HK issue stamps featuring 4 Chinese idioms
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-16 06:51 The Hong Kong Post
issued a special set of stamps featuring Chinese idioms and their stories
yesterday in a step to promote traditional culture in the cosmopolis and cement
its cultural roots with the Chinese mainland.
"For many people, stamps are used to prepay postage; seldom do they realize
the cultural significance that such tiny stamps have come to represent," said
Joanna Choi, acting Postmaster General for Hong Kong, at the special stamp
issuing ceremony.
"The Chinese idioms are the essence of the language," Choi said. "With this
set of special stamps, we aim to promote philately and arouse the interest of
Hong Kong children and students in Chinese culture."
Among the special stamps are four carefully chosen Chinese idioms on family
harmony, learning, personal development and community relations, namely
"Xiangjing Rubin," (meaning "respect makes successful marriage") "Kaijuan
Youyi," (meaning "reading is always rewarding") "Wenji Qiwu," (meaning "rise at
cockcrow and practice kung fu, or prepare for success") and "Tongzhou Gongji"
(meaning "cross the river in the same boat," or pull together in times of
trouble).
The stamps' design combines traditional Chinese dress and personal adornment
with modern cartoon painting techniques.
The idiom stories date to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-475 BC).
Michael Fung, designer of the special stamps, said he himself also learned a
lot about Chinese idioms in his 9-month design effort.
"The four idioms were chosen because they concentrate the core value of
Chinese culture and they are simple to express in images, " said Fung.
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