Commemorative stamps for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Stamp Factory

A set of commemorative stamps for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War is set to be released on Wednesday, which consists of one sheet of 13 stamps and one miniature stamp sheet. 

The set of stamps will be gifted to international guests participating in the V-Day military parade on Wednesday, Xia Jingqiu, a stamp designer at the Beijing Stamp Factory, told the Global Times. He shared that the design concept was inspired by sculptures depicting the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which the design team studied in a number of museums. 

The first through 13th stamps emphasize the theme of "Remembering History and Commemorating the Martyrs," while the miniature sheet, titled "Cherishing peace and creating a better future," features a stamp with the emblem of the commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary. 

A total of 6 million sets of the 13 stamps will be issued, while 5 million miniature sheets will also be issued. Costing 20.8 yuan ($2.90) in total, the set of stamps and miniature sheet will be sold at designated postal ­outlets and online shops for six months. 

Commemorative stamps for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Stamp Factory

Xia, who led a team of 10 stamp designers, said that the project began in late January. Given its scale, the project required a consistent visual style and coherent content, which was one of the reasons why the stamp design took several months.

The commemorative stamp set focuses on the 14-year history of the War against Japanese Aggression, highlighting key events and battles. Sculptures themed around the war are the primary artistic elements, with historical photographs providing the backdrop.

Xia told the Global Times that the set of commemorative stamps embodies the great spirit of the war.

Through its great artistic appeal, commemorative significance, and visual impact, the set of stamps depict the Chinese people's 14 years of arduous, heroic struggle, highlighting the pivotal role of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China's key position as the main battlefield in the East. 

Xia said that through rounds of discussions among various parties, the design team sought to interpret history from a new perspective. 

Take the first stamp in the set, titled "Rise up to resist the Japanese invasion," for instance. The layout combines the calendar-shaped September 18 Incident monument at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, the "Declaration on the Occupation of the Three Northeastern Provinces by Japanese Imperialists" issued by the CPC on September 20, 1931 and the section of the railway near Liutiaohu destroyed by the Japanese Kwantung Army stationed in Northeast China. 

"The designs of the entire set of stamps are inspired by museum artifacts and photographs from newspapers, creating a simple yet impactful effect," Xia noted. 

Meanwhile, each stamp tells a story of an important campaign during the 14-year war. Two of them tell stories from the international battlefields of WWII. 

Stamp 11, titled "The Chinese Expeditionary Force," features a section of the sculpture from the Memorial for the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Tengchong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, with a picture of a marching Chinese Expeditionary Force as its background. 

"This stamp commemorates the 103,000 expeditionary troops who went to Myanmar to resist the Japanese invaders in 1942," Xia explained. 

Additionally, stamp 12, called "Fighting Shoulder to Shoulder," features a sculpture of Chinese and Soviet Union soldiers defending peace, with images of the Flying Tigers and of the Himalayan Mountain Range in the background. The Flying Tigers were US volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces against Japanese invaders during World War II. 

After the Pacific War broke out in December 1941, the Chongqing-Yangon air route and later Myanmar-Yunnan shipping were cut off. To maintain supplies, China and the US opened a Yunnan-India air route over the Himalayas nicknamed "Hump Route" for its camel-hump-like shape. 

The Flying Tigers played a key role here, escorting supply planes, protecting transport corridors and defending Chinese cities.

Xia noted that design-wise, the stamps take an objective stance. 

"As you can see, we have not deliberately avoided the mention of any countries due to diplomatic relations, be it the US or Russia. This is a correct and objective historical perspective," he stressed.