At 77,a man in Quanzhou,Fujian province,has spent almost six decades writing letters,becoming a crucial bridge for families split by distance. Jiang Mingdian stands as one of last professional letter writers in China,a trade now fading fast. In his 59-year career,he's written over 100,000 letters for families reaching out to loved ones in places like the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia.
Jiang started at 18,inspired by his parents. His father was among China's first professional letter writers. His mother, primary school teacher,shaped his education. This profession runs deep in Fujian's history, where emigration has been common since the 1840s. War, poverty pushed many young people to leave, seeking better opportunities abroad,sending letters and money back home .
But language barriers,illiteracy often left relatives unable to read or answer. This gap birthed professional letter writers like Jiang,who turned ordinary messages into heartfelt expressions. His work not only shares news but closes emotional gaps for families desperate for connection…
