Teochew Letters 潮州僑批
Eight Counties of Teochew 僑批集散地 - 潮州八邑縣
During the late Qing era, the Teochew Prefecture was divided into eight counties, namely Chao’an (Teochew pronunciation: Tiê-An), Chenghai (Thêng-Hái), Raoping (Jiôu-Phêng), Jieyang (Kik-Yêⁿ), Chaoyang (Tiê-Yêⁿ), Puning (Phou-Lêng), Huilai (Hui-Lai) and Fengshun (Hong-Sūn). The Teochews who went abroad often socialised according to their counties of origin. Hence most overseas Teochew clan associations are formally known as the “Association of the Eight Teochew Counties”. Majority of the Teochew Letters collected so far belong to families in Chao’an and Chenghai, which were most active in external trade and had the largest number of emigrants. In comparison, Teochew Letters obtained from Chaoyang, Puning and Huilai are hard to come by.
晚清時期潮州府分為八邑, 分別是潮安、澄海、饒平、揭陽、潮陽、普甯、惠來、豐順。現收藏的僑批文物中,以寄往對外商業最發達、移民人數較多的潮安和澄海的最多。相比之下,在潮陽、普甯、惠來一帶收藏到的僑批較為稀有。
This letter was sent by a man in Singapore surnamed Teo to his parents in Chao'an. The name of the letter/remittance agency in Singapore is stamped on the back of the cover. As the date was expressed according to the traditional Chinese 60 year calendrical cycle, other features such as the design of the cover and the style of the language used, allow us to ascertain that the letters was written in 1931, and not 1871. 此批為新加坡張生(化名)寄給潮安父母的僑批。封背蓋"新加坡再和成偉記分局信局"戳記,書寫時間是"辛八月十八日",參照同戶其他批信,推為1931年。
Teo's filial concern for his parents as apparent throughout the letter. He instructed his wife to always respect and obey them, and to regard serving them as her utmost priority. As for his parents, he reminded them to be mindful of their well-being and their diet. 張生(化名)在批信中流露出孝敬母親之情,不僅囑咐妻子"切宜尊崇家母教道(導),辰(晨)昏切要奉侍吾母為要",更希望"大人起居珍重,努力加餐。"孝順之心躍然紙上,使人讀之倍加感悟。
The letter was signed off on a date written according to the old Chinese calendar. It read "the Third Day of the Fifth Month of the Year of Dingmao", which fell on 2 June 1927. 信中落款書寫時間"丁卯五月初三日",即1927年6月2日。
This letter was sent by a man in Singapore surnamed Teo to his parents in Chao'an. The name of the letter/remittance agency in Singapore is stamped on the back of the cover. As the date was expressed according to the traditional Chinese 60 year calendrical cycle, other features such as the design of the cover and the style of the language used, allow us to ascertain that the letters was written in 1931, and not 1871. 此批為新加坡張生(化名)寄給潮安父母的僑批。封背蓋"新加坡再和成偉記分局信局"戳記,書寫時間是"辛八月十八日",參照同戶其他批信,推為1931年。