Scott No: 2075-77
Serial number: J136
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: February 20, 1987
Denomination: 68 fen
Designers: Gao Yun
Size of stamps: 31*57.75mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 30(10*3)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J136 "400th Anniversary of the Birth of Xu Xiake, Ming Dynasty Geographer and Traveler" commemorative stamps were issued on February 20, 1987. The set consists of 3 stamps, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 31 × 57.75 mm, perforation gauge 11.5, and 30 stamps per sheet (10 × 3). Designed by Gao Yun and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

Xu Xiake was an outstanding geographer and traveler of the Ming dynasty. Over more than thirty years he traveled on foot through sixteen provinces of China, conducting field investigations of mountains, rivers, and landforms and of the sources and courses of rivers, with a focus on the karst landforms of the southwest. He left behind the Travels of Xu Xiake, which possesses both geographical and literary value. This set uses three images to link together his lifelong course of exploration, commemorating the 400th anniversary of his birth and praising his scientific spirit of not seeking official fame, of seeking truth and being pragmatic, and of fearing no hardships.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Rejecting the Official Career, Determined to Travel Far

In the image, Xu Xiake wears a red robe, leans on a bamboo staff, and carries a conical hat on his back, determined to abandon the examination-and-officialdom path and set out for the mountains and rivers. He rejected the mainstream path of scholars of his time, who sought fame and office, and resolved to travel the four directions and investigate physical geography in the field.

Dwelling in Caves and Climbing Among Rocks, Recording the Day's Journey

The image depicts Xu Xiake inside a karst cave, leaning over his desk and writing by faint light. He went deep into caves to investigate karst landforms, insisted on writing his travel records every day, and faithfully recorded the landforms and hydrology he observed. He was a forerunner of karst research in ancient China.

Climbing to the Very Top, Untroubled by the End of the Road

The image shows Xu Xiake climbing perilous peaks amid green mountains and gorges. No matter how dangerous the road, he insisted on reaching the summit and seeking the source of the mountains and rivers, embodying an indomitable will to explore.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts the form of vertical hanging-scroll Chinese painting, combining fine-brush heavy color with a decorative painting style. The three images progress in sequence—from setting out, to scientific investigation, to climbing high—with continuous narration. The figures are antique and elegant, the colors weighty and steady, the blank space carefully considered, and the scholarly atmosphere rich. It is a classic work among stamps on ancient scientists.