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First Day Cover Text for Chinese Martial Arts (22 May 2007)

Marked by their variety and profundity, Chinese martial arts attach great importance to both the internal and the external arts. This approach exemplifies a key element of traditional Chinese culture, where special emphasis is placed on striking a balance between the body and the mind, the hard (offensive) and the soft (defensive) elements. Practical yet philosophical, Chinese martial arts help develop physical fitness and systematise combat tactics. Due to the regional and cultural differences between the areas north and south of Changjiang (the Yangtze River), Chinese martial arts are broadly divided into North and South Schools, each giving the world an impressive array of distinctive styles of martial arts.

The "Chinese Martial Arts" issue, composed of four stamps featuring "Southern Lion Dance", "Nanquan", "Northern Lion Dance" and "Beitui", presents a miniature vision of the versatile Chinese martial arts. A silhouette in gold foil at the bottom of each stamp highlights the martial arts form depicted.

$1.40 - Southern Lion Dance
A Southern Lion is characterised by the bobbles on its nose and the vibrant colours on the lion drape. The climax of the lion dance, "Picking the Greens", is represented by a bunch of lettuce featured on the left side of the stamp.
$2.40 - Nanquan
Nanquan ('Southern Fist') is a collective term covering all styles of personal combat practised in southern China. Typical features of Nanquan include the stable stance, explosive punches and smooth transitions, with less emphasis on legwork and jumps. The wooden dummy shown on the right side of the stamp is a commonly used training aid.
$3 - Northern Lion Dance
The look and movement of a Northern Lion are remarkably lifelike, especially when it is jumping and prancing with its long hair flowing. Shown on the right side of the stamp is a ball of silk, an indispensable prop for playing with lions in performances.
$5 - Beitui
Beitui ('Northern Kicks') is a collective term covering all styles of personal combat practised in northern China. Beitui has a strong focus on legwork and is known for the agile leaping and kicking that is part of the discipline. An illustrated training manual on the left side of the stamp suggests how different generations have studied this martial art and passed on their knowledge.

The First Day Cover captures the movement of martial arts against a background dominated by the calligraphic form of "武", the Chinese character for "martial". The design highlights the vigour and flexibility shared by these time-honoured art forms.