An Interpretation of the Great Founding Spirit of the Party from the Perspective of Dialectical Materialist Epistemology

The great founding spirit of the Party is rich in connotation, profound in meaning, illuminating the journey and guiding the future. On July 1, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an imposing and inspiring important speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, and for the first time put forward the 32-character "great founding spirit of the Party" — upholding truth and ideals, staying true to the original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people — issuing the call to the entire Party to "carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party forever and develop it further." This important exposition and great call by General Secretary Xi Jinping fully reflects that the Communist Party of China has reached a new height in its understanding of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, a new height in its understanding of the laws governing its own construction, and a new height in its summary of the Party's century-long history. It fully embodies the epistemology of dialectical materialism, constitutes a major original contribution to Marxist Party-building theory, further enriches and develops the "Party history and Party building chapter" of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and possesses rich theoretical connotations, significant practical significance, and far-reaching historical importance.

伟大建党精神，内涵丰富、意境深远，辉映征程、烛照未来。2021年7月1日，习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上发表了气势恢宏、催人奋进的重要讲话，并首次提出32个字的“伟大建党精神”——坚持真理、坚守理想，践行初心、担当使命，不怕牺牲、英勇斗争，对党忠诚、不负人民，向全党发出“永远把伟大建党精神继承下去、发扬光大”的号召。习近平总书记的这一重要论述和伟大号召，充分反映了中国共产党对中国共产党人精神谱系的认识达到新高度，对自身建设规律的认识达到新高度，对党的百年历史的总结达到新高度，充分体现了辩证唯物主义的认识论，是对马克思主义建党学说的重大原创性贡献，进一步丰富和发展了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的“党史党建篇”，具有丰富的理论内涵、重大的现实意义和深远的历史意义。

The great founding spirit of the Party has a very rich ideological connotation

伟大建党精神具有十分丰富的思想内涵

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China that "a hundred years ago, the pioneers of the Communist Party of China founded the Communist Party of China and forged the great founding spirit of the Party — upholding truth and ideals, staying true to the original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people. This is the Party's source of inspiration," emphasizing that "over the past hundred years, the Communist Party of China, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, has built up the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists through protracted struggle and tempered its distinctive political character." This important exposition by General Secretary Xi Jinping enlightens us: the creators of the great founding spirit of the Party were the pioneers of the Communist Party of China; its promoters are generations of Chinese Communists; its temporal starting point is over a hundred years ago; its time span has now exceeded a hundred years; its basic positioning is both the source of inspiration for the Communist Party of China and its flowing stream, both the most important spirit occupying the "overall command" position and the "source" position within the spiritual lineage, and a specific spirit within that lineage; it can serve both as self-motivation for individual Party members and as a spiritual emblem for the entire Party; it belongs to yesterday, but even more so to today and tomorrow. Among them, "upholding truth and ideals" is the root and vein of the Communist Party of China, manifesting the power of the Party's faith; "staying true to the original aspiration and founding mission" is the main theme and principal line of all the practice of Chinese Communists, manifesting the power of the Party's purpose; "fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice" is the backbone and distinctive quality of Chinese Communists, manifesting the power of the will and character of Chinese Communists; "remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people" is the great virtue and public virtue of Chinese Communists, manifesting the power of the Party spirit of Chinese Communists.

习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上指出“一百年前，中国共产党的先驱们创建了中国共产党，形成了坚持真理、坚守理想，践行初心、担当使命，不怕牺牲、英勇斗争，对党忠诚、不负人民的伟大建党精神，这是中国共产党的精神之源”，强调“一百年来，中国共产党弘扬伟大建党精神，在长期奋斗中构建起中国共产党人的精神谱系，锤炼出鲜明的政治品格”。习近平总书记这一重要论述启示我们：伟大建党精神的创建者是中国共产党的先驱们；弘扬者是一代又一代中国共产党人；时间起点是一百多年前；时间跨度至今已有一百多年；基本定位既是中国共产党的精神之源，又是精神之流，既是精神谱系中处于“管总”位置、“源头”位置的最为重要的精神，又是精神谱系中的一种具体精神；既可作为共产党员个体的自我激励，又可作为全党的精神标识；既是属于昨天的，更是属于今天和明天的。其中，“坚持真理、坚守理想”，是中国共产党的根脉，展现的是党的信仰的力量；“践行初心、担当使命”，是中国共产党人全部实践的主题主线，展现的是党的宗旨的力量；“不怕牺牲、英勇斗争”，是中国共产党人的风骨和特质，展现的是中国共产党人意志品质的力量；“对党忠诚、不负人民”，是中国共产党人的大德和公德，展现的是中国共产党人党性的力量。

The great founding spirit of the Party is an organic whole. The 32 characters can be divided into four groups, and there is a close internal connection and clear logical relationship among the four groups, namely: truth and ideals give rise to the original aspiration and founding mission; the original aspiration and founding mission call for sacrifice and struggle; sacrifice and struggle are for the Party and the people. The four groups of 32 characters, in their plain expression, impart profound enlightenment and immense power. Today, when we discuss the generative logic of the great founding spirit of the Party, we must first deeply grasp the historical inevitability and subjective initiative of the birth of the Communist Party of China. Without understanding the subjective foundation of the Party's birth, it is impossible to comprehend the generation and development of the great founding spirit of the Party.

伟大建党精神是一个有机整体。32个字可分为4组，4组之间有着紧密的内在联系和清晰的逻辑关系，这就是：真理理想催生初心使命，初心使命召唤牺牲斗争，牺牲斗争为了党和人民。4组32个字于平实的表述中，给人以深刻的启迪和巨大的力量。今天，我们讨论伟大建党精神的生成逻辑，首先就要深刻把握中国共产党诞生的历史必然性和主体能动性。离开中国共产党诞生的主体性基础，就不可能理解伟大建党精神的生成和发展。

The great practice of founding the Party gave birth to the great founding spirit of the Party

创建党的伟大实践孕育了伟大建党精神

Dialectical materialist epistemology holds that "it is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness." [1]1 This is a direct quotation from Karl Marx's 1859 Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. Human consciousness is not an intuitive, passive, or reactive reflection of the objective world, but an intrinsic, active, and dynamic reflection carried out in the process of transforming the objective world. Precisely because of this, great practice often gives birth to great spirit, and the great founding spirit of the Party was precisely born out of the great practice of founding the Communist Party of China.

辩证唯物主义认识论认为，“不是人们的意识决定人们的存在，相反，是人们的社会存在决定人们的意识”。人类的认识不是对客观世界直观的、消极的、被动的反映，而是在改造客观世界的过程中所进行的内在的、积极的、能动的反映。正因为这样，伟大的实践往往会孕育伟大的精神，伟大建党精神正是在创建中国共产党的伟大实践中孕育出来的。

The successful practice of the Party's pioneers in founding the Party from scratch initiated the earth-shaking great undertaking [2]2 "Earth-shaking great undertaking" (开天辟地的大事变) is a standard Chinese Communist Party historical formulation, originating from Mao Zedong's description of the founding of the CPC in 1921. and provided the organizational conditions for the formation of the great founding spirit of the Party. Every spirit must have a subject to which it belongs. From the establishment of the early organization of the Communist Party in Shanghai as the initiating group, to the secret establishment of early Party organizations in Beijing, Wuhan, Jinan, Changsha, Guangzhou, and in Japan and France; from the First National Congress of the CPC [3]3 The First National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1921 in Shanghai (and later on a boat on South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang), marking the formal founding of the Communist Party of China. stipulating for the first time that the Party's main task was to carry out social revolution, to the Second National Congress of the CPC [4]4 The Second National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1922 in Shanghai, where the Party adopted its first constitution and formulated the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal revolutionary program for the first time. putting forward for the first time the thorough anti-imperialist and anti-feudal revolutionary program, for the first time proposing the Party's united front thought — the thought of a democratic united front, and for the first time relatively completely raising demands regarding the workers' movement, the youth movement, and the women's movement, etc. — in the process of turning the ideal of Party-building into reality, the early Communists dared to act and innovate, dared to be pioneers, and created numerous unprecedented "firsts" with extraordinary courage and exceptional talent. Standing at the forefront of the times, the early Chinese Communists used Marxism, this sharp ideological weapon, to analyze the state of society's nature, grasp the changes in class structure, and follow the development of revolutionary thought, thereby giving birth to the Communist Party of China, which dared to open up heaven and earth and was skilled in ordering the cosmos, providing the most important prerequisite for the formation of the great founding spirit of the Party. The founding of the Communist Party of China yielded, at the practical level, the creation of the CPC organization, and at the spiritual level, the formation of the great founding spirit of the Party.

党的先驱从无到有创建党的成功实践，开启了开天辟地的大事变，为伟大建党精神的形成提供了组织条件。凡是精神，必有归属主体。从上海成立作为发起组的共产党早期组织，到北京、武汉、济南、长沙、广州及日本、法国相继秘密成立党的早期组织；从党的一大第一次规定了党的主要任务是进行社会革命，到党的二大第一次提出彻底的反帝反封建革命纲领、第一次提出党的统一战线思想——民主联合战线的思想、第一次比较完整地对工人运动、青少年运动和妇女运动提出要求等，在将建党理想变为现实的过程中，早期共产党人敢闯敢做、敢为人先，以非凡的胆量和过人的才情创造了诸多史无前例的“第一次”。早期中国共产党人站在时代潮头，运用马克思主义这一锐利思想武器，分析社会性质之现状、把握阶级结构之变动、顺应革命思潮之发展，孕育了敢于开天辟地、善于经天纬地的中国共产党，为伟大建党精神的形成提供了最重要的前提。中国共产党的创建，在实践层面的成果是创建了中国共产党组织，在精神层面的成果是形成了伟大建党精神。

The tortuous practice of the Party's pioneers in sowing the seeds of Marxism established the early Chinese Communists' scientific theoretical faith and lofty ideals and beliefs, providing the ideological conditions for the formation of the great founding spirit of the Party. In the early spread of Marxism in China, Comrades Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu made outstanding contributions. In May 1919, Comrade Li Dazhao opened a "Marxism Research" column in the supplement of the Morning Post, publishing a series of articles introducing Marx's life, theories, and contributions. In December of the same year, Comrade Chen Duxiu published the manifesto of New Youth, proposing to "create new concepts in politics, morality, and economy," and this new concept was Marxism. Subsequently, with the publication of the Communist Manifesto translated by Comrade Chen Wangdao, the spread of Marxism in China became a trend of the times. Many advanced elements, including Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, Cai Hesen, and Yun Daiying, after repeated deliberation, firmly embraced Marxism. The tortuous course of Chinese Communists in rooting and sowing the seeds of revolutionary thought provided a profound ideological foundation for the Party's founding, forged a character of firm ideals and unyielding struggle, and also provided the core elements for the formation of the great founding spirit of the Party.

党的先驱播撒马克思主义火种的曲折实践，确立了早期中国共产党人的科学理论信仰和远大理想信念，为伟大建党精神的形成提供了思想条件。在中国早期马克思主义传播中，李大钊同志和陈独秀同志作出了杰出贡献。1919年5月，李大钊同志在《晨报》副刊开辟了“马克思研究”专栏，发表一系列介绍马克思生平、学说和贡献的文章。同年12月，陈独秀同志发表《新青年》宣言，提出要“创造政治上、道德上、经济上的新观念”，这一新观念便是马克思主义。之后，随着陈望道同志翻译的《共产党宣言》的出版，马克思主义在中国的传播成为时代潮流。毛泽东同志、周恩来同志、董必武同志、蔡和森同志、恽代英同志等许多先进分子经反复思考进而坚定不移地信仰马克思主义。中国共产党人根植、播撒革命思想火种的曲折历程，为党的创建提供了深厚的思想基础，锻造了理想坚定、不屈不挠的奋斗品格，也为伟大建党精神的形成提供了核心要件。

The fearless exploration by the Party’s pioneers in leading the worker and peasant movements initiated the arduous practice of bloody struggle, providing distinct political stances and tenacious willpower conditions for the formation of the great founding spirit of the Party. After recognizing the historical role of the proletariat, early Chinese Communists devoted themselves to promoting the integration of Marxism with China’s worker and peasant movements, making the working class the leading force and backbone of the social revolution. In leading the Anyuan Road and Coal Mine Workers’ Strike, Comrade Mao Zedong changed into coarse cloth short jackets and straw sandals, engaging in heart-to-heart talks with workers at the coal face, the Bajiaojing residence, and other places; Comrade Peng Pai distributed his family wealth and plunged himself among the peasants, affectionately called “Peng the Bodhisattva” by the peasant masses; Comrade Deng Zhongxia changed his name and organized the “Common People’s Education Speech Troupe” to spread truth, opening a new chapter in leading China’s worker movement in Changxindian; Comrade Chen Tanqiu was wanted by warlords after leading the Beijing-Hankou Railway Workers’ Strike, persisting in struggle even when his life hung by a thread. Shanghai, as the city with the most concentrated working-class strength, witnessed successive strikes including the Shanghai Rickshaw Pullers’ Strike (June 1919), the Shanghai Machine Workers’ Strike (February 1920), the Shanghai Rihua Cotton Mill Strike (February 1919 to end of 1921), the Shanghai Huashang Electric Company Workers’ Strike (March 1921), the Shanghai British-American Tobacco Factory Workers’ Strike (July 1921), the Shanghai Postal Workers’ Strike (April 1922), the Shanghai Seamen’s Strike (July 1922), and the Shanghai Gold and Silver Industry Workers’ Strike (October 1922), many of which were led by the early Shanghai Communist Party organization and the Shanghai branch of the Chinese Labor Union Secretariat. “Arouse the millions of workers and peasants to fight with one heart!” In the fearless exploration of leading the worker and peasant movements, early Communists gradually formed the spiritual quality of “sacrificing lives and fighting bravely,” highly consistent with the “loyalty to the Party and faithfulness to the people” in the great founding spirit of the Party.

党的先驱领导工农运动的无畏探索，开启了浴血奋战的艰险实践，为伟大建党精神的形成提供了鲜明政治立场和顽强意志品质条件。早期中国共产党人在认识到无产阶级的历史作用之后，便致力于促进马克思主义同中国工农运动相结合，使工人阶级成为社会革命的领导力量和中坚骨干。在领导安源路矿工人大罢工中，毛泽东同志换上粗布短褂和草鞋，在井下掌子面、八角井住处等地与工人促膝长谈；彭湃同志散尽家财，一头扎进农民之中，被农民群众亲切地称为“彭菩萨”；邓中夏同志改名换姓，组织“平民教育演讲团”传播真理，在长辛店掀开领导中国工人运动的崭新一幕；陈潭秋同志在领导京汉铁路大罢工后即遭军阀通缉，虽命悬一线仍坚持斗争。上海作为工人阶级力量最为集中的城市，先后爆发了上海人力车夫罢工（1919年6月）、上海机器工人罢工（1920年2月）、上海日华纱厂罢工（1919年2月～1921年底）、上海华商电厂公司工人罢工（1921年3月）、上海英美烟厂工人罢工（1921年7月）、上海邮务工人罢工（1922年4月）、上海海员罢工（1922年7月）、上海金银业工人罢工（1922年10月）等多次罢工，其中不少罢工是由上海共产党早期组织和中国劳动组合书记部上海分部领导的。“唤起工农千百万，同心干”！在领导工农运动的无畏探索中，早期共产党人逐步形成“不怕牺牲、英勇斗争”的精神品质，与伟大建党精神中的“对党忠诚、不负人民”高度契合。

The many historical conditions that enabled the founding of the Communist Party of China constituted the historical orientation of the Party’s early period, influenced the Party’s historical activities in that era, and determined the ideological direction of the Party’s pioneers in that period—from initially accepting Marxism to developing “upholding truth and坚守 ideals”; from plunging into the torrent of saving the nation and its people and surviving national crisis to sublimating into “practicing the original aspiration and undertaking the mission”; from participating in concrete anti-imperialist and anti-feudal activities to forging the dauntless quality of “sacrificing lives and fighting bravely”; from practicing the Party’s nature and purpose to manifesting the pure-hearted sentiment of “loyalty to the Party and faithfulness to the people,” ultimately converging into the great founding spirit of the Party. The incubation of the founding spirit by the Party’s pioneers achieved the first leap from perceptual knowledge to rational knowledge.

中国共产党得以创建的诸多历史条件，构成了党初创时期的历史方位，影响着党在那一历史时期的历史活动，决定着党的先驱们在那一历史时期的思想走向——由初步接受马克思主义发展为“坚持真理、坚守理想”；由投身救国救民、救亡图存的洪流升华为“践行初心、担当使命”；由参加反帝反封建具体活动淬炼出“不怕牺牲、英勇斗争”的大无畏品质；由践行党的性质宗旨，彰显出“对党忠诚、不负人民”的赤子情怀，最终汇聚成为伟大建党精神。中国共产党的先驱们对建党精神的孕育，实现了从感性认识到理性认识的第一次飞跃。

The great founding spirit of the Party promoted the great cause of strengthening and prospering the Party

伟大建党精神促进了兴党强党伟业

The epistemology of dialectical materialism holds that human cognition undergoes two leaps: from perceptual knowledge to rational knowledge, and from rational knowledge to practice. In the first leap from perceptual knowledge to rational knowledge, whether spirit, thought, thinking, theory, or policy reflects the essence of objective things has not been fully verified. Only by entering the second leap of cognition—placing the rational knowledge and spiritual products obtained in the first leap into practice for testing, enrichment, and development—can truth be attained. From rational knowledge to revolutionary practice, this is the second leap in the cognitive process, and its significance is even greater. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “People’s social existence determines their thinking. Once the correct thinking representing the advanced class is grasped by the masses, it turns into a material force for transforming society and the world.” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Although dialectical materialism emphasizes that the unity of the world lies in its materiality, it does not deny the counter-effect of consciousness on matter; rather, it holds that this counter-effect is sometimes enormous.” The great founding spirit of the Party originated in the great practice of founding the Communist Party of China and runs through the entire century-long process of establishing, prospering, and strengthening the Party. The great founding spirit reflects the original aspiration of founding the Party, the mission of prospering the Party, and the foundation of establishing the Party. As the Party’s practice advances, it continuously branches out, displaying vigorous vitality and lasting influence in various historical periods, constantly yielding abundant spiritual, theoretical, and practical fruits, and the counter-effect of spirit on matter is continuously manifested.

辩证唯物主义认识论认为，人类的认识经历着从感性认识到理性认识，又从理性认识到实践的两次飞跃过程。在从感性认识到理性认识的第一次飞跃过程中，精神、思想、思维、理论、政策等是否反映了客观事物的本质，并没有得到完全证实。只有进入认识的第二次飞跃过程，把第一次飞跃中所得到的理性认识、精神产品放到实践中去检验、丰富和发展，才会得到真理性认识。从理性认识到革命实践，这是认识过程的第二次飞跃，其意义更加伟大。毛泽东同志指出：“人们的社会存在，决定人们的思想。而代表先进阶级的正确思想，一旦被群众掌握，就会变成改造社会、改造世界的物质力量。”习近平总书记指出：“辩证唯物主义虽然强调世界的统一性在于它的物质性，但并不否认意识对物质的反作用，而是认为这种反作用有时是巨大的。”伟大建党精神，发轫于创建中国共产党的伟大实践，贯穿于立党、兴党、强党的百余年历程之中。伟大建党精神反映的是建党初心、兴党使命、立党根本，它伴随着党的实践的推进而不断开枝散叶，在各个历史时期展现出旺盛的生命力和持久的影响力，不断结出丰硕的精神之果、理论之果和实践之果，精神对物质的反作用也就不断地彰显出来。

The great founding spirit of the Party fully embodies the requirements of the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission and is the source and living water of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists. Over more than a century, our Party, cherishing its original aspiration and founding mission, has continuously explored and struggled, forming and forging many great revolutionary spirits. These mainly include the great founding spirit formed during the New Democratic Revolution period, the Jinggangshan spirit, the Soviet Area spirit, the Long March spirit, the Zunyi Conference spirit, the Yan’an spirit, etc.; the spirit of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” spirit, the Lei Feng spirit, the Jiao Yulu spirit, etc., formed during the period of socialist revolution and construction; the reform and opening-up spirit, the special zone spirit, the flood-fighting spirit, the manned spaceflight spirit, etc., formed during the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization; and the poverty alleviation spirit, the scientist spirit, the lunar exploration spirit, the New Era Beidou spirit, etc., formed in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. These specific spirits, transcending time and space, remain ever new, forming the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists. The reason why spirits can form a “lineage” is that a common red thread runs through them. This red thread is the elements of truth, ideals, dedication, struggle, loyalty, and serving the people contained in the “great founding spirit of the Party.” Therefore, in a sense, the great founding spirit of the Party is not only the source of the Chinese revolutionary spirit but also the sum of the connotations of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, the most brilliant spiritual fruit borne from the Party’s century-long history.

伟大建党精神充分体现了党的初心使命的要求，是中国共产党人精神谱系的源头活水。一百多年来，我们党怀揣初心使命，接续探索奋斗，不断形成与铸就了许多伟大的革命精神，主要有形成于新民主主义革命时期的伟大建党精神、井冈山精神、苏区精神、长征精神、遵义会议精神、延安精神等；形成于社会主义革命和建设时期的抗美援朝精神、“两弹一星”精神、雷锋精神、焦裕禄精神等；形成于改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期的改革开放精神、特区精神、抗洪精神、载人航天精神等；形成于中国特色社会主义新时代的脱贫攻坚精神、科学家精神、探月精神、新时代北斗精神，等等。这一个个具体精神，跨越时空，历久弥新，形成中国共产党人的精神谱系。精神之所以能够形成“谱系”，是因为有一条共同的红线贯穿其中。这条红线就是“伟大建党精神”所包含的真理、理想、献身、斗争、忠诚、为民这些要素。因此，从某种意义上讲，伟大建党精神不仅是中国革命精神之源，而且是中国共产党人精神谱系的内涵之和，是中国共产党百年历史结出的最为璀璨的精神之果。

The great founding spirit of the Party urges Chinese Communists to dare to engage in self-revolution, forging the Party into a strong and powerful entity. Over more than a century, the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, developed from the great founding spirit of the Party, has been formed in the practice of the Party’s century-long exploration and has always nourished the century-old Communist Party of China, exerting an immeasurable and far-reaching impact on the Party’s own construction.

伟大建党精神鞭策着中国共产党人勇于自我革命，把党锻造得坚强而有力量。一百多年来，由伟大建党精神发展而成的中国共产党人精神谱系，既形成于党的百年探索的实践之中，又始终滋养着历经百年的中国共产党，对党的自身建设产生了不可估量的深远影响。

In the process of realizing the two major historical tasks of the Chinese nation, the great achievements of Party building are first manifested in building the Party itself into a strong and powerful entity. Over more than a century, as the world conditions, national conditions, and Party conditions faced by the Party have continuously changed, under the guidance of the Party’s innovative theory, the great founding spirit of the Party always inspires our Party organizations at all levels and Party cadres to conform to the trend of the times, grasp the pulse of Chinese social progress, and build the Party into one that always marches at the forefront of the times, dares to engage in self-revolution, and maintains vigorous vitality; always encourages our Party organizations at all levels and Party cadres to forever remember the original aspiration and founding mission, adhere to serving the people wholeheartedly, uphold the people as the supreme priority, and build the Party into one that always enjoys the heartfelt support of the people; always emboldens our Party organizations at all levels and Party cadres to strive unremittingly, become stronger in the face of setbacks, and grow more mature, building the Party into a Marxist political party that has withstood various storms and tests.

在实现中华民族两大历史任务的进程中，党的建设的伟大成就首先体现在将自身建成一个坚强而有力的党。一百多年来，党所面临的世情国情党情不断变化，在党的创新理论指引下，伟大建党精神总是激励我们的各级党组织和党员干部顺应时代发展潮流，把握中国社会前进脉搏，把党建成了一个始终走在时代前列、勇于自我革命、保持蓬勃朝气的党；总是勉励着我们的各级党组织和党员干部始终牢记初心使命，坚持全心全意为人民服务，坚持人民至上，把党建成了一个始终得到人民衷心拥护的党；总是鼓舞着我们的各级党组织和党员干部自强不息，愈挫愈勇，愈加成熟，把党建成了一个经受住各种风浪考验的马克思主义政党。

The great founding spirit of the Party inspires Chinese Communists to actively engage in ideological exploration and continuously achieve leaps in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC pointed out that during the New Democratic Revolution period, Chinese Communists mainly represented by Comrade Mao Zedong integrated the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with China’s specific realities, creating Mao Zedong Thought, which pointed the correct direction for winning the New Democratic Revolution. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, Comrade Mao Zedong proposed the “Second Integration,” and Mao Zedong Thought was further enriched and developed. Mao Zedong Thought is the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism in China, the correct theoretical principles and summary of experience concerning China’s revolution and construction proven by practice, and the first historic leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

伟大建党精神激励着中国共产党人积极开展思想探索，不断实现马克思主义中国化的飞跃。党的十九届六中全会指出，在新民主主义革命时期，以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，把马克思列宁主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，创立了毛泽东思想，为夺取新民主主义革命胜利指明了正确方向。在社会主义革命和建设时期，毛泽东同志提出“第二次结合”，毛泽东思想得到进一步丰富和发展。毛泽东思想是马克思列宁主义在中国的创造性运用和发展，是被实践证明了的关于中国革命和建设的正确的理论原则和经验总结，是马克思主义中国化的第一次历史性飞跃。

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Party [1]1 This is a direct quotation from Karl Marx's 1859 Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy., the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, profoundly summarized the positive and negative experiences since the founding of New China, centered on the fundamental question of what socialism is and how to build it, drew on the historical experience of world socialism, and founded Deng Xiaoping Theory. After the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee of the Party [2]2 "Earth-shaking great undertaking" (开天辟地的大事变) is a standard Chinese Communist Party historical formulation, originating from Mao Zedong's description of the founding of the CPC in 1921., the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, deepened their understanding of what socialism is and how to build it, as well as what kind of Party to build and how to build it, and formed the important thought of the “Three Represents” [3]3 The First National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1921 in Shanghai (and later on a boat on South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang), marking the formal founding of the Communist Party of China.. After the 16th National Congress of the Party [4]4 The Second National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1922 in Shanghai, where the Party adopted its first constitution and formulated the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal revolutionary program for the first time., the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their chief representative, profoundly understood and answered major questions such as what kind of development to achieve and how to achieve it under the new circumstances, and formed the Scientific Outlook on Development [5]5 The “Second Integration” (第二次结合) refers to Mao Zedong’s proposal in the late 1950s to integrate the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with China’s specific realities in the context of socialist construction, following the earlier integration that produced Mao Zedong Thought during the revolutionary period.. The Party deeply recognized that to open up new prospects for reform and opening up and socialist modernization, it must lead the cause forward with theoretical innovation. Proceeding from new practice and the characteristics of the times, the Party adhered to and developed Marxism, scientifically answered a series of basic questions concerning the path, stage of development, fundamental task, driving force, strategy, political guarantee, national reunification, diplomacy and international strategy, leading force, and relying forces for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and achieved a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

党的十一届三中全会以后，以邓小平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，深刻总结新中国成立以来正反两方面经验，围绕什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义这一根本问题，借鉴世界社会主义历史经验，创立了邓小平理论。党的十三届四中全会以后，以江泽民同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，加深了对什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义和建设什么样的党、怎样建设党的认识，形成了“三个代表”重要思想。党的十六大以后，以胡锦涛同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，深刻认识和回答了新形势下实现什么样的发展、怎样发展等重大问题，形成了科学发展观。党深刻认识到，开创改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新局面，必须以理论创新引领事业发展。党从新的实践和时代特征出发，坚持和发展马克思主义，科学回答了建设中国特色社会主义的发展道路、发展阶段、根本任务、发展动力、发展战略、政治保证、祖国统一、外交和国际战略、领导力量和依靠力量等一系列基本问题，形成中国特色社会主义理论体系，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃。

Since the 18th National Congress of the Party [6]6 The Central Party History Research Office (中央党史研究室) was a research institution directly under the Party Central Committee responsible for compiling and studying the history of the Communist Party of China; it was merged into the Central Party History and Literature Research Institute in 2018., the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have adhered to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, adhered to Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the “Three Represents,” and the Scientific Outlook on Development, profoundly summarized and fully applied the Party’s historical experience since its founding, proceeded from new realities, and founded Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of original new concepts, ideas, and strategies for governance on major epochal questions such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it, what kind of socialist modernized powerful country to build and how to build it, and what kind of Marxist political party that has been in power for a long time to build and how to build it. He is the principal founder of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism, Marxism of the 21st century, and the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit of the times, achieving a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，坚持毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观，深刻总结并充分运用党成立以来的历史经验，从新的实际出发，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。习近平总书记就新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，建设什么样的社会主义现代化强国、怎样建设社会主义现代化强国，建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党等重大时代课题，提出一系列原创性的治国理政新理念新思想新战略，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的主要创立者。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃。

The great founding spirit of the Party embodies the essence of the fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture. On the one hand, the gestation, formation, and development of the great founding spirit of the Party were nourished by Marxism, especially Sinicized Marxism; on the other hand, the promotion and development of the great founding spirit of the Party greatly advanced the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and facilitated the realization of the three leaps in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

伟大建党精神体现着中华优秀传统文化、革命文化和社会主义先进文化的精髓。一方面，伟大建党精神的孕育、形成和发展得到了马克思主义特别是中国化马克思主义的滋养；另一方面，伟大建党精神的弘扬和发展，又大大推进了马克思主义中国化的进程，促进了马克思主义中国化三次飞跃的实现。

The great founding spirit of the Party inspires the Communist Party of China to lead the Chinese people in unremitting struggle, achieving great accomplishments that shine through the annals of history. The Party united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to promote the great founding spirit of the Party, creating four great achievements: the New Democratic Revolution, socialist revolution and construction, reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era; forging four milestones: the founding of the Communist Party of China, the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the advancement of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and the realization of the First Centenary Goal [7]; achieving and advancing three great leaps for China and the Chinese nation, ushering in an even greater leap: realizing the great leap of China from a few thousand years of feudal autocratic politics to people’s democracy; realizing the great leap of a large Eastern country that was once poor and blank with a huge population striding into a socialist society; realizing the historic leap in the people’s livelihood from inadequate food and clothing to a moderately prosperous society in general and then to a moderately prosperous society in all respects, advancing the great leap of the Chinese nation from standing up to becoming prosperous; ushering in the great leap of the Chinese nation from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong, making five great contributions to the country, to the Chinese people, to the Chinese nation, to scientific socialism, and to human society that shine through the annals of history.

伟大建党精神鼓舞着中国共产党领导中国人民不懈奋斗，取得彪炳史册的伟大成就。党团结带领全国各族人民弘扬伟大建党精神，创造了新民主主义革命、社会主义革命和建设、改革开放和社会主义现代化建设、新时代中国特色社会主义这四个方面伟大成就；铸就了建立中国共产党、成立中华人民共和国、推进改革开放和社会主义现代化建设、实现第一个百年奋斗目标这四座里程碑；实现、推进了中国和中华民族的三次伟大飞跃，迎来一次更为伟大的飞跃——实现了中国从几千年封建专制政治向人民民主的伟大飞跃；实现了一穷二白、人口众多的东方大国大步迈进社会主义社会的伟大飞跃；实现了人民生活从温饱不足到总体小康、奔向全面小康的历史性跨越，推进了中华民族从站起来到富起来的伟大飞跃；迎来了中华民族从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃，为国家、为中国人民、为中华民族、为科学社会主义、为人类社会作出了五个方面彪炳史册的伟大贡献。

In summary, the great founding spirit of the Party both originated from the extraordinary course of the Party’s founding and propelled the Party’s century-long exploration and century-long struggle, having withstood the test of the Party’s century-long practice. On the one hand, it adheres to materialism, emphasizing that practice is the source of knowledge, the basis for the formation of knowledge, and the driving force for the development of knowledge; on the other hand, it adheres to dialectics, acknowledging the active revolutionary theory of reflection and the counter-effect of knowledge on practice. The great founding spirit of the Party is a vivid interpretation of the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission, a successful code for the Party’s century-long struggle, and an inexhaustible spiritual driving force for realizing the historical mission of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At the same time, the great founding spirit of the Party itself, nourished by the fruits of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and tempered in the Party’s great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream [8], is continuously carried forward. It continuously propels the magnificent cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation forward, continuously performs the majestic drama of matter transforming into spirit and spirit transforming into matter, and continuously demonstrates the infinite charm of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times! We must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi

总起来说，伟大建党精神既来自创建党的非凡历程，又推动了党的百年探索、百年奋斗，经受了党的百年实践检验。它一方面坚持唯物论，强调实践是认识的来源，是认识形成的基础，是认识发展的动力；另一方面坚持辩证法，承认能动的革命反映论，承认认识对于实践的反作用。伟大建党精神是对党的初心使命的生动诠释，是党的百年奋斗的一个成功密码，是实现中华民族伟大复兴历史使命取之不尽、用之不竭的一种精神动力。同时，伟大建党精神自身也是在马克思主义中国化成果的滋养下，在党的伟大斗争、伟大工程、伟大事业、伟大梦想的淬炼中，不断发扬光大的。它不断推动着中华民族伟大复兴的壮丽事业呼啸向前，不断演绎着物质变精神、精神变物质的威武雄壮的活剧，不断彰显着马克思主义中国化时代化的无穷魅力！我们要更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，在伟大建党精神的鼓舞下，不忘初心、牢记使命，甘于奉献、坚持奋斗，为全面建成社会主义现代化强国作出新的更大的贡献！

(The author is former director of the Central Party History Research Office)

（作者系原中央党史研究室主任）

Online editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁