Teochew Letters 潮州僑批

Currencies Used 僑批與批銀

Teochew Letters appeared in the early 19th century in fulfillment of a social need during a time when financial and postal services were at best primitive. In the late 20th century, the letters represented an economic lifeline for many families with members living as emigrants abroad. Almost half of all dependents in the Teochew region obtained support for living from overseas remittances received every month. The money received typically accounted for 80% of a household’s income. The letter/remittance industry flourished during an era of great changes in China and the world. As a result of the shifting times, a diversity of currencies were remitted through the Teochew Letters.

 

僑批是在十九世紀上半葉金融、郵政機構尚未建立和極不完善的情況下應運而生的“銀信合封”特殊寄匯方式。到了二十世紀下半葉，僑批成为了潮州僑胞眷屬的經濟“生命錢”。約佔潮州僑鄉總人口一半的僑眷都靠海外寄回的批款維持生計，平均每月收的批款，約佔家庭總收入的80%。其中，批銀貨幣種類的多樣性中印證了當時中國乃至世界的巨大變遷。