Sp.676 Calligraphy Postage Stamps－“Poetry of Hanshan and Recluse Pang” by Huang Ting-chien, Sung Dynasty

In order to illuminate the beauty of traditional Chinese calligraphy, Chunghwa Post is specially releasing a se-tenant strip of four NT$8 stamps on the Sung dynasty handscroll of calligraphy “Poetry of Hanshan and Recluse Pang” by Huang Ting-chien, from the National Palace Museum.

Huang Ting-chien (1045-1105) had a style name of Luzhi and was also known as the Fuweng and the Shangu daoren. He was from Fenning, Jiangsi Province and was skilled at poetry and calligraphy. Along with Su Shih, Mi Fu and Tsai Hsiang, he is regarded as one of the four great calligraphers of the Northern Sung dynasty. This work is full of flowing brushstrokes that demonstrate a controlled exuberance, reflecting the deep influence of Zen Buddhism on his life and creativity. It is one of the most important large-character running-script calligraphies of his later years.

As an added incentive for collectors, a postage stamp folio will be released along with the stamps. It contains a set of four stamps, a set of four pre-cancelled maximum cards, and a complete image of the calligraphic work. Classical and elegant, it’s worth collecting.