He is one of the wisest men in Chinese history. If you’ve ever explored ancient Chinese military legends, you’ve likely heard of the epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms—and the name Zhuge Liang, the master strategist whose iconic feather fan became a symbol of ingenuity. “With a lute and a flick of his feather fan, he outwitted armies of thousands”—this line immortalizes Zhuge Liang’s legendary Empty Fort Strategy, a tale where cunning and courage converge into a timeless emblem of Chinese culture.
Facing Sima Yi’s 150,000-strong army at his gates, Zhuge Liang sat alone atop the city tower, calmly playing his lute with incense smoke curling around him. The gates stood wide open. No blood was shed, yet victory was already his.
This scene is now immortalized in China Post’s official Three Kingdoms stamp collection, with the Empty Fort Strategy as its centerpiece. Using traditional Chinese fine-line painting techniques (gongbi) enriched with vibrant colors, the stamps capture every historical detail: Zhuge Liang’s composed posture on the tower, the fluttering banners of the Shu Han kingdom, and the distant shadow of Wei cavalry. Gold foil accents highlight the intricate carvings of the lute table and the gleam of armor, blending the elegance of ink-wash art with grand historical drama.
