About the author:
Feng Liang (born in 1963) is a writer, publisher and Tibetologist. Until 2019, she worked as a professional editor for academic publications on culture and history of Tibet with China Tibetology Publishing House in Beijing. Born in an inter-ethnic family, she grew up in Liangshan among the indigenous Yi people, then spent twelve years in Lahsa. She has always been sensitive to inter-ethnic, inter-cultural relations, and to raising concerns about the question of integrating indigenous groups into modern society. After publishing a few novels about Tibet in 1980s, she has pursued an academic career as researcher and editor for many years, and since 2019 she once again concentrates on literary writing. The German translation of her essay compilation Halb Yi, halb Han-Chinesin was published in 2016.  

About the book:
Book Title: 《西南边》
English Title: Encounterings in the Southwest
Author: 冯良 Feng Liang
Original publication: Changjiang Literature & Art Publishing House
ISBN: 978-7-5354-9586-0
Publication Date: September 2017
390 pages

The novel Encounterings in the Southwest narrates the social and cultural upheavals in Liangshan in the Southwest of China, caused by the inter-ethnic encounters between members of the indigenous minority of the Yi with Han-Chinese. The marriage and family life of three inter-ethnic couples serve as the narrative red lines over a time span of three decades – from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s - during which numerous political events took place. The protagonists – three Yis, three Han-Chinese, all from different social classes – get encountered due to an urgent medical treatment during a military action. The acquaintance leads soon to falling in love, marriage, happiness, however, being continuously shadowed by emotional tensions and dilemma. Loyalty and treason towards the former master and current government, trust and dishonesty between friends, pursuits of power and conceit, pride and prejudice, stubbornness and ignorance lead to bitterness in their marriages and their friendships that in turn is indispensable for their survival in times of uncertainty.  
This book traces the literary tradition of realism used to deal with serious social issues, at the same time, the author doses a fine sense of humor in her literary language. The narrative tone with slight sarcasm reflects very well the curiosity, attractiveness, non-understanding, and misunderstandings when foreign cultures encounter. The fine facets of her ethnographic descriptions offer local perspectives to understand the multi-ethnic reality in the Southwest of China. 
In 2020, this book won the Steel Award for Ethnic Literature (2016-2019) in the category of novel. The Korean version has been published in 2021. 

The co-translators Christoph Palm and Wu Xiujie presented the book in our pitching session on 29 June 2023.

For further information please contact:

Wu Xiujie
Academic and Literary translator
On this website
E-Mail: [email protected]

Christoph Palm
Born in 1957, studied sinology and ethnology in Hamburg, Bonn and Berlin, spent several years studying in Jinan, Beijing and Hangzhou, received his doctorate in 1993 on “Yang Guifei in Chinese literature”. Since the early 1990s, he has gained knowledge empirically as a study tour guide focussing on countries in East and Southeast Asia.