Certificates and Licenses Through the Centuries: A Picture of Chinese Life on Old Paper

Author: Xu Shanbin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: If his collection of conference tickets, obituaries, invitations, tickets, notices, diplomas, marriage certificates, licenses, etc., are arranged in chronological order, they would form a history of modern China. He is the one who "writes" Chinese history with these certificates. The headline of a report about him by the Beijing Youth Daily is "Buying Fragments of History for 100,000 Yuan." Among these "fragments," there are many rare and unique items that can reveal the larger picture and reconstruct the "true face" of history. — Li Zhensheng (Photographer, Journalism Professor)
The numerous bizarre certificates featured in the book give a sense of "familiarity," witnessing the absurdity and authenticity of Chinese history. — Mo Luo (Scholar, Cultural Critic)
He has over 2,000 "old paper pieces," covering almost the entire modern history from the late Qing Dynasty to the Cultural Revolution. He studies these "quasi-artifacts" as "spiritual fossils," immersing himself in them every day, enjoying the sensation of time reversal and listening to the true footsteps of history. — Sina News Network Culture Section
The certificates in his possession—such as diplomas, marriage certificates, appointment notices, parent-teacher notices, etc.—can serve as a magnifying glass for the public to look back at the recent past. More than a century of modern Chinese history comes alive through his collection and narration. — Beijing Youth Daily
This book brings to life a century of Chinese history through the diverse certificates from various aspects of social life in China since the late Qing Dynasty. The author is a grassroots collector who has spent over a decade gathering nearly 3,000 historical certificates. The book selects over 300 pieces of historical fragments never recorded in official history, covering ten aspects of national life such as marriage certificates, diplomas, indentured servitude contracts for prostitutes, teacher certificates, the lives of courtesans, opium and foot-binding, special lottery tickets, event tickets, invitations, traffic licenses, and communication certificates. Each certificate is a treasure painstakingly collected by the author, including many rare and unique items with special historical origins and unique cultural significance. They bear witness to the absurdity of a century of Chinese history, revealing the larger picture and bringing history to life. Arranged in chronological order, these certificates form a unique and vivid history of modern Chinese life.
The author introduces the historical background of these certificates in an engaging and lively manner, interpreting the historical life they carry, their distinctive features, and the stories behind them, making for an enjoyable read.