T10 -- Militia Women

People's militia is a half military organization which is served by ordinary people who aside from their farm, factory and study duties, are also military trained.  The task of people's militia is to actively take part in building the socialism and take the lead in labour; to cooperate with the Army to consolidate frontier defence and manage public order; and to prepare for joining the army to fight at any time to defend the country.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, People's militia developed swiftly in townships and villages.  Women were liberated from the bottom tier of the society and they eagerly participated in the building of the socialist society and enterprises, as well as enrolling into the People's militia.

To commemorate the International Women's Day and depicting the militia women' lives and activities,  a set of three stamps was released on March 8,1975.

(3-1) 8 fen, Sharpshooters  我们都是神枪手
(3-2) 8 fen, Back from target practice  打靶归来
(3-3) 8 fen, The "Underground Great Wall"  地下长城

(3-1)【Sharpshooters】This stamp design came from the oil painting  "Sharpshooters" 《我们都是神枪手》, by Zhao Shuqin (赵淑钦).  The oil painting showed a group of island Militia Women cleaning their weapons after target shooting, with the sea as the background.

(3-2)【Back from target practice】This stamp design came from the oil painting "Back from target practice" 《打靶归来》, by Yang Ze (杨则).  The oil painting showed a group of Militia Women riding their horses back to camp after target shooting, with the grassland as the background.

(3-3)【The "Underground Great Wall"】This stamp design came from the oil painting "Underground Great Wall" 《地下长城》, by Liu Sanduo (刘三多) and Wu Zhengquan (伍正权).  The oil painting showed the Liberated Army and the Militia Women in the act of building an underground bunker.

T10 – Militia Women  女民兵 Issue Date: 1977.3.8
Serial Number:	T10
Scott No.:	1312-1314
Michel No.:	1322-1324
Number of stamps in Set:	3
Denomination:	8 fen for stamp 1, 2, 3
Quantity of Issue:	5,000,000 for stamp 1, 2, 3
Perforation:	P11½
Sheet Composition:	40（4 X 10)
Size of stamps:	53 X 31 mm
Original Artists	Stamp 1 - Zhao Shuqin  赵淑钦 Stamp 2 -- Yang Ze  杨则 Stamp 3 -- Liu Sanduo 刘三多                    Wu Zhengquan 伍正权
Designer:	Liu Shuoren 刘硕仁
Printing Process:	Photogravure
Printing House:	Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works