J162, 2540th Anniv. of Birth of Confucius《孔子诞生2540周年》

Stamp Title: 2540th Anniv. of Birth of Confucius
Scott No: 2233-35
Serial number: J162
Values in set: 2
(2-1), Lecture at Apricot Garden, 8 fen, 60*27 mm
(2-2), Confucius Travelling round All States, 60 fen, 60*27 mm
Date of issue: September 28, 1989
Denomination: 68 fen
Designers: Chen Quansheng, Sun Aiguo
Size of stamps: 60*27mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 30(3*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese philosopher, one of the most influential figures in the history of China. According to tradition, Confucius was born in the state of Lu (present-day Shandong [Shantung] Province) of the noble K’ung clan. In 527 BC he began his career as a teacher, usually traveling about and instructing the disciples that gathered around him. Confucius served as magistrate of Chung-tu and minister of crime of the state of Lu. However, he soon left office to once again travel and teach. In 484 BC he retired to Lu, where he lived until his death.

Living at a time when intrigue and vice were rampant, Confucius believed that people must revive the principles of the ancient sages. He therefore lectured to his pupils on the classics and taught the value of the power of example. Confucius did not write down the principles of his philosophy. The Analects, a work compiled by some of his disciples, is considered the most reliable source of information about his life and teachings.

The teachings of Confucius were practical and ethical, rather than religious. He held that proper outward acts based on the five virtues of kindness, uprightness, decorum, wisdom, and faithfulness constitute the whole of human duty. His view of government was paternalistic, and he enjoined all individuals to observe carefully their duties toward the state. In subsequent centuries his teachings, known as Confucianism, exerted a powerful influence on the Chinese nation.

J162 孔子诞生2540周年
发行日期：1989.9.28。影写版。P11。 60mm*27mm。 30(3*10)。 [G]。
设计：陈全胜、孙爱国。印刷：北京邮票厂。

2-1为“杏坛讲学”。杏坛在今山东曲阜县城内孔庙大成殿前。相传当年孔子曾端坐在杏坛之上，辅导弟子读书，并弦歌教之。
2-2为“周游列国”。描绘了孔子中年后历游宋、卫、陈、曹、郑、蔡、齐、楚等国的情况。公元前497年，孔子50岁那年，因受到排挤，离开鲁国，想把自己的仁政主张在其他一些国家得到实施。

J162M 孔子诞生2540周年（小型张）
发行日期：1989.9.28。胶版。无齿孔。小型张规格：74mm*106mm。
邮票图案规格：40mm*60mm。 设计：陈全胜、孙爱国。 印刷：北京邮票厂。

小型张画面为“孔子像”，是以唐代吴道子所绘孔子形像为基础，综合孔府收藏的历代所绘孔子像设计而成。边饰图案为古代学校的教学内容中的“六艺”，即礼、乐、射、御、书、数。

孔子(前551—-前479)，名丘，字仲尼，春秋时期鲁国陬邑(今山东曲阜东南)人。孔子是儒家学派的创始人，我国古代伟大的思想家、政治家和教育家。孔子出身宋国贵族，其祖先避乱迁往鲁国，到孔子时家境已经没落贫寒。他年轻时曾在鲁国执政大夫季氏门下任管牛羊和仓库的小吏。后在鲁国由中都宰升任司寇摄行相事。不久去职，率弟子历游宋、卫、陈、蔡、齐、楚等国，志欲改良时政，复兴周礼，创立儒家学派。晚年返鲁，致力于教育与著书，曾整理《诗经》、《尚书》等古文献;删定《春秋》，使之成为我国第一部编年史籍;又解释《周易》，审定《礼》、《乐》。孔子是我国传统文化的象征，他的学术影响所及，达到整个东亚地区。1989年是他诞生的2540周年。

孔子诞生2540周年的纪念邮票共2张。

2-1为“杏坛讲学”。杏坛在今山东曲阜县城内孔庙大成殿前。相传当年孔子曾端坐在杏坛之上，辅导弟子读书，并弦歌教之。宋代以前此处本为大成殿基址，北宋以后殿北移重建，在原址筑坛植杏，以纪念孔子杏坛讲学。金朝大学士党怀英篆书“杏坛”二字刻立其上。此幅杏坛讲学的图画，没有直接表现杏坛建筑，只表现了当时孔子向弟子讲学的情景。图右为孔子讲课状，左边有四弟子排列聆听，生动地描绘了孔子晚年孜孜不倦，培育人才的伟大形象。史载孔子共有弟子三千，其中最出色的有七十二人，而七十二人中又以颜回、曾参、子路、子夏、子贡、冉求等最有名。在曲阜孔庙大成殿里配有上述弟子的塑像。

2-2为“周游列国”。描绘了孔子中年后历游宋、卫、陈、曹、郑、蔡、齐、楚等国的情况。公元前497年，孔子50岁那年，因受到排挤，离开鲁国，想把自己的仁政主张在其他一些国家得到实施。图案再现了孔子实施自己政治主张的顽强不息精神。