On 10 August 2023, UNPA issues three stamps and three souvenir sheets on the theme “Body, Mind and Soul”. When body, mind and soul are in harmony, one experiences good health, inner peace, and happiness. The stamps represent three UNESCO intangible cultural heritage from China that contribute to reaching such harmony – the practices of Taijiquan, Calligraphy and Guqin and its music.
US$ 0.66 STAMP AND US$ 1.50 SOUVENIR SHEET – TAIJIQUAN
Taijiquan (often spelled Tai chi in the West) is a traditional physical practice characterized by relaxed, circular movements combined with breath regulation as well as the cultivation of a righteous and neutral mind. Originating during the mid-seventeenth century in Wenxian County in the Henan Province of central China, this martial art is now practised throughout the country by people of all ages and by different ethnic groups.
Taijiquan’s basic movements centre upon wubu (five steps) and bafa (eight techniques) with a series of routines, exercises and tuishou (hand-pushing skills performed with a counterpart). The element builds upon the yin and yang cycle, and the cultural understanding of the unity between heaven and humanity.
Taijiquan was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
CHF 1,10 STAMP AND CHF 2,30 SOUVENIR SHEET – CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY
Chinese calligraphy, which is the art of drawing Chinese characters, combines purely visual art and interpretation of the literary meaning. Calligraphy established itself as the most important ancient Chinese art form, alongside painting, first coming to the fore during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).
Whether they are transcribing information or simply creating beautiful forms, calligraphers’ brushes are used to ink five distinctive styles of script, known as “seal”, “official”, “cursive”, “running” and “regular”. The art may appear on any writing surface, but it is especially common on letters, scrolls, works of literature and fan coverings.
Calligraphy offers an important channel for the appreciation of traditional culture and for arts education. It is also a source of pride and pleasure for the Chinese people and embodies important aspects of the country’s intellectual and artistic heritage.
Chinese calligraphy was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
€ 1,00 STAMP AND € 1,90 SOUVENIR SHEET - GUQIN AND ITS MUSIC
The Chinese zither, called guqin, has existed for over 3,000 years and represents China’s foremost solo musical instrument tradition. The guqin was one of the four arts – along with calligraphy, painting, and an ancient form of chess (Xiangqi) – that Chinese scholars were expected to master. According to tradition, 20 years of training was required to attain proficiency.
The guqin has seven strings and 13 marked pitch positions. By attaching the strings in 10 different ways, players can obtain a range of four octaves. The three basic playing techniques are known as san (open string), an (stopped string) and fan (harmonics).
Nowadays, there are fewer than one thousand well-trained guqin players and perhaps no more than 50 surviving masters. The original repertory of several thousand compositions has drastically dwindled to a mere hundred works that are regularly performed today.
Guqin practice was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
