Scott No: -
Serial number: 2008-13
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: June 1, 2008
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Song Jian
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13 * 13.5
Sheet composition: 20
Printing process: photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On June 1, 2008, the special stamp "Cao Chong Weighs the Elephant" (catalog number 2008-13) was officially issued. The set consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan, with a stamp booklet issued concurrently. The stamps were designed by Li Wei and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using offset printing.

"Cao Chong Weighs the Elephant" is a well-known classical Chinese wisdom story from the Records of the Three Kingdoms. The story tells how the young Cao Chong cleverly used the principle of buoyancy to weigh an elephant, demonstrating his exceptional intellect. Issued on Children's Day, this stamp set presents a classic ancient story of wisdom, promoting the values of observation, thoughtful thinking, and flexible problem-solving, preserving traditional Chinese folk tales, and inspiring young minds to think creatively and grow with intelligence.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Loading the Elephant onto the Boat

Image: The scene shows an elephant being led onto a large boat, with the boat sinking into the water and people marking the waterline on the hull.
Significance: This stamp depicts the first step of the story, visually presenting the core idea of using the boat's displacement to create a scale.

Exchanging the Elephant for Stones

Image: The scene shows stones being loaded onto the boat, and once the waterline reaches the marked level, the stones are weighed separately to calculate the elephant's weight.
Significance: This stamp completes the story, presenting Cao Chong's clever method of substitution.

Artistic and Design Features:

The set features a uniform horizontal format, with a hand-painted comic-style illustration that is soft and childlike, fitting the Children's Day theme. The fresh and elegant tones, with costumes characteristic of the Three Kingdoms period, and the layered scenes, create a coherent narrative across the two stamps. The composition is vivid and accessible for all ages. Shaped perforations enhance anti-counterfeiting, while the accompanying stamp booklet includes explanatory text, combining visual appeal with educational value.

This stamp set is a thematic issue based on an ancient Chinese wisdom story, representing a key item in the series of Chinese folk tales and children's literature. It is often collected together with other stamps featuring wise children, such as Kong Rong Giving Away Pears and Sima Guang Smashing the Vat, making it an important modern issue for thematic collections on folk tales and children's literature.