national day celebrated by navigation, fishery, shipbuilding, and maritime research and education industries as well as naval forces, often involving cultural activities for popularising navigation and maritime knowledge, enhancing the awareness of coastal defence, and promoting social harmony. It is also the executive date of World Maritime Day in China. China Maritime Day 2010 highlighted the theme of "ocean, sailor and strait",with its primary celebration venue at Quangzhou, Fujian Province.

Ocean Shipping in China

China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company, known as COSCO or COSCO Group, is a Chinese shipping and logistics services supplier company. It is a government owned company of the People's Republic of China. Its headquarters is in Ocean Plaza in Xicheng District, Beijing. According to the company, it owns over 130 vessels (with a capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU)) and calls on over 1,000 ports worldwide. It ranks sixth largest in number of container ships and ninth largest in aggregate container volume in the world.

The Group contains six listed companies and has more than 300 subsidiaries locally and abroad, providing services in freight forwarding, ship building, ship repair, terminal operation, container manufacturing, trade, financing, real estate, and information technology. The Group owns and operates a fleet of around 550 vessels, with total carrying capacity of up to 30 million metric tons deadweight (DWT). They are the largest dry bulk carrier in China and one of the largest dry bulk shipping operators worldwide. In addition, the Group is the largest liner carrier in China.

On 8.8.2011 China National Philatelic Corporation issued an FDC carrying a set of two special stamps entitled  “Ocean Shipping of China”, with a total face value of 2.40 yuan, as displayed. The pictures on the stamps depict a “container transport” and the other shows “bulk shipping”. My friend Harry sent me this FDC.

Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

The development of traditional Chinese furniture reached its zenith during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Furniture in the Ming style combines simple, unvarnished design with precise, scientific framework, while the Qing furniture features exquisite carvings, diverse designs, and various decorative elements. Tables, made with excellent craftsmanship, compose an important part of the Ming and Qing furniture. Straight-end table for Chinese painting and calligraphy (pingtouhua'an) usually features a large rectangular surface wide enough to hold "treasures of the study" like the brush, the ink, the paper, and the inkstone. Square table (fangzhuo), as its name suggests, is a framework with a square surface. Besides a diversity of designs, this type also varies in size – some large enough to seat eight adults and thus known as Great Baxianzhuo (literally "table for eight immortals") while smaller ones called Lesser Baxianzhuo. And if you are thinking of adding these to your rooms, remember each of them costs a packet!!!

China National Philatelic Corporation will issue four FDCs, a souvenir sheet cover, and a commemorative cancellation respectively. Harry sent me this FDC dated 9.6.2012.

Traditional Sports of Chinese Ethnic Minorities

Traditional Sports of Chinese Ethnic Minorities formed and developed through daily lives, production, and social practice of their respective minorities generation after generation. The diverse sport activities are closely associated with the social history, folk customs, lifestyles, and mode of production, religions, and recreation of different ethnic groups. With the slogan of “Harmonious China, Colourful Guizhou”, the National Traditional Ethnic Minority Sports Meet, held in Guizhou on September 10, 2011, highlighted the theme “All ethnic groups are united for common development and prosperity”.
On 10.9.2011 China issued this set of four stamps and this lovely FDC. The stamps depict Board Shoes Racing (Zhuang), Spinning Top (Yi), Single Bamboo Rafting (Miao) and Stilt Racing (Tujia). 

Centenary of International Nurses Day

The year 2012 marks the Centenary of International Nurses Day. The profession of nursing was started by Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), a British nursing pioneer who established the first school of modern nursing. In honour of the significant contribution that Nightingale, reputed as the “Lady of the Lamp”, made in nursing, her birthday May 12, is celebrated worldwide as the International Nurses Day, aiming to advocate, inherit, and promote the pioneer’s humanistic spirit of overcoming difficulties to help the sick and wounded through dedication and sacrifice. China National Philatelic Corporation issued an FDC with special 1.20 Yuan stamp to commemorate this Day. My friend Cloud sent me this cover from China.

Florence Nightingale OM, RRC (12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night. An Anglican, Nightingale believed that God had called her to be a nurse. Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment, in 1860, of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London, the first secular nursing school in the world, now part of King's College London. The Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses was named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday.

Development of the New Rural and Urban Residents’ Pension Schemes

The 17^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2007 set the goal of putting in place a social security scheme covering both urban and rural residents. In 2008 the CPC decided to establish a new rural pension scheme. In 2009, the State Council introduced a pilot scheme in 10% of the regions in China, which expanded to 60% in 2011, when a pilot scheme for urban residents was carried out alongside. The two schemes would realise full coverage of the population in China by 2012. With the intro duction of the New Rural and Urban Residents’ Pension Schemes, a social security system covering both rural and urban citizens has been basically put in place in China. The two schemes are of great significance to guarantee and improve people’s livlihood, promote economic growth in urban and rural areas, and maintain social harmony and stability.

The China National Philatelic Corporation specially issued a commemorative cover and a lovely stamp to go with it, to mark the development of the new rural and urban residenrs’ pension schemes in China. My friend Françoise sent me this nice FDC.

Peacock

The peafowl, of genus peafowl, family Phasiamidae, is a non-migrant bird. There are only two species of it in the world. The green ones (Pavo muticus) are found in western and southern Yunnan of China and Southeast Asia, and the blue ones (Pavo cristanis) inhabit India and Sri Lanka. The white peafowl is the albino aberrant form of the blue peafowl. Peafowl dwell in subtropical grasslands and jungles less than 2000 metres above sea level. They usually move in flocks of 3 or 5 and feed on grass seeds, fruits and insects. The male bird is over two metres in length, in iridescent blue and green, with a crest and tail coverts. The coverts make a splendid fan when spread, and are like a beautiful curtain when closed. The female does not have tail coverts and is pale brown on the back. Peafowl are precious birds that people love as a symbol of auspiciousness.

This picture of a Peacock on a Chinese Souvenir Sheet is indeed a piece of art in itself.

Ninth National Games of the People's Republic of China

The Ninth National Games of the People's Republic of China, the first large-scale, comprehensive national games in the new century and new millennium, were held from November 11 to 25,2001 in Guangzhou. There were 30 events, including 345 contests. More than 12,300 sportsmen from provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, the PLA and various associations attended the preliminaries and finals with lofty sportsmanship and high spirits. The event fully displayed the great sports achievements of the nation, and symbolized a great stride the Chinese Nation had made into the 21st Century as a giant in the East. Maria sent me this lovely minisheet.

Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints

China does issue very beautiful stamps. Just should look at these gems on this lovely miniature sheet which were issued on 15th January 2008. Zhuxianzhen, a historically important commercial town, is located 20 kilometers southwest to Kaifeng City, Henan Provinces. The Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and boomed during the Song (960-1279). As the birthplace of Chinese New Year Woodprints, Zhuxianzhen exerted an influence upon the New Year woodprints produced in Wuqiang, Yangliuqing, Taohuawu, and Yangjiabu. This art form of features a typical northern style, characterised by bold and unconstrained lines, lively composition, exaggerated designs and exquisite application of colors, which are radiant and may never fade. According to a historical book "Dream of the Capital", during the Northern Song (960-1127), woodprint New Year paintings were prevalent in the capital city, Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng). In 1127, when the Jin troops attacked and captured Bianjing, the woodprint workshops and artists were forced to relocate to Zhuxianzhen, 20 kilometers away. Hence the name "Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints”.
In 2006, Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints was included in the first national intangible culture heritage list. These sets of stamps and this minisheet were issued on 15 January 2008 in order to celebrate Woodblock New Year Pictures of Zhuxian Town - Door God, Sanniang Teaches Her Son, Back from a Fruitful Trip, and Legendary Heroines.

60th Anniversary of Inner Mongolia

This miniature sheet of two stamps was issued bu China to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the creation of the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia on 1.5.2007. The stamp on the left depicts people celebrating the event by indulging in sporting activities like horse racing, wrestling and archery. The second stamp shows a group of dancers in traditional costumes. Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation. Its capital is Hohhot and the largest city is Baotou.
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was established in 1947 on the area of former Republic of China provinces of Suiyuan, Chahar, Rehe, Liaopeh and Hsingan. It is the third-largest subdivision of China spanning about 1,200,000 km² (463,000 sq mi) or 12% of China's total land area. It has a population of about 24 million as of 2004. The majority of the population in the region are Han Chinese, with a substantial Mongol minority. The official languages are Chinese and Mongolian, the latter written in the Mongolian script, as opposed to the Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet used in the state of Mongolia.
Inner Mongolia, China's northern border autonomous region, features a long, narrow strip of land sloping from northeast to southwest. It stretches 2,400 km from west to east and 1,700 km from north to south. The third largest among China's provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, the region covers an area of 1.18 million sq km, or 12.3% of the country's territory. It neighbors eight provinces and regions in its south, east and west and Mongolia and Russia in the north, with a borderline of 4,200 km

Panda’s on Stamps

The stamps on these three minisheets featuring the exotic Panda, were all issued during Philatelic Exhibitions by the countries. The one at top left was issued by DPR Korea during Phila Nippon’91 (Japan WORLD stamp exhibition in Tokyo from 16 to 24 November 1991); the one at top right was released by Cuba during the Philatelic Mundial China’99; and the one below was issued by Nicaragua commemorating Phila Tokyo’81. Now, what is a Panda?

The giant panda, or panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally meaning "black and white cat-foot") is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo Pandas in the wild will occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion. In captivity they may receive honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas along with specially prepared feed.

The giant panda lives in a few mountain ranges in central China, mainly in Sichuan province, but also in the Shansi and Gansi provinces^] Due to farming, deforestation and other development, the panda has been driven out of the lowland areas where it once lived.

The panda is a conservation reliant endangered species. A 2007 report shows 239 pandas living in captivity inside China and another 27 outside the country Wild population estimates vary; one estimate shows that there are about 1,590 individuals living in the wild, while a 2006 study via DNA analysis estimated that this figure could be as high as 2,000 to 3,000. Some reports also show that the number of pandas in the wild is on the rise. However, the IUCN does not believe there is enough certainty yet to reclassify the species from Endangered to Vulnerable.

While the dragon has historically served as China's national emblem, in recent decades the panda has also served as an emblem for the country. Its image appears on a large number of modern Chinese commemorative silver, gold, and platinum coins. Though the panda is often assumed to be docile, it has been known to attack humans, presumably out of irritation rather than predation.

Year of the Rabbit 5.1.2011

The lovely First Day Cover on The Year of the Rabbit was sent to me by Zhang. The stamp on the cover which brought the FDC is also displayed. It is a pretty painting. Isn't it?

Biodiversity Issue

Chinese Folklore

These two lovely FDCs were sent to me by Zhang Tianyu. The paintings on the stamps tell the folklore of the popular tale “The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid”.