International Treasures - Asia - China - Peoples Republic of China

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International Treasures - Asia - China - Peoples Republic of China

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Chinese Flags of National Character



ZFC1267 - The flag of the Communist Party of China, which dates from the 1930s and was formally adopted in 1942; is the symbol of the founding and ruling party of China, its red background has become the basis for almost all Chinese flags. This flag dates from 1976.


ZFC1266 - The national flag of the People's Republic of China, Adopted in 1949. The red background symbolizes the revolution, the larger star represents the Communist Party of China, the smaller stars signify the four classes of the revolution as defined by Mao Zedong, "the workers, the peasants, the urban petite bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (owners of large-scale businesses and industrial facilities who remained in China)." This flag was acquired in 1976.


ZFC1326 - China - People's Liberation Army Flag. The flag of the People's Liberation Army flag was adopted in 1949. It adds to the star representing the Communist Party of China the Chinese numerals "8" & "1" symbolizing its founding date of August 1, 1928. This flag dates from the 1980s.

Organizations of the Chinese Communist Party



ZFC2015 - Communist Youth League (CYL) Flag. This CYL flag dates from the 1950s when all of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) youth organizations were merged. Surrounding the star, which represents the CPC, is a ring symbolizing the youth of China unified around the CPC. Together the star and ring of the CYL stand for the unity of the youth of all of China’s ethnicities. This flag dates from the 1980s.


ZFC1265 - Detachment of the Young Pioneers of China Flag. This is a large detachment flag of the Communist Chinese youth organization, the Young Pioneers of China, which is operated by the Communist Youth League, the organization of older youth that comes under the direct supervision of the Chinese Communist Party. The flag's red background symbolizes victory, the star represents the Communist Party of China and the torch the brightness of the communist path. This flag dates from the 1980s.


ZFC1264 - China – Young Pioneers Red Scarf. The red scarf of a Young Pioneer is their only uniform item. Sometimes simply called the "Red Scarves," the Young Pioneers are ubiquitous throughout China. The red variously symbolizes the victorious revolution and the blood sacrificed by the martyrs. This example dates from the 1980s.

Chinese battle flags from border incidents at Zhen Bao Island along the Sino-Soviet border and at Laoshan, Yunnan Province along the Sino-Vietnamese border



ZFC1262 - People's Republic of China military battle flag. Chinese national flag used by Chinese military garrison during the Sino-Soviet border clash at Zhen Bao Island in 1969. This flag was acquired from a military storehouse.


ZFC1263 - PRC Communist Youth League Pennant. This Award Pennant was presented to Red Commando Vanguard Pioneer Troops of the Military Farm Corps by the Chinese Youth League for actions at Zhen Bao Island in 1969. This flag was also acquired from the military storehouse in 1997.


ZFC2475 - Communist Youth League Flag of 1987. This memorial Communist Youth League (CYL) battle flag was inscribed by CYL combatants and medical personnel to visiting CYL well-wishers from Beijing during the Sino-Vietnamese conflict on 15 May 1987. This flag was acquired in 2007.

Flags from the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966 to 1976). After 1949 official use of red flags became commonplace in China, during the Cultural Revolution their use became public, political and prolific



ZFC0753 - PR China Unit 8706 Commemorative Color. This Commemorative Military Color was presented to Unit 8706 for their audience with Mao Zedong and completion of Mao Zedong Thought Study, in 1968. This flag was acquired in 2004.


ZFC1268 - "Long Live Chairman Mao, the Great Leader" Flag. This small red pennant from the Cultural Revolution translates, "Long live the great leader Chairman Mao." Acquired in Hong Kong in 1998.


ZFC1244 - PS China - The Lixin Children's Group. This is the flag of the "Facing the Sun" Court-yard Children's Group of Lixin, China. "Facing the Sun" was a Cultural Revolution metaphor for Mao Zedong. This flag was acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC2479 - This Cultural Revolution flag is from the Red Revolutionary Rebel Group of the Beijing Chemical Industry Research Institute. This flag was acquired in Beijing in 2007.


ZFC2166 - China - Red Guard Changshu, Jiangsu HQ. This is the Cultural Revolution color of Faction 973 of the Revolutionary Rebel Headquarters, Changshu, Jiangsu. Acquired in 2004.


ZFC2480 - China - Red Guard Flag - Lin Biao Slogan. This Flag to Mao by Lin Bao was a favorite slogan of the Cultural Revolution, "Sailing the seas, we rely on the helmsman. Making the revolution we rely on Mao Zedong."


ZFC2482 - China - Beida University Red Guards, Beijing. This flag was used by the Red Rebel Group at Beida University (Peking University) during the Cultural Revolution. This flag was acquired in Beijing in 2007.


ZFC2481 - China - Revolutionary Committee Flag, Beijing. This is the flag used by the Revolutionary Committee of the Number 1 Wholesale Department of the Cultural Products Company, Beijing. This flag was acquired in Beijing in 2007.

Armbands of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. More commonplace than red flags were the red armbands. If every group had a red flag every member had a red armband



ZFC2020 - A Red Guard armband form the City of Tianjin Secondary Schools. Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC2019 - An armband from the Worker-Peasant-Student Revolutionary Rebel Field Operation Corps of the City of Tianjin. Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC2024 - The armband's inscription is partially obscured through use, discernible however are "Revolutionary Rebel Team," "Mao Zedong Thought..." and "Tianjin." Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC2025 - This armband simply states Red Guard. Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC2023 - An armband from the Red Flag United Combat Team from the Banking System of the City of Tianjin. Acquired in the 1990s.


ZFC2021 - A generic Red Guard meeting representative armband. Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC2022 - A generic Red Guard meeting representative armband. Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.


ZFC3016 - An armband from the Proletarian Revolutionary Rebels Great Unified Command Center of the Copper Electrolysis Plant of the City of Tianjin. Acquired in 2004.


ZFC2018 - A red Guard armband form the City of Tianjin Secondary Schools. Acquired in Beijing in the 1990s.