Scott No: 2233-35
Serial number: J162
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: September 28, 1989
Denomination: 68 fen
Designers: Chen Quansheng, Sun Aiguo
Size of stamps: 60*27mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 30(3*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J162 "2540th Anniversary of the Birth of Confucius" commemorative stamps were issued on September 28, 1989. The set consists of 2 stamps, with 1 souvenir sheet issued on the same day, printed by photogravure. Stamp size 60 × 27 mm, perforation gauge 11, 30 stamps per sheet (3 × 10); souvenir sheet stamp size 40 × 60 mm, overall size 74 × 106 mm, imperforate. Designed by Chen Quansheng and Sun Aiguo, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

Confucius was a great thinker and educator of ancient China, the founder of the Confucian school, and is honored as the Teacher of All Ages. This set selects two of the most representative experiences in Confucius's life, showing his life of transmitting the Way and teaching, and of traveling about to promote the Way, carrying forward the excellent traditional culture of Confucianism and highlighting the profound influence of Confucius's thought on Chinese and even world civilization.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Lecturing at the Apricot Altar

The image depicts Confucius lecturing and teaching disciples at the Apricot Altar. Confucius sits upright on the teaching platform, guiding step by step, while his disciples hold bamboo slips and listen attentively. The Apricot Altar was the place where Confucius lectured and is a symbol of education in ancient China, embodying Confucius's educational ideals of "education for all without discrimination" and "teaching with tireless zeal."

Traveling Around the States

The image portrays Confucius leading his disciples in a ox cart as they travel around the various states. Confucius led his disciples around the states, proclaiming to the rulers of each state his political propositions of benevolent governance and rule by virtue. Though he encountered many hardships, he remained steadfast in his resolve.

Souvenir Sheet: Portrait of Confucius

The main image is a portrait of Confucius, with the figure comprehensively painted with reference to the version by Wu Daozi of the Tang Dynasty and the successive portraits preserved by the Confucius Mansion, with a solemn and kindly expression. The border decoration features patterns of the Six Arts—rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics—representing the six basic skills cultivated by the ancient gentleman.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts an ancient scroll-style composition, with a light brown background that is simple and weighty, carrying the flavor of traditional fine-brush heavy-color painting. The lines of the figures are delicate and smooth, and the style is elegant and restrained. The two stamps echo each other, one static and one dynamic, contrasting the calm of lecturing and educating with the dust-covered feeling of traveling around the states; the souvenir sheet is solemn and dignified, and the Six Arts patterns in the border set off the theme. The whole set is full of a rich atmosphere of classical Chinese aesthetics.