From 'Halicent' Surcharges to Cross-Strait Waves: Decoding a Century of Communication Archives in Xiamen
Geographic Connections Xiamen, Gulangyu, Wuqiu Jiao, Ershisi Qijiao, Yong’an, Xiaotao, Fuzhou, Mawei, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanchang. Introduction: The Treaty Port as the ‘Eyes and Ears’ of the World From the perspective of digital humanities, communication is more than the transfer of information; it is a game of sovereignty. As one of the “Five Treaty Ports,” Xiamen’s postal history is highly emblematic. According to the Xiamen City Chronicles, Xiamen’s external interactions date back to the 16th century. However, the real explosion of modern post and telecommunications occurred at the end of the 19th century. From Qing Dynasty lithographic stamps to the sophisticated telegraph categories of the 1950s, the data in these archives records Xiamen’s transition from being passively integrated into a global network to actively constructing a modern communication system. ...