‘I'm still here, don’t remarry': Documenting the past through 'simple' remittance letters
A new film titled 'Dear You' highlights the historical significance of 'qiaopi,' or remittance letters, sent by Chinese migrants to their families. These documents served as vital links for financial support and emotional connection across the Chinese diaspora.
Why it matters
It preserves the cultural history of migration and the personal narratives of families separated by economic necessity.
A surprise Chinese box-office hit that has been screening in Auckland this month has documented the rich history of remittance letters that migrants once sent to their families back home.
"Dear You", a low-budget film shot in the Teochew dialect of the Min Chinese language, recounts the story of how migration led to the creation of a distinctive remittance network across Southeast Asia.
In New Zealand, the film introduced audiences to the history of remittance records and related documents that were sent by overseas Chinese migrants to their families.
Called qiaopi, or yinxin, the letters typically included brief notes or personal messages for loved ones on top of the money they were sending home.
In 2013, qiaopi and yinxin were added to UNESCO's International Memory of the World Register.
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