"I have been writing a monograph on the massacre. I have read a variety of materials. The description of Kai Ba Lidai Shiji is clearly close to the matter. It shows us the conflict from many angles. The analysis of the cause of the matter is also convincing, especially regarding the internal contradictions of the Dutch administration. The relevant materials preserved by the Dutch East India Company corroborate the account," says Blussé.

Plain details show the early Chinese's life

Dutch records and realist paintings in the 17th and 18th centuries were much appreciated in Europe, and they are considered relatively reliable records. The book contains 20 illustrations, including works by Dutch painters, that try to reveal the life of the Chinese in Batavia.

The author is a researcher at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies on Chinese Literature, Xiamen University.