Stories Behind the Labels: Wartime Cigarette Labels Rise to Prominence

Introduction: Wartime cigarette labels, a name that sounds artistic. From Japan's "September 18th Incident" to the Lugou Bridge Incident, and then to the complete victory of the war, many cigarette factories in China designed and printed cigarette labels themed around the war. These wartime cigarette labels remind people of that difficult yet inspiring history of resistance.

In the early 1930s, the Shanghai national cigarette company, Fuchang, launched two cigarette brands related to the Anti-Japanese War.

Chinese electronic cigarette news reports: The collection of wartime cigarette labels is gaining momentum. Currently, it is the time to commemorate the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression. In a very stable cigarette label market, the collection of wartime-themed labels has emerged. From Japan's "September 18th Incident" to the Lugou Bridge Incident, and then to the complete victory of the war, many cigarette factories in China designed and printed cigarette labels themed around the war. These wartime cigarette labels remind people of that difficult yet inspiring history of resistance.

In the early 1930s, the Shanghai national cigarette company, Fuchang, launched two cigarette brands related to the Anti-Japanese War. These two brands were the 918 brand and the General Ma Zhanshan brand. During the flames of the Anti-Japanese War, these two brands were quite prominent and had a positive impact on the patriotic struggle against Japan. The 918 brand cigarette label directly uses the date of September 18, 1931, when the Japanese army bombarded Shenyang and occupied the Northeast as its brand name, alerting all patriotic individuals in China. This label is very realistically based on historical events, reflecting the brave resistance of the Chinese people to protect their homeland and homes; the General Ma Zhanshan brand cigarette label uses the name of a famous general known for his loyalty and bravery in defending the country, featuring the general's portrait as the main image, which was quite rare in early cigarette label designs. This brand name resonates with historical pulses, using patriotic generals as a medium to expose the crimes of Japanese imperialism, and to some extent, awaken the patriotic feelings of the people.

Wartime cigarette labels not only accurately record the arduous history of the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression but also serve as a warning that "those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it," allowing this period of war to evoke a stronger sense of nationalism and patriotism among the people. After the "July 7 Incident," many domestic cigarette factories began to incorporate anti-Japanese content into their labels, printing slogans to mobilize resistance against Japan and boycott Japanese goods, leaving a significant mark of major wartime themes on cigarette labels. In 1943, the Yunnan Paper Cigarette Factory, upon its establishment, boldly designed the "July 7 Brand" cigarette label and mass-produced the "July 7 Brand" cigarettes, thereby recreating the "July 7 Lugou Bridge Incident" and the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War. This is an extremely rare cigarette label in the history of Chinese tobacco; the Yingkou Cigarette Factory designed the "Red Big Knife Brand" cigarette label, using red as the main color, complemented by earth yellow, providing a bright and warm visual impact. The main label features a big knife, standing prominently on the label, shining amidst the red brand name and red ribbons, symbolizing the national spirit of the Chinese people during the bloody Anti-Japanese War. The sub-label features the song "Big Knife March" composed by Mai Xin and collectively rewritten. A big knife and an anti-Japanese song resonate with each other, forming a grand battle scene of anti-Japanese resistance.

The "Flying General Brand" cigarette label was designed and handmade by an early small cigarette factory in Wenzhou in 1942, and it has a history of 63 years. The "Flying General" refers to General Claire Lee Chennault, who aided China in the war against Japan. After the Japanese army invaded North China in 1937, Chennault was ordered to come to China as a military advisor to the Chinese Air Force, responsible for training Chinese Air Force pilots, making outstanding contributions to the victory of the Chinese Anti-Japanese War. Because this cigarette label highlights the image of the "Flying Tigers" who aided China in the war, it is a very precious wartime cigarette label.

There are many different wartime-themed cigarette labels, such as those depicting the Anti-Japanese theme on the Taihang Mountains, like "Taihang Mountain" and "Flames of War"; those depicting the New Fourth Army's eastward advance, like "Eastward" and "Huangqiao"; those depicting the Eighth Route Army's Anti-Japanese theme, like "Yanmen Pass" and "Wolf Tooth Mountain"; and those depicting guerrilla warfare themes, like "Baiyangdian," "Weishan Lake," and "Railroad," comprehensively showcasing the magnificent picture of the nationwide resistance at that time.