Detail

`In accordance with the Ministry of Information and Communication`s plan to phase out stamps that have been in use for some time, the ``Gilt-bronze Pongnae-san Incense Burner,`` which has graced the 700-won definitive stamp since June 15, 1995, is now being replaced by a ``Koryojade ornament with a cloud-and-crane pattern.`` In Korea, jade has been considered to be the essence of heaven and earth as well as the most valuable and immaculate of all precious stones, balancing the yin (associated with negative forces) and the yang (associated with the positive).It is believed that, when carried or worn, a jade item expels evil spirits while the powers of jade are absorbed into the body.Because of these auspicious connotations, jade is commonly used as personaldecoration.Exquisite jade personal ornaments along with gold, guilt-bronze, and silver trinkets were the most popular personal decorative items during the Koryo dynasty.The patterns of Koryo`s jadeware often included birds like the phoenix, crane, or parrots as well as fishes and flowers.Jadeware in that period was generally made in pairs, as in the case of metal ornaments. The jade ornament with a cloud-and-crane pattern on this stamp is presumed to date from the 10th-14th century, Koryo dynasty, and is currently in the possession of the National Museum of Korea.`