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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

This summer imagery was produced to support the claim that life improved for ordinary people in Mao-era China. The caption of this picture of the Beijing Municipal People's Swimming Pool from 1955 claims that people are there for good socialist exercise - looks like total summer chaos to me 🌞

A scene showing a lively open-air swimming pool filled with families and happy young children.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I also really like this one from Zhang Yuqing, the master of making the socialist-realist style humane and beautiful in a way few others could. You can almost taste the 酸梅汤 (sour plum drink).

A colourful scene showing the summer palace park with boats on the lake and festive balloons in the sky.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

This is my current favourite image on the site: children inspect a model of Monkey beating the White Boned Demon. The scene alludes to the downfall of Mao's wife Jiang Qing and the gang of four, but I'm here for the nostalgic summer vibe. My son has the same stripey t-shirt!

On the left a statue of Monkey beating the White Bone Demon from the story Journey to the West. On the right, three children look on, enchanted. They are happy and smiling. There are pleasure boats on the lake in the background.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Consider this my out of office: Beidaihe, 1979 - one of several great summer images on chineseposters.net. Looking through them has got me ready for some summer sun on my holidays...

Image of a curving beach from a distance. The sky is blue and there are people having fun under colourful beach umbrellas.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Take that, weather forecasters...

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Might use this if I get behind on the chapter I have to write this summer.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Here is Rocha's page on wikisporting: www.wikisporting.com/index.php?ti... And the details of the England match: www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1946-60/...

wikisporting.com

Augusto Rocha

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

His talent earned him seven national team appearances, including in a famous victory over Pelé’s Brazil in 1963. In the May 1958 match vs heavy favourites England, Peskett’s prediction almost came true: Rocha’s shot narrowly skimmed the bar. Two Bobby Charlton goals secured a narrow 2-1 home win.

Picture of a match day programme for England vs Portugal at the Empire Stadium, Wembley

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Rocha left Sporting after only 17 appearances (2 goals), but then signed for Académica de Coimbra where he made over 400 appearances and scored over 50 goals. He retired in 1971, after 14 seasons and opened a Chinese restaurant the Lung Wah in 1979.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Rocha’s Macanese hero Joaquim Pacheco, was the hard man at the heart of Sporting’s defence in that era. Unfortunately, Rocha’s time at Sporting was reportedly marred by racism due to his half-Chinese background.

A picture of Sporting CP hard man Joachim Pacheco on the pitch in green and white

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

In 1954 Rocha scored a hat-trick in Macao’s 3-2 win in the annual interport match against Hong Kong which secured him a move to European giants Sporting CP in Lisbon. (Hong Kong have won 58 of 74 interport games: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Ko...)

Black and white photo of Rocha in the green and white stripes of Sporting CP.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Any true football fan knows Portuguese nicknames are the best: ‘o Pequeno Tigre’ = the ‘Little Tiger’. Born in Macao in February 1935 to a Portuguese father and Chinese mother, Rocha began his career at Sporting Clube de Macau in 1953.

The badge of Sporting Clube de Macau - a green oval with the initial SCM at the top and a lion rampant below.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Peskett described Rocha as ‘the Chinese Jimmy Greaves’. He had coined the nickname in late 1957 when reporting on an international army football tournament. The young Rocha had ‘bewildered our soldiers with spectacular ball work and cracked in a wonder goal’.

A picture of a Daily Mail article titled 'England must watch 'the China Greaves'

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

With the World Cup approaching, I thought I’d share a topical story about an underwhelming England performance: In May 1958 England were preparing for the tournament with a friendly against Portugal. Beware, warned Roy Peskett in the Daily Mail, of Augusto Rocha, ‘o Pequeno Tigre’ from Macao

On the left is a yellow and blue advert for the 1958 Sweden World Cup and on the right is a black and white picture of Augusto Rocha.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Featuring York's own Dr Matthew Hurst (@mrmhurst.bsky.social) on 'Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park' which is an open access must-read (and must-cite!) for historians of empire and decolonisation regardless of regional expertise

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

🚀 Re-posting yesterday's rocket riders (put it up a little late in the day) #skystorians #china #history #GreatLeapForward 🚀

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Reposted by Jon Howlett

Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Last week I posted Song Qingling on a fun dove-shaped jet, so today I thought I’d stay on the theme of rocket-power in Mao-era Chinese propaganda. The most famous example of which is ‘rocket Mao’ from this Great Leap Forward poster from 1958. (1/7) #China #Skystorians #propaganda #Communism

Chinese workers and peasants stride across large waves out at sea. One drives a tractor. In the back there is a man who looks like Mao on a rocket reading a Little Red Book.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Finally, here is Chang’e raining blossoms on an adorable bunch of space explorers in 1962. What should we make of all these rocket riders? They remind us that Chinese Communism was a modernisation project. The Leap must have felt like riding a rocket at times, before the terrible crash. (6/7)

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Here we can see a more homemade-looking effort, with a peasant and worker evading the heat of a grasping sun by riding a plane: "One day equals twenty years" the text reads, capturing the enthusiasm of 1958. (5/7)

A hand-drawn image of a worker and a peasant riding a plane past a cartoon sun which is trying to grab them above a bank of red clouds.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

During the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962), the Chinese state rapid industrialisation and rocket imagery was pervasive. Here we see China (a worker), carrying a tablet bearing production figures overtaking the USA, a cowboy on horseback, and Britain, riding a surprised-looking ox. (4/7)

A Chinese man on a rocket labelled 'China' overtakes an American man with a cowboy hat on a horse and British 'John Bull' caricature on an ox.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The USSR had launched its Sputnik 1 satellite in October 1957, heralding the start of the ‘Space Age’ and a rocket frenzy in China. This Chinese poster from the same year shows a Soviet comrade (disappointingly not Laika the dog) being greeted by the moon goddess Chang'e and other deities. (3/7).

A man dressed in Russian-style clothing rides a red rocket labelled 'CCCP' towards a group of traditional Chinese deities standing on a cloud.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

This poster, which urges the masses to ‘aim high and achieve greater, faster, better’ was typical of the period (might listen to some Daft Punk later…). China got its own jets in 1956 and ballistic missiles in 1960, they were powerful symbols of the nation ‘aiming higher’ technologically. (2/7)

A large red arrow points upwards from left to right, showing production increases. Plane wings are attached to it reading 'more, quicker, better, more economical'.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Thanks for reading! If you would like to know more about ‘external propaganda', you can check out my article on China Reconstructs’ less successful forebear The Shanghai News here: doi.org/10.1017/jch.... For completeness, I found the cover here: www.bannedthought.net/China/Magazi... (8/8)

doi.org

The Shanghai News (1950–1952): New Democracy and External Propaganda in Early 1950s Shanghai | Journal of Chinese History 中國歷史學刊 | Cambridge Core

The Shanghai News (1950–1952): New Democracy and External Propaganda in Early 1950s Shanghai - Volume 5 Issue 1

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

It captures a moment: the horrors that accompanied the establishment of a ‘People’s Democratic Dictatorship’ were justified in some people’s eyes by the promise of a brighter future. The Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957 repressed China’s intellectuals and cultural workers, dispelling illusions. (7/8)

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Head of the Red Cross Society of China, Li Dequan's (李德全) chauffeur pulls up outside. She was the PRC's first Minister for Health and a founder of the All-China Women’s Federation. Like Song, she was a prominent ‘democratic personage’ in the 1950s. Can you spot any other familiar faces? (6/8)

A chauffeur pulls a red car up in front of the offices of China Reconstructs. Li leans out of the window waving a red cross on a white flag.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

This cover was published at an optimistic moment, with Mao Zedong having called for a ‘Hundred Flowers’ to bloom in China. Dayton Lekner remarks in A Hundred Flowers (2025), on the colourfulness, energy and dynamism of this time. To this, I would like to add occasional silliness (dove jet!). (5/8)

Song Qingling flies above the newspaper offices in a jet aeroplane shaped like a dove of peace, waving an olive branch

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Who in the decaying imperialist-capitalist world beyond China's borders wouldn’t be won over by a bowl of noodles served by these happy chefs? (4/8)

Two happy cartoon chefs emerge from a kitchen with steaming bowls of noodles

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Rather than railing against imperialism, much ‘external propaganda’ promoted peace and reported on the successes of 'New China' in agriculture, industry and the status of women, children and ethnic minorities. It also featured the arts, language learning, and sports. (3/8)

Newspaper workers produce cultural content for the magazine. One is making paper cuts, another calligraphy.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

It shows the comrades busily producing their 1957 fifth anniversary issue in a traditional Beijing courtyard house: some report on rising grain yields, others are busy setting off firecrackers, but most are engaged in cultural pursuits: composing music, paper-cuts, calligraphy and puppetry. (2/8)

A woman on the left composes a song while two serious-faced comrades report on agricultural output and production increases

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I happened across this cover for the January 1957 edition of China Reconstructs, an ‘external propaganda’ publication for overseas readers. Featuring a flyover from Song Qingling (宋庆龄) in a dove-shaped jet(!), it captures many of the key features of 'external propaganda' (1/8) 🧵 #skystorians #china

A magazine cover in cartoon style with newspaper workers busily producing their next edition.

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Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

This Friday and Saturday (UK time) we'll be hosting a public symposium on "Global Samurai" at SOAS University of London, as part of the programme of the British Museum exhibition "Samurai" Event page, including programme and registration information: www.britishmuseum.org/events/globa...

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Jeff Wasserstrom @jwassers.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Out today in the UK buijones.com/books/everyt... … cc @uselesstree.bsky.social @fromtga.bsky.social (should be available at Blackwell’s on Broad Street ) @prashantrao.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social (and some London bookstores too)

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Just back from #AAS2026 in Vancouver - saw some brilliant research papers, caught up with old friends and met some wonderful people.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Excited to be heading to Vancouver next week for #AAS2026🛫 Come see our panel 'Beyond Immigration Controls: The Politics of (E)migration in Transnational East Asia' - 3.30pm in VCC room 112. I'll be introducing my research on displaced stateless Europeans leaving Mao-era China in the 1950s-1980s.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Monday repost: historians of modern China - come and join us in beautiful York #skystorians

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Three-year Lectureship in the History of Modern China - please share widely! jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/lect... #China #Skystorians #History

jobs.york.ac.uk

Jobs - The University of York

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Good news for the weekend! Four posts in History at York: Lecturer (Modern Middle East after 1800) Lecturer (Medieval History c.1100-1450) Lecturer (Modern China) Associate Lecturer (Modern British History and Public History) Find out all about them here: features.york.ac.uk/history-jobs/

features.york.ac.uk

York History Department - Academic Jobs

Uncover the past to define the future. We are seeking research-led historians to join our world-class, collaborative community. Discover career-defining opportunities within one of the UK’s most disti...

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, you might like to check our the resources page on my website: jonhowlett.com #universityofyork

jonhowlett.com

home

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

My personal favourite 'Nine Marshals' image is this one from 1992: That there are nine marshals and seven horses makes this feel like it was made by an AI in a hurry, but I love the clash between the wild energy of the horses and the composure of the marshals.

Nine marshals are pictured in a large group. The marshals wear blue uniforms and appear heroic but poised. The horses are brightly coloured and appear in wild postures.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

This 1983 series was part of a wider effort to consolidate the Chinese Communist Party's legitimacy after the Cultural Revolution, using figures like Ye Jianying (pictured) to tie the post-Mao reform project to earlier successes. Ye had ordered the arrest of the Gang of Four in 1976, ending the CR.

Marshal Ye Jianying's horse is a brown with a white diamond on its forehead. Ye looks into the distance.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

As the curator notes, ten generals were made Marshals of the PRC in 1955, but one of them, Lin Biao, was not to be mentioned alongside these heroes of the revolution due to his role in the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), when the others were purged - including former bandit He Long (pictured)

Marshal He Long wears a blue military uniform and rides a grey horse. The Great Wall of China is in the background and the horse walks through fields of orange flowers.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

With the Year of the Horse approaching at a canter (sorry…), I was delighted to stumble on this excellent 1983 series of paintings of the Nine Marshals of the People's Republic of China at the brilliant Chineseposters.net. chineseposters.net/themes/nine-... #China #History #Chinesenewyear #horses

Marshal Nie Rongzhen in a blue military uniform on a large brown horse. There are flowers in the foreground and a rainbow in the background.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

General He Long in a blue military uniform riding a powerful dappled grey horse against a background of orange flowers. The Great Wall of China stretches into the distance in the background.

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Two full PhD scholarships in Hong Kong history at the University of Bristol: www.hkhistory.net/2025/11/17/h...

hkhistory.net

Hong Kong History Centre Studentship 2026 – Hong Kong History Centre

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Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

My daughter Emily (7) is raising money for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint. Please support her if you can! www.justgiving.com/page/howlett...

justgiving.com

Emily's Cycle for Centrepoint

Help Jon Howlett raise money to support Centrepoint

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