Feudal Society (Vol. 1 & 2)

Author: Marc Bloch, Zhang Xushan, et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Marc Bloch was the founder of the Annales School and a renowned historian in the international academic world. More than half a century ago, in such a turbulent environment, he completed the immortal academic masterpiece Feudal Society with outstanding talent and extraordinary willpower, his perseverance being astonishing and admirable. Bloch was also a brave and outstanding patriot who (resolutely joined the resistance movement) and ultimately died tragically under the knives of Nazi Germany, a life ending filled with tragic colors that evokes immense sorrow and grief. It can be imagined that if this exceptionally talented, perceptive, and passionate historian had survived the disasters of that time, he would likely have offered unique and insightful commentary on the history of the era he personally experienced. What spiritual wealth would people living today have gained then! The translation of Feudal Society began in 1990 and spanned over a decade, finally completed today. It can be said to be a laborious translation. Just as Bloch witnessed the great changes of his time, the translators also witnessed extraordinary years in contemporary Chinese history. The vivid colors of this history have not faded, but can people living today, even historians dedicated to historical critique, offer fair and serious commentary on it? The Chinese nation, weathered by time and hardship, has a tradition of valuing history. Chinese scholars have always taken the world upon themselves, diligently adhering to the ancient saying "" (though of humble status, one dare not forget the nation's worries). However, when scholars' political discussions were feared and even hated by the "king's court," their patriotic sentiments turned into cheap self-pity. If anyone continued to endlessly discuss national and state affairs at such a time, they would surely be seen as out of touch with the times. "，!" (Freedom is often spoken of by scholars with pens, but scholars themselves are not free!) The (pitiful scholars) who are easily suspected of themselves often hesitated to speak of their own history, only to sigh in helplessness. Today, scholars in academia must still remember the situation a decade ago. If, amidst the overwhelming material desires of that time, scholars accustomed to a life of hardship could still find solace in the ancient saying "" (a gentleman remains steadfast in poverty), then the biting cold of the late spring would inevitably chill the hearts of scholars! The sigh "" (scholars are useless) reveals so much sorrow and helplessness! "，" (retreat to a small tower and unite as one, caring not for winter or summer) may be a wise strategy, but humans cannot escape the realities of survival. Frequently heard in people's ears at that time were words like "capitalism" and "liberalization," which were understood by only a few. Yet, what frequently appeared in my mind was the concept of "feudalism." In such a state of mind, reading Bloch's Feudal Society naturally held a different significance. By chance, I discussed this book with an editor friend from Commercial Press, only to learn that the press had long planned to publish the translation but had not yet found a suitable translator. Unafraid of my limitations, I boldly requested to undertake the translation. Following Commercial Press's traditional requirements, I submitted a trial translation, and the task was essentially settled. To ensure translation quality, I wrote to my teacher, the renowned historian and translator Professor Guo Shoutian, asking him to proofread the manuscript. Though advanced in years, Professor Guo generously agreed and shared his thoughts: Bloch's Feudal Society is a highly important work in the study of the Middle Ages in international academia, and Chinese academia should have had a translation long ago. Bloch was not only an outstanding historian but also a man of high moral character and patriotism. He participated in the resistance movement and died for his country. To undertake this translation was a great honor. He encouraged me to be determined in completing the work. According to the initial plan, I invited three friends to collaborate on the translation, aiming to complete it within two years. In 1991, I went to Greece for studies and temporarily interrupted the translation work, but I did not give up on this task. Amidst my busy studies, I used the summer vacation of 1992 to complete my portion and sent it to Professor Guo. Professor Guo was extremely meticulous in his proofreading, treating it as a major undertaking in his later years. Unfortunately, in the first half of 1993, he suffered a fall that resulted in a fracture. While hospitalized for treatment, he passed away due to a medical accident. Until the end, Professor Guo remained concerned about the translation work, regretting that he could not personally complete the proofreading. He entrusted the unfinished task to his student, Professor Xu Jialing, who relayed his message to me, urging me to see it through to the end. Professor Guo's high regard for this work, aside from his admiration for Bloch's character and the academic value of his work, likely also stemmed from his immense hope in me. In 1998, after returning to Beijing, I learned that the three friends originally tasked with the translation were too busy with their work to proceed as planned. Mr. Wang Mingyi, who was in charge of the matter at Commercial Press, suggested that I take on the entire task. Considering that the translation had already been delayed for a long time, completing it alone would likely have caused further delays, so I invited my friends Li Zenghong and Hou Shudong to collaborate. I translated the first volume, and the three of us translated the second volume together (Li Zenghong translated chapters 21–26, Hou Shudong translated chapters 27–31, and I translated chapters 32–33). The first volume was proofread by Professor Guo and Professor Xu Jialing, while the second volume was proofread by me. I was also responsible for the overall compilation and the translation name index. Now that the translation is complete, I have finally fulfilled my duty to Professor Guo's spirit in the afterlife. If Professor Guo were still alive and could witness the publication of this book, how wonderful that would be! It is particularly worth mentioning that the translation of this book received the enthusiastic support and encouragement of the renowned historian Professor Ma Kyao, which we deeply admire. His high praise for the book and his attention to our work boosted our confidence and courage to overcome various difficulties. At our request, he gladly wrote a preface, a comprehensive and extensive work spanning over 7,000 words, truly an outstanding piece of commentary on feudalism. However, due to our limited translation abilities, the quality of our translation may not have reached the desired level, and we fear it may have dishonored Bloch's masterpiece and Professor Ma's preface. Translating academic works at least requires two key challenges: familiarity with the subject matter and proficiency in both Chinese and foreign languages. Translating without understanding the content results in something like a deaf person listening to fine music—though there is the intention, the essence is missed, much like a castrato paired with a beauty—though there is affection, the reality is unattainable. Translating without mastery of the languages leads to something like an awkward painter attempting a masterpiece—though the ambition is high, the flaws are inevitable. The difficulty of translation cannot be understood without personal experience. Yan Fu's saying "The establishment of a name requires hesitation for ten days" is indeed not empty words. Bloch's Feudal Society is a profound and extensive masterpiece, with its text involving multiple languages. The difficulty of translating it is well-known, making our translation work often feel like "plowing with a dog's snout." Although we did our best and were cautious, errors were inevitable. We sincerely hope that learned and knowledgeable individuals can offer guidance, so that we may correct them in the future. Zhang Xushan, January 2004, Tsinghua Garden, Beijing