Welcome to the Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon

I'm a grass-mud horse

In December 2023, we published a revised edition of the Lexicon as an eBook, which includes updated entries for 104 of the most salient terms we have collected over the past 20 years. Please download it here.

The Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon is a glossary of memes, nicknames, and neologisms created by Chinese netizens and encountered in online political discussions. The project is named in honor of the grass-mud horse, the de facto mascot of Chinese internet users who deploy coded language to avert censorship and allude to their desire for freedom of information and expression. By systematically documenting and interpreting the dynamics of censorship, domination, and resistance in Chinese communication and information networks, the Lexicon aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the internet's cultural, social, and political impact. Learn more about the project and how you can contribute.

Latest Entries

Updated September 13, 2021

• paratrooper
• Japanese in spirit
• American in spirit
• Taliban in spirit
• pass the knife