The Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 8, 2024. The event attracted over 500 visitors, including representatives from the Malaysian Chinese associations and chambers of commerce, prominent overseas Chinese leaders, and students and teachers from Chinese schools.
"Qiao" means emigrants and "pi" means letters. Qiaopi are also known as "Yinxin" or "letter with money" in the Wuyi areas in Guangdong. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Through the qiaopi archives, which are part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, the exhibition aims to evoke a sense of hometown nostalgia among overseas Chinese, especially the younger generation, and improve their understanding of Chinese culture.
A thematic display spanning over 100 meters long
The entrance of the Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition was uniquely designed to resemble a "Chaoshan ancestral hall", incorporating intangible cultural heritage techniques such as inlaid porcelain, gold lacquer painting, stone carving, and wood carving.
The exhibition predominantly features red hues and showcases nearly 200 qiaopi letters and related pictures that are arranged in a thematic display spanning over 100 meters long, narrating the stories of qiaopi from Malaysia.
Among the exhibits are four return qiaopi letters and ten qiaopi documents donated by Shantou qiaopi culture scholar Zhang Meisheng. These materials include stories about the popularity of Chinese herbal pills from Chengyanggang Township, Chenghai District, Shantou in Malaysia. There is also a touching letter from Malaysian Chinese Ye Liren to his mother, vividly depicting the migration journey of overseas Chinese working abroad while keeping their homeland in mind.
Qiaopi carries old stories of overseas Chinese
"I used to help my family write qiaopi letters when I was a child, so I am quite familiar with them," said Lim Keh Kuan, president of the Federation of Teochew Associations Malaysia. In his view, qiaopi letters express the love and concern of overseas Chinese for their hometowns and families, embodying the filial piety inherent in Chinese culture. These letters indirectly supported China's development at the time, and the financial and postal industries later evolved from the qiaopi system.
"Qiaopi represent not only family connections, but also the business reputation of Chinese people in their local communities," shared Goh Wan Sing, president of the Malaysia Teochew Chamber of Commerce.
He reflected on how, in the past, when sending a letter with some money to their families back home, there was no way to know if it had arrived until months later when a letter was returned. In today's terms, their trust was extraordinary.
Many visitors were touched by a letter at the exhibition. The overseas Chinese writer asked their family back home to buy flower baskets, pickled vegetables, and sausages to send to Malaysia. This heartfelt request evoked childhood memories for Chaoshan people worldwide.
Additionally, in front of the carefully recreated scene of "Chu Hua Yuan", a coming-of-age ceremony for 15-year-old teenager in Chaoshan area, flower baskets were filled with "blessing letters" written on qiaopi, expressing hopes from the homeland for youth as they grow up.
Malaysian youth experience Chaoshan culture
An immersive interactive experience is another highlight of this exhibition. Visitors can experience the arduous journey of "qiaopi couriers" through items like gingham, baskets, and tianguo (sweet rice cakes), known as the "three essentials for overseas travel". Shantou Culture and Art School's actors came all the way from Shantou to perform classic Chaozhou Opera excerpts "Peach Blossom Transition" and "Watching the Lantern". Meanwhile, a paper-cutting work embossed the word "Shantou" was popular among the audience.
Lin Chuhan, a student at the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Puay Chai 2 found "Chu Hua Yuan", a coming-of-age ceremony for 15-year-old teenagers in the Chaoshan area, particularly interesting and wanted to experience it once in the future. She hopes to visit China to learn more about Chinese culture, and share it with her friends in Malaysia.
Solicitation for qiaopi stories
Notably, GDToday and Kwong Wah Yit Poh jointly launched a solicitation event at the exhibition, inviting global participants to share their personal stories about Qiaopi.
Last July, Shantou held a week-long Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand, which attracted over 10,000 visitors, including local dignitaries, community leaders, and youth. On August 12, Shantou will also take the qiaopi exhibition to Cambodia.
