This paper explores the way in which Hu Zhengyan 胡正言 utilizes metaphor as a mode of production in the Ten Bamboo Studio Letter Paper Catalogue 十竹齋箋譜 published in 1644 and 1645. The color letter paper is designed exclusively for writing with the goal of communication; the images printed on these letter papers thus carry a deeper layer of metaphorical meanings. The carefully chosen image interacts with the words written on the letter, and thus becomes part of the intended message. Thus every communication on these printed papers necessarily involves metaphorical meanings that are beyond the written words and essential to the written communication. It is only natural for the production of paper designed for letter communication to adopt the same metaphorical mode of production. This paper thus focuses on investigating the metaphoric themes underlying the editorial policy of the Ten Bamboo Studio Letter Paper Catalogue.