Scott No: -
Serial number: 2019-26
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: October 7, 2019
Denomination: 600 fen
Designer: Fan Yuli, Yan Bingwu
Size of stamps: 30 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 16
Sheet Size: 150 * 240 mm
Printing process: Offset and Engraving
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Works

China Post plans to issue a set of 6 commemorative stamps themed "Ancient Thinkers (II)" on October 7, 2019, with a total face value of 6 yuan.

From the pre-Qin school of thought, the Confucian classics studies of the Han Dynasty, the metaphysics of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, to the Buddhism of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the convergence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, the Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties, and the textual research of the Qing Dynasty, Chinese civilization has experienced several periods of prosperity in academic thought. Each period of academia boasted a group of representative figures, whose ideological and academic achievements reflected the innovative development and creative transformation of traditional culture in their time, serving as an important cultural heritage and ideological resource of the Chinese nation.

This set of stamps showcases the demeanor of six renowned thinkers from the Ming and Qing dynasties. They are: Wang Shouren, a famous thinker of the Ming Dynasty and the culmination of the Mind School; Huang Zongxi, a thinker and philosopher of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties; Gu Yanwu, a Confucian classicist, thinker, and litterateur of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties; Wang Fuzhi, a thinker of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties; Dai Zhen, a Confucian classicist, philosopher, and educator of the Qing Dynasty; and Zhang Xuecheng, a historian and literary theorist of the Qing Dynasty.

Traditional Chinese painting concepts are deeply influenced by traditional Chinese philosophical thoughts. The artwork of this set of stamps is created by the famous painter Mr. Fan Zeng. Adopting the freehand brushwork style of traditional Chinese painting, the artist advocates "antiquity" and forges the "soul" with brushstrokes, depicting six "spiritual" portraits of ancient sages and great Confucians. The paintings feature vigorous brushwork, well-proportioned ink shades, concise yet varied lines, and each of the six ancient thinkers portrayed possesses a unique charm and distinctive character.

The designers of this set of stamps are Zou Yuli and Yan Bingwu; the seal carver is Wang Yuzhong; the engravers are Yan Bingwu, Hao Ou, Yu Xue, Liu Minghui, Yin Xiaofei, and Liu Bo; and the stamps are printed by Beijing Stamp Printing House using the combined offset and engraving printing process.