Great War of Resistance Forges Spirit, Mainstay Creates Splendor

Today is the commemorative day of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

今天，是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利纪念日。

On September 2, 1945, aboard the battleship USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, under the gaze of representatives of the victorious powers, Japan signed the instrument of surrender. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War were formally declared to have ended in victory.

1945年9月2日，泊于东京湾的密苏里号战列舰上，在受降国代表注视下，日本在投降书上签字。中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争正式宣告胜利结束。

Eighty years later, as we revisit this major historical moment, it is not only to remember history and pay tribute to the martyrs, but also to draw spiritual strength from it, to carry forward the responsibility and commitment demonstrated by the Communist Party of China during the War of Resistance and the convictions embodied in the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance, to integrate them into the values and spiritual bloodstream of contemporary Chinese people, and to inspire us to continue forging ahead courageously in the New Era.

80年后的今天，我们重温这一重大历史时刻，不仅是为了缅怀历史、致敬英烈，更是为了从中汲取精神力量，传承中国共产党在抗战中体现的责任担当与伟大抗战精神所凝结的信念，将其融入当代中国人的价值观念与精神血脉，激励我们在新时代继续奋勇前行。

Accurately grasp the historical significance of the “mainstay” [1]1 “Mainstay” (中流砥柱, *zhongliu dizhu*) – a Chinese idiom meaning a pillar rock in midstream, metaphorically referring to a person or force that plays a crucial, stabilizing role in a critical situation.

准确把握“中流砥柱”的历史意义

The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was a decisive battle for the survival of the Chinese nation. In this national liberation war, the Communist Party of China, with its outstanding political leadership, strategic vision, and capacity for organization and mobilization, played an irreplaceable role as the mainstay. The September 18th Incident in 1931 [2]2 September 18th Incident – The Mukden Incident of 1931, when Japanese forces staged an explosion on a railway near Shenyang (Mukden) and used it as a pretext to invade and occupy Northeast China. opened the prelude to the World Anti-Fascist War. The Communist Party of China was the first to resolutely advocate resistance against Japan, issued declarations, organized guerrilla warfare in the Northeast, and launched national salvation movements, thus beginning the historical process of China's partial war of resistance.

中国人民抗日战争是中华民族生死存亡的关键一战。在这场全民族解放战争中，中国共产党以杰出的政治领导、战略远见和组织动员能力，发挥了无可替代的中流砥柱作用。1931年九一八事变爆发，揭开了世界反法西斯战争的序幕。中国共产党第一时间坚决主张抗日，发布宣言，组织东北抗日游击战争，发动救亡运动，开启了中国人民局部抗战的历史进程。

Li Donglang, professor of the Party History Teaching and Research Department of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), said: “A series of anti-Japanese measures by the Communist Party of China not only dealt a heavy blow to Japanese colonial rule in the Northeast, but also effectively supported and inspired the war of resistance within the Pass and the national salvation movement, injecting new hope into China's anti-Japanese struggle at that time.”

中共中央党校（国家行政学院）中共党史教研部教授李东朗表示：“中国共产党的一系列抗日举措，不仅沉重打击了日本在东北的殖民统治，也有力支持和鼓舞了关内抗战与全国抗日救亡运动，为当时的中国抗战注入了新的希望。”

In 1938, the War of Resistance entered the stage of strategic stalemate. Facing mistaken views such as “the theory of national subjugation” and “the theory of quick victory” that emerged in society at the time, Comrade Mao Zedong, in *On Protracted War*, clearly put forward the three-stage theory of strategic defense, strategic stalemate, and strategic counteroffensive, which pointed the direction for mobilizing the people of all ethnic groups to persist in the War of Resistance and greatly enhanced the confidence of the masses.

1938年，抗日战争进入战略相持阶段。面对当时社会上出现的“亡国论”和“速胜论”等错误观点，毛泽东同志在《论持久战》中明确提出战略防御、战略相持和战略反攻三阶段论，为动员全国各族人民坚持抗战指明了方向，极大增强了民众的信心。

Li Donglang further analyzed that the disparity in strength between China and Japan was enormous, the form of war was complex, and traditional methods of warfare could not cope with the situation of the enemy being strong and ourselves weak; targeted strategies and tactics were necessary. The Communist Party of China, based on the overall situation and with a global perspective, put forward the line of total resistance, the strategy of protracted war, and the thought of guerrilla warfare, opened up vast enemy rear areas that formed a strategic coordination with the frontal battlefield, not only assuming the responsibility of the main battlefield militarily but also finding a new way out for the whole nation's war of resistance, fully embodying the mission of the “mainstay.”

李东朗进一步分析，中日战争力量对比悬殊、战争形态复杂，传统作战方式难以应对敌强我弱的局面，必须依靠有针对性的战略和战术。中国共产党立足全局、放眼世界，提出全面抗战路线、持久战战略和游击战思想，开辟广大敌后战场，与正面战场形成战略配合，不仅军事上承担起主战场职责，也为全民族抗战找到新的出路，充分体现出“中流砥柱”的使命担当。

During the War of Resistance, the Communist Party of China not only fought bravely, but also played an important role in guiding the direction, uniting the people's hearts, and mobilizing and organizing. In enemy rear areas, the Party led the military and civilians to establish 19 anti-Japanese democratic base areas [3]3 Anti-Japanese democratic base areas – The territories controlled by the CPC behind enemy lines during the war, where political, economic, and social systems were established to sustain resistance. covering a total area of nearly one million square kilometers and a population of nearly 100 million, demonstrating strong organizational and mobilization capacity, profoundly reflecting the key role of a strong leading core and scientific theory in national salvation.

中国共产党在抗战中不仅英勇作战，更发挥了引领方向、凝聚民心、动员组织的重要作用。在敌后地区，党领导军民建立起总面积近100万平方公里、人口近1亿的19个抗日民主根据地，展现出强大的组织动员能力，深刻体现了坚强领导核心与科学理论在民族救亡中的关键作用。

“The status of the Communist Party of China as the mainstay during the War of Resistance was gradually formed in the course of history,” said Xiao Ruping, professor of the School of History at Zhejiang University. He noted that around this theme, the academic community has continuously expanded its research horizons, emphasizing that the Communist Party of China was the first to raise the banner of anti-fascism, played a leading role in the whole nation's war of resistance, and the important position of the enemy rear battlefield and anti-Japanese democratic base areas. These studies provide solid academic support for empirically demonstrating the Party's role as the mainstay.

“中国共产党在抗战中的中流砥柱地位，是在历史进程中逐渐形成的。”浙江大学历史学院教授肖如平说，围绕这一主题，学界不断拓展研究视野，强调中国共产党率先举起反法西斯旗帜、在全民族抗战中发挥引领作用，以及敌后战场和抗日民主根据地的重要地位。这些研究为实证我们党的中流砥柱作用提供了扎实的学术支撑。

Wang Meiping, professor of the School of History at Nankai University, proposed that overseas documents, especially Japanese archives, provide a new perspective for a comprehensive and objective understanding of the Communist Party of China's historical role in the War of Resistance. Japanese archives from various periods record that the Communist Party of China demonstrated strong political and social mobilization capacity through base area construction, mass mobilization, and the united front. For example, Japanese official reports referred to the Communist Party of China as the “main body of the anti-Japanese movement,” and the 1937 report of the Japanese Ministry of Home Affairs [4]4 Japanese Ministry of Home Affairs – The pre-war Japanese government ministry responsible for internal security and police affairs, whose reports contained assessments of the Chinese Communist Party's activities. even explicitly stated that “the main body of China's anti-Japanese resistance centers on the Communist Party of China.” All of these confirm the Party's role as the mainstay from the perspective of its adversaries.

南开大学历史学院教授王美平提出，海外文献尤其日方档案为全面客观认识中国共产党在抗战中的历史作用提供了新视角。多个时期的日方档案均记载，中国共产党通过根据地建设、群众动员和统一战线，展现出强大的政治与社会动员力。例如，日方官方报告称中国共产党是“抗日运动的主体”，1937年日本内务省报告更明确写道“中国抗日的主体以中国共产党为中心”。这些都从对手角度证实了党的中流砥柱作用。

Hou Zhongjun, researcher at the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, concluded that looking at the course of the entire War of Resistance, the Communist Party of China, according to the characteristics of different stages, with strategic vision and fearless spirit, stood at the forefront of the struggle, whether in establishing the anti-Japanese national united front [5]5 Anti-Japanese national united front – The coalition of the CPC and the Kuomintang (KMT), along with other parties and groups, formed in 1937 to jointly resist Japanese invasion., pointing the direction of the War of Resistance, or uniting people's hearts for persistent resistance, playing an irreplaceable and important role.

中国社会科学院近代史研究所研究员侯中军总结说，纵观抗战历程，中国共产党根据不同阶段特点，以战略眼光和无畏精神始终站在斗争最前沿，无论是在建立抗日民族统一战线、指明抗战方向上，还是凝聚民心坚持抗战方面，都发挥了不可替代的重要作用。

Wang Meiping added that the connotation of “mainstay” lies not only in political leadership and strategic guidance, but also in uniting the whole nation with the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance, mobilizing the strength of the entire nation, unleashing the tremendous power of people's war, and making a decisive contribution to the victory of the War of Resistance.

王美平补充道，“中流砥柱”的内涵不仅在于政治引领与战略指导，更体现在以伟大抗战精神凝聚全国人民、动员全民族力量，发挥人民战争的巨大威力，为抗战胜利作出决定性贡献。

The connotation and inheritance of the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance

伟大抗战精神的内涵与传承

The War of Resistance was not only a military confrontation, but also a contest of spirit and will. The Chinese Communists, with their political propositions, firm will, and exemplary actions, sustained the hope of the whole nation for national salvation, and in the arduous struggle, condensed the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance, profoundly shaping the spiritual foundation of the Chinese nation.

抗战不仅是军事对抗，更是精神意志的较量。中国共产党人以自己的政治主张、坚定意志和模范行动，支撑起全民族救亡图存的希望，并在艰苦斗争中凝聚成伟大抗战精神，深刻塑造了中华民族的精神根基。

Wang Binglin, dean of the Institute of Party History and Party Building of Beijing Normal University, said that the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance epitomizes the spiritual core of the Chinese nation: patriotic sentiment of “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation” [6]6 “Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation” (天下兴亡, 匹夫有责) – A classic Chinese saying attributed to Gu Yanwu (17th century), emphasizing the duty of every individual to the fate of the country. inspiring a common mission; national integrity of “facing death unflinchingly and preferring death to surrender” [7]7 “Facing death unflinchingly and preferring death to surrender” (视死如归、宁死不屈) – Idioms expressing extreme courage and refusal to yield even under threat of death. establishing self-respect and self-confidence; heroic mettle of “fearing no brutality and fighting to the bitter end” [8]8 “Fearing no brutality and fighting to the bitter end” (不畏强暴、血战到底) – Idioms describing unyielding resistance against overwhelming force. sustaining the struggle; and tenacious, indomitable belief in victory guiding the protracted fight. These spiritual elements together constitute the powerful driving force for the Chinese people to defeat the strong enemy.

北京师范大学中共党史党建研究院院长王炳林表示，伟大抗战精神集中体现了中华民族的精神内核：以天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀激发共同使命；以视死如归、宁死不屈的民族气节树立自尊自信；以不畏强暴、血战到底的英雄气概支撑抗争实践；以百折不挠、坚忍不拔的必胜信念引领持久战斗。这些精神要素共同构成中国人民战胜强敌的强大动力。

Scholars believe that the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance and the role of the Party as the mainstay are dialectically unified and mutually reinforcing. On the one hand, the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance provides spiritual support for the Party's leading role, inspiring the people to join the War of Resistance; on the other hand, the Party's role as the mainstay lays the practical foundation for the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance, whether it is the establishment of the united front, effective military response, or economic livelihood and cultural awakening, all reflecting the close integration of spirit and leadership.

学者们认为，伟大抗战精神与党的中流砥柱作用之间是辩证统一、相互促进的关系。一方面，伟大抗战精神为党的引领作用提供精神支撑，激发民众投身抗战；另一方面，党的中流砥柱作用为伟大抗战精神奠定实践基础，无论是统一战线的建立、军事上的有效应对，还是经济民生和文化觉醒，都体现了精神与领导力的紧密结合。

In October 1938, Comrade Mao Zedong, in *The Role of the Communist Party of China in the National War*, called on every Party member to “bravely and resolutely step onto the battlefield of the national liberation war.” Such a firm belief was widely disseminated, deeply rooted in people's hearts, and coalesced into a mighty force for victory. Wang Meiping mentioned that Japanese archives also repeatedly acknowledged the stubbornness of the Chinese Communist Party as difficult to deal with, reflecting from another angle the firm determination of the Communist Party of China to resist Japan.

1938年10月，毛泽东同志在《中国共产党在民族战争中的地位》中号召每一位党员“英勇坚决地走上民族解放战争的战场”，这样坚定的信念广泛传播、深入人心，凝聚成取胜的磅礴力量。王美平提到，日方档案中也多次承认中国共产党的顽强难以应对，从另一侧面反映出中国共产党坚定的抗战决心。

It was precisely with such spirit and action that the Chinese people finally won the victory of the War of Resistance. To this day, the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance still has profound contemporary significance. By inheriting and promoting the patriotism, unity and struggle, and fearlessness embodied in it, it continuously injects spiritual impetus into building a strong country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

正是凭借着这样的精神与行动，中国人民最终赢得抗战胜利。至今，伟大抗战精神仍具有深刻的时代意义，通过传承弘扬蕴含其中的爱国主义、团结奋斗、不畏艰难等精神，持续为强国建设、民族复兴注入精神动力。

Establish a correct view of history with solid research

以扎实研究树牢正确历史观

A rational understanding of the history of the War of Resistance must be based on solid historical materials and objective research. In recent years, with the disclosure and digitization of domestic and foreign archives, research on the history of the War of Resistance has seen new developments. Scholars use traditional historical methods and combine them with multidisciplinary approaches including political science, sociology, big data, and artificial intelligence to promote deeper research.

对抗战历史的理性认识，必须建立在扎实的史料和客观的研究基础之上。近年来，随着国内外档案资料的公开与数字化，抗战史研究迎来新发展。学者们运用传统史学方法，并结合政治学、社会学、大数据与人工智能等多学科手段，推动研究不断深入。

Xiao Ruping said that the excavation of new historical materials and interdisciplinary cooperation have become important trends in War of Resistance research, helping to present history more comprehensively and three-dimensionally, especially the role of the CPC as the mainstay. Hou Zhongjun believes that the current academic community has shifted from the debate over “who led” to a rational analysis of “who played the decisive role,” which is a positive paradigm shift. He suggests breaking down disciplinary boundaries and integrating perspectives from Marxist theory, history, Party history and Party building, among others, to further deepen War of Resistance research.

肖如平表示，新史料的发掘与跨学科合作已成为抗战研究的重要趋势，有助于更全面、立体地呈现历史，尤其是中国共产党的中流砥柱作用。侯中军认为，当前学界已从“谁领导”的争论，转向“谁起决定性作用”的理性分析，这是研究范式的积极转变。他建议打破学科界限，融合马克思主义理论、历史学、党史党建学等多领域视角，进一步深化抗战研究。

Historical research should be grounded in the present and oriented toward the future. Wang Binglin said that promoting the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance has important practical significance. Its connotation should be continuously excavated and modernized, integrated into patriotic education and the cultivation of the spirit of struggle, providing value guidance and spiritual motivation for responding to risks and challenges in the New Era.

历史研究应立足当代、面向未来。王炳林表示，弘扬伟大抗战精神具有重要的现实意义，要不断挖掘其内涵并进行现代转化，将其融入爱国主义教育与斗争精神培育中，为新时代应对风险挑战提供价值指引和精神动力。

Regarding future research directions, Xiao Ruping suggested that the academic community should pay more attention to the CPC's institutional innovation, governance practices, details of the anti-Japanese resistance in the enemy rear, and its connection with the World Anti-Fascist War during the War of Resistance period, filling gaps with more meticulous research. Wang Meiping believed that this history should be understood in the overall context of China's War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War. In recent years, the international academic community has also paid increasing attention to the CPC's organizational and mobilization capacity, recognizing that our Party played a major role in supporting the whole nation's War of Resistance under extremely arduous conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen international sharing of historical materials and cooperation, actively respond to Japanese right-wing forces' attempts to whitewash the history of aggression, encourage scholars to speak on international platforms based on multi-archival and third-party research results, and clearly and effectively state the historical fact of our Party's role as the “mainstay.”

对于未来研究方向，肖如平建议，学术界应更多关注中国共产党在抗战时期的制度创新、治理实践、敌后抗战细节及其与世界反法西斯战争的关联，以更加细致的研究填补空白。王美平认为，应当在中国抗战与世界反法西斯战争的全局中理解这段历史。近年来，国际学术界也越来越关注中国共产党的组织与动员能力，认为我们党在极端艰苦条件下发挥了支撑全民族抗战的重大作用。因此，要加强国际史料共享与合作，积极回应日本右翼势力淡化侵略历史的行为，鼓励学者基于多国档案和第三方研究成果在国际平台发声，讲清讲好我们党的“中流砥柱”历史事实。

History not only concerns the past, but also illuminates the future. The Great Spirit of the War of Resistance and the role of the Communist Party of China as the mainstay still inspire us to unswervingly and continuously advance the new journey of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.

历史不仅关乎过去，更照亮未来。伟大抗战精神与中国共产党的中流砥柱作用，至今仍激励着我们坚定不移持续推进强国建设、民族复兴新征程。

(The author: Liu Yue, journalist of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Newspaper)

（作者：刘越，中国社会科学报记者）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心