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First Day Cover Text - Chinese Percussion Instruments Special Stamps

Chinese percussion instruments, which represent one of the treasures of the Chinese culture, have a long history and come in wide varieties, each with its distinctive features. From the bells, drums, stone chimes and handbells of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, to the bronze chime sets and stone chime sets of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and the gongs, cymbals, bang and clappers of the Han, Jin, Sui and Tang Dynasties, the development of Chinese percussion instruments had come a long way. The growing popularity of local operas and folk music in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties gave a new lease of life to the percussion instruments, which gradually gained dominance in traditional music. Today, they continue to undergo diversification in various modern art forms.

This set of special stamps depicts five Chinese percussion instruments:

$ 1.40 Drum
Changgu is a typical drum in China. Legend has it that changgu descends from the ancient mythical figure Pangu. Shaped like an hourglass and decorated with colourful vibrant patterns, it is played by striking the skinned drumheads on both ends. In the Tang Dynasty it was also known as "waist drum" and used in dancing.

$ 2.40 Clappers
Also known as "hardwood clappers" as they are usually made of sandalwood, clappers are played by clapping with one hand in a downward position or with both hands by striking the two pieces against each other to give a brief and crisp sound. Clappers were widely used in opera accompaniment in the Tang Dynasty, and have since become a major percussion instrument.

$3 Cymbals
Cymbals are collectively called Naobo in Chinese. Nao and bo, whose constructions are strictly defined, have their distinctive timbre. The sound produced by nao is loud and crisp, while that by bo is deep and solid. Bo gained popularity in the Northern Wei Dynasty and nao first appeared in the Song Dynasty. They were used in court ceremonies and local operas.

$5 Gongs
Known as yunao in ancient China, they are commonly called "gongs with nine pitches". To play the gongs, people hang them on a wooden shelf and strike their flat and smooth surfaces with a small mallet to produce clear and melodious timbre. They were first used in the court banquet music in the Yuan Dynasty, and were also frequently used in temple music.

$13 Chimes
An important percussion instrument during the Spring and Autumn Period, the bronze chime sets symbolised the rulers' power and status. The chime sets fall into two types, namely yongzhong and niuzhong. Distinguished by a heavy, loud sound, they were played in court music and grand religious rituals.

Information provided by Mr. Yim Hok-man, Percussion Principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Special thanks to the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra