Maqiao Dictionary

Author: Han Shao Gong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Dictionary of Maqiao collects one hundred and fifteen everyday terms used by the people of Maqiao in Miluo County, Hunan. It uses these terms as hooks to tell a series of rich and vivid stories, captivating and thought-provoking. This novel does not adopt traditional writing techniques but skillfully blends cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics, philosophical essays, classic fiction, and other styles. Using the dictionary, it constructs the culture and history of Maqiao, allowing readers to enjoy the immense charm of the novel while discovering the history, poverty, struggles, and civilization behind each word and entry. It presents China's "Maqiao" and the world's China. The main narrative moves from history to the present, from the spiritual to the material, from richness to monotony, revealing profound philosophical depths at every turn. This is a successful creative practice and an important achievement in contemporary Chinese literature.