On January 5, a cold winter day, it began to rain in Shanghai. It was still dark, and many people braved the rain to rush to the nearby postal outlets. On this day, the "Year of Nongyin" Tiger Zodiac stamp was issued.
The cold can't stop people's enthusiasm. At 5:00 a.m., the hall of the Shanghai Luwan Post Office was already crowded. Many people waited here the first night in order to buy the Year of the Tiger zodiac stamps as soon as possible.
Whenever a stamp is issued, you can see the scene of snapping up all over the country. Why does a small stamp have such a big charm?
"Stamps embody Chinese culture, interpret the national spirit, and tell the story of China." Wang Zhiqi, former general manager of the postal business department of China Post Group Co., Ltd., introduced to reporters that stamps, as "national business cards", inscribe the pace of progress of the country and the nation.
Commemorative Stamps for the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China Information Photo
Between the inches, witness the moment of history
This winter, the world is looking forward to an Olympic event. Wang Zhiqi is no exception, but in his expectations, there is also a heavy responsibility.
On February 4, when the Beijing Winter Olympics open, stamps will also be issued to the public in commemoration of the opening of the 24th Winter Olympic Games.
China will dedicate a wonderful, extraordinary and outstanding Winter Olympics to the world, and stamps will become an important witness of this grand event. China Post has designed a series of commemorative stamps for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, including "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics - Snow Sports", "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics - Ice Sports", "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics - Competition Venues", etc., as well as the upcoming "Commemoration of the Opening of the 24th Winter Olympic Games".
The designer of the commemorative stamp of "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics - Competition Venue" was Guo Zhiyi, designer of China Philatelic Co., Ltd. Guo Zhiyi said that the revision and improvement of the design plan has gone through more than half a year. During this period, he repeatedly listened to the opinions of the experts of the Winter Olympic Games, and also went to the Winter Olympic venues to conduct field research. The shape of snowflakes and hills in the background alone has been modified dozens of times.
As a witness to history, every stamp deserves to be carefully designed. Opening one philatelic album after another, one historical event after another jumped on the paper.
Looking back at the 2021 that has just passed, we see a landmark year. This year, the Communist Party of China ushered in its centennial anniversary, and the stamp faithfully recorded this great historical moment.
On July 1, 2021, China Post issued a set of 20 commemorative stamps and a set of 1 commemorative cover of 1 commemorative stamp for the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China. The commemorative stamps for the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China are the set of stamps with the largest number of stamps, the widest content of expression and the highest issuance specifications in the series of stamps for the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The stamp adopts the form of consecutive stamp design, with red and gold as the main tone of the picture, the use of oil painting realistic techniques, and the use of continuous streamers throughout the whole, implying the glorious course of the CPC's century-long struggle.
The commemorative cover adopts the party emblem, the golden words "Do not forget the original heart and remember the mission", the logo of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the large-scale lacquer mural "Ode to the Great Wall" in the History Exhibition Hall of the Communist Party of China as performance elements.
Twenty-Four Solar Terms Special Stamps Information Picture
On the morning of July 1, there was a long queue in front of stamp sales outlets across the country. Many people were holding red flags, and their eyes were full of joy and expectation.
I took the commemorative stamp and commemorative cover of the "100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China" from the staff of the post office and carefully clipped it into the book... At the Yangzijiang Road Post Office in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Zhang Changling, a citizen, finally bought a commemorative stamp that he wanted to commemorate. "This set of 20 commemorative stamps condenses the major events of the centenary of the founding of the party, which is extremely precious and must be collected!" Zhang Changling said.
At the Nanbao Road Post Office in Haikou City, Hainan Province, Mr. Huang, who bought the stamp, said excitedly: "I came to line up at 6 o'clock." The commemorative stamp issued this time records the centenary course of the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese people to prosperity, which is of great significance. ”
Stamps are connected in series into a timeline of history. Following the timeline, looking back at the extraordinary year of 2020, what comes into view is a thrilling anti-epidemic war.
In May 2020, China Post issued a special stamp entitled "Fighting the Epidemic with One Mind". The set of stamps adopts the form of consecutive stamps, and the word "zhong" in the stamp pattern closely connects the two stamps, implying that in the face of major public health events, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, the whole country has gathered a strong force of unity of will to fight the epidemic.
Wang Zhiqi recalled to reporters that this set of stamps condensed a lot of painstaking efforts of the designers, and every detail was carefully sculpted and repeatedly revised. "For example, the stamps have images of medical personnel wearing protective clothing. In the design sketch, the gloves were put on the inside of the cuffs of the protective clothing, and experts from the National Health Commission pointed out that the gloves should be worn outside the cuffs, and we immediately modified them. Wang Zhiqi said.
Small stamps, inches between them, witness historical moments. On October 8, 1949, the first set of stamps in New China, "Celebrating the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference", was born. Since then, the issuance of stamps has always resonated with the same frequency as the national social development. Wang Zhiqi said, "Every year, the preparation of stamp issuance plans is based on the premise and main line of the general context of the times and social development. Since the founding of New China, stamps have hardly missed major historical moments in the development of the country's society. ”
A Year of the Tiger zodiac stamp and commemorative coin photographed at a post office in Sydney, Australia, on January 13. Xinhua News Agency reporter Bai Xuefei photographed
Ingenuity and ingenuity, carry forward Chinese culture
Have you heard the ancient Chinese song "Bamboo Branch Words" played by Zeng Houyi chimes?
Zeng Houyi chimes are national first-class cultural relics, and have only been performed three times since their appearance, one of which was included by the famous stamp designer Shao Bolin in the miniature record of the "ZengHouyi Chimes" stamp fold, which was permanently treasured in the form of stamps.
Nowadays, stamps are not only "postage vouchers" for entrustment, but also as "encyclopedias" for acquiring knowledge, becoming rare and rare "works of art" and "collectibles". The design, development and issuance of stamps are playing a role in the dissemination of learning from the past and knowing the present in terms of promoting Chinese culture, strengthening cultural self-confidence and enhancing national pride.
In September 2009, China issued its first set of multimedia stamps, "Three Hundred Poems of Tang Dynasty", which are visual, audible, touchable and audible. This set of stamps is decorated with traditional Chinese ink paintings, and 6 poems with pictures of "Xiajiangling", "Wangyue", "Pipa Line", "Untitled", "Wangyue Huaiyuan" and "Climbing the Stork and Bird Tower" are used as the stamp content.
Opening the stamp of "Three Hundred Poems of Tang Dynasty", we suddenly walked into the poetic feelings: we can step on the Yangtze River, "between the clouds of the White Emperor, a thousand miles of Jiangling one day", you can also go up the tower to sing the Yellow River, "The day is at the end of the mountain, the Yellow River flows into the sea"; you can climb Mount Taishan Wangyue, ask "How is Dai Zongfu", listen to the answer "Qilu Qingwei", you can also look at the starry sky with the column, and chant with the other side, "The sea is born bright moon, the end of the world is at this time"; you can chant endlessly, "It is difficult to say goodbye when you meet, and the east wind is powerless and a hundred flowers are broken". You can also listen to the sound of the lute, "noisy cutting miscellaneous bullets, large beads and small beads falling on the jade plate"...
This set of stamps also used the most advanced engraving and printing technology at that time to engrave about 25,000 words of the "Three Hundred Poems of Tang Dynasty" into one stamp, and each word engraved could be touched like an inscription. Its designer, Wang Huming, a member of the China Artists Association and a stamp designer, sighed: "The entire book "Three Hundred Poems of Tang Dynasty" is condensed on one stamp! ”
With the stamp in hand, you can read Tang poems or read the twenty-four solar terms.
"Spring rain shocks the spring valley days, summer is full of mango and summer and summer are connected, autumn dew and autumn frost falls, winter snow and snow are small and cold in winter." The 24 solar terms are the knowledge system and social practice of Chinese cognition of celestial phenomena, phenology, seasonal seasons and natural changes, and an important part of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, which has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. After 5 years, China Post launched the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms" special stamp and the special layout "Small Complete Sheet" (a stamp printed on a small piece of paper), which has become a collection of fine products for philatelic enthusiasts.
"We have formed a circle with four sets of 24 stamps, which not only expresses the concept that the earth is round, the four seasons repeat itself, and the flow of air, but also conveys the concept of perfection and harmony in ancient Chinese culture." Wang Huming introduced that the "Xiao Quan Zhang" trim uses elements from ancient Chinese mathematical and astronomical works, such as the sun, moon, star bucket, etc., depicting how the ancients determined the twenty-four solar terms by observing nature, engaged in agricultural production and life. The stamp center shows the correspondence between tai chi, earth branch, zodiac degree and twenty-four solar terms, and expresses the Chinese nation's long-term emphasis on the harmonious coexistence between man and nature and the unity of heaven and man.
Wang Huming, who has designed more than 100 sets of stamps, believes that the language of stamps is not a pure painting language, but a high degree of condensation, which gives stamps a higher aesthetic value by sublimating the theme.
Stamp design and production is not only artistically ingenuity, but also introduces the latest scientific and technological achievements in a timely manner. From full-color fluorescence to variable angle invisibility, from multimedia visual to AR (augmented reality) interaction, stamps are becoming more and more "technological". The special stamp sheetlet "So Many Petite Rivers and Mountains" issued in September 2021 seems simple and simple, but it is "hidden and mysterious". With a UV lamp shining on the stamp, we will find that Mao Zedong's handwritten "Qinyuan Spring and Snow" is clearly visible; scanning with a mobile phone, you can also watch the soundtrack poem recitation version of "Qinyuan Spring And Snow", harvesting the dual enjoyment of sight and hearing.
Using "mail" as the medium, we will promote Sino-foreign exchanges
On 14 January, the United Nations Postal Administration announced that in celebration of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the United Nations will issue stamps with the theme "Sport for Peace". This is the first time that the United Nations has issued a stamp for the Winter Olympics.
Stamps are also widely regarded on the international stage. The theme of Chinese stamps has had a great influence on international stamp issuance. According to statistics, more than 130 countries and regions around the world have issued more than 3,500 kinds of zodiac stamps, expanding the influence of Chinese zodiac culture. Recently, the Australian Post Office launched the Year of the Tiger zodiac stamps and commemorative coins to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar.
When designing zodiac stamps, overseas postal agencies often ask Chinese designers to write and design them in order to better present Chinese culture. Chinese-American artist Mak Kam Hung has been involved in the design of American zodiac stamps on several occasions. He said his personal upbringing in New York's Chinatown has provided him with countless inspirations for his artistic design career. Growing up in Chinatown, the lively scenes of the Spring Festival have always been one of the sources of his artistic creation. He drew inspiration from lanterns, lion dances, dragon dances, couplets, firecrackers, red packets, Chinese New Year fruit plates, inverted blessing characters and many other Chinese New Year symbols.
Wang Zhiqi believes that Chinese stamps and philatelic products have a great influence in the international philatelic community and have become messengers who tell Chinese stories well and spread Chinese voices.
Stamps have long played a unique role in diplomacy.
On December 11, 2021, the stamp issuance ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iran was held in Tehran, the capital of Iran, as part of a series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The stamp designs of "The 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Iran" are selected from China's Guangji Bridge and Iran's Haoju Bridge. The Picture of Guangji Bridge adopts a 45-degree perspective, showing the artistic style of Combining Bridges and Boats in Guangji and Elegant Shapes; the picture of Haoju Bridge shows the unique artistic style of Guqiao.
With the increasingly frequent exchanges between China and other countries in the world, the joint issuance of stamps between China and foreign countries came into being. "Most of the sino-foreign joint stamps are used to jointly commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the joint issuance of stamps has become an important way for China to carry out cultural exchanges with other countries in the world. Wang Zhiqi said.
From the stamp "The Centenary of the Birth of Norman Bethune" to the stamp "The 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Iran", the Sino-foreign federation has issued 49 sets of stamps. The subject matter of these stamps is very extensive, involving people, animals, plants, utensils, scenery, architecture, painting, sports, folklore and other aspects, fully demonstrating the long history of exchanges between China and other countries in the world. In 2022, it is planned to issue stamps such as "The 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Mexico". In this way, the small stamp became a messenger of friendship, engraving the friendship of the peoples of all countries.
The Belt and Road Initiative has developed into a popular international public goods and international cooperation platform in the world today, and stamps related to the Belt and Road initiative are also well received at home and abroad.
China Post has issued 6 sets of 20 stamps directly related to the "Belt and Road" theme to promote the spirit of the Silk Road in the form of stamps. Taking the "Silk Road Cultural Relics (II)" issued in 2021 as an example, this set of stamps has a total of 4 stamps, and the stamp pattern content is 4 precious cultural relics of the Maritime Silk Road - convex petal silver box, Changsha kiln blue glaze brown spot mold print appliqué date pattern holding pot, Persian peacock blue glaze pottery vase, Longquan kiln blue glaze chrysanthemum petal plate.
People-to-people bonds are the social foundation for high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", and stamps are an important carrier for promoting people-to-people ties. Creating a platform for exchanges and cooperation with stamps as the theme is of great significance to deeply promote people-to-people ties among countries along the "Belt and Road". (Reporter Yan Bing, Pan Xutao, Ye Zi)
Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition