Pipa Sounds in the Deep Alley -- 100 Essays by Lu Wenfu

Author: Lu Wenfu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The Feminization of Suzhou People
Suzhou people are often feminized, associated with beauty, gentleness, quietness, and elegance. Girls are praised as "little jade flowers" or "gentlewomen of high status," and those who don't qualify as "jade flowers" are called "older sisters." The reason Suzhou people are feminized, I believe, is due to language—the notorious soft and melodic Wu dialect. When spoken by quiet and elegant ladies, the Wu dialect is indeed beautiful, gentle, and melodious.
I once accompanied an American writer on a tour of the Suzhou Embroidery Factory, where the renowned embroidery artist, Lady Zhu Feng, gave the. Lady Zhu Feng was beautiful and elegant, speaking fluent Wu dialect. The American writer didn't need translation and was solely focused on listening to her. I was a bit puzzled and asked if he understood. He laughed, saying he wasn't listening to an introduction but to music—comparing Lady Zhu Feng's speech to a beautiful symphony. However, when men speak the Wu dialect, it can sound a bit "effeminate."
That year, I met the elderly writer Zhang Tianyi, who had been involved in revolutionary activities and imprisoned in Suzhou during his youth. He jokingly told me that when Suzhou people demonstrated, their slogans were weak and soft. He even mimicked the Suzhou accent. While his imitation wasn't authentic, I had to admit that if someone used the Wu dialect to shout "Down with..."