The book’s Chinese title, 凿空 (Zaokong), is layered in meaning. Abudan is literally being “hollowed out” by oil drilling and the villagers’ clandestine tunneling. Yet the title carries an older resonance. In 139 BCE, the Western Han envoy Zhang Qian set out under Emperor Wudi on a mission to the Western Regions (西域), an ancient name for … Continue reading 凿空 (Zaokong): A Xinjiang Novel and its Enigmatic Title
The English-language rights to the novel《凿空》 by Liu Liangcheng (刘亮程) have now been purchased by UK-based publisher West Link Books. I co-translated it with Jun Liu (刘浚). Several years ago, we translated Confessions of a Jade Lord by the Uyghur author Alat Asem, which is also set in Xinjiang. Audible Annals of Abudan is set during the early 2000s in … Continue reading “Audible Annals of Abudan” (凿空): Liu Liangcheng’s Novel Set in Southern Xinjiang to be Published in English
Synopsis: The Audible Annals of Abudan (Based on the Chinese novel by Liu Liangcheng) Within your lifetime, many things will disappear before your eyes. Only those you yearn for won’t arrive. … Continue reading Synopsis: “The Audible Annals of Abudan” (梗概：《凿空)
A novel with donkeys as heroes? Unlikely as it sounds, The Audible Annals of Abudan is a great read. Comic, but with very dark undertones, this is a satire about a side of China (or at least its far-western fringes) that will be unfamiliar to readers, and an eye-opener. The translation is lively and the narrative is … Continue reading “Audible Annals” — Quick Takes
That was when the village distributed farm fields to each family by drawing lots. One day, Yüsup’s donkey was walking past Qurban when it farted right in his face. Qurban swung his ketmen and gouged the donkey’s back, leaving a deep gash. Yüsup was indignant. “A donkey’s just an animal,” said Yüsup. “It doesn’t know … Continue reading And this is a donkey we’re talking about
Dubbed “China’s Thoreau,” Liu Liangcheng has sold well over one million copies of One Man’s Village alone and won top literary awards with subsequent works. “We are living in a time of great change for humanity,” says Liu, “but I am interested in the things that remain unchanged in rural life.” The author began with … Continue reading Author’s bio: Liu Liangcheng (刘亮程)
The new issue of Pathlight (Spring 2015) Chinese literature in translation is out. Its theme is Nature, and you can download the PDF for free here.A quick look at the contents reveals four pieces that fall at least loosely into the "ethnic-themed" fiction category:Two pieces by Mongolian writers:Wolves Walk Atwain (p 18) Deng Yiguang (邓一光) … Continue reading Pathlight Spring 2015: A Handful of Pieces by Mongolian and Xinjiang-based Writers
Altaic Storytelling 