How Was the Five-Starred Red Flag Born?

This book is a masterpiece of the National Museum of China to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This book is based on the original design manuscript of the national flag in the collection of the National Museum of China， and takes the birth of the Five-Starred Red Flag as a cue to write a vivid history. It tells the touching story of the birth of the Five-Starred Red Flag and describes the little-known historical details in the preparation process of New China. It is a vivid popular reading about the founding of New China.

Huang Li

Huang Li is a research librarian at the National Museum of China and has participated in the preparation of several exhibitions.

Shao Fanjing

Shao Fanjing is an associate research librarian of the collection conservation department of the National Museum of China， engaged in the collation and management of collection books， participated in the design of many exhibitions， and published many papers.

Who is Zeng Liansong？

In the small town of Rui’an， in southern Zhejiang， there is a square named after Zeng Liansong. At its granite base stands a half-body bronze statue of a man with glasses， his gaze profound and resolute， as if envisioning that sacred flag or looking out at the brilliance it brings to millions of Chinese people. This man， remembered in the hearts of people in this way， is none other than the designer of the national flag of the People’s Republic of China—Zeng Liansong. The Five-Starred Red Flag， stirring the hearts of countless Chinese， whose beautiful design might seem like the creation of a gifted artist or an esteemed painter， yet its designer， Zeng Liansong， was neither an artist nor a painter—just an ordinary worker. Inscribed beside Zeng’s bronze statue is an introduction：

Zeng Liansong （1917–1999） graduated from Rui’an Middle School in 1932 and entered the economics department at Central University in 1936. From 1944 to 1946， he taught at Rui’an Middle School. In July 1949， responding to a call from the Preparatory Committee to submit national flag designs， he created the Five-Starred Red Flag. On September 27， 1949， the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference （CPPCC） unanimously approved the Five-Starred Red Flag as the national flag of the People’s Republic of China.

Zeng once said， “A humble offering to my motherland， may the five stars shine over land and sea.” Indeed！ The Five-Starred Red Flag was a passionate creation by Zeng and his life’s highest honor. On December 17， 1917， Zeng Liansong was born in the small town of Rui’an in southern Zhejiang. Unlike the grandeur of the north， this place showcased the gentle beauty of the water towns in the south， characterized by clear mountains and picturesque waters. His family， though not wealthy， led a comfortable life rooted in scholarly tradition. His grandfather， Zeng Xuqing， was a respected local physician， and his father， Zeng Yuren， worked as a water conservancy engineer in Hangzhou Bay. His mother came from a prominent family and was somewhat literate. Thanks to this household’s environment and education， as well as the rich cultural legacy of his hometown， Zeng Liansong developed a love for literature and a sense of responsibility for the nation.

After graduating from Rui’an Middle School in 1932， Zeng entered the high school department of Jiangsu Provincial Nanjing Middle School. At a time when the fate of the nation was at stake， he and his classmates took to the streets， actively participating in anti-Japanese， patriotic movements. “When the nation prospers， every citizen shares responsibility” was a rallying cry he often used in his protest signs. A few years later， he entered the economics department at Central University， driven by a strong desire to serve his country. When the full-scale war of resistance against Japan began， Central University relocated to Chongqing， prompting Zeng to write his poem， Carrying My Books Westward to Sichuan.

In 1938， Zeng joined the Chinese Communist Party， working in underground activities as the student branch leader of the Central University’s underground party. After moving between various locations and roles， he returned to Zhejiang to teach history at Rui’an Middle School. Following Japan’s surrender， Zeng joined his classmate Yong Longgui in Shanghai， where he worked at Shanghai Modern Economic News Agency， an underground economic news hub led by the Shanghai underground party. He soon moved his wife， Xiang Peiyu， and their eldest son to live with him in the agency’s dormitory at 466 Huashan Road. The dormitory was not very big， with the whole family cramped into a small room， and there was a small， dilapidated attic upstairs. Although small， this home was warm and filled with love， with Zeng’s wife by his side and his child at his knee.

In May 1949， with Shanghai’s liberation， the news agency Zeng worked for completed its historic mission. Yet his deep love and loyalty to his country and people remained steadfast， waiting for the call to contribute again. During that turbulent era of national division and conflict， Zeng， like countless patriots， was filled with complete dedication and a profound desire to serve the nation. His classmates described him in the Nanjing Middle School 25th Autumn Graduation Album as “firm， undeterred by power or authority.” Zeng Liansong has an unwavering spirit for national affairs and is willing to sacrifice on the battlefield if needed. His bold spirit inspires respect and admiration.