This Directorate will issue a set of five stamps Featuring five different porcelain- making processes -making body, shaping body, painting, glazing, and firing- based on designs in a book written by Sung Yin- shing during the Ming dynasty. This set, Following the 1994 Papermaking issue, 1995 Irrigation issue, and 1996 Silk issue, is the fourth in our series on T]an Gong Kai Wu issued to help citizens understand the old methods and value the traditional techniques These stamps in denominations of NT$5.00, 5.00, 7.00, 10.00 and 13.00 were designed by Andy Ko, with professor Liu Liang-yu acting in an advisory capacity and produced in color deep offset by the China Color Printing Co Inc., R.O.C.    Porcelain is the earliest art form in this country The delicate and beautiful porcelains that have come down to us from ancient time stand for Chinese people's sweat and blood as well as wisdom and occupy a central place in the field of world arts Porcelain came to meet the needs of ancient people in times when things that were made from stone or wood couldn't Early porcelain was produced for practical purpose so it was roughly made and simple in form. With continuing improvements as times went by, its production became increasingly sophisticated. Tian Gong Kal Wu has a detailed account of the complicated processes and skillful techniques involved in its production