Original title: new China art 70 years | they painted on the renminbi national image and construction achievements

The renminbi is one of the things that Chinese people touch every day, and the pattern on the renminbi is well known to the public. Tracing the history of the design of RMB, zhou linzhao, born in May 1919, participated in the design of the second, third and fourth sets of RMB. Oil painting "May 4th movement" and mural painting "unity of the people of the world" were also produced by him.

About zhou lingzhao and the design of RMB, we should start from the 1950s. At that time, professor luo gongliu, zhou lingzhao, hou yimin, deng shu and wang shikuo of the central academy of fine arts accepted the task of designing RMB patterns for the new China. They participated in the design of the second, third and fourth sets of RMB. They traveled to various parts of the country to draw pictures, showing the perfect image of the people of various ethnic groups in the renminbi, and designed the third and fourth sets of renminbi respectively in the 1950s and 1970s. With the passage of time, Mr. Zhou lingzhao's oral history of the design of RMB can help us to reconstruct the design at that time:

　　Zhou lingzhao, the second set of pencil drawings of five yuan vouchers, 72x42.1cm, 1952, Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation

The first set of renminbi was printed and issued on December 1, 1948 by the People's Bank of China, which was established on the same day in shijiazhuang, hebei province. Due to problems in denomination, paper and printing, the new renminbi design has been put on the agenda to meet the requirements of the new people's regime in economic construction and social development.

　　Second set of renminbi sample 1 (1953 edition)

　　Second set of renminbi sample 2 (1953 edition)

Second set of RMB 5 sample (1956 edition)

Second set of rmb1 sample (1956 edition)

To improve the design of the new renminbi, which was designed in 1950, the People's Bank of China hired professors luo gongliu, zhou lingzhao and wang shike from the central academy of fine arts as experts. They officially entered Beijing people's printing factory (now Beijing banknote printing co., LTD.) in March 1951, and began to cooperate with the technical staff of the enterprise to design the second set of RMB. In addition to the design of RMB banknote, Mr. Zhou lingzhao also went to shenyang mint at the end of 1954 to draw wheat wheat map on the spot and give specific guidance on the work of coin molding. After repeated experiments, the Chinese people finally rely on their own strength to create a new China's first group of COINS prototype, since then our country also for the first time has its own original model carving technicians. On March 1, 1955, the second set of RMB was issued in 10 varieties. On April 14, 1964, the People's Bank of China issued a public notice and decided to withdraw the 1953 three, five and ten yuan notes printed by the Soviet union within a time limit from April 15, 1964. On April 1, 2007, the second set of RMB notes ceased to be used and COINS were still in circulation.

Third set of RMB 2 sample (1960 edition)

The third set of RMB 2 jiao sample in 1962

Third set of RMB ticket samples: 1 yuan (1960), 5 yuan (1960), 10 yuan (1965)

Third set of RMB ticket samples: 10 jiao (1962), 5 jiao (1972)

The third set of RMB was designed in 1959. Five art experts were hired: luo gongliu, zhou lingzhao, hou yimin, deng shu and Chen ruoju of the central academy of fine arts. Zhou lingzhao was responsible for the overall design. The third set of renminbi has seven denominations. Compared with the second set of RMB, the third set of RMB abolished the 3-yuan notes, and added 4 kinds of metal COINS, namely 1 jiao, 2 jiao, 5 jiao and 1 yuan. The 1 fen, 2 fen and 5 fen notes in the second set of RMB were retained. The third set of RMB was issued on April 20, 1962 and ceased circulation on July 1, 2000. It lasted for 38 years and was the longest circulation of the five sets of RMB banknotes.

　The fourth set of renminbi (1980 edition)

The fourth set of RMB ticket samples: 2 yuan (1990), 5 yuan (1980)

In order to meet the needs of economic development, further improve China's monetary system and facilitate the circulation, use and transaction accounting, the People's Bank of China issued the fourth set of RMB on April 27, 1987 and April 1, 1997. The fourth set of RMB is the one that has been planned and designed for the longest time. From January 1967, when the head office put forward the idea of designing the fourth set of RMB, to May 1985, it lasted 18 years. In November 1978, with the support of the leadership of the central academy of fine arts and the central academy of arts and crafts, an expert group was formed by luo gongliu, zhou lingzhao, hou yimin, deng peng and Chen ruoju. Zhou lingzhao was responsible for the overall art design and began to redesign the fourth set of RMB with the participation of printing and engraving experts. After the experts brainstorm, determine the design guidelines and design ideas, the final completion of the design scheme. On December 20, 1979, the head office of the People's Bank of China submitted the fourth set of renminbi color design draft (excluding 50 yuan and 100 yuan coupons) approved by the State Council in principle. On March 3, 1983, the head office of the People's Bank of China submitted a report on printing and issuing the fourth set of renminbi, which was approved and printed by the State Council. Then, according to the actual situation of soaring market currency circulation, large denomination bills of 50 and 100 were designed and approved at the executive meeting of the State Council in May 1985. So far, the fourth set of RMB design is completed. Since April 1, 1997, part of the fourth set of RMB currencies has been discontinued. From May 1, 2018, 100 yuan, 50 yuan, 10 yuan, 5 yuan, 2 yuan, 1 yuan, 20 yuan notes and 10 yuan COINS will cease to be in circulation, while 10 yuan, 50 yuan notes and 50 yuan and 1 yuan COINS will continue to be in circulation. The exchange will be terminated on April 30, 2019.

Mr Zhou ling zhao recalled:

The second set of RMB was designed at the banknote printing factory in Beijing. This is a very important task for the country. In order to ensure the quality, the organization invited professors zhang guangyu, zhang ding and wang shikuo to come to the factory to jointly study and discuss how the second set of RMB should be designed. They agreed that our banknotes should reflect the nature of the people's banknotes, while the renminbi reflects the country's politics, which is the main content. As for its form, chairman MAO always stressed the need to explore the national form, we should have the Chinese cultural tradition and form of expression, which is the first consideration.

Collect data before beginning, want to have new face, new content. In order to make the new money completely devoid of a color colonial design adornment, we print works with Beijing's design, sculpture, personnel to the Palace Museum, the Summer Palace, yungang grottoes to copy ancient buildings, stone carving, stone carving, bronze and decorative pattern and pattern in the corridor in the painting, is the study of dunhuang frescoes on the textbook, sketch book covered in a dozen. These inspired our creation. The back frame of the 2-yuan ticket was from the window lattice of the imperial palace, and the back frame of the 3-yuan ticket was taken from the ribbon of flying apsaras in the dunhuang fresco. I also surrounded the denomination figures with patterns, which were like traditional Chinese lanterns. All these gave the second set of RMB a rich and elegant atmosphere, with strong Chinese characteristics. In order to find the best Angle of the pagoda mountain in yan 'an, I worked with song fan, an engraver from the north banknote factory, to collect the materials, so that we could see the towering pagoda on the back of the 2-yuan coupon and the mighty mountain. As the 3-yuan, 5-yuan and 10-yuan certificates were printed in the Soviet union, when the samples were delivered to the Soviet finance minister, he was surprised and happy and said, "this is just like Chinese banknotes, very beautiful."

There is a book in the design office of Beijing banknote printing factory. There are hornflowers, decorations and shading in it. We will choose it, but it is all in the style of us dollars. Now, after we do so, a lot of Chinese patterns. As to foreign design, we basically consult its practical value namely, for example, how to prevent false, character how to match, frame how to match. Foreign banknotes in the design of the front, we also have to learn, reference, but the pattern of banknotes must be completely used in China, so we carry out the design, and strive to explore the artistic expression of the national.

Luo gongliu and I are mainly responsible for the design of the second set of RMB.

Zhou lingzhao, the second set of decorative pattern design of RMB five yuan coupon, 25.2x13.1cm, 1952, Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation

The main scene of the second set of RMB five yuan certificate is "great unity of nationalities", which shows the scene of 56 ethnic groups cheering and dancing in front of tiananmen square. The zhonghua gate of hua watch and prospect indicates that people's eyes are directed to the towering tiananmen rostrum, the place where chairman MAO zedong announced the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China. Luo gongliu and zhou lingzhao integrated the characteristics of the world's currency, the original in two jiao, one yuan and five yuan note of the main diagram design arrangements for chairman MAO. The original design featured a crowd holding up a portrait of chairman MAO before it was abandoned because MAO himself objected to the display of his portrait in tiananmen square. So, on the upper right, the polished portrait of chairman MAO is still faintly visible. According to the central government, MAO's portrait was later replaced with two slogans: "long live the People's Republic of China" and "long live the unity of all ethnic groups in China".

At the bottom of the front of the second set of five yuan certificates, there is a design draft of dark flowers as the background decoration of "1956". What is used is the traditional auspicious pattern of "entangling branches and lotus patterns".

To design the third set of RMB, zhou lingzhao's memory is:

The third set of renminbi mainly reflects the theme of socialist production and construction, the three red flags and the great leap forward. The main content actually reflects the characteristics of The Times when the people are the masters of the country and the country develops. There are not too many scenes of great leap forward.

The third set of RMB also has its own advantages. Formally, the previous note was symmetrical, then two lines (the second set of renminbi), the third set of renminbi into a line.

In order to paint the main scene pattern, I have personally visited steel mills, oil units, steelworkers, lathe workers, tractor drivers, these are good materials. I pay special attention to the artistic expression form when I draw the steel worker with the picture of the main scene of the 5-yuan coupon. The effect of a red-hot fire can only be produced by thrusting a bit of steel into it, so that a blow from the tip of the hand in that direction creates an atmosphere, and something like this is thought of in the general design. This is done, the family is very like, the face structure is easy to draw.

Zhou lingzhao, the third set of pencil sketch of wuhan Yangtze river bridge, 38.2x19.6cm, 1960, Chinese seal banknote making corporation

The background pattern of the third set of RMB 20 jiao notes is the wuhan Yangtze river bridge, which is the first highway and railway bridge built after the founding of new China. As early as September 1949, bridge experts such as li wenji and MAO yisheng submitted to the central people's government a proposal on the construction of wuhan memorial bridge, suggesting the construction of wuhan Yangtze river bridge as a monument to the success of the new democratic revolution. The first political consultative conference chaired by MAO zedong in Peiping approved the construction of the wuhan Yangtze river bridge. On September 1, 1955, wuhan Yangtze river bridge, as a key project of China's national "one fifth" plan, started construction. On October 15, 1957, wuhan Yangtze river bridge was officially opened to traffic.

Zhou lingzhao, the third set of painting on the front and back of RMB two jiao certificate, 48.7x22.8cm, was collected by Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation in 1960

Zhou lingzhao, the third set of painting on the front and back of two yuan notes, 22x14.5cm, 1960, Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation

Zhou lingzhao also recalled:

When the fourth set of renminbi was designed, the theme was unity among all ethnic groups. The maximum amount was set at $50. The picture on the fifty yuan shows the heads of peasants, workers and intellectuals. Later, the central government issued a directive saying that an extra 100 yuan should be printed according to the needs of economic development. So still have to draw head picture, worker, farmer, intellectual had drawn, that 100 yuan top draw what? So I put four deceased national leaders -- MAO zedong, zhou enlai, zhu DE and liu shaoqi -- on the design of the 100-yuan note, which was approved by the central government.

Zhou lingzhao, the fourth set of positive painting of RMB one yuan coupon, 23x30.7cm, 1979, Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation

Zhou lingzhao, the back drawing of the fourth set of one-yuan notes, 23x30.7cm, 1979, Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation

Zhou lingzhao, Chen ruoju, design draft of the fourth set of positive national pattern of RMB one yuan coupon "magpie deng mei", 30.5x22.5cm, 1979, Chinese seal banknote coinage headquarters

The design of the fourth set of pattern of flowers and birds in the background of RMB is based on the overall design of Mr. Zhou lingzhao and completed by Mr. Chen ruoju. The picture is gorgeous yet elegant, exquisite and clever, with beautiful implication and good taste. It is a model of the combination of Chinese traditional auspicious patterns and modern design.

One yuan face flower and bird pattern is "magpie ascend plum". In Chinese culture, magpie has always been a symbol of good luck and fortune, symbolizing the coming of a happy event. Plum, called "primrose" in ancient times, is a gentleman in the flower, meaning strong, elegant and loyal, but also a symbol of the five blessings, namely happiness, happiness, longevity, smooth and peace. "Magpie deng mei" is one of the most popular auspicious patterns in China, and it is also one of the most frequently presented auspicious patterns by artists.

Two yuan face flower and bird pattern is "bamboo forest ribbon". Shou bird, auspicious, wealth, longevity meaning. Bamboo, together with pine and plum, is also one of the four gentlemen in the flower. Bamboo, modesty straight section, ling frost proud snow, a symbol of integrity, full of integrity. Shou bird and bamboo integration, meaning.

The fourth set of five yuan face pattern is "pine crane with spring", ten yuan face flower and bird pattern is "phoenix peony". These flower and bird patterns are based on the Chinese traditional auspicious pattern, according to the design requirements of the yuan design model.

Zhou lingzhao, Chen ruoju, draft design of the fourth set of "bamboo forest ribbon" with ethnic pattern on the front of RMB two yuan coupon, 35.8x23.5cm, 1979, Chinese seal banknote coinage corporation