T4 - Daqing Red Banner

The Daqing oilfield, which lies in the Southwest of Heilongjian Province, was discovered on September 26, 1959, just before the 10th anniversary celebration of founding of People's Republic of China.   In celebration and commemoration, the oilfield was named "Daqing", which literally means "Great Celebration".

Daqing, the city, was founded in 1959 to house workers extracting oil and gas from Daqing oilfield and also host industries which could take advantage of the energy and petrochemicals extracted. 

At the beginning of building Daqing, the situations were difficult.  The land was wild, barren and a bitterly chill climate challanged the workers.  The workers went all out to build Daqing into a modern oil capital of China despite severe climate and shortages of money and supplies.  Daqing has became a role model of good practice in industry and healthcare, for other industrial cities to follow.

The fact that the great Chinese leader Mao Zedong has issued a directive - "In Industry, learn from Daqing" in 1964 reflects how important a role Daqing has played in industrial development in China.

September 30, 1974, is the 10th anniversary of  "In Industry, learn from Daqing" campaign.  T4 - Daqing Red Banner, is issued to commemorate and showcase the development at Daqing.
　
The set of five stamps is listed as follows:
(5-1) 8 fen Wang Jinxi, the "Iron Man"  铁人－ 王进喜
(5-2) 8 fen Build up Daqing through studying Chairman Mao's "On Practice" and "On Contradiction"  “ 两论” 起家
(5-3) 8 fen Building the enterprise with painstaking effort  艰苦创业
(5-4) 8 fen Scientific Management  科学管理
(5-5) 8 fen A new-type mining area  新型矿区

(5-1)【Wang Jinxi,the "Iron Man"】Wang Jinxi (王进喜, 1923-1970) was born in a poor peasant family in Yumen County, Gansu Province.  He started working in the Yumen Oilfield when he was 15 years old.  In 1956, he was admitted to the Chinese Communist Party.  When oil was discovered at Daqing Oilfield, Wang led his famous No. 1205 Drilling Team from Yumen Oilfield to Daqing Oilfield.  Undeterred by the low temperatures between -20 and -30 degC, they started drilling immediately.  After five days of drilling, they struck oil, and Daqing's first oil production well started operation.  Despite fatigue, injuries and difficulties, Wang kept going throughout.  For this he earned the title "Iron Man", and the name "Iron Man"  Wang became famous.   In 1960, the nation was called upon to learn from the Iron Man, and in 1967, he was made a national labour model.

(5-2)【Build up Daqing through studying Chairman Mao's "On Practice" and "On Contradiction"】"On Practice" 《实践论》was written by Mao Zedong in July 1937, on the relation between knowledge and practice, between Knowing and doing.  The essay was written in order to expose the subjectivist errors of dogmatism and empiricism in the Communist Party, and especially the error of dogmatism, from the standpoint of the Marxist theory of knowledge.  It's stress was on exposing the dogmatist kind of subjectivism, which belittles practice.   "On Contradiction" 《矛盾论》was written by Mao Zedong in August 1937.  This essay was written after the essay "On Practice" and with the same object of overcoming the serious error of dogmatist thinking to be found in the Communist Party at the time.   Both essays are delivered as lectures at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political College in Yenan.  The stamp design depicts Daqing's workers learning "On Practice" and "On Contradiction",

(5-3)【Building the enterprise with painstaking effort】Daqing was used as an example to entice young people to move to hardship areas to assist in the development of China.  The stamp depicts Daqing workers' perseverance and strength of spirit in working under extreme cold conditions. 

(5-4)【Scientific Management】Scientific Management is a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized workflows.  Its main objective is improving economic efficiency, especially labour productivity.  The stamp depicts Daqing's management workers at work.

(5-5)【A new-type mining area】The stamp shows a aerial view of Daqing, showing the great development of the area.

T4 – Daqing Red Banner 大庆红旗  Issue Date: 1974.9.30
Serial Number:	T4
Scott No.:	1194-1198
Michel No.:	1202-1206
Number of stamps in Set:	5
Denomination:	8 fen for stamp 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Quantity of Issue:	10,000,000 for stamp 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Perforation:	P11
Sheet Composition:	35（5 X 7）
Size of stamps:	60 X 27 mm
Designer:	Stamp 1 - 3: Ren Yu 任宇 Stamp 4 - 5: Pan Keming 潘可明
Printing Process:	Photogravure
Printing House:	Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T3 - Paintings by Peasants of Huxian

Huxian County is located 40 km southwest of Xian City.  Bordering Qinling Mountain to the south and the Wei River to the north, Huxian County boasts splendid landscapes and a long history.

Originated from the traditional folk arts such as paper cutting, embroidering and so on, Peasant Painting in Huxian County first appeared during the 1950s.  At that time, most paintings were focused on work related activities.

In 1958, professional artists were sent to Huxian and many other county localities to train peasants in making of wall paintings praising the Great Leap Forward.   Around 1963, peasant painters were playing important role in the Socialist Education Movement in Huxian.

Now, peasants portray almost all aspect of their daily life -- feeding livestock, children playing, local operas, village traditions, ducks swimming, elders playing Chinese chess, etc.  By using bright colours and fantastic style, peasant paintings record their everyday life, the beautiful landscape, the great harvests and the busy festivals.    All paintings have a charm, clear and full of the feeling of folk life.

Huxian County was named the County of Painting by the Chinese Ministry of Culture in 1988 and now is also renowned as one of the most famous counties of Peasant Painting in China.

This set of six stamps shows six of the Huxian County peasant paintings.
(6-1) 8 fen Veteran secretary  老书记
(6-2) 8 fen Digging a well  高原打井
(6-3) 8 fen Spring hoeing  春锄
(6-4) 8 fen Scientific farming  科学种田
(6-5) 8 fen Thriving plantation and flourishing  林茂粮丰
(6-6) 8 fen Bumper harvest of cotton and crops  金山银海

(6-1)【Veteran secretary】This stamp depicts a veteran secretary who persists in learning and persists in production labours in the field.  This drawing was one of the paintings in the 1973 Huxian Peasants Paintings Show in Beijing.   It is now kept at the National Art Museum of China.

(6-2)【Digging a well】This stamp depicts the process of digging a well in the highland.  It showed the difficulties of getting water in arid North Western China and also the perseverance of the Chinese people.

(6-3)【Spring hoeing】This stamp depicts a group of female farmers stooping and working in the field in time of Spring.   The green of the field and the arc formed by the farmers shows a bountiful and harmonious lives.

(6-4)【Scientific farming】In the 1970's, the Chinese government had started the application of soil and plant sciences to land management and crop production.  This enables agriculture advancement from primitive methods to modern methods.

(6-5)【Thriving plantation and flourishing】This stamp depicts the golden and bountiful crops in the field at autumn.

(6-6)【Bumper harvest of cotton and crops】This stamp depicts the bountiful harvest after the success of the growing season.  The farmers are rejoicing and jubilant.
　

T3 – Paintings by Peasants of Huxian 户县农民画 Issue Date: 1974.4.10
Serial Number:	T3
Scott No.:	1181-1186
Michel No.:	1189-1194
Number of stamps in Set:	6
Denomination:	8 fen for stamp 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Quantity of Issue:	15,000,000 for stamp 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Perforation:	Stamp 1 -- P11½ X 11 Stamp 2, 5 - P11 Stamp 3, 4, 6 - P11 X 11½
Sheet Composition:	Stamp 1 -- 50（10 X 5） Stamp 2 -- 35 (7 X 5） Stamp 3, 4, 6 -- 50（5 X 10） Stamp 5 -- 35 (5 X 7）
Size of stamps:	Stamp 1 -- 30 X 40 mm Stamp 2 -- 27 X 60 mm Stamp 3, 4, 6 -- 40 X 30 mm Stamp 5 -- 60 X 27 mm
Original Artists	Stamp 1 - Liu Zhide  刘志德 Stamp 2 - Li Kemin  李克民 Stamp 3 - Li Fenglan  李凤兰 Stamp 4 - Ma Zhenlong  马振龙 Stamp 5 - Zhou Wende  周文德 Stamp 6 - Li Shunxiao  李顺孝
Designer:	Wu Jiankun 吴建坤
Printing Process:	Photogravure
Printing House:	Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T2 -- Acrobatics

Acrobatics is the art of performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination.

China's Acrobatics has a long history of more than 3000 years.  Acrobatics began in the Spring & Autumn Period (771 - 476 BC) and the era of Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC).

During Han Dynasty, Acrobatics served as a main entertainment for the rulers in the palace.  Later, as the popularity of drama rose, acrobatics was relegated to performance at streets and villages.  In the past, acrobatics faced with the danger of extinction and most acrobats lived in poverty.

Now, China consider acrobatics as an art, foster and care for it.  China's acrobatics has become a comprehensive art form and won high praise home and abroad.

The set of six stamps use traditional programs of China's acrobatics as the design endows acrobatics new time feature.

(6-1) 8 fen The Lion-dance 舞狮
(6-2) 8 fen Handstand on Chairs 叠椅
(6-3) 8 fen Twirling Bamboo Diabolos 抖空竹
(6-4) 8 fen Balancing a Jar 顶坛
(6-5) 8 fen Plate Spinning 转碟
(6-6) 8 fen Stepping the Umbrella 蹬伞

(6-1)【The Lion-dance】Acrobatics Lion Dance has evolved from old folk lion dance in China.  Through the adaptation of the acrobats, it has become a very popular show with audiences.  There are two types of lions- big lion (played by two acrobats) and small lion (played by one acrobat).  They not only perform the various movements of the lion, rolling and jumping, but also portray the lion's strength and agility, and the quiet and playful side of the lion's character as well.

The stamp shows an acrobat stands on the body of a golden lion which itself is balancing on a big red ball.  This is a classic lion dance performance in Acrobatics shows.

(6-2)【Handstand on Chairs】Chair stacking is an example of common household items becoming props in the hands of talented acrobats.  A stack of chairs can reach over two stories high with acrobats balancing precariously on top.

The stamp shows a female acrobat shows off the exciting and dangerous moves of handstanding on top of a stack of chairs.

(6-3)【Twirling Bamboo Diabolos】Diabolo originated during the Han Dynasty era and is a traditional Chinese sport.  During festivals, people vie with one another in playing diabolo to express their jubilation and happiness. 

 

On the stamp, the acrobats spin the diabolo rapidly, twirling it round their bodies, throwing it up or passing it to one another with grace and dexterity.

 

(6-4)【Balancing a Jar】Jar, originally a grain container, was used by peasants to perform various feats during harvest celebration.  Later, it was adapted by acrobats into acrobatics performance to demonstrate simplicity and steadiness.  Balancing a single jar on the head is just the beginning of this unusual performance.  The acrobats proceed to balance and toss multiple jars and finally a big 25 pound jar.

 

The stamp shows two male acrobats balancing a spinning jar with their heads.

(6-5)【Plate Spinning】This performance keeps the acrobats continually moving while they balance numerous bamboo sticks that have plates spinning on top.  They are perfect in movement and beautiful in balance.

The stamp shows a female acrobat in a graceful ballet of balance, balancing a number of bamboo sticks with spinning plates on top.

(6-6)【Stepping the Umbrella】This involves a female acrobat, laying on a chair and spinning and juggling an umbrella with both her foot.  Through precise spinning motions with her toes, the umbrella seems to have life of its own, spinning, spiralling and floating in the air and not falling to the floor.

The stamp shows a female acrobat balancing and juggling an umbrella with her foot.

T2 – Acrobatics  杂技 Issue Date: 1974.1.21
Serial Number:	T2
Scott No.:	1149-1154
Michel No.:	1168-1173
Number of stamps in Set:	6
Denomination:	8 fen for stamp 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Quantity of Issue:	10,000,000 for stamp 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Perforation:	11
Sheet Composition:	Stamp 1, 2, 5, 6 -- 35 (7 X 5) Stamp 3, 4 -- 35 (5 X 7)
Size of stamps:	Stamp 1, 2, 5, 6 -- 27 X 60 mm Stamp 3, 4 -- 60 X 27 mm
Designer:	Wan Weisheng  万维生
Printing Process:	Photogravure
Printing House:	Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works