The idiom "Trying to learn the Handan Walk" originated from a story about a native of the State of Yan who went to Handan to learn the walk manner of the people of the State of Zhao, only to forget his own manner of walk, and had to crawl back home. The expression is used to ridicule those imitating others blindly. According to the story of "Lord Ye's Love for Dragon", Lord Ye was fond of dragons and had his house decorated with their images. But when a real dragon came to visit him, he was scared out of his wits. It is used to indicate professed but false enthusiasm. "Filling a Position in a Yu Band" came from a story about a Mr. Nanguo who was not able to play the yu but make up a number in the band playing for King Xuan of the Qi state. King Xuan's successor, King Min, preferred solos of the yu, and Mr. Nanguo had to sneak sway. The expression is used to ridicule those with no real talent. In the story of "When the snipe and the Clam Grapple", the snipe pecked the flesh of the calm and the latter clamped its beak. A fisherman too the opportunity and caught them both. It is used to describe the situation where a third party benefits from the fight between two parties.

Issue year: 2004.

Sheet size: 12.8 cm x 17.8 cm.

Sima Guang (1019 --- 1086 AD) was a Prime Minister and outstanding historian of the Northern Song Dynasty. He devoted his life to writing the classical chronicle "Historical Events Retold as a Mirror for Government" (Zi Zhi Tong Jian). As a young boy, Sima Guang was a diligent and curious student, showing an outstanding intelligence. When he was six or seven years old, once he was playing with his friends in the courtyard, when a child fell into a large vat full of water. Frightened, the other children ran away. But Sima Guang suddenly hit on an idea. He picked up a stone and broke the vat with it. The water split out, and the child was rescued. Shortly afterwards his deed was drawn into pictures and widely told. Till today this story has been known to every household in China, inspiring countless children's minds and courage.

Issue year: 2004.

Sheet size: 21.0 cm x 12.0 cm.

The stories of the Eight Taoist Immortals were first recorded in the Tang Dynasty, but the figures were not fully developed until the Ming Dynasty. According to the stories, they had great supernatural skills and power. The story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea first appeared in "Biography of the Eight Immortals by Wu Yuantai of the Ming Dynasty. Once the Eight Immortals have to cross the raging East Sea on their way to an assembly. Upon the proposal of Lu Dongbin, each of them uses his own skills and power to do it. Han Zhongli with his palm-leaf fan, Li Tieguai his calabash containing elixir of life, Lu Dongbin his sword, Zhang Guolao his paper donkey on which he sits backward, Lan Caihe his flower basket, Han Xiangzi his jade flute, Royal Uncle Cao his jade tablet, and Immortal woman He her lotus flower. All of them successfully reach the other side of the sea. "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Each Showing His or Her Magic Power" has been a household story in China.

Issue year: 2004.

Sheet size: 15.6 cm x 8.2 cm.

The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai has been a household love story in China for more than 1000 years. The heroine Zhu Yingtai, disguised as a man, becomes bosom friends with Liang Shanbo, a classmate of hers for 3 years. Before returning home, Yingtai implies to shanbo that she will be his wife. Knowing that Yingtai is woman, the delighted Shanbo hurries to her home, only to find that her family has betrothed her to someone else against her will. Under the pressure of the patriarchal clan rules and feudal ethics, they die for love and return into a pair of butterflies. The moving tragic legend extols pure love and freedom of love. First appearing in the early Tang Dynasty, the story was put on the stage in the Song and Yuan dynasties, and plays based on the story was widely performed during the Ming and Wing dynasties. The story has been handed down to this day in manifold forms.

Issue year: 2003.

Sheet size: 21.5 cm x 12.0 cm.

Copyright @ 2006-2011 www.buychinastamps.com All rights reserved.