Scott No: 2174-75
Serial number: J154
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: October 9, 1988
Denomination: 28 fen
Designers: Liu Chengchun, Li Shengzhong
Size of stamps: 38.5*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 50(5*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J154 "The First National Peasants' Games" commemorative stamps were issued on October 9, 1988. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 38.5 × 31 mm, perforation gauge 11.5, and 50 stamps per sheet (5 × 10). Designed by Liu Changchun and Lü Shengzhong, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

This was China's first national peasants' sports gala, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, and the Chinese Peasants' Sports Association. The stamps select sports events suited to peasant characteristics, showcasing the strong physique and positive, upbeat spirit of peasants in the new era and reflecting the vigorous development of rural cultural and sports undertakings. They break the conventional expressive paradigm of sports stamps and incorporate the flavor of folk rural art.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Bicycle Load-Carrying Race

With a peach-red background, the image depicts two peasant athletes competing in a bicycle load-carrying race. Bicycle load-carrying is a distinctive event originating from rural production labor, close to peasants' daily production and life, plain and vivid.

Martial Arts

With a blue background, the image shows two martial arts athletes in sparring—one leaping into the air, the other sweeping a leg—with expansive and powerful movements. Martial arts is a traditional folk sport and was also a demonstration event at these Peasants' Games, carrying traditional sports culture.

Artistic Design Features

The set draws on the artistic techniques of folk paper-cutting, New Year pictures, and puppet modeling, with naive and exaggerated forms and a strong rustic flavor. The colors are intense and bright, and the style is lively and interesting. Differing from conventional competitive sports stamps, it is full of folk charm and uniquely distinctive.