"Seal of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China"
This is the "Seal of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China" collected by National Museum of China . It is a token of the official seal of the Central People's Government in the early days of the founding of New China, and is also a national The symbol of power can be called the "first national seal". How was it born?
The national seal seal has a square round handle, the side length of the seal surface is 7 cm, the thickness of the seal body is 2 cm, and the handle length is 9.3 cm. It is made of well-made brass casting. The caster of the national seal has never been known due to the lack of relevant historical data. Some people speculate that the national seal was cast by the People's Printing Factory of China. However, the seal blanks cast by the People's Printing Factory of China are all cast with the seal handle and the seal body integrated. However, the seal handle and seal body of the national seal are cast separately and then screwed. The buckle is screwed together. According to the recollections of Zhang Youcheng , the son of the engraver Zhang Yuecheng, the national seal was cast in Xieping Copper Shop, a small factory in Liulichang, Beijing.
Xie Shujie was interviewed by a reporter from Beijing Daily
From Chairman Mao’s personal instruction to the launch of the national seal, it only took five days, and time was of the essence. The first thing the seal had to complete was the copper tire casting task. At that time, Chai Junpei, who was a member of the government seal preparation team, the first thing he thought of was Master Xie Ping, the shopkeeper of Xie Ping Copper Shop.
Xie Ping
Chai Junpei had long been engaged in the party's underground work in Peking before the founding of the People's Republic of China. He opened a carving shop at the back door of Ertiao Quanyechang in the front porch, carving seals for people as a cover for his identity. The acquaintance with Xie Ping was originally due to the seal carving business.
The former site of Xieping Copper Shop
Xie Shujie recalled that her mother once told them that during the Anti-Japanese War, Chai Junpei was hunted down by Japanese soldiers and tortured by the enemy. It was his father who paid for Chai Junpei's rescue. Xie Ping's disciples said that Chai Junpei was on Peng Zhen's line and an underground worker. The master once saved him. Chai Junpei trusted Xie Ping and recognized his character from the bottom of his heart. In addition, Xie Ping had good skills in making copper. Therefore, when planning the candidates for casting the national seal, Chai Junpei recommended him without hesitation.
Xie Ping and his family
The material and size of the national seal must strictly comply with the engraving requirements of the Central People's Government. Tongpu started working intensively after receiving the task. First make the molds for the seal body and seal handle. Although the national seal is made of copper, it is not pure copper, but an alloy material mainly made of brass.
Xie Shuyi accepted an exclusive interview with a Beijing Daily reporter
Xie Shuyi told the Daily reporter that there is no specific formula for this material. It was blended bit by bit by her father Xie Ping based on his requirements for hardness, brightness, and color, and with years of experience. Xie Ping deliberately added some more ammonium, which would increase the density and viscosity of the seal and make the cast printing base harder. He personally sent the alloy copper material into the smelting furnace to melt it at high temperature, and poured the blanks of the seal body and seal handle. After the rough casting is completed, he and his apprentices repeatedly polish and shape it, and carefully screw the seal body and seal handle into a perfect whole.
After the copper blank was completed, it was quickly handed over to Zhang Yuecheng, a famous seal engraver. It took him two full days to complete the 15 large Chinese characters "Seal of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China", which were clear, clear and generous.
Zhang Yuecheng
Before the national seal is handed over, according to special regulations, proofs cannot be left behind. When the copper pavilion was cast, high platforms were left at the four corners of the seal. They were polished and unsealed on the day when the seal was handed over to the state. The first national seal of New China was engraved in this secretive state.
On November 1, 1949, after the Central People's Government unified the numbering, the national seal was officially put into use. This national seal fulfilled its sacred mission many times and played an extremely important role in the early days of the founding of New China.
In the days that followed, Xie Ping's children often heard from their parents and their father's apprentices that the size and weight of the national seal of the People's Republic of China and the seals of the central leaders were all different... However, they What I heard my parents and uncles say the most was the word "confidential".
Xie Ping’s family submitted relevant materials to the National Museum, National Museum accepted the signatures of both parties
On April 1, 2021, Xie Ping’s children, the shopkeeper of Xie Ping Copper Shop in Liulichang, Beijing, brought relevant files, memory materials, and Evidence from people familiar with the matter came to the National Museum of China, proving that the first national seal of New China was cast in his father’s Xieping Copper Shop. At this point, a past event that had been hidden for more than 70 years was revealed to the world.
Xie Ping's family in the National Museum
In September 1954, the First National People's Congress formulated the "Constitution of the People's Republic of China". The Constitution stipulates that the National People's Congress is the highest organ of state power, and the State Council is the highest executive body of state power. organ. So far, 210 government seals, including the first national seal of New China, have completed the mission assigned to them by history. In May 1959, these seals were handed over to the Chinese Revolution Museum for permanent collection. Today, the first national seal of New China is a national first-class cultural relic and is stored in the National Museum of China.
(Original title: How was the "First National Seal" of New China born?)
Source: Beijing Daily Client Reporter Zhang Peng Author Mu Hui
Process Editor: u011
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