Translations of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism in China

Abstract

From 1968 to 2018, there are 21 Chinese versions of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ( PESC) published in China. This essay makes a profile of the Chinese translations of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, analyzes the reasons for the retranslations, and summarizes the major problems in these translations. The authors argue that, although there are some problems in the existing Chinese versions, the Chinese translations of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism play important roles in the reception and studies of Max Weber in China, and the deepening of Max Weber studies in return inspires more and better Chinese versions of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The Chinese translations contribute not only to the study of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, but also to the spread of Max Weber’s thoughts in China.