Shen Mingbao and his Sinology exhibition. Photographed by Wang Yu.
Collection Experience
It was in September this year, while flipping through the "Postal Stationery Catalogue", Mr. Shen learned that the Hefei Philatelic Association had issued a set of postal envelopes titled "Ancient Chinese Models of Frugality and Integrity", much to his delight. This was because "Ancient Chinese Models of Frugality and Integrity" perfectly matched the "Twenty-Four廉 (Integrity)" theme in the Sinology series exhibition, which happened to be something he lacked. He deduced that a close collector friend in Hefei must have collected this set of envelopes, so he immediately called his friend. "What do you want? I'll trade anything for 'The Ancient Chinese Models of Frugality and Integrity'." "No, no, I only have one set myself." After unsuccessful negotiations, the next day, Mr. Shen simply bought a train ticket and headed to Hefei. After several days of persistent bargaining, Mr. Shen finally returned with the "treasure" in hand, a complete set of 12 postal envelopes titled "Ancient Chinese Models of Frugality and Integrity".
Stamps, lottery tickets, and matchbox labels are all related to Sinology.
"The scope of Sinology is very broad, it can only be exhibited in series," said Mr. Shen as he walked straight to a large cardboard box at the farthest corner of the exhibition area. He bent down, opened the lid, "This box is full of famous paintings from various dynasties, there's no place to display them all." The reporter took a closer look and found among them the Forbidden City collection painting "Lotus and Mandarin Ducks" by the renowned Qing dynasty painter Wu Zhenwu.
Mr. Shen's favorite collection is the "Twenty-Four廉 (Integrity)" items, with very complete versions: "matchbox label version", "phone card version", "envelope version". A dedicated panel displayed 12 green envelopes, each envelope painted with a portrait, either Bao Zheng from the Northern Song Dynasty or Hai Rui from the Ming Dynasty, all the incorruptible officials throughout history were included. Above the portraits were phrases like "For the public and fame, not following vulgar trends", "A lifetime of integrity, celebrated through the ages", and on the right side of the portraits were vertical lines detailing their life achievements. Mr. Shen said these 12 envelopes accompanied him from Hefei to Nanjing by train.
Traveled to Hefei and "fought" for 12 postal envelopes.
As the Year of the Dragon approaches, 71-year-old collector Shen Mingbao has organized a Sinology series exhibition featuring postcards, matchbox labels, phone cards. With more than 1300 exhibits, including stamps, cigarette labels, matchbox labels, playing cards, lottery tickets, etc., in various forms, the exhibition content covers five parts: the origin of Chinese characters, classic Confucian and Taoist works, cultural figures, Twenty-Four Filial Piety, Twenty-Four廉 (Integrity), Twenty-Four Etiquette, ancient anti-corruption classic figures, as well as calligraphy and seal carving by famous people from different dynasties.
Outstanding Exhibits
Once Mr. Shen's exhibits were displayed, they attracted a large number of residents to come and visit. Sixth-grader Min Jian, seventh-grader Wan Yuqiang, and other community students came specially after school; for them, Mr. Shen's exhibition provided essay material. Not long ago, Mr. Shen had already given lectures on Sinology at Zhonghua Middle School, Shangxinhe Middle School, and Aoti Primary School.
Wang Yu Xu YuanYuan
The exhibition was set up in the Taoyuanju Community Office of Jianye District. Just as you walk up the stairs, panels of colorful stamps, lottery tickets, and matchbox labels catch your eye. The first thing that catches your eye is "Chinese Book Rhythm: The Origin of Writing". From rock paintings and knot-tying records of ancient times, to oracle bone script of the Shang Dynasty, then to the well-known bronze inscriptions, seal script, clerical script, regular script, cursive script, running script, and less known tadpole script, flying white script, mosquito foot script, sickle head script, crow head script, etc., carved on bricks, bamboo, ceramics, almost all Chinese characters are encompassed in small stamps.