Cultivating the Lifelong Subject of Communists

Cultivation of Party spirit, also referred to as Party spirit tempering, is the self-education, self-transformation, and self-improvement of Party members. It is the internalization of the essential attributes of the Communist Party, the process by which Party members consciously use the principles of Party spirit to regulate their behavior while transforming the objective world, overcome and resist various erroneous ideas, continuously transform the subjective world, and constantly open up new realms of practice and understanding. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the issue of Party spirit cultivation. He has delivered a series of important expositions, profoundly clarifying a range of major issues concerning Party spirit cultivation, thereby providing the fundamental guidance for cultivating the "inner cultivation" of Communists in the New Era.

党性修养也称党性锻炼，是党员的自我教育、自我改造、自我完善，是对共产党的本质属性的内化，是党员在改造客观世界中自觉运用党性原则规范自己的行为，克服和抵制各种错误思想，不断改造主观世界，不断开创实践和认识新境界的过程。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记高度重视党性修养问题，发表一系列重要论述，深刻阐明了关于党性修养的一系列重大问题，为修炼新时代共产党人的“心学”提供了根本遵循。

On November 16, 2012, in his article "Earnestly Study the Party Constitution and Strictly Abide by It," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that in all activities of Party organizations at all levels, we must persist in guiding the vast number of Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, to consciously study, abide by, implement, and uphold the Party Constitution, to consciously strengthen their Party spirit cultivation, and to enhance their Party consciousness, purpose consciousness, governance consciousness, overall situation consciousness, and responsibility consciousness, effectively sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling their duties to the country, and dedicating themselves to the people. The Party Constitution is the fundamental law of the Party, the overarching rule that the entire Party must follow, and the fundamental standard for Communists to strengthen their Party spirit cultivation. The level of studying and implementing the Party Constitution determines the level of a Party member's Party spirit cultivation. Especially for leading cadres, regardless of their position, length of Party membership, or the magnitude of their contributions, they must lead by example and set a precedent from above, making the study of the Party Constitution a compulsory course and embodying all its provisions in their actions and work. Wherever the Party Constitution stipulates that Party members must do, leading cadres should be the first to do; wherever the Party Constitution stipulates that Party members must not do, leading cadres should take the lead in resolutely refraining. To successfully navigate the new journey of the "examination,"[1]1 "New journey of the 'examination'" refers to the metaphor of the CPC's long-term governance as a continuous examination, a phrase popularized by Xi Jinping Party members and cadres must strictly enforce Party discipline, resolutely uphold the authority of the Party Constitution, remain clear-headed on major issues of principle, remain unswayed by various temptations, and not flinch in the face of danger and trials, achieving political loyalty, fairness and integrity, and the courage to take responsibility.

2012年11月16日，习近平总书记在《认真学习党章严格遵守党章》一文中强调，在各级党组织的全部活动中，都要坚持引导广大党员、干部特别是领导干部自觉学习党章、遵守党章、贯彻党章、维护党章，自觉加强党性修养，增强党的意识、宗旨意识、执政意识、大局意识、责任意识，切实做到为党分忧、为国尽责、为民奉献。党章是党的根本大法，是全党必须遵循的总规矩，是共产党员加强党性修养的根本标准。学习贯彻党章的水平，决定着党员党性修养的水平。特别是领导干部，不论职位多高、党龄多长、贡献多大，都要以身作则、以上率下，把学习党章作为必修课，把党章各项规定体现到行动上、落实到工作中。凡是党章规定党员必须做到的，领导干部要首先做到；凡是党章规定党员不能做的，领导干部带头坚决不做。党员干部走好新的赶考路，要严格执行党的纪律，坚决维护党章权威，做到在大是大非面前不糊涂，在各种诱惑面前不动摇，在危险考验面前不退缩，做到政治忠诚、公道正派、敢于担当。

On June 28, 2013, at the National Conference on Organizational Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that a cadre's Party spirit cultivation, ideological awareness, and moral level will not naturally improve with the accumulation of Party membership years, nor will they naturally improve with the promotion of positions; rather, they require lifelong effort. Party spirit cultivation is not innate; it is neither achieved overnight nor accomplished once and for all. Strengthening Party spirit cultivation is a lifelong subject that Party members and cadres must resolve to establish themselves in the world. If one's thinking loosens by an inch, one's actions will slacken by a foot. Just as rooms need regular cleaning and mirrors need regular polishing, the Party spirit cultivation of Party members and cadres also requires constant examination, refinement, and improvement through self-cultivation, self-restraint, and self-transformation. Practice has proven that no matter how high one's position or how long one's Party membership, if one does not make lifelong efforts to pursue, practice, and enhance Party spirit cultivation, no matter how strong one's "steel bones" or "indestructible body" was in the past, it is difficult to remain consistent and never change color. Joining the Party organizationally happens once in a lifetime; joining the Party ideologically is a lifelong process. Strengthening Party spirit cultivation must be persistent and enduring, constantly cultivated and refined, constantly understood and advanced, continuously internalizing Party spirit in the heart and externalizing it in action.

2013年6月28日，习近平总书记在全国组织工作会议上强调，干部的党性修养、思想觉悟、道德水平不会随着党龄的积累而自然提高，也不会随着职务的升迁而自然提高，而需要终生努力。党性修养不是与生俱来的，既不是一蹴而就的，也不是一劳永逸的，加强党性修养是党员干部安身立命必须解决好的终身课题。思想上松一寸，行动上就会散一尺。如同房间要经常打扫、镜子要经常擦拭一样，党员干部的党性修养也需要不断在自我修炼、自我约束、自我改造中检视、砥砺和提高。实践证明，无论位置有多高、党龄有多长，如果不能终生努力去追求、去实践、去提升党性修养，无论过去是怎样的“钢筋铁骨”“不坏之身”，也难以始终如一、永不变色。组织上入党，一生一次；思想上入党，一生一世。加强党性修养必须驰而不息、久久为功，常修常炼、常悟常进，不断将党性内化于心、外化于行。

On January 12, 2016, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that in grasping the construction of work style, we must return to simplicity and consolidate the foundation, while strengthening Party spirit cultivation, we must also promote fine traditional Chinese culture. Fine traditional Chinese culture is the profound foundation for our confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture, and it is an important resource for Communists to strengthen their Party spirit cultivation. Studying and promoting its ideological essence plays a positive role in strengthening Party spirit cultivation and personality tempering. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has inherited and developed the ancient idea of "governing with virtue," incorporating fine traditional Chinese culture into the theoretical system of Party spirit cultivation, forming a New Era outlook on political virtue centered on "understanding great virtue, abiding by public virtue, and strictly adhering to private virtue."[2]2 The Central Political Bureau's democratic life meeting is a regular high-level internal Party meeting where leading cadres conduct criticism and self-criticism to strengthen Party building and political discipline. For Party members in the New Era, it is necessary to deeply understand the great significance of the Two Integrations, consciously draw nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit the spirit of self-revolution from the Party's history, rectify the mind and cultivate oneself, use culture to transform people, consolidate the foundation and strengthen the root, enhance Party spirit, and continuously improve one's own Party spirit cultivation.

2016年1月12日，习近平总书记在第十八届中央纪律检查委员会第六次全体会议上强调，抓作风建设要返璞归真、固本培元，在加强党性修养的同时，弘扬中华优秀传统文化。中华优秀传统文化是我们坚定道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信的深厚基础，是共产党人加强党性修养的重要资源，学习和弘扬其中的思想精华，对加强党性修养和人格锤炼具有积极作用。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央继承和发扬了古代“为政以德”思想，将中华优秀传统文化纳入党性修养理论体系，形成了以“明大德、守公德、严私德”为核心的新时代政德观。对新时代的党员来说，必须深刻理解“两个结合”的重大意义，自觉从中华优秀传统文化中汲取营养，从党的历史中传承自我革命精神，正心修身、以文化人，培基固本、增强党性，持续提升自身党性修养。

On July 23, 2021, during his inspection tour in Tibet, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that we must exert ourselves in tempering Party spirit, guiding the vast number of Party members and cadres to carry forward the Party's glorious traditions and continue the red lineage, nourishing Party spirit cultivation with the great founding spirit of the Party,[3] firmly establishing ideals and convictions, and continuously improving political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution ability, bearing in mind the "greatest concerns of the state,"[4] always using the principles of Party spirit to cultivate oneself and discipline oneself, and effectively winning the trust of the people and leading the masses with a strong Party spirit. Looking back at the Party's century-long history, an important reason why the Communist Party of China has stood tall through trials and tribulations and become stronger through repeated tempering is that our Party has attached great importance to Party spirit cultivation. The great founding spirit of the Party embodies the great character of hard struggle, sacrifice and dedication, and pioneering and enterprising spirit of Chinese Communists, providing rich nourishment for our Party's establishment, development, and strengthening. On the new journey, to nourish Party spirit cultivation with the great founding spirit of the Party, we must remain true to our original aspiration and founding mission, stay humble and prudent, work hard, and dare to struggle and be adept at struggle. We must insist on "benchmarking" against the requirements of the Party Central Committee, "scanning" with the Party Constitution and intra-Party regulations, "seeing through" with the new expectations of the people, and "comparing" with the martyrs, predecessors, and advanced models, constantly asking the original aspiration and founding mission of "who am I, for whom, and relying on whom," and interpreting with heart, emotion, and effort the lofty sentiment of "I will have no self, and I will live up to the people."[5]

2021年7月23日，习近平总书记在西藏考察时强调，要在锤炼党性上力行，教育引导广大党员、干部发扬党的光荣传统、赓续红色血脉，用伟大建党精神滋养党性修养，坚定理想信念，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，胸怀“国之大者”，始终用党性原则修身律己，切实以坚强党性取信于民、引领群众。回顾百年党史，中国共产党之所以饱经风霜而巍然屹立，千锤百炼而更加强大，很重要的一点就是我们党高度重视党性修养。伟大建党精神凝聚着中国共产党人艰苦奋斗、牺牲奉献、开拓进取的伟大品格，为我们立党、兴党、强党提供了丰厚滋养。新征程上，用伟大建党精神滋养党性修养，务必不忘初心、牢记使命，务必谦虚谨慎、艰苦奋斗，务必敢于斗争、善于斗争。要坚持同党中央要求“对标”，拿党章党规“扫描”，用人民群众新期待“透视”，同先辈先烈、先进典型“对照”，时时叩问“我是谁、为了谁、依靠谁”的初心使命，用心用情用力诠释“我将无我、不负人民”的崇高情怀。

On October 22, 2022, at the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that as delegates to the National Congress of the Party, the mission is glorious and the responsibility is heavy. They must always bear in mind the "greatest concerns of the state," improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution ability, take the lead in upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, take the lead in observing political discipline and political rules, take the lead in improving Party spirit cultivation and enhancing quality and capability, contribute all their wisdom and strength to the cause of the Party and the people, set an example for all Party members, and live up to the trust of the vast number of Party members. The "three taking the lead"[6] are both earnest entrustments to the Party representatives and earnest admonitions to all Party members and cadres. Party members and cadres must deeply comprehend the political implications and practical requirements of the "greatest concerns of the state," insist on observing the general trend, planning the overall situation, and grasping major matters from a political height, always pay attention to what the Party Central Committee is concerned about and emphasizing, deeply understand what is the most important interest of the Party and the state and what is the position that most needs to be firmly upheld, consciously strengthen Party spirit cultivation, take the lead in strictly observing political discipline and political rules, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, enhance the Four Consciousnesses, strengthen the Four Confidences, and achieve the Two Upholds, take loyalty to the Party, sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling duties for the Party, and benefiting the people as fundamental political responsibilities, and take the implementation of the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee as a major political responsibility, ensuring that all work advances unswervingly in the direction determined by the Party Central Committee.

2022年10月22日，习近平总书记在中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会闭幕会上强调，作为党的全国代表大会代表，使命光荣，责任重大，一定要牢记“国之大者”，提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，带头维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，带头遵守政治纪律和政治规矩，带头提高党性修养、提升素质能力，为党和人民事业贡献自己的全部智慧和力量，为全体党员作出表率，不辜负广大党员信任。“三个带头”既是对党员代表的殷殷嘱托，也是对全体党员干部的谆谆告诫。党员干部要深刻领悟“国之大者”的政治意蕴和实践要求，坚持站在政治的高度观大势、谋全局、抓大事，时刻关注党中央在关心什么、强调什么，深刻领会什么是党和国家最重要的利益、什么是最需要坚定维护的立场，自觉加强党性修养，带头严守政治纪律和政治规矩，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，把对党忠诚、为党分忧、为党尽职、为民造福作为根本政治担当，把贯彻落实党中央决策部署作为重大政治责任，确保各项工作不偏不倚沿着党中央确定的方向前进。

From December 26 to 27, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Central Political Bureau's democratic life meeting that political cultivation should be placed at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, drawing nourishment for Party spirit from the Party's innovative theories, and making the study, observance, and implementation of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline an important component of Party spirit cultivation. Taking a clear stand on politics is not only a distinctive feature and fundamental requirement of a Marxist political party but also a fine tradition and political advantage that our Party has consistently upheld. Political cultivation determines the direction and effect of Party spirit cultivation; it is necessary to maintain a high degree of sensitivity to political direction, political stance, political speech, and political behavior, continuously strengthen the rigid constraints of political discipline and political rules, and promote the broad ranks of Party cadres and members to always love the Party within the Party, speak for the Party within the Party, worry about the Party within the Party, and work for the Party within the Party. Political firmness and firmness in Party spirit are inseparable from theoretical clarity and firmness; every step forward in theoretical innovation must be followed by a corresponding step forward in Party spirit cultivation. All Party members must consciously study, observe, and implement the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline, draw nourishment for Party spirit from Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, always maintain the political essence of Communists, and become exemplary practitioners of strengthening Party spirit cultivation.

2024年12月26日至27日，习近平总书记在中央政治局民主生活会上强调，要把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，从党的创新理论中汲取党性滋养，把学习遵守贯彻党章党规党纪作为党性修养的重要内容。旗帜鲜明讲政治，既是马克思主义政党的鲜明特征和根本要求，也是我们党一以贯之的优良传统和政治优势。政治修养决定着党性修养的方向和效果，要时刻保持对政治方向、政治立场、政治言论、政治行为的高度敏感性，持续加强政治纪律和政治规矩刚性约束，推动广大党员干部始终在党爱党、在党言党、在党忧党、在党为党。政治上的坚定、党性上的坚定都离不开理论上的清醒和坚定，理论创新每前进一步，党性修养就要跟进一步。全体党员要自觉学习遵守贯彻党章党规党纪，从习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中汲取党性滋养，始终保持共产党人的政治本色，做加强党性修养的模范践行者。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心