Hongkong Post announced today (March 8) the issue of a set of special stamps on the theme of "Paintings and Calligraphy of Professor JAO Tsung-I", together with associated philatelic products, on March 23 (Thursday).

     An acclaimed sinologist, Professor Jao Tsung-i has made significant contributions to diverse fields of traditional Chinese culture such as history, literature, language, religion, philosophy and art. He is a prominent contemporary master in traditional Chinese literature. Devoted to academic research over the years, Professor Jao has published more than 100 books and over 1 000 scholarly articles. Bestowed with numerous local and international academic honours, Professor Jao has earned recognition as a polymath well versed in multiple disciplines of traditional Chinese culture.

     Professor Jao advocates that artists should be forward-looking. While making reference to the techniques of the ancient masters, he is a staunch supporter of Shitao's view of "following the path of the ancient masters without being constrained by tradition". In portrait paintings, Professor Jao's "outline drawings" are inspired by the Dunhuang sketches made in the Tang dynasty. Beyond the traditional Northern and Southern Schools of landscape painting styles, he promotes the Northwestern School of landscape painting style with a creative approach for portraying the landscape of the northwestern part of China. In bird-and-flower paintings, Professor Jao has developed an unprecedented style as well as new techniques in painting the lotus. In calligraphy, Professor Jao's accomplishments in academic research in ancient writing are reflected in his artworks.

     Professor Jao is well recognised for his distinctive calligraphy and painting style that fuses tradition with innovation. The set of special stamps to be issued by Hongkong Post on the theme of "Paintings and Calligraphy of Professor JAO Tsung-i" will showcase his robust and unrestrained brushstrokes as well as his superb skills in painting and calligraphy. The stamps present beautiful portrait, landscape and bird-and-flower paintings and calligraphy works of Professor Jao, namely "Pine Tree in Huangshan" ($1.70), "Pine Trees and Arhat" ($2.20), "Five-character Couplet in Official Script" ($2.90), "Victoria Peak after the Rain" ($3.10), "Avalokitesvara after the style of Tang Dynasty" ($3.70), "Calligraphy in Bronze Script" ($5) and "Four-screen Lotus Set" ($10 stamp sheetlet). These works illustrate well his unique style in artistic creation.

     Professor Jao has named this set of stamps "Penmanship of Xuantang" and the stamp sheetlet in the stamp issue bears Professor Jao's autograph, making the stamp set a valuable collectible not to be missed.

     Official First Day Covers will be on sale at $1.30 each at all post offices from tomorrow (March 9). The stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from tomorrow to March 15.

     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk and the Hongkong Post mobile app.

Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 10:50

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