Museum of Overseas Chinese Remittance Letters

Name: Museum of Overseas Chinese Remittance Letters
ISBN: 9787559486219

福建省档案馆Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaJul 2026

3.5

Word count: 12K words
Chapters: 23
ISBN: 9787559486219

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Summary

“Qiaopi,” also known as “yinxin,” is the general term for letters (xin) and remittances (yin) sent by overseas Chinese from the southeastern coast back to their families at home through private channels in modern times. Prevalent from the mid-19th century to the 1970s, they record and bear witness to the magnificent saga of the overseas Chinese community—outstanding members of the Chinese nation—pressing forward and pursuing and realizing their dreams over the past century. Taking the records of the owner of a special qiaopi archive as its main thread, this book introduces readers to overseas Chinese, Minnan customs, and various aspects of the letters and the men who delivered them. Reading this interactive puzzle book built on qiaopi materials, readers can learn qiaopi-related knowledge through the archive owner's records and various illustrations, unravel the complex interwoven clues and puzzles, and gradually discover the stories behind the qiaopi that were never sent.

Editor's review

Built on qiaopi materials, this book turns archival documents into an interactive puzzle book. Qiaopi are private documents from modern times in which overseas Chinese from the southeastern coast sent money and letters home together; prevalent from the mid-19th century to the 1970s, they served as both remittance receipts and family letters, carrying the financial ties and emotional bonds between emigrants and their families. Taking the records of the owner of a qiaopi archive as its main thread, the book links overseas Chinese, Minnan customs, the letters, and the men who delivered them. As readers work through the records and illustrations, they learn about qiaopi and follow the clues and puzzles to gradually piece together the stories behind the qiaopi that were never sent. Its strength lies in combining archival sources with puzzle mechanics, making specialized qiaopi documents approachable and hands-on; the participation of the Fujian Provincial Archives also gives the material an archival foundation. It suits readers interested in overseas Chinese history and Minnan local culture, and also works as game-flavored thematic reading. Keep pen and paper handy to sort out the clues, and treat the puzzle pacing separately from the knowledge reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in overseas Chinese history, qiaopi archives, and Minnan local culture
Experiential readers who enjoy interactive puzzles and reasoning while reading
Curators and educators at museums, archives, or local cultural events
Newcomers who want to understand overseas Chinese family ties through concrete materials

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking a systematic historical study or academic overview of qiaopi
Readers who do not want to solve puzzles and prefer linear reading
Young children; some clues and historical content require a certain level of understanding

Reading tips

First read through the archive owner's records to establish the character and timeline clues, then return to the puzzles woven throughout.
Keep pen and paper to note the relationships among letters, deliverers, and places, so scattered clues do not become hard to connect.
Read the knowledge sections and the puzzle sections separately: first understand how qiaopi worked, then deduce the stories of the unsent letters.
After finishing, consult related qiaopi materials at the Fujian Provincial Archives to deepen your understanding of the yinxin tradition.

About the publisher

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1958

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on literary publishing while also covering the humanities, social sciences, and books on art and daily life. Its approximately 1,535 titles in the database span social novels, world history, design, science fiction, classic works, and film and television: they include modern Chinese literary classics by Lu Xun such as A Madman's Diary: The Complete Short Stories of Lu Xun, Call to Arms, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, as well as foreign literary memoirs like Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday. In science fiction it offers Asimov's Galactic Empire series, while in architecture and art it publishes Liu Dunzhen's Classical Gardens of Suzhou and design titles from Phoenix Space. Its authors are concentrated among classic writers such as Lu Xun, Zweig, and Asimov, with translators including Liang Xijiang, Zhong Haonan, and Ye Lihua. Its overall character is built on classic works while embracing genre fiction and visual culture. Public information is limited, and this introduction is based on the titles in the database.

版权信息
引言
福建人在南洋
唐山唐银
侨批局忙碌的时候
收到信后的基本工作
收到批信后，要在批封上注明的信息
邮票与邮戳
批封也大有讲究
出洋仪式
漫漫航路（为什么不走陆路走水路）
新汇路
帮人理财
货币
数字的表示方式
批款汇兑的方式
信笺上的图案
盖满如意章的信笺
不会写字怎么寄信？
读信也不简单
读信的讲究
不只是信笺与汇票
编委会

FAQ

What is qiaopi? Do I need to know about it before reading?

Qiaopi, also known as yinxin, is the general term for letters and remittances sent by overseas Chinese from the southeastern coast back to their families at home through private channels in modern times, prevalent from the mid-19th century to the 1970s. The book introduces the relevant knowledge as the story unfolds, so no special preparation is needed, but knowing this background helps in understanding the significance of the letters and the men who delivered them.

Is this a pure puzzle game or a history book?

It is a combination of both. With the archive owner's records as its main thread, it introduces overseas Chinese, Minnan customs, the letters, and the men who delivered them, while also setting clues and puzzles that let readers learn the stories behind the unsent qiaopi through solving them; knowledge reading and interactive reasoning carry equal weight.

Do I need to read it in order from beginning to end?

It is best to read the main thread in order first to establish the overall context of characters and events; the puzzle sections can be tackled at your own pace, and when stuck, return to earlier records to look for clues. Skipping around can disrupt the relationships among clues and affect the puzzle experience.

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About the author

福建省档案馆 Author

The Fujian Provincial Archives is the provincial archival institution of Fujian, responsible for collecting, organizing, preserving, and providing access to local archival materials. Drawing on its holdings, the archives also takes part in compiling and publishing related historical sources. The one work listed here, Qiaopi Guan (The Qiaopi House), is a history title dealing with qiaopi, a distinctive local form of historical document. Qiaopi refers mainly to remittances and family letters sent home by overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, and is important material for studying overseas Chinese history, local social history, and postal and financial history. Through such compilation, the Fujian Provincial Archives reflects the role of an archival institution in organizing local documents and spreading historical knowledge to the public. Because public information is limited, details of the specific editorial division of labor and individual biographical information cannot be described in detail; based on the available work, its compilation focuses on organizing historical sources and popular narrative, and may be useful to readers interested in overseas Chinese history and Fujian local culture.