Translating Marxism as a philosophy of modernity in China: the case of the Manifesto of the Communist Party

Marxism found its way to China when the nation was struggling for a way out of semi-feudalism and semi-colonialism into a brighter future envisioned by Marx. Over a century’s textual and extratextual translation of the Manifesto demonstrates various dimensions of modernity at work, particularly the contradiction between the pre-modern Classical Chinese and a modernized language that translating the Manifesto requires, as well as socio-economic, political and cultural differences between China and Europe, where the Manifesto originated. The process of constantly retranslating the pamphlet constitutes a trajectory of China’s mega transition into a modern(izing) society in terms of language that is reflective of the economic base vs. the superstructure, and domestic and international socio-economic and political changes. It points to the unfinishability of modernity in translation, and the need to move away from ideological constraints and restraints to a more shared vision of modernity.