China Post is to issue a set of 13 commemorative stamps and a souvenir sheet entitled 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War on September 3. The denomination of the whole set is 20.8 yuan.

This set of commemorative stamps focuses on reflecting the 14-year war of resistance from 1931 to 1945, and highlights the key battles. It uses war-themed sculptures as the main art form, and historical photographs as the background. The 13 stamps primarily convey the idea of “bearing history in mind and honoring fallen soldiers”. They are:

Stamp 1 -- Rising up Against Aggression. The foreground of the stamp features the Broken Calendar Monument from the September 18 Historical Museum. The background showcases the Declaration of the CPC on the Violent Occupation of the Three Northeastern Provinces by Japanese Imperialism issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the railway section blown up by Japanese soldiers near Liutiaohu.

Stamp 2 -- Eight Heroines. The foreground is the sculpture Eight Heroines from the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution. The background the bank of Wusihun River in Heilongjiang province, where the eight heroines from the Northeast United Resistance Army jumped into the river and sacrificed themselves.

Stamp 3 -- Outbreak of the Total Resistance against Japanese Aggression by the Whole Nation. The foreground features the stone lions at Lugou Bridge. The background the soldiers of the 29th Army defending Lugou Bridge.

Stamp 4 -- Victory at Pingxingguan. The foreground is the theme sculpture in the preface hall of Pingxingguan Victory Memorial Hall. The background the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army marching toward Pingxingguan.

Stamp 5 -- Nanjing Massacre. The foreground is the memorial wall engraved with victims’ names in the mourning square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, where the words “VICTIMS 300,000” were inscribed in Chinese, English and Japanese. The background the ruins of Nanjing city after being burned and destroyed by Japanese invaders.

Stamp 6 -- Battle of Tai’erzhuang. The foreground is the relief sculpture United Resistance against Japanese Aggression from the Memorial of Tai’erzhuang Campaign. The background the city gate of Tai’erzhuang after the campaign.

Stamp 7 -- Hundred-Regiment Campaign. The foreground is the partial view of the theme sculpture Hundred-Regiment Campaign: A Glorious Victory at the preface hall of the Hundred-Regiment Campaign Memorial Hall. The Background the machinegun position of the Eighth Route Army in the Battle of Shinao Mountain.

Stamp 8 -- Liu Laozhuang Company. The foreground is the sculpture Mainstay from the Liu Laozhuang Company Memorial Park of the New Fourth Army. The background the 82 martyrs’ monument and the flag of Liu Laozhuang Company.

Stamp 9 -- On Protracted War. The foreground is Mao Zedong writing On Protracted War at a cave-dwelling in Yan’an, Shaanxi province. The Background the image of the book On Protracted War, Baota Hill in Yan’an and cavalry units of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Garrison.

Stamp 10 -- People’s War. The foreground is the sculpture Five Tiger Generals from Haiyang Landmine Warfare Museum. The Background a relief sculpture on a mother sending her son to battlefield, along with banners such as “Brave Men Head to the Frontline with Arms”, “Resist Japanese Aggression and Save the Nation” and “Unity”.

Stamp 11 -- Chinese Expeditionary Force. The foreground is the partial view of the sculpture Chinese Expeditionary Force at the preface hall of Dianxi Anti-Japanese Memorial Hall. The background the Chinese expeditionary force on the march.

Stamp 12 -- Fighting Side by Side. The foreground is the sculpture Safeguarding Peace from the Museum of the War of the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The background the Flying Tigers and the Hump, a dangerous air route yet a lifeline to China during WWII.

Stamp 13 -- Great Victory. The foreground features Mao Zedong’s inscription “Celebrating Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression: Long Live the Liberation of the Chinese Nation” published in Xinhua Daily on September 3, 1945, and the sculpture Victory Moment at the site where Japanese invaders surrendered to the New Fourth Army. The background shows the people of Yan’an celebrating the victory.

The souvenir sheet takes the emblem commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War as its central motif, conveying the theme “Cherishing Peace and Forging ahead for a Better Future”.

This set of stamps faithfully reflects the theme of the commemoration and promotes the great spirit of resisting aggression. With its solemn and dignified style, the set of stamps delivers greater artistic appeal, historical authenticity and visual impact, therefore effectively demonstrating the 14-year arduous and heroic resistance of the Chinese people against Japanese aggression, and prominently highlighting the role of the CPC as the mainstay in the War of Resistance and the position of China theater as the main Eastern battlefield for the World Anti-Fascist War.

This set of stamps is created collectively by Beijing Stamp Printing House Company Limited and edited by Gan Zhige. The commemorative stamps are printed by Beijing Stamp Printing House Company Limited, while the souvenir sheet is printed by the Anti-counterfeit and Secret-keeping Technology Printing Company of Henan Province. The planned circulation is 6 million sets of commemorative stamps and 5 million souvenir sheets respectively.