Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.5, 2017

A Hundred Years of Utopia in China: A Scholarly Review of the History of Chinese Translators and Translations of Utopia

(Abstract)

Gao Fang

Thomas More’s Utopia, published in 1516, is a pioneering work of utopian socialism from the early modern era. Like the development of world socialism, it has so far weathered five centuries. Following the first mentions of Utopia in Chinese books and magazines in the decades from 1903 to 1934, the first Chinese translation, by Liu Linsheng, appeared in 1935, followed by one by Dai Liuling in 1956 (revised and republished in 1982). By 1998, 13 translations had appeared in the mainland of China as well as four new translations in the Taiwan region. The early Chinese publications and translations played an important historical role in the spread of scientific socialist ideals and inspired the Chinese to strive for the fulfillment of these glorious ideals. Over the past century and more, the extensive and profound spread of scientific socialism in China has virtually kept pace with the introduction and translation of utopian socialism. Marx and Engels denounced its lack of realism but carried on its socialist ideals. Rising above its theoretical arguments and practical programs, they realized socialism's scientific transformation from utopian fantasy to historical practice. It was their efforts that propelled the Chinese revolution to its final victory in the course of the sinicization of Marxism, providing a scientific guide to action for the historical fulfillment of the theory of scientific socialism in the great socialist practice with Chinese characteristics, and for striving for the great revival of the Chinese nation in the 21st century.