Mail Across the Miles: Relay Stations and Mail Delivery: Relay Stations and Mail Delivery

Author: Wang Zijin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Institutional Civilization and Chinese Society. The ancient postal system was once regarded as the "lifeblood" of the nation. This information transmission system was not only the "lifeblood" of unified dynasties but also the "lifeblood" of social culture. Looking back at the history of postal systems worldwide, China's postal system formed relatively early and possessed a relatively complete institutional framework. It can be said that the ancient postal system was also one of the masterpieces created by Chinese civilization. Although the history of postal transmission in the late Qing Dynasty has come to an end, the torches and flying bells that rushed back and forth along the postal routes for thousands of years, as well as various romantic stories and miraculous legends, still color the long scroll of Chinese cultural history, making the scene more vivid and colorful. Historical records on this topic are extremely fragmented, and previous research is scarce. It is indeed difficult to provide a comprehensive introduction to this historical aspect, yet the author has taken a unique approach, collecting relevant records from a vast array of literary works to piece together a picture of the postal transmission system, leaving one in awe.