A Dictionary of Maqiao
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Summary
Editor's review
As a work of "linguistic roots-seeking," the unique value of "A Dictionary of Maqiao" lies in its transcendence of the narrative framework of the traditional novel. Han Shaogong uses dictionary entries as entry points; each entry is an independent yet intertextual cultural fragment, together assembling a three-dimensional picture of the Maqiao world. From "jiang" (pronounced "gang," referring broadly to any waterway) to "xing" (which in the Maqiao dialect means stupid), from "tian" (which in Maqiao refers to any delicious taste) to "sanfa" (which means death), the definitions of these entries are not merely linguistic phenomena but profound revelations of a way of life, a logic of thought, and even a power structure. Through the prism of dialect, the novel refracts local knowledge outside mainstream discourse and folk memory obscured by grand historical narratives.
Han Shaogong's writing combines the detachment of a scholar with the warmth of a writer. On the one hand, he calmly shows how language shapes and imprisons human cognition—for example, the awkward situation of the word "science" in Maqiao. On the other hand, he embeds lively character stories behind the entries, such as the story of the "nine-bag" beggar and the legend of "Ma Bazi," filling the work with vivid texture beyond intellectual reflection. This "dictionary form" is not a display of technique but a perfect unity of content and form—it implies that the world is fragmented and plural, and that any holistic narrative may be a simplification of reality.
For contemporary readers, reading "A Dictionary of Maqiao" is both an intellectual challenge requiring patience and a journey of re-examining the relationship between language and existence. It reminds us that every word we take for granted may conceal an unwritten history of civilization.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in linguistics, folklore, or cultural anthropology
- Literature lovers who appreciate experimental forms and seek reading challenges
- Thinkers concerned with rural China, local knowledge, and modernity
- Followers of Han Shaogong or readers who wish to understand the roots-seeking literary tradition more deeply
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting traditional linear narrative and strongly plot-driven stories
- Readers lacking basic patience for and resonance with dialect and regional culture
Reading tips
- It is not necessary to read in page order; begin with entries that interest you and build a feel for the book before connecting them
- Keep pen and paper handy while reading to note down definitions that overturn your assumptions and reflect on the cultural logic behind them
- Reading this book alongside Han Shaogong's "Anwei" or Zhang Wei's "September Fable" can deepen your appreciation of the intellectual exploration in 1990s literature
About the publisher
Writers Publishing House is a Chinese publisher focused mainly on literary publishing. Its output covers classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature and Eastern philosophy, with some extension into popular reading such as social fiction and parenting books. Its catalogue contains more than 900 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber and its edited editions, Shakespeare's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and foreign literary classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and Lost Illusions. In terms of authors, it includes classical writers such as Cao Xueqin and Gao E, foreign masters such as William Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Balzac, and translations by translators such as Zhu Shenghao, Geng Jizhi and Fu Lei. Overall, its publishing profile balances Chinese and foreign literary classics, emphasizes quality translations, and serves both academic and general readers; publicly available information on its specific publishing plans is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 编撰者说明
- 江
- 罗江
- 蛮子(以及罗家蛮)
- 三月三
- 马桥弓
- 老表
- 甜
- 碘酊
- 乡气
- 同锅
- 放锅
- 小哥(以及其他)
- 神仙府(以及烂杆子)
- 科学
- 醒
- 觉
- 发歌
- 撞红
- 觉觉佬
- 哩咯啷
- 龙
- 龙（续）
- 枫鬼
- 肯
- 贵生
- 贱
- 梦婆
- 嬲
- 下（以及穿山镜）
- 公地（以及母田）
- 月口
- 九袋
- 散发
- 流逝
- 马疤子（以及一九四八年）
- 打醮
- 打起发
- 马疤子（续）
- 荆界瓜
- 一九四八年（续）
- 军头蚊
- 公家
- 台湾
- 浆
- 汉奸
- 冤头
- 红娘子
- 渠
- 道学
- 黄皮
- 晕街
- 颜茶
- 夷边
- 话份
- 满天红
- 格
- 煞
- 豺猛子
- 宝气
- 宝气（续）
- 双狮滚绣球
- 洪老板
- 三毛
- 挂栏
- 清明雨
- 不和气
- 神
- 不和气（续）
- 背钉
- 根
- 打车子
- 呀哇嘴巴
- 马同意
- 走鬼亲
- 火焰
- 红花爹爹
- 你老人家（以及其他）
- 茹饭（春天的用法）
- 模范（晴天的用法）
- 打玄讲
- 现
- 嘴煞（以及翻脚板的）
- 结草箍
- 问书
- 黑相公
- 黑相公（续）
- 磨咒
- 三秒
- 莴玮
- 放藤
- 津巴佬
- 破脑（以及其他）
- 怜相
- 朱牙土
- 罢园
- 飘魂
- 懈
- 附：文学有付多疑的面孔
- 附：关于《马桥辞典》的对话
- 后记
FAQ
Is "A Dictionary of Maqiao" a genuine record of local dialect?
What connection does this book have with the novel "Dictionary" or "Dictionary of the Khazars"?
Will readers without a Hunan dialect background have difficulty reading it?
Comments
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About the author
Han Shaogong, born in Changsha, Hunan, in 1953 with ancestral roots in Li County, is a contemporary writer and one of the principal advocates of the "root-seeking literature" movement of the 1980s. His work spans fiction and essays, with representative titles including Dad, Dad, A Dictionary of Maqiao, South of the Mountains, North of the Water, and The Book of Day and Night. He has received the Lu Xun Literary Prize and the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature, and his works have been translated into multiple languages. His fiction often takes local language, folk memory, and rural experience as points of entry and is notable for formal experimentation, while his essays attend to social reality and cultural conditions in a calm, reflective tone. This collection holds 21 of his works, including selected writings, essay collections, and a revised edition of A Dictionary of Maqiao, reflecting his continuing exploration between fiction and nonfiction.
