Feudal Society (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Marc Bloch (France)
Publisher:
Publish Date: April 1, 2005
Features: Marc Bloch was the founder of the Annales School and a renowned historian celebrated internationally. More than half a century ago, in such a turbulent and tragic era, he completed the immortal academic masterpiece Feudal Society with outstanding talent and extraordinary willpower, a testament to his remarkable perseverance that is both awe-inspiring and admirable. Bloch was also a brave and outstanding patriot who (resolutely joined the resistance movement) during the national crisis, ultimately (died tragically at the hands of Nazi Germany). Such a tragic and heroic life story evokes profound 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 have likely offered a unique and groundbreaking critique of the era he experienced firsthand. What immense spiritual wealth would people living today have gained! The translation of Feudal Society began in 1990 and spanned over a decade, finally completed only recently. It can be said to be a labor-intensive work. Just as Bloch witnessed the monumental changes of his own time, the translators also witnessed extraordinary years in contemporary Chinese history. The vividness of this history has not faded, but can people living today, even historians dedicated to critical analysis, offer a fair and serious evaluation of it? The Chinese nation, (enduring hardships), has a long tradition of valuing history. Chinese scholars have always taken the world upon themselves, diligently adhering to the ancient principle of "" (even in humble positions, one dare not forget the nation's worries). However, when scholars' political discussions were feared and resented by the authorities, their patriotic sentiments turned into cheap self-pity. If anyone continued to endlessly speak of 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 never free!) The (pitiful scholars) were always wary and hesitant to speak of their own historical experiences, only to sigh in helplessness. Today's academic colleagues must still remember the situation a decade ago. If, amidst the overwhelming material desires of that time, scholars accustomed to hardship could still find solace in the ancient principle of "" (a gentleman remains steadfast in poverty), then the biting cold of late spring would inevitably chill the hearts of scholars! The lament "" (scholars are useless in the world) reveals so much sorrow and helplessness! "，" (sheltering in a small tower, caring not for winter or summer) may be a wise strategy, but one cannot completely escape the realities of survival. Frequently heard in people's ears at that time were terms like "capitalism" and "liberalization," which only a few understood their true meanings, while the concept of "feudalism" lingered most in my mind. Reading Bloch's Feudal Society in such a state naturally carried 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 yet to find a suitable translator. Without fully assessing my capabilities, I boldly requested to undertake the translation. Following Commercial Press's traditional requirements, I submitted a sample translation, and the task was essentially confirmed. To ensure translation quality, I wrote to my teacher, the renowned historian and translator Professor Guo Shoutian, asking him to proofread the manuscript. Although Professor Guo was advanced in years, he readily agreed and offered his opinions: Bloch's Feudal Society is a highly important work in the field of medieval studies 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 integrity and patriotism. He participated in the resistance movement and died for his country. It was a great honor to undertake this translation. He encouraged me to be determined in completing it. According to the original plan, I invited three friends to collaborate on the translation, aiming to finish 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. Between my demanding studies, I used the summer of 1992 to complete my portion and sent it to Professor Guo. Professor Guo approached the proofreading work with great diligence, treating it as a significant 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 deep commitment to this work stemmed not only from his admiration for Bloch's character and the academic value of his work but likely also 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 overseeing the project at Commercial Press, suggested that I take on the entire task. Considering the translation had already been delayed for so long, 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 of the title index. Now that the translation is complete, I have finally fulfilled my duty to Professor Guo in spirit. If Professor Guo were still alive to 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. We deeply admire his high praise for the book and his attention to our work, which gave us the confidence and courage to overcome various difficulties. At our request, he generously wrote a preface, a sweeping and profound essay spanning over 7,000 words, truly an exceptional work offering a comprehensive analysis of feudalism. However, due to our limited translation abilities, the quality of the translation may not have reached the heights we hoped for, and we fear it may fall short of Bloch's masterpiece and Professor Ma's great preface. Translating academic works involves at least two major challenges: one must be thoroughly familiar with the subject matter, and one must possess a strong command of both Chinese and foreign languages. Translating without such knowledge is like a deaf person listening to fine music—though the heart is in the right place, the essence is lost, much like a castrated man trying to please a beautiful woman—though there is affection, the reality is unattainable. Translating without linguistic mastery is akin to an inept painter attempting a masterpiece—though the ambition is high, the flaws are inevitable. The difficulties of translation cannot be fully understood without personal experience. Yan Fu's saying, "The establishment of a single name requires hesitation for ten days," is indeed not without merit. Bloch's Feudal Society is a profound and extensive masterpiece, with text involving multiple languages, and its translation has long been recognized as exceptionally challenging. This often left us feeling like we were "plowing with a dog's pail," struggling despite our best efforts and caution. Despite our hard work, errors were inevitable, and we sincerely hope that scholars with greater knowledge and insight will kindly point them out, so that we may correct them in the future. Zhang Xushan, January 2004, Tsinghua Garden, Beijing