Feudal Society (Upper and Lower) -- Chinese Translation of Famous Works

Author: Marc Bloch (French), translated by Zhang Xushan and others
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Features: Marc Bloch was the founder of the Annales School and a renowned historian celebrated in the international academic world. More than half a century ago, in such a turbulent and tragic 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 at the hands of the German fascists. Such a tragic and heroic life ending evokes profound sorrow and grief. It can be imagined that if this brilliant, insightful, and passionate historian had survived the disasters of that time, he would likely have offered a unique and groundbreaking critique of the history of the era he personally experienced. 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 laborious and challenging translation. Just as Bloch witnessed the monumental changes of his own time, the translators also witnessed extraordinary years in the history of contemporary China. The vivid colors of this history have not faded, but can people living today, even historians dedicated to critical analysis, offer a fair and serious evaluation 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 their shoulders and diligently adhered to the ancient principle of "Though humble in position, one dare not forget the nation's troubles." However, when scholars' political discussions were feared and resented by the authorities, their patriotic sentiments turned into cheap self-pity. If anyone persistently spoke of national and state affairs at such times, they were undoubtedly out of touch with the times. "Freedom is the common cry of scholars, but scholars are never free!" Poor and easily suspected scholars 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 principle of "A gentleman remains steadfast in poverty," then the biting cold of the late spring would inevitably chill their hearts! The lament "Scholars are useless in the world" reveals so much sorrow and helplessness! "Retreat to my small tower and remain isolated, caring not for winter or spring" 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 were understood by only a few. Yet, what frequently appeared in my mind was the concept of "feudalism." Reading Bloch's Feudal Society in such a state of mind naturally carried a different significance. By chance, I discussed this book with an editor friend from the 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 the 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. Though advanced in years, Professor Guo generously agreed and shared his thoughts: Feudal Society by Bloch is a highly important work in the field of medieval studies in international academia, and it should have been translated into Chinese 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 privilege to undertake this translation, and he encouraged me to be determined in completing it. 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. In the midst of my studies, I used the summer vacation of 1992 to complete my portion and sent it to Professor Guo. Professor Guo approached the proofreading work with great seriousness, treating it as a significant 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 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 the immense hope he placed 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 the 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 might 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, the second volume was proofread by me, and I was 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's spirit. 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. We are deeply moved by 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 extensive work of over 7,000 words, truly an exceptional critique of feudalism. However, due to our limited translation abilities, the quality of the translation may not have reached the level we hoped for, and we fear it may not do justice to Bloch's masterpiece and Professor Ma's preface. Translating academic works involves at least two major challenges: one must be thoroughly familiar with the subject matter, and one must have a strong command of both Chinese and foreign languages. Translating without understanding the content is like a deaf person listening to fine music—though there is a heart for it, the interest is lost, much like a eunuch paired with a beauty—though there is affection, the reality cannot be achieved. Translating without proficiency in both languages risks being like an awkward 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 single name requires hesitation for a month," 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 work often feel like "plowing with a dog's snout." Despite our best efforts and caution, errors are inevitable. We sincerely hope that learned and knowledgeable scholars will kindly point them out, so that we may correct them in the future.
Zhang Xushan
January 2004, Tsinghua Garden, Beijing