SESCAL 2002 - Ming Dynasty Pottery 4.10.2002

This lovely stamp which is one of four issued by Taiwan to commemorate SESCAL 2002, the 58th annual Stamp Exhibition of Southern California, sponsored by the Federated Philatelic Clubs of Southern California, was held on Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6, at the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 6225 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles.

The stamp shows Porcelain pottery from the Ming Dynasty in China. During the 18th century, the Chinese ceramics industry, which was once again under stringent imperial control, was noted for the perfection of its porcelain bodies and for the development of new techniques for their decoration.  

Taiwan 19.6.1987 - Floral Arrangements - Ikebana flower bonsai

Today I have the pleasure of presenting before you something which is not only a housewife's delight, but something that brings a smile to the faces of most onlooker's. - Ikebana. Ikebana (literally "giving life to flowers") is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, in which the arrangement brings nature and humanity closer together. The shapes, forms and colors of the flowers are very important; but unlike western customs, emphasis is put on the flowers’ stems and leaves. Central to Ikebana are the essences of harmony, minimalism, symbolism and meaning of the arrangement.
History of Ikebana.  Ikebana developed from Buddhist flower offering rituals dating back to the 6th century. Initially these offerings were informal, but it developed in Japan to more prescribed rituals in which flowers were presented in containers around the 10th century. In the 15th century these flower arrangements took off as an art form independent of its religious origins, originating in Kyoto (the Ikenobo School).
Ikebana flower arrangement styles. Ikebana developed through time from minimalistic arrangements to more contemporary and decorative designs. The first style dates back to the beginning of Ikebana and is called Kuge; it consisted of a tall upright placed stem, accompanied by two smaller stems. Other styles include:
• Rikka, standing flowers as a Buddhist expression of beauty and the arranged ways of nature.
• Chabana, rustic simplicity and minimalism, often used for tea ceremonies.
• Seika / Shoka, consisting of three branches representing heaven (ten), earth (chi) and man (jin).
• Jiyuka, creative design, not confined to flowers.
And, all this is symbolised by these four lovely stamps on this FDC issued by the Republic of China aka Taiwan in 1987.

Birds & Flowers Embroidery

Lovely embroidery of Chinese art depicting birds and flowers on these two Republic of China (better known as Taiwan) stamps on this mini sheet.

8th World Games 2009 at Kaohsiung

The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. Nearly 6,000 athletes, officials, coaches, referees and others from 103 countries participated in the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games, setting a record high for the multi-sport competition. The International World Games Association (IWGA) President Ron Froehlich praised the July 16–26 games as the "best games ever." Competitions at the highest level in a multitude of diverse, popular and spectacular sports make up the mainstay of The World Games.Sports practiced on land, in the air, in and on the water, they all concur in the pursuit of 'Faster, Higher, Stronger'.
At quadrennial intervals, in the years following the Games of the Olympiad, the world’s best athletes in these sports unite in their common search for excellence during The World Games. As the pinnacle in the competition calendar and as a highly visible stage for top athletes to perform on, The World Games generate worldwide exposure for the participating sports and athletes alike. Above all, The World Games provide the unique setting for thousands of athletes from different sports and countries to join in a celebration of unity and friendship across all boundaries. The World Games are the MAIN EVENT for all these athletes – one marked by sporting exploits as well as by camaraderie.

Taiwan Lighthouses Postage Stamps (Issue of 2010)

A lighthouse is a structure used as a beacon or signal to warn or guide ships at sea. Lighthouses make great contributions to marine navigation safety, commerce and the development of trade, as well as a nation’s international image. Chunghwa Post first issued a set of stamps on lighthouses in 1989, and then it is followed up with another set of four stamps on the topic, featuring the Chilung Tao Lighthouse (show on the card), the Wenkan Tui Lighthouse, the Paisha Chia Lighthouse, and the Liuchiu Yu Lighthouse. The stamps are painted by Mr. Hung-tu Ko and printed in color offset with spot varnish by China Color Printing Co., Ltd. These stamps were released on July 28, 2010. The Chilung Tao Lighthouse (NT$5): The lighthouse is located at the highest point on Chilung Tao, off Keelung Harbor. Built in 1980, this octagon-shaped concrete tower, with a black-and-white vertical-striped daymark, uses air batteries for electricity. In 1998, the lighthouse switched to solar power. In 2006, wind power was added as a secondary power source. The lighthouse has a nominal range of 13.8 nautical miles. Maria gave me this FDC.
Some of you may have noticed that the date on the postmark is 28.7.1999 which is 11 years earlier than the date of actual issue.. Why this is so has intrigued me too. If I find out the reason I shall definitely inform My readers about it. However, if some of you already now the reason, please let me know.