摘要：近日，包伟民教授的学术专著《宋代城市研究》英文版The Cities of Song China (960-1279)由国际著名学术出版社劳特里奇（Routledge）正式出版发行。英文版由中山大学中国语言文学系（珠海）王治田教授主持翻译。
近日，包伟民教授的学术专著《宋代城市研究》英文版The Cities of Song China (960-1279)由国际著名学术出版社劳特里奇（Routledge）正式出版发行。英文版由中山大学中国语言文学系（珠海）王治田教授主持翻译。
该书中文版原由中华书局出版，是包伟民教授在宋代史研究领域的重要代表作之一，此次英文版的推出，标志着这部研究中国宋代城市史的力作将面向更广泛的国际学术界。英译版分为合订本、分卷本两种，分卷本分别为The Cities of Song China I: Urban Governance (城市管理)和The Cities of Song China II: Urban Developments(城市发展)。
《宋代城市研究》聚焦于10至13世纪两宋时期的城市发展。书中，包伟民教授运用大量历史文献（包括地方志、笔记、文集等）和考古材料，对宋代城市的空间结构、管理制度、经济功能、社会形态以及城市生活等方面进行了系统、深入的探讨。其研究不仅揭示了宋代城市在中国古代城市发展史上的关键地位和独特面貌，也为我们理解传统中国的社会变迁提供了重要视角。
该英文版的出版，将有助于推动国际宋史学界对宋代城市更深入的了解和研究。
壹
推荐语
“The Cities of Song China by Bao Weimin, the foremost socioeconomic historian of China’s middle period, will be essential reading for students of China’s history and urban history. It is a masterful achievement.”
Peter K. BolProfessor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, US
“One of the pioneers of modern Song studies, Bao Weimin’s pioneering 2014 study of Song urbanization surveyed and updated the state of the field, detailing the nature and scope, urban administration, markets, tax structure, construction, population, and the culture of medieval Chinese cities, an altogether monumental achievement now available in a meticulous English translation.”
Charles Hartman,Professor of Chinese Studies, University of Albany, US
“In the field of history, the study of cities holds a significant position. Cities serve as the epicenter of political, economic, and social activities, where people's lives converge. The rapid evolution of the urban landscape is a crucial aspect of the social transition during the Tang and Song dynasties. This book provides a comprehensive overview and insightful critique of previous research; it stands as a successful example of urban history scholarship, characterized by its eloquent writing and fresh perspectives. The book outlines the urban management system, vibrant social dynamics, the development of both refined and popular culture, and the challenges faced in urban construction during the Song Dynasty. It provides a rich, in-depth, and original discussion of the characteristics and trends of this period.”
Deng XiaonanProfessor of Chinese History, Peking University, China
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Acknowledgment
This translation project is supported by the “Chinese Academic Translation Project”(21WSHB012) under the auspices of the National Social Science Foundation of China (NSSFC). Without this funding, the project would not have been initiated.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the project members: Wang Ao, Ivy Hui-Yuan Yeh, and Jonathan Henshaw. Additionally, I am thankful for the valuable guidance provided by Peter K. Bol, Zeng Xiangbo, and Geng Yuanli, whose participation in the project’s opening meeting I sincerely appreciate. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge Professor Bao Weimin, the original author of the book, for his significant support throughout this endeavor. I recall that whenever I encountered challenges related to comprehension or specialized content, he consistently offered meticulous and patient explanations. In the course of the translation process, I periodically consulted with several teachers and friends regarding the management of specific details via the online platforms such as Wechat and Facebook (Sinologist Group). They provided me with generous assistance, including but not limited to the following individuals: Christopher Lupke, Luo Ning, Fan Jinghua, Liu Xiaoxu, among others.
I would like to express my gratitude to Poon Wai Yee from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) for her assistance with language proofreading. I also extend my appreciation to the students under my supervision at Sun Yat-sen University, who provided invaluable support in translation and information collection: Li Shiyao, Lai Yu, Chen Xinyuan, Wang Weixi, Gong Wei, Ge Xiangwen, Zhan Zeyi, Xie Jiewei, Luo Chuqi, and Ni Chenyu.
I would like to express my gratitude to my wife, Kelly Cen, for her invaluable assistance in proofreading and reviewing the draft. Most importantly, I appreciate her support in navigating the arduous yet significant process of completing this work.
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Translator’s Note to the Readers
It is challenging to meet the needs of both general readers and specialized researchers, particularly when translating academic works into a second language.
The original text of this book references a substantial amount of primary materials from the fields of history and geography, many of which remain untranslated. Additionally, the multilingual nature of the book—encompassing English, French, German, and Japanese—presents a further challenge for the reader.
In the process of translating this book, the translator aims to reduce the reading difficulty for English-speaking readers while maintaining the academic integrity of the original text. Consequently, a significant number of original materials cited in the book are not accompanied by the original Chinese text, as this could detract from the reading experience for the audience (It is acknowledged that many works in the field of Sinology typically include the original texts of ancient works). During the translation of ancient historical materials, several classic texts, such as Shiji, Zuozhuan, Guanzi, have been translated into English. The author has referenced these translations and has particularly benefited from James Legge’s translations of pre-Qin classics. Regarding proper names, most are presented solely in pinyin without accompanying Chinese characters. However, certain homophonic names (e.g., Suzhou蘇州or宿州, Fuzhou福州or撫州, Taizhou台州or泰州) are provided with their corresponding Chinese characters to prevent ambiguity.
Concerning the multilingual research findings referenced in the original document, the translator will provide only the original source for the English treatise. For documents in other languages that have available English translations, the source of the English translation will be utilized whenever feasible. In the case of extensive research works in Chinese and Japanese, romanization will be provided in accordance with established conventions in Sinological research. The absence of meaning translations is intentional and aims to enhance researchers’ access to the original texts. For certain frequently referenced book titles, the translator has supplied abbreviations. Regarding the names of individuals mentioned in the text, only the ancient names are represented with Chinese characters, whereas the researcher’s names are not denoted in this manner. Readers may refer to the bibliography for further information on these names, if necessary.
The book contains a significant number of Chinese official names and institutional terms. The translator has consulted the translations of notable scholars such as Charles Hucker, Endymion Porter Wilkinson, Charles Hartman and Paul W. Kroll, and has included a glossary at the end of the book for reference. Throughout the main text, the translator has made a conscious effort to avoid labeling the Chinese names, thereby aiming to facilitate a smoother reading experience for the audience.
Translation is frequently an underappreciated endeavor, particularly when it pertains to highly specialized academic works, and executing it proficiently presents significant challenges. The translator acknowledges the likelihood of numerous errors within the translation and therefore invites readers to provide constructive criticism and corrections.
肆
英译本前言
本书写作成文的第一部分，完成于2005年作者在韩国访学期间，这一部分后来经修改成为书中的第六章。至2014年本书的出版，前后写作经过了近十年的时间——开始酝酿思考当然更早。出版至今也已有整整十年了。这近二三十年来世事的走向，则不免令人茫然。
本书绪论归纳了国际学界对中国传统历史看法的变化过程，从十八、九世纪以来的停滞论，到二十世纪五十代的“传统内变迁”（change within tradition）说，及至八十年代起，则有学者开始提出中国在宋代发生了“经济革命”的看法。这一看法得到了广泛的认同，并影响到中国学界。对于这样的观察推进，关于唐宋之间城市出现跨越性扩张的史实，从来都是一个主要论据。这使得许多学者在研究思路上形成了一种路径依赖，习惯于强调中国城市在10至13世纪之间经济文化上不断扩张的事实。本书称这种思路为“发展范式”。
在本书酝酿、写作的那些年里，现实似乎印证了关于中国唐宋之间城市历史“发展范式”的合理性。无论是一体化趋势带来的全球市场整体发展和贸易的繁荣，各国间的互联互通，还是中国游客开始出现在世界各地，都是如此。
不过，本书试图努力说服读者的则是问题的另一个侧面，史事的演进其实远比“发展”这一单面相更为复杂。在10至13世纪，随着人口膨胀、交换活跃、市声鼎沸，以使得中国的城市开始呈现出某种类似于西欧中世纪那样“市民社会”的一些表现时，王朝国家同时也借助于其对城市各种资源的掌控，使之成为了更加强大的行政中心。经济要素与行政地位两者之间并非此消彼长，而是合为一体，相辅相成，从而展示了其与西欧城市发展道路结构性的差异。
在本书出版以来的这些年里，现实似乎正在告诉我们，一体化总是相对的，差异性则具有绝对意义。
不过，我们现在面临的世界毕竟与一千年之前大不相同了。如果说历史上文化差异主要是因为地理隔绝、交流欠缺造成，时至当今，任何一个民族想要置身于全球化趋势之外，继续追求小国寡民的境界，已经是不可能了。在差异中探寻不同文化的共同价值，并使之成为和平交流的出发点，是我们应该努力的方向。
如果说这个译本的出版，能够让英语世界的读者们有更多的机会，来了解中西之间在传统时期城市成长的共同性与差异性，并使之可以进一步理解中国文化，这无疑是对我们的工作最令人愉悦的回报。
最后，我必须对本书的翻译者王治田教授、中、外双方出版社的编辑，以及支持这项巨大学术著作翻译计划的国家社会科学基金中华学术外译项目，表示衷心的感谢。
包伟民 二○二四年十月十四日 于杭州寓所
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来源：宋史研究资讯
