The Historical Contributions of the Communist Party of China in Promoting the Construction of the Chinese National Community during the War of Resistance against Japan

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War: “Under the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front advocated for by the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people fought the strong enemy with indomitable courage and built a Great Wall with their flesh and blood, achieving the first complete victory against foreign invasion since modern times.” The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japan was a great war of tremendous hardship, a great victory in which the Chinese nation shared a common hatred and jointly resisted foreign aggression. The Chinese national community took shape over a long historical process: all ethnic groups together opened up the vast territory of the country, together created the unified multi-ethnic state, together wrote the glorious history of China, together created the splendid Chinese civilization, and together nurtured the great national spirit, thereby forming a pattern of diversity in unity. The period of the War of Resistance against Japan was an important stage in the history of the Chinese nation. The practice of the whole nation’s resistance, the shaping of new ethnic relations, the construction of a discourse system about the Chinese nation, and the mutual emotional closeness among all ethnic groups consolidated the foundation of the Chinese national community and propelled forward the construction of the Chinese national community.

习近平总书记在纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年大会上发表重要讲话指出：“在中国共产党倡导建立的抗日民族统一战线旗帜下，中国人民以铮铮铁骨战强敌、以血肉之躯筑长城，取得近代以来反抗外敌入侵的第一次完全胜利。”中国人民抗日战争是艰苦卓绝的伟大战争，是中华民族同仇敌忾、共御外侮的伟大胜利。中华民族共同体形成于长期的历史发展过程中，各民族共同开拓祖国辽阔的疆域、共同缔造统一的多民族国家、共同书写辉煌的中国历史、共同创造灿烂的中华文明、共同培育伟大的民族精神，形成了多元一体的格局。抗日战争时期是中华民族发展史上的重要阶段，全民族抗战的斗争实践、新型民族关系的塑造、中华民族话语体系的建构和各民族情感上的相互亲近，夯实了中华民族共同体的基础，推动了中华民族共同体建设。

I

一

The Japanese imperialists’ launch of the full-scale war of aggression against China plunged the Chinese nation into a deep crisis. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japan was a nationwide anti-aggression war. In this process, the entire people jointly fought the Japanese aggressors, and this powerfully promoted the construction of the Chinese national community.

日本帝国主义发动全面侵华战争，使中华民族陷入深重危机。中国人民抗日战争是一场全民族的反侵略战争，在这一过程中，全体人民共同抗击日本侵略者，并有力推动了中华民族共同体建设。

In December 1935, the Wayaobu Conference passed the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Current Political Situation and the Party’s Tasks,” which proposed that “the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation lie in China’s freedom, independence and unity.” To safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and realize its independence and unity, the Communist Party of China clearly expressed its intention to mobilize, unite and organize “all revolutionary forces of the whole of China and the whole nation to oppose the main enemy at present,” to drive Japanese imperialism out of China, to achieve the complete liberation of the Chinese nation, and to maintain China’s independence and territorial integrity.[1]1 Wayaobu Conference: the enlarged Politburo meeting held in December 1935 in Wayaobu, northern Shaanxi, which formulated the policy of the Anti-Japanese National United Front. This in effect had already put forward the proposition of the whole nation’s resistance. In May 1936, the Declaration of the Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic to the Hui People stated its willingness to “unite all armed forces among the Hui people, assist in their development, and even more be willing to arm the Hui people,” to establish an independent “Hui Anti-Japanese Army,” and “to hope that the armed forces of the Hui people will in the future become one of the main forces of the Anti-Japanese Allied Army.”[2]2 The Chinese Soviet Republic (1931–1937) was the CPC’s state form before the outbreak of full-scale war; its Central Government issued declarations to mobilize ethnic minorities. In February 1937, the Central Committee of the CPC reiterated in its instruction letter to the Nationalities Commission the work policy of “launching the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement of the Mongolian people,” “helping the anti-Japanese movement and national liberation of the Mongolian people, and uniting with them to jointly wage the war against Japan.”[3]3 The North China Work Committee, established in 1939, was a Party body responsible for work among ethnic minorities in the northwest. These propositions were aimed at mobilizing the Hui, Mongol and other ethnic peoples to throw themselves actively into the anti-Japanese struggle, gathering the surging force of the Chinese nation’s united resistance.

1935年12月，瓦窑堡会议通过《中共中央关于目前政治形势与党的任务的决议》，提出“中华民族的基本利益，在于中国的自由独立与统一”。为维护中华民族的基本利益，实现中华民族的独立与统一，中国共产党明确表示要发动、团聚与组织“全中国全民族一切革命力量去反对当前主要的敌人”，驱逐日本帝国主义出中国，取得中华民族的彻底解放，保持中国的独立与领土完整（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第12册，中央文献出版社2011年版，第540页、第536页），这里实际上已提出全民族抗战的主张。1936年5月，中华苏维埃共和国中央政府对回族人民的宣言表示，愿意“联合回族中所有的一切武装力量，并帮助其发展，更愿意武装回民”，成立独立的“回民抗日军”，并“希望回民的武装，将来能成为抗日联军的主要力量之一”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第13册，第129页）。1937年2月，中共中央在给少数民族委员会的指示信中重申了“发动蒙古人民的抗日救亡运动”“帮助蒙古人民的抗日运动和民族解放，联合他们一同进行对日作战”的工作方针（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第14册，第34页）。这些主张，旨在动员回族、蒙古族等各族人民积极投身抗日斗争，凝聚起中华民族团结抗战的磅礴力量。

After the July 7 Incident, the Central Committee of the CPC clearly stated: “The central key to winning victory in the War of Resistance today lies in turning the already launched war of resistance into a comprehensive, whole-nation war of resistance. Only such a comprehensive, whole-nation war of resistance can lead to final victory.”[4]4 The July 7 Incident (Marco Polo Bridge Incident) in 1937 marked the beginning of the full-scale War of Resistance against Japan. The whole-nation war of resistance was an inherent requirement for winning the War of Resistance against Japan, and at the same time it was conducive to the construction of the Chinese national community. The Anti-Japanese National United Front advocated by the Communist Party of China was not only a united front of all parties and all classes within the country, but also a united front of all ethnic groups across the country. At the enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party, Comrade Mao Zedong explicitly stated that the important task at present was to “unite all ethnic groups into one body to jointly deal with the Japanese寇.”[5]5 The enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee (September–November 1938) affirmed Mao Zedong’s leadership and stressed the Sinicization of Marxism. The “one body” referred to here means that the Chinese nation, sharing a common hatred, formed an anti-Japanese community.

七七事变后，中共中央明确提出：“今天争取抗战胜利的中心关键，在使已发动的抗战发展为全面的全民族的抗战。只有这种全面的全民族的抗战，才能使抗战得到最后的胜利。”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第14册，第473~474页）全民族抗战是赢得抗日战争胜利的内在要求，同时也有利于建设中华民族共同体。中国共产党倡导的抗日民族统一战线，不仅是国内各党派、各阶级的统一战线，而且是全国各民族的统一战线。在党的扩大的六届六中全会上，毛泽东同志明确提出当前的重要任务在于“团结各民族为一体，共同对付日寇”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第15册，第621页）。这里所说的“一体”即是中华民族同仇敌忾，形成抗日的共同体。

In response to certain pessimistic sentiments about the War of Resistance existing at the time, and in order to bring about a situation of whole-nation resistance, the Communist Party of China paid great attention to raising the confidence and determination of ethnic minority masses in resisting Japan. The work carried out by the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region Government for ethnic minorities was multifaceted, including “helping them raise their political consciousness and their sentiments for resisting Japan and saving the nation, and strengthening their confidence in the War of Resistance.”[6]6 The Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region (1937–1950) was the CPC’s main base area during the war, centered on Yan’an. The outlines on issues concerning the Hui and Mongol peoples drafted by the Northwest Work Committee of the Central Committee of the CPC respectively listed “inspiring and raising the entire Hui people’s understanding and confidence in resolutely resisting Japan” and “awakening and raising the entire Mongol people’s understanding and confidence in resolutely resisting Japan” as the first item of specific policies toward the Hui and Mongol peoples, attempting to mobilize ethnic minority masses to participate in the War of Resistance by enhancing their understanding and confidence.

针对当时存在的一些关于抗战的悲观情绪，为形成全民族抗战的局面，中国共产党十分注重提高少数民族群众抗日的信心决心。陕甘宁边区政府对少数民族开展的工作是多方面的，其中包括“帮助他们提高政治觉悟及抗日救国的情绪和坚定其对抗战的信心”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第16册，第73页）。中共中央西北工作委员会拟定的关于回族、蒙古族问题提纲，分别将“启发并提高全回回民族坚决抗日的认识和信心”“唤醒并提高蒙古民族坚决抗日的认识和信心”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第17册，第297页、第418页），作为对回族、蒙古族具体政策的第一条，力图通过提高认识和信心来动员少数民族群众参加抗战。

Through the active efforts of the Communist Party of China, the situation of the entire nation jointly resisting Japan gradually took shape. The Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army not only extensively recruited people of all ethnic groups to join the army and participate in the war, but also sent troops and cadres deep into the enemy’s rear areas where ethnic minorities were concentrated, helping ethnic minorities establish anti-Japanese armed forces and carry out revolutionary struggles. The anti-Japanese armed forces formed by Mongol and Han people in the Daqing Mountains became the main force of the anti-Japanese guerrilla war in Daqing; among the dozens of Hui ethnic armed forces established in the anti-Japanese base areas, the two Hui guerrilla detachments in the Central Hebei and Bohai regions were the most famous. Ethnic minority peoples such as the Korean, Manchu, Zhuang, Yao, Li, and Miao also made positive contributions to the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan. “China’s war of resistance and national reconstruction has the participation of Han, Manchu, Mongol, Hui, Tibetan and other ethnic groups — this is the greatness of the Chinese nation.”[7]7 The Daqing Mountains in Inner Mongolia were the site of a Communist-led anti-Japanese guerrilla base. The practical struggle of the whole nation’s war of resistance advanced the construction of the Chinese national community.

在中国共产党的积极努力下，全民族共同抗日的局面逐渐形成。八路军、新四军除广泛吸收各族人民参军参战外，还派出部队和干部深入敌后少数民族聚居区，帮助少数民族建立抗日武装、开展革命斗争。在大青山建立的由蒙古族、汉族人民组成的抗日武装，成为大青山抗日游击战争的主力；在抗日根据地建立的几十支回族人民抗日武装中，以冀中和渤海地区的两支回民抗日游击队最为著名。朝鲜族、满族、壮族、瑶族、黎族、苗族等少数民族人民，也都为抗日战争的胜利作出了积极贡献。“中国之抗战建国，有汉、满、蒙、回、藏等各民族之参加”，“这是中华民族的伟大”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第16册，第454页）。全民族抗战的斗争实践，推进了中华民族共同体建设。

II

二

During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Communist Party of China adhered to the principles of ethnic equality and ethnic solidarity, promoted the common development of ethnic minority areas, and by shaping new ethnic relations, promoted the construction of the Chinese national community.

抗日战争时期，中国共产党坚持民族平等、民族团结原则，推动少数民族地区共同发展，通过塑造新型民族关系，促进了中华民族共同体建设。

Ethnic equality is an important foundation for the construction of the Chinese national community. At the enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly stated, “Allow the Mongol, Hui, Tibetan, Miao, Yao, Yi, Fan and other ethnic groups to have equal rights with the Han, and under the principle of jointly resisting Japan, have the right to manage their own affairs.”[8]8 The term “Fan” (番) in Mao’s speech is a historical Chinese category for certain non-Han peoples in the southwest; its use here reflects the language of the period. Ethnic equality is a basic requirement for handling ethnic relations. The principle of ethnic equality implemented by the Communist Party of China was reflected in economic, political, cultural and other aspects. Economic equality mainly meant ensuring that ethnic minorities had equal economic rights with the Han; political equality was mainly reflected in recognizing that ethnic minorities had equal political status with the Han, allowing ethnic minorities to participate in the political life of the various border areas and base areas; cultural equality was mainly reflected in respecting the identity and culture of ethnic minorities and helping them develop cultural education. This kind of equal ethnic relations laid an important foundation for the construction of the Chinese national community.

民族平等是中华民族共同体建设的重要基础。毛泽东同志在党的扩大的六届六中全会上明确指出，“允许蒙、回、藏、苗、瑶、夷、番各民族与汉族有平等权利，在共同对日原则之下，有自己管理自己事务之权”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第15册，第621页）。民族平等是处理民族关系的基本要求。中国共产党实行的民族平等原则体现在经济、政治、文化等各个方面。经济上平等，主要是确保少数民族与汉族拥有平等的经济权利；政治上平等，主要体现在承认少数民族与汉族拥有平等的政治地位，允许少数民族参与各边区、根据地的政治生活；文化上平等，主要体现在尊重少数民族的身份和文化，帮助少数民族发展文化教育。这种平等的民族关系为建设中华民族共同体奠定了重要基础。

Ethnic solidarity is another important foundation for the construction of the Chinese national community. In August 1937, the Party Central Committee issued an instruction stressing, “We should establish good relations with the upper and lower strata of ethnic minorities,” and “make them voluntarily unite closely with us.”[9]9 The instruction letter of the Central Committee on work in Inner Mongolia (August 1936) was a key document on ethnic policy. The process of establishing good relations and close unity with ethnic minorities was the process of uniting ethnic minorities. At the enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party, Comrade Mao Zedong called for “uniting the whole nation, mobilizing all the vivid forces of the whole nation into this struggle.”[10]10 The Northwest Work Committee of the Central Committee of the CPC was established in 1939 to guide work among Hui, Mongol and other ethnic groups. The practice of the whole nation jointly resisting Japan enhanced the solidarity of all ethnic groups and created favorable conditions for the construction of the Chinese national community.

民族团结是中华民族共同体建设的另一重要基础。1937年8月，党中央发出指示强调，“应该同少数民族的上下层建立良好关系”，并“使他们自愿的同我们亲密的联合”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第14册，第469页）。与少数民族建立良好关系、亲密联合的过程，就是团结少数民族的过程。毛泽东同志在党的扩大的六届六中全会上号召“团结全民族，发动全民族一切生动力量进入这个斗争中去”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第15册，第652页）。全民族共同抗日的实践，增进了各民族的团结，为建设中华民族共同体创造了有利条件。

To promote the common development of ethnic minority areas, the Communist Party of China continuously standardized economic policies and protected the economic interests of ethnic minorities. The “Outline of Issues Concerning the Hui People” proposed: “Support and develop Hui agricultural and handicraft production, set up factories, develop mines, develop transportation, and establish production, consumption cooperatives and credit loans that benefit the Hui people.”[11]11 The Hui people (回回民族) are a Chinese Muslim ethnic group; the CPC issued a specific outline for work among them in 1940. These were specific measures for developing the economy of ethnic minority areas. The “Outline of Issues Concerning the Mongol People during the War of Resistance” proposed: “All taxes should have fixed amounts and be allocated as expenses for the politics, economy, culture, and education of the Mongol people”; “Prohibit the forced seizure of Mongol pastures and land”; “Abolish all exorbitant levies, miscellaneous taxes, forced donations, compulsory contributions, requisition of horses, and unpaid corvée labor; reduce the water and grass tax.”[12]12 The “Outline of Issues Concerning the Mongol People during the War of Resistance” (1940) similarly detailed policies for the Mongol people. These policies were conducive to promoting economic development in ethnic minority areas and also to promoting the construction of the Chinese national community on the basis of common economic development.

为促进少数民族地区共同发展，中国共产党不断规范经济政策，保护少数民族的经济利益。《关于回回民族问题的提纲》提出：“扶助并发展回族农业手工业生产，设立工厂，开发矿山，发展交通运输，举办实利回民的生产消费合作事业与信用借贷。”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第17册，第299页）这是发展少数民族地区经济的具体举措。《关于抗战中蒙古民族问题提纲》提出，“一切税收应有定额，并划作蒙古民族政治、经济、文化、教育的费用”；“禁止强迫侵占蒙人牧场与土地”；“废除一切苛捐、杂税、派捐、派款、征收马匹及无偿徭役，减轻水草税”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第17册，第419页）。这些政策有利于推动少数民族地区经济发展，也有利于在经济共同发展基础上推动中华民族共同体建设。

III

三

The long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation were jointly created by all ethnic groups, and in the course of long historical development, the fine traditions of the Chinese nation were formed; the Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the Chinese nation, shouldering the glorious mission of realizing national rejuvenation. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Communist Party of China inherited and developed the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, refined and constructed a discourse system about the Chinese nation, and laid the foundation for the construction of the Chinese national community.

中华民族悠久的历史、灿烂的文化是由各民族共同创造的，并在长期历史发展过程中形成中华民族的优良传统；中国共产党是中华民族的先锋队，担负着实现民族复兴的光荣使命。抗日战争时期，中国共产党传承并发展中华民族优秀传统，提炼与建构中华民族话语体系，为中华民族共同体建设奠定了基础。

A history of China is a history of the exchange, interaction, and integration of all ethnic groups, converging into a multi-ethnic Chinese nation with diversity in unity; it is a history of all ethnic groups jointly creating a unified multi-ethnic state. In his article “The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party,” Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: Among the 450 million population of China, more than nine-tenths are Han. In addition, there are Mongol, Hui, Tibetan, Uyghur, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Zhongjia [Buyi], Korean, and others — dozens of ethnic minorities in total. “Although their levels of cultural development are different, they all have long histories. China is a country with a vast population composed of many ethnic groups combined together.” In the history of the Chinese nation, there has been a well-developed agriculture and handicraft industry; there have been many great thinkers, scientists, inventors, statesmen, military strategists, men of letters, and artists; there is a wealth of cultural classics. “China is one of the earliest civilized countries in the world.”[13]13 Mao Zedong’s “The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party” was written in 1939. The CPC’s discourse construction concerning the historical development of the Chinese nation and the formation of the state provided historical support for the construction of the Chinese national community.

一部中国历史，就是各民族交往交流交融、汇聚成多元一体中华民族的历史，就是各民族共同缔造统一多民族国家的历史。毛泽东同志在《中国革命和中国共产党》一文中指出：中国四亿五千万人口中，十分之九以上为汉人。此外，还有蒙人、回人、藏人、维吾尔人、苗人、彝人、壮人、仲家人、朝鲜人等，共有数十种少数民族，“虽然文化发展的程度不同，但是都已有长久的历史。中国是一个由多数民族结合而成的拥有广大人口的国家”。在中华民族发展史上，有素称发达的农业和手工业，有许多伟大的思想家、科学家、发明家、政治家、军事家、文学家和艺术家，有丰富的文化典籍，“中国是世界文明发达最早的国家之一”（《毛泽东选集》第2卷，人民出版社1991年版，第622页、第623页）。中国共产党人关于中华民族历史发展、国家形成的话语建构，为建设中华民族共同体提供了历史支撑。

In the course of long historical development, the Chinese nation has formed its own fine traditions and national spirit. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that the Chinese nation is not only known to the world for its hard work and endurance, but also a nation that loves freedom and is rich in revolutionary tradition. “The people of all ethnic groups of the Chinese nation all oppose oppression by foreign nations and use the means of resistance to throw off such oppression.” “In the several thousand years of Chinese history, there have emerged many national heroes and revolutionary leaders. Therefore, the Chinese nation is also a nation with a glorious revolutionary tradition and an excellent historical heritage.”[14]14 Ibid. The narrative about the fine traditions of the Chinese nation is conducive to raising the self-confidence and pride of the Chinese nation, thereby advancing the construction of the Chinese national community.

中华民族在长期历史发展过程中，形成了自己的优良传统与民族精神。毛泽东同志指出，中华民族不但以刻苦耐劳著称于世，同时又是酷爱自由、富于革命传统的民族。“中华民族的各族人民都反对外来民族的压迫，都要用反抗的手段解除这种压迫”，“在中华民族的几千年的历史中，产生了很多的民族英雄和革命领袖。所以，中华民族又是一个有光荣的革命传统和优秀的历史遗产的民族”（《毛泽东选集》第2卷，第622页）。关于中华民族优良传统的叙事，有利于提升中华民族的自信心与自豪感，进而推动中华民族共同体建设。

The Communist Party of China has always attached great importance to ethnic work. The Declaration of the Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic to the Hui People clearly stated, “On the principle of ethnic equality, establish a united regime to solve the common problems of the Hui and Han peoples.”[15]15 The Chinese Soviet Republic’s declaration to the Hui (1936) is an early example of the CPC’s ethnic equality policy. In his article “On New Democracy,” Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that the purpose of the Chinese revolution is to “build a new society and a new state of the Chinese nation.”[16]16 Mao Zedong’s “On New Democracy” (1940) outlined the political goals of the Chinese revolution. The new state of the Chinese nation is a state where all ethnic groups have equal rights. The Party Constitution adopted by the Seventh National Congress of the CPC stipulated that the Communist Party of China strives “for the establishment of an independent, free, democratic, united, prosperous and powerful new democratic federal republic of revolutionary classes’ alliance and the free association of all ethnic groups.”[17]17 The Seventh National Congress of the CPC (April–June 1945) in Yan’an officially enshrined Mao Zedong Thought in the Party Constitution. During the War of Resistance against Japan, all ethnic peoples, under the call and guidance of the Communist Party of China, fought courageously for a common ideal and goal, and finally achieved a great victory in the national liberation struggle, providing a political guarantee for the construction of the Chinese national community.

中国共产党始终高度重视民族工作。中华苏维埃共和国中央政府对回族人民的宣言明确提出，“在民族平等的原则上，建立联合的政权，解决回汉两民族共同的问题”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第13册，第129页）。毛泽东同志在《新民主主义论》一文中指出，中国革命的目的在于“建设一个中华民族的新社会和新国家”（《毛泽东选集》第2卷，第663页）。中华民族的新国家是各民族拥有平等权利的国家。党的七大通过的党章规定，中国共产党“为建立独立、自由、民主、统一与富强的各革命阶级联盟与各民族自由联合的新民主主义联邦共和国而奋斗”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第22册，第534页）。抗日战争时期，各族人民在中国共产党的号召和引领下，为了共同的理想和目标，奋不顾身，英勇抗敌，终于取得了民族解放斗争的伟大胜利，为建设中华民族共同体提供了政治保障。

IV

四

Emotion is a bond for the construction of the Chinese national community and plays a supporting role in the establishment and consolidation of the Chinese national community. In September 2024, at the National Conference on Commending the Progress of Ethnic Unity, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “History fully proves that emotional closeness to each other is a strong bond for the formation and development of the Chinese national community.”

情感是建设中华民族共同体的纽带，对于中华民族共同体的建立和巩固具有支撑作用。2024年9月，习近平总书记在全国民族团结进步表彰大会上指出：“历史充分证明，情感上相互亲近是形成和发展中华民族共同体的坚强纽带。”

Enhancing emotional closeness on the basis of full communication. The establishment and maintenance of emotion require communication and exchange, and also require the elimination of conflicts and estrangements through exchange. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Communist Party of China made efforts to adopt various methods to dissolve the disputes and contradictions that had historically arisen between ethnic groups and to enhance emotional identification among ethnic groups. In August 1936, the instruction letter of the Central Committee of the CPC on work in Inner Mongolia required that “in our work contacts, we must win the trust of the Inner Mongolian people as brothers with the utmost loyalty.”[18]18 The instruction letter on Inner Mongolia work (August 1936) is cited here by Mao. The process of work contacts is a process of emotional communication and exchange, and of winning mutual trust. Historically, CPC documents concerning the Hui, Mongol and other ethnic minorities often referred to Hui and Mongol compatriots as “brothers,” gradually making the kin-like fraternal sentiment the emotional keynote between ethnic groups.

在充分沟通基础上增进情感上的相互亲近。情感的建立和维系需要沟通和交流，也需要在交流中消除矛盾和隔阂。抗日战争时期，中国共产党努力采取各种办法消解各民族之间历史上形成的纠纷和矛盾，增进各民族之间的情感认同。1936年8月，中共中央关于内蒙古工作的指示信要求“我们在工作中联络中，必须以极忠诚的态度取得内蒙古人民兄弟的信任”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第13册，第259页）。工作联络的过程，就是情感沟通和交流、赢得彼此信任的过程。历史上，中国共产党涉及回族、蒙古族等少数民族的文件，都经常将回族、蒙古族同胞称作“兄弟”，使亲如一家的兄弟之情逐渐成为民族之间的情感基调。

The Chinese national community is built on the basis of national self-confidence. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Communist Party of China paid attention to boosting the Chinese nation’s self-confidence and pride in order to strengthen the whole nation’s confidence in defeating the Japanese aggressors. At the enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out, “The first task of the whole nation is to highly develop national self-respect and self-confidence”; Comrade Zhang Wentian also proposed, “We should use all great deeds and figures in China’s past history to publicize the greatness of the Chinese nation, so as to create national self-respect and to break down the psychology of capitulation and compromise.”[19]19 Zhang Wentian was a senior CPC leader at the time; his remark is from the enlarged Sixth Plenary Session. Strong national self-respect and self-confidence are the emotional bond of national identity and ethnic integration, the source of strength for the enduring and continuous development of the Chinese nation, and also the spiritual driving force for inspiring the sons and daughters of all Chinese ethnic groups to share a common hatred and jointly resist the Japanese invasion. They became the emotional foundation for enhancing Chinese national identity and constructing the Chinese national community.

中华民族共同体是建立在民族自信基础之上的。抗日战争时期，中国共产党注重提振中华民族的自信心与自豪感，以增强全民族打败日本侵略者的信心。在党的扩大的六届六中全会上，毛泽东同志指出，“全民族的第一任务，在于高度发扬民族自尊心与自信心”；张闻天同志也提出，“应该利用中华民族过去历史上一切伟大的事迹与人物，宣传中华民族的伟大，以造成民族自尊心，以击破投降妥协的心理”（《建党以来重要文献选编（1921—1949）》第15册，第610页、第700页）。强烈的民族自尊心、自信心是国家认同、民族交融的情感纽带，是中华民族绵延不衰、永续发展的力量源泉，也是激发中华各族儿女同仇敌忾、共同抵抗日军侵略的精神动力，成为增进中华民族认同、建设中华民族共同体的情感基础。

(The author, Chen Jinlong, is a Specially Appointed Research Fellow at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Guangdong Province and a Professor at the School of Marxism, South China Normal University.)

（作者：陈金龙，系广东省习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心特约研究员、华南师范大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心