Scott No: 3226-29
Serial number: 2002-18
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 3.20 yuan
Date of issue: 20th Aug. 2002
Designer: Fan Jingnan
Size of stamps: 30*40 mm
Perforation: 11.5*11
Sheet composition: 18
Printing process: gravure-engraving combined
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stamp set is cataloged as 2002-18, titled Ancient Chinese Scientists (Group IV). It was issued on August 20, 2002. The set consists of four stamps in a combined offset and intaglio printing edition printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The designer is Fan Jingnan, with engraving by Hu Zhenyuan, Yan Bingwu, Jiang Weijie, Li Qingfa, and Hao Ou. The total face value is 3.2 yuan. Each stamp measures 30×40 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11.5×11 degrees. Each sheet contains 18 stamps, with a bridge section in the middle of the sheet.

This is the fourth group in the Ancient Chinese Scientists stamp series. It features four top scholars from different disciplines during the Warring States period, the Wei-Jin period, the Northern Song Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty, covering the fields of medicine, mathematics, astronomical machinery, and crafts and natural history. It showcases China's brilliant scientific and technological achievements in multiple fields in ancient times and promotes the spirit of scientific exploration in ancient China.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Bian Que

Bian Que was a famous physician during the Warring States period and is revered by later generations as the "ancestor of medicine." He summarized and established the four diagnostic methods of observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking, with particular expertise in pulse diagnosis. He was skilled in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and the five sense organs, and was adept at using stone needles, acupuncture, and herbal decoctions to treat patients. He traveled among the states practicing medicine, regardless of official position, adjusting his treatments according to the needs of the local people, laying the foundation for the traditional Chinese medical diagnostic system. The stamp is a line-engraved portrait, recreating the refined image of a physician of the Warring States period and highlighting the historical status of this medical pioneer.

Liu Hui

Liu Hui was an outstanding mathematician of the Wei-Jin period and an important founder of classical Chinese mathematical theory. He wrote a commentary on The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, systematically explaining ancient mathematical principles. He pioneered the method of cutting the circle to calculate pi, opening new approaches for later mathematics. He also wrote the Sea Island Mathematical Manual, a classic work on ancient Chinese surveying mathematics. He emphasized logical reasoning and rigorous verification, breaking through the limitations of pure algorithmic application and constructing a complete theoretical system of ancient Chinese mathematics. The portrait depicts a calm and wise scholar, reflecting the rigorous and pragmatic academic style of ancient mathematicians.

Su Song

Su Song was a Northern Song astronomer, astronomical instrument maker, and pharmacologist. He was highly knowledgeable, covering astronomy, medicine, mechanics, and history. He presided over the construction of the water-powered armillary sphere and celestial globe tower, which integrated astronomical observation, star demonstration, and timekeeping. It was the world's earliest astronomical clock with an escapement mechanism, of great significance in the history of world horology. He also compiled the Illustrated Materia Medica, a famous ancient Chinese pharmacological text. The portrait presents the attire of a Song Dynasty official and scholar, displaying Su Song's erudition and his mastery of both science and the humanities.

Song Yingxing

Song Yingxing was an outstanding scientist of the Ming Dynasty, courtesy name Changgeng, a native of Fengxin, Jiangxi. He traveled extensively, conducting field investigations of agriculture and handicraft production, and compiled The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, which systematically records various production techniques such as grain cultivation, metallurgy, textiles, porcelain making, and mining. It is known as the "Encyclopedia of Chinese Craftsmanship in the 17th Century." This book comprehensively summarizes the production technology and experience of the ancient working people and is a precious document for studying Ming Dynasty social production. The portrait on the stamp is simple and expressive, paying tribute to this naturalist who valued practice and recorded the crafts of all trades.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use a combination of offset and intaglio printing. The engraved lines are clean and crisp, the outlines of the figures are clear and solid, and the offset background is soft and elegant. The stamps use a vertical portrait format, with each stamp using a different soft background color for differentiation. The right side of each stamp bears a vertical inscription of the figure's era and identity, creating a unified and dignified format. The designs retain only the line-engraved portraits without elaborate backgrounds, focusing visual attention on the faces and expressions of these sages. The stamp set has an antique and solemn style. Through the art of engraved printmaking, it spans different dynasties, showcasing the pragmatic and nature-exploring spirit of ancient scientists.