The Hermitage of Poetry: Akhmatova's Notes (I)

Author: Liydia Chukovskaya
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: Russian culture is a dazzling pearl in the treasure trove of world culture, though it has endured hardships, it still retains its brilliant and radiant light. The historical roots of Russian culture can be traced back to the ancient Slavs living between the Dnieper and Dniester rivers. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the Slavs practiced polytheism and engaged in agricultural production. After the dissolution of the primitive commune, the feudalization process began. In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Slavs adopted Christianity, marking a significant event in the history of Slavic culture, indicating that Slavic culture entered the Christian cultural sphere. The Great Schism of 1054 divided Christianity into the Western Church and the Eastern Church, creating two major forms of Christian civilization. The Russians, along with the Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, and Bulgarians, belong to the Orthodox Christian cultural sphere, deeply influenced by Byzantine culture, as reflected in the language, religion, and arts of Kievan Rus'. The Sophia Cathedral built in ancient Rus' vividly demonstrates its cultural ties with Constantinople. Although Byzantine culture was based on Christianity, it retained Greek-style culture, used Roman law, and governed the state in the model of the Roman Empire. Thus, the characteristics of Byzantine culture were shaped not only by its geopolitical position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia but also by its role as a bridge connecting Western Latin Christianity and Eastern Islam. These cultural traits were deeply imprinted on Russian culture. In the 13th century, the Mongols invaded Russia, and the Russians fought fiercely, eventually breaking free from Mongol domination in 1480 and establishing a Russian state centered around Moscow. Subsequently, the capricious autocratic rule imposed by Ivan the Terrible evolved into a unified Russian Empire under the Romanov dynasty. Peter the Great, while consolidating the autocratic state system and turning peasants into serfs, also learned from Western European countries and vigorously implemented reforms, marking the beginning of modernization in the Russian Empire. Catherine the Great followed suit, respecting the Enlightenment movement in Europe anding some reforms, but at the same time expanding serfdom and granting the nobility permanent rights over serfs through the "Charter of the Nobility." As a result, the Enlightenment, which served as a weapon for the rise of the bourgeoisie in Europe, was used in Russia as a tool to complete the already established autocracy. In 1861, Russia finally issued the Emancipation Edict for serfs, but the emancipation did not transform Russian peasants into citizens in the Western sense; they remained bound by the village community and family structures, lacking personal freedom. The Russian Empire thus oscillated between gradual Westernization and the maintenance of autocratic rule, and the Russian intellectual world remained caught in a tension field between Westernizers and Slavophiles, both conflicting and interconnected. By the 19th century, Russia had extended from the Prussian border to the Pacific, becoming a vast country spanning Europe and Asia. Yet, despite its expansive territory, it failed to establish a strict order, leaving Russia dissatisfied with its position in Europe and powerless to seek greater hegemony. Russia has long held the religious belief that it has a sacred mission: Moscow is the "Third Rome." This idea has deeply permeated the cultural spirit of the Russian people, becoming the soul of the nation. It is said that the English and Americans love to talk about sports, the French love to discuss women, and the Russians love to discuss religion and the mysteries of God. Thus, the Russians have a sense of being "messengers of God" or "pursuers of God," with their unique piety, compassion, and shyness, all tinged with a strong religious atmosphere. They prioritize worship over preaching, harbor a fervent longing for divine truth, show deep compassion and forgiveness toward the suffering, endure injustice with resignation, and remain loyal to sacred symbols and mysticism. The conflict between East and West constitutes the deep-seated paradox of the Russian soul, making it incomprehensible through reason. As Pushkin's poem goes: "Russia cannot be understood by reason, nor measured by ordinary standards: it has a special character—only faith applies to Russia." Various ideologies such as populism, Slavophilism, anarchism, non-resistance, nihilism, and the cult of faith have formed a multifaceted mirror of the Russian spirit, providing a window for us to glimpse its soul. Russian intellectuals represent the soul of Russia. In the continuous clash between Western and Russian cultures, they constantly examine Russian life through Western thought and scrutinize Western life through Russian emotions, leading to a series of reflections and critiques that gradually integrate Eastern and Western cultures. As Berdyaev said, "Russia should realize that it is also part of the West, a synthesis of East and West, a meeting point between two worlds, not a dividing line." This is vividly reflected in the growth of Russian intellectuals. Since the 18th century, the complex inner journeys of Russian intellectuals have mirrored the difficulties of Russia's modernization, a process that became even more pronounced in the 20th century. For this very reason, understanding Russian culture has become considerably more challenging for the Chinese. We will do our utmost to encourage and motivate ourselves to achieve this goal, and readers must also be vigilant: understanding alone is not enough; comprehension is essential. Here, any attempt to take shortcuts or seek ease will lead to misunderstanding and partiality. Translation is a form of cross-linguistic, cross-ethnic, and cross-cultural communication, bridging friendship between Chinese and foreign cultures and eliminating the barriers, prejudices, and misunderstandings arising from language differences. It facilitates the exchange and dissemination of spiritual and cultural values among people worldwide. At the same time, it is also a dialogue, enabling mutual understanding and pluralistic dialogue between nations and peoples. Cultural exchange between China and Russia has a long history, especially since this century, when China has been deeply influenced by Russian culture. However, due to various reasons at the time, China's understanding of Russian culture remains incomplete. In recent years, with the deepening of reforms in Russia and the opening-up of China, a series of Russian cultural anthologies (such as the Silver Age) have been published domestically, introducing Russian religious philosophers and exiled Western thinkers little known to Chinese readers, which undoubtedly helps the Chinese people gain a comprehensive understanding of Russian culture. As the new century dawns, China is moving toward the world, and the world is entering China. This library aims to work together with academic peers to accomplish this great task. We welcome active participation, suggestions, and critiques from academic colleagues. This library aspires to contribute to the construction of a new cultural framework for China, to the healthy development of the character of Chinese intellectuals, to cultural exchange between China and Russia and the world, and to mutual understanding and dialogue between China, Russia, and all nations. We hope that academic colleagues and readers will care for and support this library, enabling it to advance alongside the new century. We eagerly anticipate this and dedicate this preface to it.