Mao Zedong Gives Qi Baishi and Joseph Stalin Birthday Gifts
Original Chinese Language Article By: www.laren.com
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
Mao Zedong’s Birthday Gifts to Qi Baishi:
Mao Zedong and Qi Baishi were both from the Xiangtan area of Hunan province – in fact their families lived just 45km apart. One became a great earth-shaking revolutionary, whilst the other was a virtuous and great scholar who became a generational master of water and ink painting and calligraphy.
On the eve of the founding of New China, Qi Baishi carefully engraved a personal seal with the name ‘Mao Zedong’, using ancient calligraphy on both sides. The finished artefact was then taken from the Central Academy of Fine Arts by a member of the military, and presented to Mao Zedong by the poet Ai Qing. Mao Zedong was very moved by this gift and repeatedly sent Secretary Tian Jiaying to visit Qi Baishi, who conveyed a remuneration to cover the cost of manufacture as a reward. On the eve of the National Day 1950, Qi Baishi presented Mao Zedong with his 1941 artwork entitled ‘Picture of the Goshawk’ and a poem he wrote in 1937. His poems (couplets) written in Seal Script, were widely read by the people – particularly popular was his ‘Sea Dragon in the World – Crane at Home in the Clouds.’ Qi Baishi spent over 50 years producing masterpieces of art.
January the 7th, 1953, was Qi Baishi’s 90th birthday. The Ministry of Culture, the China Association of Artists, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, organised a grand celebration for Qi Baishi. The Ministry of Culture awarded him with the honoured title ‘Illustrious Artist of the People.’ Mao Zedong was first to personally present Qi Baishi with birthday best wishes – with the sincere hope that he would live for a hundred years. To achieve this Mao Zedong presented Qi Baishi with four gifts. First was a jar of special tea from Hunan (that wards off colds). Second was special writing brushes and pens from Hunan. Third was a ginseng plant seedling from northeast China, and fourth was deer antler.
Mao Zedong and Qi Baishi were both from the Xiangtan area of Hunan province – in fact their families lived just 45km apart. One became a great earth-shaking revolutionary, whilst the other was a virtuous and great scholar who became a generational master of water and ink painting and calligraphy.
On the eve of the founding of New China, Qi Baishi carefully engraved a personal seal with the name ‘Mao Zedong’, using ancient calligraphy on both sides. The finished artefact was then taken from the Central Academy of Fine Arts by a member of the military, and presented to Mao Zedong by the poet Ai Qing. Mao Zedong was very moved by this gift and repeatedly sent Secretary Tian Jiaying to visit Qi Baishi, who conveyed a remuneration to cover the cost of manufacture as a reward. On the eve of the National Day 1950, Qi Baishi presented Mao Zedong with his 1941 artwork entitled ‘Picture of the Goshawk’ and a poem he wrote in 1937. His poems (couplets) written in Seal Script, were widely read by the people – particularly popular was his ‘Sea Dragon in the World – Crane at Home in the Clouds.’ Qi Baishi spent over 50 years producing masterpieces of art.
January the 7th, 1953, was Qi Baishi’s 90th birthday. The Ministry of Culture, the China Association of Artists, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, organised a grand celebration for Qi Baishi. The Ministry of Culture awarded him with the honoured title ‘Illustrious Artist of the People.’ Mao Zedong was first to personally present Qi Baishi with birthday best wishes – with the sincere hope that he would live for a hundred years. To achieve this Mao Zedong presented Qi Baishi with four gifts. First was a jar of special tea from Hunan (that wards off colds). Second was special writing brushes and pens from Hunan. Third was a ginseng plant seedling from northeast China, and fourth was deer antler.
Mao Zedong’s Birthday Gifts to Joseph Stalin:
December the 21st, 1949, was Joseph Stalin’s 70th birthday. Previous to this – on December the 1st, 1949 – Mao Zedong sent the following telegram to Joseph Stalin from Shandong. It conveyed the following clear requirements: ‘Comrade Stalin - on December the 21st, 1949, you will already have lived 70 years. The Central Government of China presents you with the following gifts that prolong life – Giant Yellow Tipped cabbages, Giant Radishes, Green Onions, and Giant Pears – all of which are known to ensure longevity.’ Mao Zedong had ordered that out of 5000kg – the best 2kg of each crop was to be carefully chosen. This collection of gifts were supplemented by various other agricultural products such as Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea from Zhejiang, Qimen Tea from Anhui, and bamboo shoots from Jiangxi, and so on.
These gifts were in addition to porcelain from the Jingdezhen area of Jiangxi, an embroidery of Stalin from Hunan, porcelain from Fujian, textiles and embroideries from Hangzhou, wine from the Maotai area of Guizhou, cigarettes from Shanghai, and ivory, and so on.
Mao Zedong travelled to Moscow to personally present these gifts to Joseph Stalin on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the People’s Liberation Army. The combined birthday gifts were loaded into several freight carriages. Mao Zedong personally gave Joseph Stalin a woollen coat to ward off the Siberian cold.
Mao Zedong travelled to the Soviet Union to offer birthday greetings to Joseph Stalin, and to witness the many great and good things in that country. On the 14th of February, 1950, whilst in the USSR, Mao Zedong signed the ‘Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship’ in the Kremlin. This is why Mao Zedong described the Soviet Union as both beautiful in appearance and delicious in its taste.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
Original Chinese Language Article: http://www.laoren.com/lrbmw/2014/278828_3.shtml
毛泽东送礼给齐白石、斯大林
赠齐白石的寿礼
毛泽东与齐白石是湘潭同乡,两家相距45公里。一个是叱咤风云的革命领袖,一个是水墨丹青的一代宗师。
新中国成立前夕,齐白石精心刻制了印文为“毛泽东”的朱白文印各一方,托当时接管中央美术学院的军代表、诗人艾青转交给毛泽东。毛泽东收到这些珍贵礼物,很是感动,便派秘书田家英多次看望齐白石,并送去了一笔丰厚的润笔费,以示酬谢。1950年国庆节前夕,齐白石选出自己1941年创作的精品《苍鹰图》和1937年作的对联赠给毛泽东。这副篆书对联,其内容就是被人们广为传诵的“海为龙世界,云是鹤家乡”。一同赠送的还有一方齐白石用了近半个世纪的心爱的青石砚。
1953年1月7日,是齐白石的90岁生日。文化部、中国美术家协会、中央美术学院为齐白石举行了隆重的庆祝活动,文化部还授予他人民杰出艺术家的光荣称号。从不允许别人为自己做寿的毛泽东在齐白石生日之后,专门派人补送了礼品,庆贺老人福寿康宁,百岁期颐。礼品有四样:一坛湖南特产茶油寒菌,一对湖南王开文笔铺特别长锋纯羊毫书画笔,还有一苗精装的东北野人参及一架鹿茸。
送斯大林的寿礼
1949年12月21日,是斯大林70岁生日。为了给斯大林选寿礼,12月1日,毛泽东亲自起草给中共山东分局的电报,明确要求:“斯大林同志今年十二月廿一日七十大寿,中央决定送山东出产的大黄芽白菜、大萝卜、大葱、大梨子作寿礼。”每样5000斤共2万斤,由中央派飞机到济南接运,并要求“注意选择最好的”。
寿礼中的农产品,还有浙江的龙井茶、安徽的祁门红茶、江西的冬笋等。另外,还带了江西景德镇的瓷器,湖南湘绣斯大林像,福建的漆器,杭州的纺织品和刺绣,贵州茅台酒,上海名烟、牙雕等。
此次去莫斯科给斯大林祝寿,毛泽东所带的礼物是以中国共产党中央委员会、中华人民共和国中央人民政府、中国人民解放军的名义赠送的。寿礼整整装了几车皮,毛泽东却舍不得给自己做一件像样的呢子大衣以抵御西伯利亚的严寒。
毛泽东去苏联,说是去祝寿,其实是要与苏联搞一个“既好看又好吃的东西”。1950年2月14日,在毛泽东访问苏联期间,中苏在克里姆林宫签订了《中苏友好同盟互助条约》。这就是毛泽东说的那个“既好看又好吃的东西”。
December the 21st, 1949, was Joseph Stalin’s 70th birthday. Previous to this – on December the 1st, 1949 – Mao Zedong sent the following telegram to Joseph Stalin from Shandong. It conveyed the following clear requirements: ‘Comrade Stalin - on December the 21st, 1949, you will already have lived 70 years. The Central Government of China presents you with the following gifts that prolong life – Giant Yellow Tipped cabbages, Giant Radishes, Green Onions, and Giant Pears – all of which are known to ensure longevity.’ Mao Zedong had ordered that out of 5000kg – the best 2kg of each crop was to be carefully chosen. This collection of gifts were supplemented by various other agricultural products such as Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea from Zhejiang, Qimen Tea from Anhui, and bamboo shoots from Jiangxi, and so on.
These gifts were in addition to porcelain from the Jingdezhen area of Jiangxi, an embroidery of Stalin from Hunan, porcelain from Fujian, textiles and embroideries from Hangzhou, wine from the Maotai area of Guizhou, cigarettes from Shanghai, and ivory, and so on.
Mao Zedong travelled to Moscow to personally present these gifts to Joseph Stalin on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the People’s Liberation Army. The combined birthday gifts were loaded into several freight carriages. Mao Zedong personally gave Joseph Stalin a woollen coat to ward off the Siberian cold.
Mao Zedong travelled to the Soviet Union to offer birthday greetings to Joseph Stalin, and to witness the many great and good things in that country. On the 14th of February, 1950, whilst in the USSR, Mao Zedong signed the ‘Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship’ in the Kremlin. This is why Mao Zedong described the Soviet Union as both beautiful in appearance and delicious in its taste.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
Original Chinese Language Article: http://www.laoren.com/lrbmw/2014/278828_3.shtml
毛泽东送礼给齐白石、斯大林
赠齐白石的寿礼
毛泽东与齐白石是湘潭同乡,两家相距45公里。一个是叱咤风云的革命领袖,一个是水墨丹青的一代宗师。
新中国成立前夕,齐白石精心刻制了印文为“毛泽东”的朱白文印各一方,托当时接管中央美术学院的军代表、诗人艾青转交给毛泽东。毛泽东收到这些珍贵礼物,很是感动,便派秘书田家英多次看望齐白石,并送去了一笔丰厚的润笔费,以示酬谢。1950年国庆节前夕,齐白石选出自己1941年创作的精品《苍鹰图》和1937年作的对联赠给毛泽东。这副篆书对联,其内容就是被人们广为传诵的“海为龙世界,云是鹤家乡”。一同赠送的还有一方齐白石用了近半个世纪的心爱的青石砚。
1953年1月7日,是齐白石的90岁生日。文化部、中国美术家协会、中央美术学院为齐白石举行了隆重的庆祝活动,文化部还授予他人民杰出艺术家的光荣称号。从不允许别人为自己做寿的毛泽东在齐白石生日之后,专门派人补送了礼品,庆贺老人福寿康宁,百岁期颐。礼品有四样:一坛湖南特产茶油寒菌,一对湖南王开文笔铺特别长锋纯羊毫书画笔,还有一苗精装的东北野人参及一架鹿茸。
送斯大林的寿礼
1949年12月21日,是斯大林70岁生日。为了给斯大林选寿礼,12月1日,毛泽东亲自起草给中共山东分局的电报,明确要求:“斯大林同志今年十二月廿一日七十大寿,中央决定送山东出产的大黄芽白菜、大萝卜、大葱、大梨子作寿礼。”每样5000斤共2万斤,由中央派飞机到济南接运,并要求“注意选择最好的”。
寿礼中的农产品,还有浙江的龙井茶、安徽的祁门红茶、江西的冬笋等。另外,还带了江西景德镇的瓷器,湖南湘绣斯大林像,福建的漆器,杭州的纺织品和刺绣,贵州茅台酒,上海名烟、牙雕等。
此次去莫斯科给斯大林祝寿,毛泽东所带的礼物是以中国共产党中央委员会、中华人民共和国中央人民政府、中国人民解放军的名义赠送的。寿礼整整装了几车皮,毛泽东却舍不得给自己做一件像样的呢子大衣以抵御西伯利亚的严寒。
毛泽东去苏联,说是去祝寿,其实是要与苏联搞一个“既好看又好吃的东西”。1950年2月14日,在毛泽东访问苏联期间,中苏在克里姆林宫签订了《中苏友好同盟互助条约》。这就是毛泽东说的那个“既好看又好吃的东西”。