Scott No: 2367-68
Serial number: J183
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 70 fen
Date of issue: October 18, 1991
Designers: Ma Gang
Size: 30*40mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 50 (10*5)
Printing process: offset
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

The commemorative stamp set Centenary of the Birth of Tao Xingzhi, catalog number J183, was issued on October 18, 1991. It consists of two stamps, produced using the photogravure process. The stamps measure 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11 degrees. Each sheet contains 50 stamps (10×5). The stamps were designed by Ma Gang and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

Thematic Focus of the Set

This stamp set commemorates the centenary of Mr. Tao Xingzhi's birth. Tao Xingzhi was a great people's educator in modern China. He proposed the educational ideas of "Life is Education," "Society is School," and "Teaching, Learning, and Doing as One." He devoted his life to mass education and rural education, dedicating himself to the cause of modern Chinese educational reform. The stamps honor his educational practice and patriotic sentiment.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Portrait of Tao Xingzhi

The image is a half-length portrait of Mr. Tao Xingzhi, with a gentle and resolute expression. After returning from his studies abroad, Tao Xingzhi rejected the old educational model, took root in the countryside to establish schools, and promoted the popularization of education. He was a pioneer of modern mass education.

Unity of Knowledge and Action

The main subject is Tao Xingzhi's handwritten inscription "Unity of Knowledge and Action," paired with imagery of books and seedlings. "Unity of Knowledge and Action" is the core of Tao Xingzhi's educational philosophy. He advocated that practice yields true knowledge and that education should be close to life and apply what is learned.

Artistic and Design Features

The overall style is simple and elegant, with steady tones. The portrait stamp is expressive, focusing on the gentleman's refined and unadorned temperament. The text stamp highlights the calligraphy, paired with simple decorative elements, implying that education nurtures hope. The images are simple and clean, without elaborate decoration, fitting the spiritual core of Tao Xingzhi's mass education and pragmatic truth-seeking.