The ancient Chinese devised a calendar system wherein the Earth's yearly orbit around the sun was divided into 24 seasonal periods, or solar terms." The 24 seasonal periods are very closely related to the spring planting, summer cultivation, autumn harvest and winter storage that occurred in the agricultural society of ancient China. These solar terms were at the root of people's actions in everyday life. To make the public understand the life of the ancient Chinese, this Directorate is issuing a stamp for each of the "24 Seasonal Periods." These stamps will be issued in four sets of six stamps. The designs of the stamps depict sights in farming villages at different seasons, and each season consists of six seasonal periods. The stamps are printed in se-tenant format. The designs of the stamps are as the following: 1. "Commencement of Spring": It is the first day of spring.The warm spring breeze is blowing and waking up everything, and the land is green and enveloped by enchanting spring sunlight. 2. "Rain Water": Endless spring rain brings ample water.Farmers go to their fields to work, looking forward to a bumper harvest. 3."Waking of Insects": The spring thunder roars, waking up the hibernating insects and animals. The earth is full of life, and everything is growing and flourishing. Wherever you go, you hear birds singing and smell the scent of the flowers. 4. "Spring Equinox": On this date, day and night are of equal length. It is said that if it rains on this day, one can expect a bumper harvest in the fall. Therefore, farmers are all busy sowing seeds and transplanting rice seedlings. 5. "Pure Brightness": During this time, the weather is warm and the flowers are blooming. It is a time when the atmosphere is clean and clear, and so it is called "Pure Brightness." The whole family goes together to sweep their ancestors' graves and perform rites in honor of them. These are displays of the traditional Chinese virtue of never forgetting one's origins. The Chinese put a great emphasis on the performance of funeral.- rites and the making of offerings to ancestors. 6. "Grain Rain": Rain helps grain grow. This date is so named to remind farmers that it is going to rain and that they should start to work. Only with ample spring rain will crops grow well. During this time, the weather is very unstable.