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

T1 -- Gymnastics

Modern gymnastics was introduced into China in the middle of 19th century.  In 1908, a gymnastics school was established in Shanghai.  After the founding of the People's Republic of China, gymnastics developed rapidly.
 
Since 1950s, Chinese gymnastic team began to attend all kinds of contests such as World Gymnastics Championships and gained better achievements.

Gymnastics was first contested at the 1974 7th Asian Games, held in Tehran, Iran, from September 1, 1974, to September 16, 1974.   It was the first time that gymnastics was included as the medal sport in the Asian Games.

The Chinese gymnastics men team and women team won the first team titles and won six gold medals, eight silver medals and two bronze medals.

Gold:- Men's Team, Men's Pommel horse, Men's Horizontal bar, Women's Team, Women's Individual all-around, Women's Floor exercise, Women's Uneven bars, Women's Beam.

Silver:- Men's Individual all-around, Men's Pommel horse, Men's Rings, Men's Vault, Men's Parallel bars, Women's Individual all-around, Women's Floor exercise, Women's Beam.

Bronze:- Men's Horizontal bar, Women's Individual all-around

(6-1) 8 fen Floor exercise 自由体操
(6-2) 8 fen Flying rings 吊环
(6-3) 8 fen Balance beam 平衡木
(6-4) 8 fen Parallel bars 双杠
(6-5) 8 fen Uneven bars 高低杠
(6-6) 8 fen Pommel horse 鞍马

(6-1)【Floor exercise】 Men's and Women's event.  Floor exercise has its root in ancient Egypt.  It first became a sporting event in 19th century Germany.  At the 9th World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, held in Luxembourg in 1930, floor exercise became one of the Men's events.  Then, at the 11th World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, held in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1938, floor exercise became one of the Women's events.  The stamp shows the classic routine for floor exercise from a female gymnaste.

 

(6-2)【Flying rings】Men's event.  In this event the gymnast grips a pair of rings, approximately shoulder width apart, swinging and executing a series of stunts.  Flying rings has its root in France, and later got into Germany and Italy.  Flying rings is one of the Men's event since the very first Olympic Games at Athens, Greece in 1896.   The stamp shows a male gymnast on the flying rings.

(6-3)【Balance beam】Women's event.  Balance beam routines consist of a mixture of acrobatic skills, dance elements, leaps and poses.  Balance beam originated in Germany.  At the 11th World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, held in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1938, balance beam became one of the Women's events.  The stamp shows a female gymnaste on the balance beam.

(6-4)【Parallel bars】Men's event.  A typical performance will involve swinging skills in a support position (on the hands), a hanging position, and an upper arm position.  Each routine ends with a dismount from either the ends of the bars or the side of the apparatus.  The parallel bars were invented by German Friedrich Ludwig Jahn in 1810's.  Parallel bars is one of the Men's event since the very first Olympic Games at Athens, Greece in 1896.   The stamp shows a male gymnast on the Parallel bars.

(6-5)【Uneven bars】Women's event. The bars are placed at different heights allowing the gymnaste to jump from bar to bar. It was developed from men's parallel bars, originated in the late 19th century Europe.   At the 12th World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, held in Basel, Switzerland in 1950, uneven bars became one of the Women's events.   The stamp shows a female gymnaste on the uneven bars.

 

(6-6)【Pommel horse】Men's event.  A typical pommel horse exercise involves both single leg and double leg work.  Single leg skills are generally in the form of scissors.  For double leg work, the gymnast swings both legs in a circular motion (either clockwise or counterclockwise) and performs such skills on all parts of the apparatus.  The pommel horse was developed in ancient Roman's era as an artificial horse used by soldiers to practice mounting and dismounting skills.  Pommel horse is one of the Men's event since the very first Olympic Games at Athens, Greece in 1896.  The stamp shows a male gymnast with double leg work on the pommel horse.

T1 – Gymnastics  体操运动 Issue Date: 1974.1.1
Serial Number:	T1
Scott No.:	1143-1148
Michel No.:	1162-1167
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:	11½ X 11
Sheet Composition:	50 (10 X 5)
Size of stamps:	30 X 40 mm
Designer:	Zou Jianjun  邹建军
Printing Process:	Photogravure
Printing House:	Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Stamps, T-series, 1974-1991

I have almost forgotten about this blog, because of my busy work schedules and frequent travelling.

As now my work has less travelling, I will restart this blog again.

I will give an introduction of the individual sets of China's T-series stamps (T1 - T168) that were issued from 1974 to 1991.

I will also list the forgeries that are known in the market place and the ways to identify them, if applicable.

Stay tuned...