In April 2004, the State Postal Bureau issued a set of four special stamps, featuring the Chinese idioms "Trying to learn the Handan Walk," "Lord Ye's Love for Dragon," "Filling a Position in a Yu Band," and "When the Snipe and the Clam Grapple."

The idiom "Trying to learn the Handan Walk" has its origin in a story from 2,000 years ago about a man from the State of Yan who wanted to walk in the distinct manner of State of Zhao citizens. He went to Handan to learn this walk but forgot his native walk in the process and was obliged to crawl home. The expression ridicules those that blindly imitate others.

The story "Lord Ye's Love for Dragon," is about Lord Ye and his fondness for dragons that inspired him to have his whole house decorated with dragon motifs. When a real dragon came to visit him, however, Lord Ye was scared out of his wits. The tale expresses how professed admiration is a cover for actual fear.

"Filling a Position in a Yu Band" comes from a story about a man called Nan Guo, who was not able to play the yu, an ancient wind instrument. Regardless, Nan Guo joined a band that entertained King Xuan of the State of Qi during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). King Xuan's successor, King Min, preferred yu solos, so, unable to continue pretending to play, Nan Guo had to sneak sway. This idiom cautions against using shoddy goods or inferior people to make up numbers.

In the story "When the Snipe and the Clam Grapple," a clam clamps tight shut on the bill of a snipe that is pecking at its flesh. As neither can move, a fisherman takes the opportunity to catch them both. This story describes how a third party may benefit from a two-party struggle.

The stamp's vivid images are achieved from the coloring techniques of Chinese fine brushwork painting.