Stamp Title： Ancient Academies
Serial number: 1998-10
Values in set: 4
(4-1), The Yingtian Academy, 50 fen, 50*30mm
(4-2), The Songyang Academy, 50 fen, 50*30mm
(4-3), The Yuelu Academy, 150 fen, 50*30mm
(4-4), The Bailu Academy, 150 fen, 50*30mm

Date of issue: April 29, 1998
Designers: Li Defu; Yang Wenqing
Size of stamp: 50*30mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: offset

Academies originated from the Tang Dynasty, and were originally for the purposes of writing books, proofreading and book-storing. The warring situation of the Five Dynasties at the end of the Tang Dynasty led to a decline in the official schooling, and consequently academies where people gathered for study in solitude of gathered for lecturing began to flourish. Such academies were usually built in scenic spots or places of historical interests. In the Song Dynasty, academies received the support and sponsorship from the government, therefore, academies focusing on lecturing bloomed, and rules and regulations of the academies were also perfected gradually. The famous Suiyang (Yingtian) Academy, the Songyang Academy, the Yuelu Academy and the Bailu Academy were collectively called the “four big academies’ of the Northern Song Dynasty. In more than 1,000 years of their development, different types of academies with different characteristics were developed to cater to the needs of learning: book-compiling academies, lecture academies, examination-oriented academies, sacrifice-to-gods-or-ancestors-oriented academies, disciple-styled academies and dignitary-chaired academies. The ancient academy in China, either privately-run of privately-run with official sponsorship, is a special ancient education system.

1998年特种邮票《古代书院》
国家邮政局1998年4月29日发行《古代书院》特种邮票1套4枚。
（4-1）T 应天书院 50分 4199.9万枚
（4-2）T 嵩阳书院 50分 4199.9万枚
（4-3）T 岳麓书院 150分 3149.9万枚
（4-4）T 白鹿书院 150分 3149.9万枚

志号名称：1998-10T
版别：胶印
整版枚数：40枚
全套面值：4.00元
邮票规格：50×30毫米
齿孔度数：12度
设计者：杨文清、李德福
印制机构：河南省邮电印刷厂