Abstract: With the change of the situation and public opinions in 1920s and 1930s, it became a difficult problem for both LÜ Si-mian, the author and the Commercial Press, the publisher whether it is necessary and how to revise certain “inappropriate” depictions and comments in LÜ’s A History of China in Modern Chinese Language. Despite of its unwillingness, the press tended to make necessary revision under the pressure of the situation and public opinions so as to ensure the reprint of the book. On the contrary, LÜ refused to revise his book because of external forces, let alone revising his academic opinions according to certain practical needs. However, he had to take public opinions and the situation of the press into account. As the last choice, the revision of the book was eventually carried out by the editor of the press. The case of this revision shows the lasting problem in historical study: Should a historian pander to public opinions in the price of the truth or persist in the truth when there is conflict between seeking for the truth in historical study and practical needs of society? Should a society demand a historian to cover the truth to cater to public opinions or not? There seems to be no answer to this dilemma up till now.

Key words: LÜ, Si-mian, the revision of A History of China in Modern Chinese Language, seeking for the truth and catering to practical needs