In order to promote the beauty of Chinese culture, Chunghwa Post has selected four Han dynasty carved jades from the National Palace Museum’s collection for a set of four stamps. So as to facilitate customers’ use, two self-adhesive stamps with the denominations of NT$8 and NT$28 in a sheetlet of 50 pieces respectively will be issued additionally. Their designs follow:
1. Jade Beast, Han dynasty (NT$6): In this work of jade in the round, the beast, which kneels on its hind legs, has wings and a tiger’s head. It is baring its teeth and has beard under its chin. It has a curly mane on the back side of its head and a long tail.
2. Jade Seal, Han dynasty (NT$8): This seal was originally part of a Han dynasty jade sword. It was only later that this piece of the sword was embedded in a copper square to serve as a seal stamp. A jade in-the-round carving of a bear serves as the handle of the stamp. Originally milky white, the jade has turned brown with age.
3. Jade Camel, Han dynasty (NT$13): The camel sitting on the ground in this Han dynasty in-the-round work of carved jade features soft lines. After entering the imperial palace collection during the Qing dynasty, it came to be used as a rest for calligraphy brushes. The camel’s belly bears an inscription of a poem by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty.
4. Jade Bixie auspicious beast, Han dynasty (NT$28): This jade was originally white and green in coloration, but it has blackened with age. This awe-inspiring supernatural beast has two wings, and it is baring its fangs. Crouching and ready to pounce, it seems full of earth-shaking power.