Feudal Society (Upper and Lower)

Author: Marc Bloch (French), translated by Zhang Xushan and others
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
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 awe-inspiring 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, leaving behind a life filled with tragic colors that evoke 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 likely have offered unique and insightful commentary on the history of the era he experienced firsthand. What spiritual wealth would people living today have gained! The translation of Feudal Society began in 1990 and spanned over a decade, finally completed today. It can be said that this was a laborious translation. Just as Bloch witnessed the monumental changes of his own 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 assessments of it? The Chinese nation, weathered by time and hardship, has a long tradition of valuing history. Chinese scholars have always taken the world upon themselves, diligently adhering to the ancient saying "Even with a humble position, one dare not forget the nation's concerns." However, when scholars' political discussions were feared and even hated by the "royal court," their patriotic sentiments turned into cheap self-pity. If anyone continued to speak endlessly about national and state affairs at such a time, they would surely be seen as out of touch with the times. "Freedom is the common cry of scholars, but scholars themselves are not free!" These (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 of over 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 lament "A scholar is useless in a world of no use" reveals so much sorrow and helplessness! "Retreat to a small tower and unite as one, caring not for winter or spring" may be the best strategy, but one cannot completely escape the realities of survival. At that time, the words "capitalism" and "liberalization," which only a few understood their true meanings, frequently echoed in people's ears, while the concept of "feudalism" was the one that occupied my mind the most. 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 and learned that the press had long planned to publish the translation but had not yet found a suitable translator. Without fully assessing my abilities, I boldly requested to undertake the translation. Following Commercial Press's traditional requirements, I submitted a sample translation, and the task was essentially settled. To ensure the quality of the translation, 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 shared his thoughts: 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 person of noble 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 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 rigorous 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 and broke a bone. 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 then relayed his message to me, urging me to see it through to the end. Professor Guo's deep commitment to 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 responsible for this 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 I proofread the second volume. I was also responsible for the final compilation and the translation of the title comparison. Now that the translation is complete, I have finally fulfilled my duty to Professor Guo's 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 Keyao, 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 insightful essay spanning over 7,000 words, truly an exceptional work that offers a profound 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 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 is like a deaf person listening to fine music—though there is the intention, the essence cannot be grasped, much like a eunuch trying to match a beautiful woman—though there is the feeling, the reality cannot be achieved. Translating without mastery of the languages would be akin to an inept painter attempting a masterpiece—though the ambition is high, the flaws are inevitable. The difficulty of translation cannot be fully 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, and its translation (the difficulty of translation is well-known to all). This often made our translation feel like "plowing with a dog's trench." Although we strove with great care, errors were inevitable. We sincerely hope that scholars with profound knowledge and insight will kindly point them out, so that we may correct them in the future.
Zhang Xushan
January 2004, Tsinghua Garden, Beijing