Drawing Strength to Forge Ahead from the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War. Standing at this important historical juncture and looking back, General Secretary Xi Jinping, guided by Marxist historical materialism and with a broad global perspective and profound historical thinking, has issued a series of important discourses on the War of Resistance. These important discourses are not only a scientific summation of the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan but also, in the dual context of changes unseen in a century and the deepening advance of Chinese-path modernization, demonstrate a theoretical penetrative power and practical guiding force that transcend time and space, providing the fundamental guideline for us to anchor our historical orientation and gather strength to forge ahead.

今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年。站在这一重要历史节点回望，习近平总书记以马克思主义唯物史观为指南，以宏阔的世界眼光与深邃的历史思维，发表了一系列关于抗日战争的重要论述。这些重要论述不仅是对中国人民抗日战争历史的科学总结，更在世界百年未有之大变局与中国式现代化向纵深推进的双重语境下，展现出穿越时空的理论穿透力与实践引领力，为我们锚定历史方位、凝聚奋进力量提供了根本遵循。

Innovative Development of the Marxist Historical Outlook

马克思主义历史观的创新性发展

The theoretical construction and breakthroughs of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance Against Japan are first manifested in the creative application and development of Marxist historical materialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance are by no means a simple historical narrative; rather, they are grounded in the height of the Two Integrations [1]1 The Two Integrations: the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of China's traditional culture., deeply integrating the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of the Marxist historical outlook with the concrete practice of research on the Chinese People's War of Resistance, thereby forming a theoretical system with rigorous logic and rich content.

习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述的理论建构与突破性，首先体现在对马克思主义唯物史观的创造性运用与发展上。习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述绝非简单的历史叙事梳理，而是立足“两个结合”的高度，将马克思主义历史观的立场观点方法与中国人民抗日战争研究的具体实践深度融合，形成了逻辑严密、内涵丰富的理论体系。

From the dimension of historical cognition, taking "the people are the most profound force behind victory in war" as the value foundation, they break through the narrative limitations of traditional historiography. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance organically incorporate multiple forces—such as the enemy rear battlefield and the frontal battlefield, the construction of democratic political power in the base areas and the mass salvation movement in the rear area, overseas Chinese support, and support from international friends—into the theoretical framework of "people's war" [2]2 People's war: a strategy of total mobilization of the population in warfare, a key concept in Maoist military theory.. They profoundly explain the historical turning point code of China's transformation from "a sheet of loose sand" [3]3 A sheet of loose sand: a traditional Chinese metaphor for a disunited nation. to "united as one" in modern times, revealing the internal mechanism by which the consciousness of the Chinese national community was forged in the crucible of war. This historical cognition, centered on "people-centeredness", both inherits the CPC's basic judgments on the history of the War of Resistance and, combined with the strategic overall situation of national rejuvenation in the New Era, endows it with richer contemporary connotations.

从历史认知维度看，以“人民群众是战争胜利最深厚的伟力”为价值基石，突破了传统史学的叙事局限。习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述将敌后战场与正面战场、根据地民主政权建设与大后方救亡运动、华侨支援与国际友人支援等多重力量，有机纳入“人民战争”的理论框架，深刻阐释了近代以来中国从“一盘散沙”到“万众一心”的历史转折密码，揭示了中华民族共同体意识在战火中淬炼成型的内在机理。这种以“人民主体性”为核心的历史认知，既继承了中国共产党关于抗战历史的基本判断，又结合新时代民族复兴的战略全局，赋予其更为丰富的时代内涵。

From the dimension of methodological innovation, historical events are examined over long time spans and broad spatial scopes, achieving a dual expansion of the horizon of historical cognition. In the temporal dimension, the War of Resistance is placed within the long river of modern Chinese history and even the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization, highlighting its historical status as "a major turning point in the Chinese nation's transition from decline to rejuvenation" while revealing its internal connection with the spiritual tradition of Chinese civilization, "self-renewal and boundless virtue" [4]4 Self-renewal and boundless virtue: a classic phrase from the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), representing the spirit of continuous self-improvement and embracing all things with virtue.. In the spatial dimension, transcending a single nation-state perspective, China's War of Resistance is incorporated into the overall process of the World Anti-Fascist War, constructing a dual perspective in which "China and the world" are embedded. This forcefully refutes the one-sided interpretation of World War II by Eurocentrism, clearly corrects the historical cognitive deviations of narrow nationalism, and provides a more objective and comprehensive Chinese approach for global research on the history of the War of Resistance.

从方法论创新维度看，把历史事件放到长时段、大空间中去考察，实现了历史认知视野的双重拓展。在时间维度上，将抗日战争置于中国近现代史乃至中华民族五千多年文明史的长河中审视，既凸显其作为“中华民族由衰败走向复兴的重大转折点”的历史地位，又揭示其与中华文明“自强不息、厚德载物”精神传统的内在衔接；在空间维度上，超越单一民族国家视角，将中国抗战纳入世界反法西斯战争的整体进程，构建起“中国—世界”互嵌的双重视域，既有力驳斥了“欧洲中心论”对二战历史的片面解读，又鲜明矫正了狭隘民族主义的历史认知偏差，为全球抗战史研究提供了更为客观、全面的中国方案。

Sharp Ideological Weapon for Criticizing Historical Nihilism [5]5 Historical nihilism: a term used in Chinese political discourse to refer to attempts to distort or deny the official historical narrative, especially regarding the CPC's role.

批判历史虚无主义的锐利思想武器

Under the pretext of "re-evaluating history" and "restoring truth", historical nihilism engages in fragmented interpretations, selective editing, and even malicious distortions of the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan. Its essence is to deconstruct history in order to undermine mainstream values and shake the spiritual foundation. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance, with a clear problem orientation and strong logical force, have become a sharp ideological weapon for criticizing this erroneous trend.

历史虚无主义以“重评历史”“还原真相”为幌子，对中国人民抗日战争历史进行碎片化解读、选择性剪裁甚至恶意歪曲，其本质是通过解构历史来消解主流价值、动摇精神根基。习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述以鲜明的问题导向和强大的逻辑力量，成为批判这一错误思潮的锐利思想武器。

In constructing the historical narrative, they systematically expound the CPC's role as the mainstay in the nationwide war of resistance, clearly illuminate the historical fact that the Chinese battlefield was the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, and fully sketch the historical thread from partial resistance to full-scale resistance, from strategic defense to strategic counteroffensive. This panoramic historical narrative respects the complexity of historical details while grasping the mainstream direction of historical development, leaving no foothold for those who attempt to fragment history or smear heroes. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance, based on solid historical data and through normalized history education and commemorative activities, cultivate a social ethos in the whole society of honoring heroes, defending heroes, learning from heroes, and caring for heroes, making the heroic spirit a national bottom line that cannot be violated. More profoundly, by constructing a scientific and complete historical cognition system, they provide a thought yardstick for the whole society to distinguish right from wrong in history. This is clearly reflected in the emphasis that "history must not be forgotten", requiring us to remember the aggressive crimes of Japanese militarism while opposing historical revisionism; to affirm the sacrifices and contributions of the Chinese people while respecting the historical contributions of the people of all countries in the anti-fascist war. This dialectical and rational historical attitude not only enhances the whole society's ability to discern and immunize against historical nihilism but also guides people to draw wisdom from history and cherish the hard-won peaceful situation.

在历史叙事建构上，系统梳理了中国共产党在全民族抗战中的中流砥柱作用，清晰阐明了中国战场作为世界反法西斯战争东方主战场的历史事实，完整勾勒了从局部抗战到全面抗战、从战略防御到战略反攻的历史脉络。这种全景式的历史叙事，既尊重历史细节的复杂性，又把握历史发展的主流方向，让那些试图割裂历史、抹黑英雄的历史虚无主义言论失去了立足之地。习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述以确凿的史料为依据，通过常态化的历史教育与纪念活动，在全社会培育崇尚英雄、捍卫英雄、学习英雄、关爱英雄的社会风尚，使英雄精神成为不容亵渎的民族底线。更为深刻的是，通过构建科学完整的历史认知体系，为全社会提供了辨别历史是非的思想标尺。这鲜明地体现在强调“历史不能忘记”，要求我们既铭记日本军国主义的侵略罪行，又反对历史复仇主义；既肯定中国人民的牺牲奉献，又尊重各国人民在反法西斯战争中的历史贡献。这种辩证、理性的历史态度，不仅增强了全社会对历史虚无主义的辨别力和免疫力，更引导人们从历史中汲取智慧，珍惜来之不易的和平局面。

Spiritual Driving Force for the Development of Chinese-Path Modernization

凝聚中国式现代化发展的精神动力

Great history gives birth to great spirit, and great spirit propels great undertakings. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance, with their profound interpretation of the great spirit of the War of Resistance and the activation of historical memory in the contemporary era, inject a continuous spiritual driving force into Chinese-path modernization.

伟大的历史孕育伟大的精神，伟大的精神推动伟大的事业。习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述对伟大抗战精神的深刻阐释与历史记忆的时代激活，为中国式现代化注入了源源不断的精神动力。

The great spirit of the War of Resistance embodies "the patriotic sentiment that 'everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation' [6]6 A famous saying by the Ming-Qing scholar Gu Yanwu, expressing the idea that every individual bears responsibility for the fate of the country., the national integrity that faces death unflinchingly and would rather die than submit, the heroic mettle that defies brute force and fights to the death, and the indomitable and persevering conviction of victory". This spirit is highly compatible in value core with the great practice of the Party leading the people of the whole country in continuous struggle in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the great spirit of the War of Resistance is a precious spiritual treasure of the Chinese people and will forever inspire the Chinese people to overcome all difficulties and dangers and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the journey of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we face unprecedented risks and challenges, from technological "bottleneck" problems to the realistic constraints of unbalanced and inadequate development, all of which require us to draw courage and wisdom from the great spirit of the War of Resistance.

伟大抗战精神蕴含“天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀，视死如归、宁死不屈的民族气节，不畏强暴、血战到底的英雄气概，百折不挠、坚忍不拔的必胜信念”，与新时代我们党领导全国人民接续奋斗伟大实践在价值内核上高度契合。习近平总书记强调，伟大抗战精神，是中国人民弥足珍贵的精神财富，将永远激励中国人民克服一切艰难险阻、为实现中华民族伟大复兴而奋斗。在推进中国式现代化的征程中，我们面临着前所未有的风险挑战，从科技领域的“卡脖子”难题到发展不平衡不充分的现实制约，都需要我们从伟大抗战精神中汲取攻坚克难的勇气与智慧。

General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance systematically explain the historic elevation of China's international status resulting from the victory of the War of Resistance: from a semi-colonial country rising to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, from the passive and beaten "sick man of East Asia" [7]7 Sick man of East Asia: a derogatory label historically applied to China by Western and Japanese imperialists, implying weakness and backwardness. developing into an important force for maintaining world peace, letting all Chinese people deeply understand that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is not an abstract slogan but an inevitable process with a solid historical foundation. The deep mobilization during the war of the southwestern and northwestern rear areas and the border minority regions laid the modern foundation for the building of the Chinese national community. The contemporary activation of these historical memories effectively consolidates the ideological consensus and action synergy of the whole society for advancing Chinese-path modernization.

习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述通过系统阐释抗战胜利对中国国际地位的历史性提升，从半殖民地国家跃升为联合国安理会常任理事国，从被动挨打的“东亚病夫”发展为维护世界和平的重要力量，让全体中国人民深刻认识到中华民族的伟大复兴不是抽象的口号，而是有着坚实历史基础的必然进程。战时西南、西北大后方与边陲少数民族地区的深度动员，奠定了中华民族共同体建设的现代基础等。这些历史记忆的当代激活，有效凝聚了全社会推进中国式现代化的思想共识与行动合力。

Contributing Chinese Historical Wisdom to Building

为构建人类命运共同体

a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

贡献中国历史智慧

In the current era of accelerated changes unseen in a century, frequent local conflicts, and turbulence, the peace concept and international perspective contained in General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance Against Japan provide profound historical inspiration for building a community with a shared future for mankind, demonstrating a distinct global significance.

在百年变局加速演进、局部冲突和动荡频发的当下，习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述所蕴含的和平理念与国际视野，为构建人类命运共同体提供了深刻的历史启示，展现出鲜明的世界意义。

Based on the historical practice of China's War of Resistance, they profoundly expound the historical law that "justice will prevail, peace will prevail, the people will prevail". The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan was an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War. China fought not only for the destiny of the Chinese nation but also for the destiny of all humanity. With enormous national sacrifice, China thwarted Japan's strategies of "northern advance" and "southern advance", allowing the Soviet Union to avoid a two-front war, creating favorable conditions for the US-British Allied forces to gain the initiative in the Pacific theater, and made outstanding contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. This clearly demonstrates China's important position and great-power responsibility in the World Anti-Fascist War. By reviewing the enormous sacrifices made by the Chinese people in the anti-fascist war, they declare to the world: any act that attempts to conquer other countries by force or bully the weak by hegemony will eventually be spurned by history. At the same time, they actively advocate the international cooperation concept of learning from history and facing the future, promoting the international community to jointly safeguard the achievements of the World War II victory and international fairness and justice, providing historical wisdom for solving the current global governance predicament.

以中国抗战的历史实践为基础，深刻阐释了“正义必胜、和平必胜、人民必胜”的历史规律。中国人民抗日战争是世界反法西斯战争的重要组成部分，中国不仅为中华民族前途命运而战，也为整个人类前途命运而战，中国以巨大民族牺牲阻止了日本“北进”“南进”战略，使苏联避免两线作战，为美英盟军赢得太平洋战场主动权创造了有利条件，为世界反法西斯战争的胜利作出了卓越贡献，清晰地表明了中国在世界反法西斯战争中的重要地位与大国担当。通过梳理中国人民在反法西斯战争中作出的巨大牺牲，向世界昭示：任何试图以武力征服他国、以霸权欺凌弱小的行径，最终都将被历史所唾弃。同时，积极倡导以史为鉴、面向未来的国际合作理念，推动国际社会共同维护二战胜利成果和国际公平正义，为破解当前全球治理困境提供了历史智慧。

The global significance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance is particularly prominent in the field of global research and dissemination of the history of the War of Resistance. They resolutely oppose any act that beautifies aggression or distorts history, while advocating that all countries transcend ideological and national interest differences to jointly write an objective and complete history of World War II. Practices such as China establishing the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre [8]8 National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre: observed annually on December 13 since 2014, to commemorate the victims of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. and holding commemorative activities for the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War are vivid examples of implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance. These have effectively promoted the formation of a common understanding of World War II history in the international community, infusing spiritual nourishment from both historical and contemporary dimensions into the construction of a new type of international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation.

在全球抗战史研究与传播领域，习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述的世界意义尤为凸显。既要坚决反对任何美化侵略、歪曲历史的行为，又要倡导各国超越意识形态和国家利益分歧，共同书写客观、完整的二战史。中国设立南京大屠杀死难者国家公祭日、举办世界反法西斯战争胜利纪念活动等实践，正是践行习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述精神的生动体现，有力地推动了国际社会形成对二战历史的共同认知，为构建相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系注入了历史与现实双重维度的精神滋养。

Eighty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the smoke of history has long dissipated, but the echoes of reality still resound. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance, rooted in historical materialism, grounded in the people's standpoint, and winged by a global vision, achieve the organic unity of historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic. They provide the New Era China with the ideological key to "learning from history to create the future" and contribute Chinese wisdom to humanity's choice for peace and development at a crossroads. Looking ahead, we must transform historical memory into driving force for forging ahead, continuously deepen and expand the academic interpretation and practical transformation of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on the War of Resistance, and continuously gather the mighty force to advance Chinese-path modernization and jointly create a better future for mankind.

80年弹指一挥，历史的硝烟早已散尽，但现实的回声始终激荡。习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述以唯物史观为根、以人民立场为本、以世界眼光为翼，实现了历史逻辑、理论逻辑与实践逻辑的有机统一，为新时代中国提供了“以史为鉴、开创未来”的思想钥匙，也为人类在十字路口选择和平与发展贡献了中国智慧。面向未来，我们要把历史记忆转化为奋进动力，持续深化和拓展习近平总书记关于抗日战争的重要论述的学理阐释与实践转化，不断汇聚起推进中国式现代化、共创人类美好未来的磅礴伟力。

(The author is Vice Dean of the School of Marxism, Guangxi University for Nationalities, and Vice Dean of the Institute for Research on the History and Building of the CPC, Guangxi University for Nationalities.)

（作者系广西民族大学马克思主义学院副院长、广西民族大学中共党史党建研究院副院长）

Online Editor: Tongxin

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