Scott No: -
Serial number: 2013-15
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: July 13, 2013
Denomination: 480 fen
Size of stamps: 33 * 44 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 sets)
Size of sheet:
166 * 220 mm for Sheet I;
156 * 150 mm for Sheet II
Designer: Fan Zeng
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

To promote traditional Chinese culture, China Post issued a set of four special stamps titled "Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting" on July 13, 2013, with catalog number 2013-15. The set has a total face value of 4.80 yuan. The stamp designs are "High Mountains and Flowing Water," "Yi Qiu Teaches His Disciples," "Huai Su Practicing Calligraphy by the Pond," and "Wu Daozi Painting on the Wall."

This stamp set continues the series of traditional Chinese culture-themed issues by China Post, following previous sets such as "The Four Treasures of the Study," "Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum," and "Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness." The stamps were specially commissioned from the renowned contemporary calligrapher and painter Mr. Fan Zeng, who used the baimiao (plain line drawing) technique to depict four famous ancient Chinese anecdotes related to qin (music), chess, calligraphy, and painting.

High Mountains and Flowing Water (corresponding to "Qin" – Music)

During the Spring and Autumn period, Bo Ya, a qin master from the State of Chu, possessed unparalleled skill yet could never find anyone who truly understood the deeper meaning in his music. While traveling and moored at the mouth of the Han River, he was caught in a storm. When the rain stopped, he played his qin. A woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi, who had taken shelter nearby, heard the music and approached. He accurately perceived the images of "towering mountains" and "flowing rivers" in the melody. The two felt they had met too late and became soulmates (zhiyin), agreeing to meet again the following Mid-Autumn Festival. However, when Bo Ya arrived for their appointment, he learned that Ziqi had died of illness. Overwhelmed by the loss of his only true friend, Bo Ya shattered his qin and never played again. This story became the eternal metaphor for the rarity of a true soulmate. To this day, the Guqin Terrace in Hanyang, Wuhan, commemorates their friendship.

Yi Qiu Teaches His Disciples (corresponding to "Chess")

Yi Qiu was recognized during the Warring States period as the finest chess player in the entire state. He is the first recorded master of the game of Go in Chinese history. Many young people came to study under him, and he accepted two disciples. When teaching, he would always close his eyes and explain the game, never directly supervising them. One disciple listened with full concentration, absorbing every principle. The other, though appearing to listen, was distracted, thinking about shooting down birds that might fly by. After a year, when the two played against each other, the latter's skill was far inferior. Yi Qiu remarked, "It is not that their intellect differs, but that one is single-minded while the other is distracted." This story has become a classic fable highlighting the importance of concentration.

Huai Su Practicing Calligraphy by the Pond (corresponding to "Calligraphy")

The Tang Dynasty "Sage of Cursive Calligraphy," Huai Su, became a monk as a child. He was obsessed with cursive script but was too poor to afford paper. He planted over ten thousand banana trees around the monastery and used the broad leaves as paper to practice calligraphy on a stone table. He wore out several lacquer trays and wooden boards with his brush, and the discarded brushes formed a "brush mound." The water in the pond where he rinsed his brush turned black with ink. His wild cursive script, together with Zhang Xu's "insane" style, became known as "Crazy Zhang and Wild Su." He eventually produced the Autobiography, which has been hailed as the finest cursive script in history. His diligence in using banana leaves as paper remains one of the most inspiring stories in the history of calligraphy.

Wu Daozi Painting on the Wall (corresponding to "Painting")

The Tang Dynasty painter Wu Daozi, honored as the "Sage of Painting," was said to bring his paintings to life. While traveling in Chang'an, he came across a quiet inn and offered to paint a mural on its wall. He painted a leafless pomegranate tree and added a flock of sparrows without eyes. The next morning, the sparrows began to chirp, attracting crowds from across the city and making the inn's business flourish. However, the greedy innkeeper raised his prices and exploited his customers. When Wu Daozi learned of this, he returned to the inn and, with a smile, painted the eyes on the sparrows. Instantly, the birds flew off the wall, leaving only the barren tree, and the inn returned to its former quiet. This legend has been passed down as a fascinating folk tale for centuries.

The "Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting" stamps capture the essence of the "Four Arts of the Scholar" within a limited space. The designs are masterful and spirited, with bold yet expressive brushwork, reflecting the designer's profound understanding and unique insights into traditional Chinese culture.