中英双语话史记 第117期:元朝衰亡

Yuan Dynasty

元朝

The Decline and Fall

元朝的衰败及灭亡

Despite the act that the Mongolian emperors sought to emulate much of the Chinese style of rule they continued to be regarded by the Chinese as unwelcome invaders and this may well have been the cause of their eventual failure as rulers.

尽管蒙古人寻求了各种方法来模仿汉人大部分的统治方式，他们仍被汉人认作不受欢迎的入侵者，这也许是导致作为统治者的他们最终失败的原因。

There is evidence of the declining ability of the Mongolian rulers to exercise control.

蒙古人控制能力的衰败有迹可循。

The court was beset by intrigue which undermined the administration.

朝廷被阴谋所困扰，这渐渐破坏了管理。

Toghon Temur, the last Yuan ruler relied heavily on his councilors.

元朝的最后一任皇帝——妥欢帖木儿过于依赖他的大臣。

When he dismissed the Mongolian Toghto his action precipitated the disintegration of the government.

当他罢免了蒙古脱脱，他的行为使整个政府迅速分崩离析。

The loss of military advantage brought about by the deterioration of the military system through a lack of funding and equipment plus the fact that the military leaders had to turn to agriculture for their survival contributed to the fall of the Yuan.

由资金和设备不足带来的军事系统的崩溃使元朝丧失了军事方面的优势，此外，军事长官们为了生计不得不转向农业，这也导致了元朝的覆灭。

The garrison system set up to control local disturbances fell into disarray.

为了控制地方骚乱而建立的卫戍部队体系陷入一片混乱。

Rebellion became increasingly frequent from the 1330’s.

从14世纪30年代开始，反叛频发。

The most important of these was to become known as the Red Turban Rebellion.

其中最著名的是“红巾起义”。

Based upon a religious sect, these rebels were to rise up in several places in the Huaihe River region and elsewhere.

以宗教派别为基础，叛乱的人在淮河流域和其他一些地区分别揭竿而起。

The massive recruitment of labor to re-route the Yellow River was the cause of unrest and while some uprisings were led by religious fervor others were class led as the efforts were directed against landlords and officials.

为了重改黄河河道而进行的大面积征集劳力是动荡局面的原因，其中一些起义被宗教热情所引导，另外一些起义军则被领导直接对抗地主和官员。

The Yuan allowed these people to raise peasant armies to quell rebellion but a second round of revolt that proved more successful was led by Zhu Yuanzhang, who in 1368 was to become the first Ming emperor.

元朝允许这些人建立农民军以镇压叛乱，但由朱元璋领导的第二轮反抗更加成功，他与1368年成为了明朝的开国皇帝。

In many respects the Mongolian occupation of China is seen as unproductive but there were important developments in literature and other important feature concerns the military establishment.

从很多方面来说，元朝对于中国的控制占领都是徒劳的，然而在文学和戏剧方面它取得了重要的发展。

Prior to the Yuan period the concept of conscription was tantamount.

另外一个重要的进步在于军队的建立。元朝之前，征兵的概念是有偿的。

This could only work efficiently under a strong and effective central government.

征兵制只能存在与强大而有效的中央政府之下。

The Tang abandoned this idea and relied upon mercenaries, a practice followed also by the Song.

唐朝废除了这一观点并依赖于雇佣兵，宋朝延续了唐朝的这一制度。

The Yuan instituted a system of hereditary military families and this was to be continued by the Ming (1368—1644) and Qing (1644— 1911).

元朝建立了世袭的军事家族，明朝（1368——1644）和清朝（1644——1911）又延续了元朝的这一制度。

The practice played a part in ensuring dynastic strength but it also encouraged despotism.

这种制度一方面确保了政权的实力另一方面却加强了专制。

Finally，the legal system left a legacy.

最终，这种法律体系得以传承。

One notable aspect was the imposition of a responsibility upon a wrong doer to provide financial support for his victim in addition to any penalty.

一个显著的方面就是做错了事的人在被处以惩罚之外将被征收罚款来为受害者提供经济上的资助。