The invention discloses a method for reading distributed metadata files. After a directory is created, the directory is split into multiple directory fragments, and the multiple directory fragments are migrated to multiple metadata nodes, files which need to be written into the directory are stored in all the multiple directory fragments, when the files are read, according to the corresponding relations of identification information of the files and the directory fragments, and the directory fragments and the metadata nodes, metadata nodes stored in the files are finally determined so as to read the files, the frequency of frequently accessing the metadata nodes in which hotspot directories are located is reduced to a certain degree, the degree of hotspot of the metadata nodes is lowered, the loading pressure of the metadata nodes is reduced, and the performance of a whole metadata management system is improved. The invention further discloses a device for reading the distributed metadata files, and the device has the above same advantages.