“Children Stamps – Animals in Chinese Idioms” Special Stamps

Chinese idioms, a form of expression unique to the Chinese language, are conventionally used word groups or set phrases that convey fixed meanings.  Succinct, expressive and full of philosophies of life, Chinese idioms serve as an important resource for language learning and cultural inheritance.  Hongkong Post issues a set of four stamps on the theme of “Children Stamps – Animals in Chinese Idioms” to enhance children’s knowledge of and interest in the Chinese language, as well as to inspire their positive thinking, through lively illustrations of Chinese idioms containing animal elements.

Acknowledgement: Dr Nicholas Louis Chan

$2.40 Stamp – A crane standing out from the crowd

This idiom is a metaphor that describes how prominently an extraordinary person stands out from the crowd.

Emperor Hui of the Western Jin dynasty had an attendant named Ji Shao, who was well built and dignified in appearance.  During the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, Ji Shao stayed close to protect Emperor Hui and ultimately sacrificed his life to shield the emperor from arrows, enabling his escape.  Witnesses remarked on Ji Shao, who had demonstrated great valour in the civil war, as resembling a crane standing among a flock of chickens—exceptionally prominent.

$4.20 Stamp – Strengthened like a tiger with wings

This idiom is used as a metaphor for a powerful individual or group that becomes even stronger after gaining favourable conditions.

Zhuge Liang, a renowned statesman and military strategist during the Three Kingdoms period, expressed his views on military affairs in Xin Shu, or the Book of Heart.  He opined that commanders who gain control of military power are like tigers given wings—not only are they formidable, but they are also capable of soaring high.  They will then be able to adapt flexibly to changes and unleash their talents to the fullest.  This observation was later summarised as “strengthened like a tiger with wings”.

$5.70 Stamp – Shoot two hawks with one arrow

This idiom means to achieve two goals at the same time with one action.

During the Northern and Southern dynasties, there was a master archer named Zhangsun Sheng.  One day, while hunting with Zhangsun Sheng, Shetu, Khagan of the Turkic Empire, saw two hawks fighting over a piece of meat in mid-air.  Shetu immediately passed two arrows to Zhangsun Sheng and asked him to shoot the birds down.  Zhangsun Sheng spurred his horse on, drew his bow and fired one arrow, piercing both hawks and bringing them down together.  Hawks are fierce and big in size; shooting one down is already no easy feat, let alone taking two down with a single arrow—that is an even greater challenge.

$5.80 Stamp – Whipping a galloper

This idiom means to further accelerate or to make continuous efforts for improvement.

Smart yet lazy, Gengzhuzi was often criticised by his teacher Mozi.

Mozi once asked Gengzhuzi, “I am going to climb the Taihang Mountains and will need a horse and an ox to pull the cart.  Which would you whip, the horse or the ox?”  Gengzhuzi promptly replied, “The horse.”  Mozi pressed, “Why?”  Gengzhuzi answered, “The horse is worthy of being urged on—it is responsive and up to the task.  Whipping can make it run even faster!”

It was Mozi’s intention to inspire Gengzhuzi, encouraging him to study hard and strive for advancement.  He thus said to Gengzhuzi, “I also deem you worthy of being urged on.  You should pursue progress like a galloper!”  From then on, Gengzhuzi threw himself into studies and needed his teacher to push him no more.

Official First Day Covers will be put on sale at $2.5 each at all post offices from 16 April 2026. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 16 to 22 April 2026.

Stamp products include mint stamps, stamp sheets, souvenir sheet and serviced first day cover. Serviced first day cover will be available at the philatelic offices only.

Date-stamping Arrangements

• A hand-back date-stamping service with the office date-stamp and the special postmarks will be provided on 30 April 2026 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately-made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. All philatelic offices will also provide “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark and its respective philatelic office pictorial postmark. The GPO-1 date-stamp impression will only be available at the General Post Office.

• All stamp products will be available at all post offices starting from 30 April 2026 for 3 months while stock lasts.

• All stamp products will be available at Hongkong Post’s online shopping platform ShopThruPost (website: shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) starting from 30 April 2026 at 8:00 a.m. for 6 months, while stock lasts.