Chinese Posters 1983-1984
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P o s t e r s 1
Fly into Space
Red text left:
飞向宇宙去 Fly into Space
Blue text right:
郓城县文化馆供稿 Contributed by the Yuncheng County Cultural Center
王福增 画 Illustrated by Wang Fuzeng
山东人民出版社出版 Published by Shandong People’s Publishing House
山东省新华书店发行 Distributed by the Shandong Provincial Xinhua Bookstore
山东掖县印刷厂印刷 Printed by the Shandong Yexian Printing Factory
787 × 1092毫米 1/2 Paper size: 787 × 1,092 mm; half-sheet format
1983年7月第1版第1次印刷 First edition, first printing, July 1983
书号 8099·2531 Publication number: 8099-2531
定价：0.16元 Price: 0.16 yuan
Double Happiness
Large red character in the center
囍 — shuāngxǐ
This is the “Double Happiness” symbol, formed by joining two 喜 (“happiness” or “joy”) characters. It is traditionally associated with weddings, marital happiness and good fortune.
Large red text at the bottom left
恭贺新禧 — gōng hè xīn xǐ
“Best wishes for a happy New Year”
More literally: “Respectful congratulations and wishes for New Year happiness.”
Small blue publication text
王福增作 — Created/painted by Wang Fuzeng
上海人民美术出版社出版 — Published by Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House
新华书店上海发行所发行 — Distributed by the Shanghai Distribution Office of Xinhua Bookstore
各地新华书店经售 — Sold through Xinhua bookstores nationwide
上海市美术印刷厂印刷 — Printed by the Shanghai Fine Arts Printing Factory
书号：8051·13009 — Publication number: 8051·13009
开本 787 × 1092 1/2 — Sheet format: 787 × 1092 mm, half-sheet
1983年2月第1版 — First edition, February 1983
1983年6月第3次印刷 — Third printing, June 1983
1,000,001–2,650,000 — Printing range: copies 1,000,001 through 2,650,000
定价：一角六分 — Price: 0.16 yuan (one jiao and six fen)
The third printing therefore appears to have comprised approximately 1.65 million copies, indicating that this was a very widely distributed popular print.
Abundant Happiness
and Prosperity
Red Left:
吉庆有余 (Jíqìng yǒuyú)
English: “May there be abundant happiness and prosperity.” It is a traditional auspicious expression.
余 (“abundance/surplus”) sounds like 鱼 (“fish”), so fish imagery often accompanies the phrase.
Blue right:
Published by Hebei Fine Aerts Publishing House / Printed by Hebei Xinhua Printing Factory No. 2 / Distributed by Hebei Province Xinhua Bookstore / Publication number: 8087·332 / First edition: June 1983 / First printing: June 1983 / Print run: 1-450,000 copies / Price: 0.16 yuan (16 fen)
Zhou Enlai
The main red text bottom left:
周爷爷关怀我们的成长 Zhōu yéye guānhuái wǒmen de chéngzhǎng
English: Grandpa Zhou cares about our growth. Alternative: Grandpa Zhou watches over us as we grow.
“Grandpa Zhou” refers affectionately to Zhou Enlai, the man pictured with the children.
Bottom right:
The tiny printing information bottom right identifies the work as created by
Li Enyuan (李恩源), published in 1983 by Liaoning Fine Arts Publishing House (辽宁美术出版社).
Leaping over
the Dragon Gate
跳龙门 Leaping over the Dragon Gate
龍門 / 龙门 Dragon Gate
“Leaping over the Dragon Gate” is a traditional Chinese symbol of success, advancement and transformation -- especially succeeding through education or passing an important examination. The carp is believed to transform into a dragon after successfully crossing the Dragon Gate.
孙公照 作 Created by Sun Gongzhao
天津人民美术出版社出版 Published by Tianjin People’s Fine Arts Publishing House
天津市新华书店发行 Distributed by Tianjin Xinhua Bookstore
天津市人民印刷厂印刷 Printed by Tianjin Municipal People’s Printing Factory
1983年8月第1版 First edition, August 1983
1983年8月第1次印刷 First printing, August 1983
印数：000001–200000 Print run: copies 000001–200000
统一书号：8073-20673 Standard publication number: 8073-20673
定价：0.18元 Price: 0.18 yuan
So this appears to be an original first-edition poster printed in August 1983, with a stated print run of 200,000 copies. The artist’s name is 孙公照, romanized as Sun Gongzhao.