The Jiangxi Soviet, formally called the Chinese Soviet Republic (中华苏维埃共和国 Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Sūwéi'āi Gònghēguó), also translated as the Soviet Republic of China or the China Soviet Republic, existed from 1931 to 1934. Mao Zedong was the chairman.

History

In November 1931, a National Soviet People's Delegates Conference took place in Ruijin (瑞金), Jiangxi province, establishing the provisional Soviet Republic.

The Soviet Republic ended on October 15, 1934, when Kuomintang, led by Chiang Kai-shek, blockaded Ruijin. Chinese Communists left Jiangxi to evade the pursuit and started the Long March northwest to Shaanxi.

Postage stamps

In April 1932, a Central Postal Office (邮政总局) was created, and printed several designs of postage stamps for use in provinces under the rule of the Soviet Republic. Most of the stamps are imperforate and are printed on white newspaper-quality paper. The numerals printed on the stamp are of the complex style to prevent forgery.

All are today quite rare, with prices ranging from US$1,000 to over $25,000.

Culture

This was before the Simplification of Chinese characters, so official documents of the Soviet Republic were written and the coins inscribed in Traditional Chinese.

External links

• 2 photos (http://www.hhg-magazine.org/issue03/2_3_1.jpg) of a handwritten official declaration document and the Conference
• flags (http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cn-csr.html) from FOTW website
• coins (http://www.lotn.org/~calkinsc/coins/000175.html)
• 12 stamps (http://www.btxx.cn.net/stamps/tu/s09.htm) (explanatory caption in Simplified Chinese)

Reference

• Yang's Postage Stamp Catalogue of The People's Republic of China (Liberated Area)