The Great Founding Spirit of the Party: The Spiritual Source of the Communist Party of China

The “great founding spirit of the Party” is an original theoretical contribution of Xi Jinping Thought on Party building. It was first proposed at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China in 2021: “A hundred years ago, the pioneers of the Communist Party of China founded the Communist Party of China and formed the great founding spirit of the Party—upholding truth and ideals, staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people. This spirit is the source of the Communist Party of China’s spiritual strength.” [1]1 Luo Zhanglong (1896–1995) was an early member of the Communist Party of China and a participant in the founding of the Party. The Xinmin Society was a progressive student organization founded by Mao Zedong and others in 1918 in Changsha, which later played a role in the early communist movement. The “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century,” in expounding the historical significance of the Party’s century-long struggle, states that “the Party’s century-long struggle has forged a Communist Party of China that is at the forefront of the times” and that “a spiritual lineage with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source has taken shape.” [2]2 The First National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1921 in Shanghai and Jiaxing, marking the formal founding of the Party. The 20th National Congress of the CPC wrote “carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party” into the theme of the congress. On October 27, 2022, less than a week after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress, General

“伟大建党精神”是习近平总书记关于党的建设的重要思想的原创性理论，2021年在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上首次提出：“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。”《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》在阐述党的百年奋斗的历史意义时指出，“党的百年奋斗锻造了走在时代前列的中国共产党”“形成了以伟大建党精神为源头的精神谱系”。党的二十大把“弘扬伟大建党精神”写入大会主题。2022年10月27日，党的二十大闭幕不到一周，习近平总书记带领中央政治局常委专程前往陕西延安，瞻仰延安革命纪念地，强调要弘扬伟大建党精神，弘扬延安精神，坚定历史自信，增强历史主动，发扬斗争精神，为实现党的二十大提出的目标任务而团结奋斗。这些重要论述表明，伟大建党精神是一个兼具丰厚历史底蕴和鲜明时代价值的重大命题。

History flows on without cease, and spirit is passed down from generation to generation. The great founding spirit of the Party originated in the Party-building practice a century ago, but it does not stop there. It possesses a radiance and penetrating power that spans a hundred years of time and space, forging the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists through the passing of the torch, and continuing to provide rich spiritual nourishment and spiritual strength for Chinese Communists on the new journey of the New Era. Viewed from this perspective, the great founding spirit of the Party possesses both narrativity and theoretical rationality. So-called narrativity means that the great founding spirit of the Party, like other spirits, is a sign of the times and a spiritual sublimation derived from historical practice, a spiritual portrayal of that historical period. So-called theoretical rationality means that the great founding spirit of the Party is a high-level condensation and concentrated summary of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, a theoretical abstraction of the political character of the Communist Party of China. Starting from these two attributes, we can deeply grasp why the great founding spirit of the Party is the spiritual "source" of the Communist Party of China.

历史川流不息，精神代代相传。伟大建党精神发端于百年前的建党实践，但不止步于此，具有跨越百年时空的辐射力和穿透力，在薪火相传中铸就了中国共产党人的精神谱系，并继续为新时代新征程中国共产党人提供丰富的精神滋养和精神力量。由是观之，伟大建党精神兼具叙事性与论理性。所谓叙事性，是指伟大建党精神与其他精神一样，是源于历史实践的时代标识和精神升华，是这段历史时期的精神写照；所谓论理性，是指伟大建党精神是对中国共产党人精神谱系的高度凝练和集中概括，是对中国共产党政治品格的学理抽象。从这两个属性出发，我们便能深入把握为什么伟大建党精神是中国共产党的精神之“源”。

"Source" means fountainhead. The great founding spirit of the Party is the living source of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, the beginning of the great spirit of the Communist Party of China. The great founding spirit of the Party originates from the founding of the Communist Party of China and is a concentrated expression of the mental journey, feelings for family and country, and personal style of the Party's founding pioneers. Facing the "changes unseen in millennia" [1]1 Luo Zhanglong (1896–1995) was an early member of the Communist Party of China and a participant in the founding of the Party. The Xinmin Society was a progressive student organization founded by Mao Zedong and others in 1918 in Changsha, which later played a role in the early communist movement. of national humiliation, the people's suffering, and the obscuring of civilization, men of ideals and integrity cried out and ran about, and plans to save the nation were put forward in turn. Yet, "from the Opium War of 1840 to the eve of the May Fourth Movement of 1919, over a period of more than seventy years, the Chinese people had no ideological weapon with which to resist imperialism." [2]2 The First National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1921 in Shanghai and Jiaxing, marking the formal founding of the Party. In 1918, Li Dazhao foresaw that the socialist revolution of the proletariat was an "irresistible trend" and looked forward with full confidence, declaring, "Look at the future of the globe; it will surely be the world of the Red Flag!" [3]3 This is a couplet from Mao Zedong’s 1959 poem “Shaoshan Revisited,” expressing revolutionary heroism and sacrifice. In December 1919, Mao Zedong came to Beijing for the second time, eagerly searching for and reading books on the October Revolution and Marxist works. "By the summer of 1920, I had become a Marxist in theory and, to some extent, in action." [4]4 The Second National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1922 in Shanghai, where it formulated the Party’s first constitution and clarified its anti-imperialist and anti-feudal program. In November 1920, Zhou Enlai went to Europe to study. Through on-the-spot investigation of Western capitalist countries and repeated comparisons of various doctrines, he gradually established his faith: "The doctrine I recognize will certainly not change, and I am very determined to propagate and work for it." [5]5 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in October 2022 in Beijing, where Liu Shaoqi recalled, "When we accepted Marxism at that time, we did not accept it casually. It was only after research, consideration, and debate with anarchists that we determined it was indeed the truth and could indeed save China, and then we decided to accept it." [6]

“源”是源头，伟大建党精神是中国共产党人精神谱系的源头活水，是中国共产党伟大精神的开端。伟大建党精神源于中国共产党的创建，是建党先驱们心路历程、家国情怀和人格风范的集中体现。面对国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘的“数千年未有之大变局”，仁人志士奔走呐喊，救国方案轮番出台，然而，“从一八四〇年的鸦片战争到一九一九年的五四运动的前夜，共计七十多年中，中国人没有什么思想武器可以抗御帝国主义”。1918年，李大钊预见无产阶级的社会主义革命是“不可当的潮流”，满怀信心地展望“试看将来的环球，必是赤旗的世界！”1919年12月，毛泽东第二次来到北京，热心搜寻阅读关于十月革命的书籍和马克思主义著作，“到了1920年夏天，在理论上，而且在某种程度的行动上，我已成为一个马克思主义者了”。1920年11月，周恩来前往欧洲留学，经过实地考察西方资本主义国家、反复比较各种主义，逐步确立了自己的信仰：“我认的主义一定是不变了，并且很坚决地要为他宣传奔走。”刘少奇回忆，“我们在当时接受马克思主义并不是随便接受的，而是经过了研究、考虑、和无政府主义者辩论之后，认为它确实是真理，确能救中国，才确定接受的”。

Mao Zedong pointed out, "Ever since the Chinese learned Marxism-Leninism, the Chinese people have become spiritually passive to active." [7] The great founding spirit of the Party profoundly interprets this spirit of historical initiative. It is the spiritual product of the great awakening of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and a precious spiritual wealth produced by the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. Truth illuminates ideals, the original aspiration runs through the entire process, the mission calls for responsibility, and loyalty interprets the purpose. The great founding spirit of the Party is the resounding answer to "why did the Communist Party of China set out" and "how can it succeed." In September 2020, when inspecting Yuelu Academy, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "How could the Communist Party succeed? Back then, in the Shikumen [8], on a boat on South Lake [9], with just over a dozen people, to where we are today. The path here must be clearly understood; the truth must be localized." [10] From having only over fifty Party members at its founding to growing into the world's largest ruling party with nearly one hundred million Party members today, leading a country with a population of over 1.4 billion and possessing significant global influence, from a small red boat on South Lake in Jiaxing to a majestic giant ship on the great journey, the magnificent century-long journey of the Communist Party of China vividly demonstrates the earthly power of "its beginning was simple, but its end will be great." [11] In 1945, when explaining the meaning of this phrase, Mao Zedong said, "This can be used to illustrate things that have vitality: a vital country, a vital people, a vital political party." [12] This vigorous vitality is the driving force that ignites a single spark into a prairie fire, and its essential meaning lies in the 32 characters of the great founding spirit of the Party.

毛泽东指出，“自从中国人学会了马克思列宁主义以后，中国人在精神上就由被动转入主动”。伟大建党精神深刻诠释了这一历史主动精神，是中国人民和中华民族伟大觉醒的精神产物，是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产生的宝贵精神财富。真理照亮理想，初心贯穿始终，使命呼唤担当，忠诚诠释宗旨。伟大建党精神是中国共产党“为什么出发”“怎么能成功”的响亮答案。2020年9月，习近平总书记在岳麓书院考察时指出，“共产党怎么能成功呢？当年在石库门，在南湖上那么一条船，那么十几个人，到今天这一步。这里面的道路一定要搞清楚，一定要把真理本土化”。从成立时只有五十多名党员，成长为今天拥有近一亿党员、领导着十四亿多人口大国、具有重大全球影响力的世界第一大执政党，从嘉兴南湖上的小小红船到伟大征程上的巍巍巨轮，中国共产党波澜壮阔的百年历程生动地展现了“其作始也简，其将毕也必巨”的人间伟力。1945年，毛泽东在阐释这句话的含义时讲道，“这可以用来说明是有生命力的东西，有生命力的国家，有生命力的人民群众，有生命力的政党”。这股蓬勃旺盛的生命力是燃星星之火为燎原之势的动力源泉，其精髓要义就在伟大建党精神的32个字中。

"Source" also means origin. The great founding spirit of the Party is a red thread running through the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, centrally manifesting the political character of the Communist Party of China. In 1917, the young Mao Zedong insightfully observed, "To move the world, one must move the hearts of the world, not merely in visible traces. To move their hearts, one must possess the great root and great source." [13] All things that obtain their root live; all affairs that obtain their Way succeed. The great founding spirit of the Party embodies this "root" and "Way." Understanding the great founding spirit of the Party allows one to understand the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, and further to understand the fundamental question repeatedly emphasized by General Secretary Xi Jinping: "What is the Communist Party of China and what should it do?" [14] The great founding spirit of the Party encompasses the Party's political ideal, political goal, political essence, political foundation, etc., centrally reflecting the political attributes of the Communist Party of China and the political先进性 [15] of a Marxist party.

“源”是本源，伟大建党精神是贯穿中国共产党人精神谱系的一条红线，集中彰显了中国共产党的政治品格。1917年，青年毛泽东洞见，“欲动天下者，当动天下之心，而不徒在显见之迹。动其心者，当具有大本大源”。万物得其本者生，百事得其道者成。伟大建党精神正体现了这一“本”与“道”。读懂伟大建党精神，便能读懂中国共产党人的精神谱系，进而读懂习近平总书记反复强调的“中国共产党是什么、要干什么”这个根本问题。伟大建党精神包含党的政治理想、政治目标、政治本色、政治根基等，集中体现了中国共产党的政治属性和马克思主义政党在政治上的先进性。

The first two sentences of the great founding spirit of the Party answer the fundamental question of "what should the Communist Party of China do," which concerns the Party's political direction, namely the Party's political ideal and political goal. Direction determines the path; the path determines destiny. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "Political direction is

伟大建党精神的前两句话回答了“中国共产党要干什么”这一关乎党的政治方向的根本问题，即党的政治理想和政治目标。方向决定道路，道路决定命运。习近平总书记指出，“政治方向是党生存发展第一位的问题，事关党的前途命运和事业兴衰成败”。

"Upholding truth and坚守 ideals" manifests the political ideal of the Communist Party of China, that is, upholding the scientific truth of Marxism and adhering to the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics. A Marxist political party is not a party formed by interests, but a party organized by common ideals and beliefs. In 1920, Mao Zedong wrote in a letter to Luo Zhanglong, a member of the Xinmin Society: "A doctrine is like a flag; once the flag is raised, people have something to look to and know where to go." [1]1 Luo Zhanglong (1896–1995) was an early member of the Communist Party of China and a participant in the founding of the Party. The Xinmin Society was a progressive student organization founded by Mao Zedong and others in 1918 in Changsha, which later played a role in the early communist movement. Ideals and beliefs are the spiritual pillar and political soul of Chinese Communists, and also the ideological foundation for maintaining the unity and solidarity of the Party.

“坚持真理、坚守理想”展现中国共产党的政治理想，即坚持马克思主义的科学真理，坚守共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想。马克思主义政党不是因利益而结成的政党，而是以共同理想信念组织起来的政党。1920年，毛泽东在给新民学会会员罗章龙的信中写道：“主义譬如一面旗子，旗子立起了，大家才有所指望，才知所趋赴。”理想信念是中国共产党人的精神支柱和政治灵魂，也是保持党的团结统一的思想基础。

“Upholding the original aspiration and founding mission” elucidates the political goals of the Communist Party of China. From the moment of its founding, the Communist Party of China established seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and founding mission. In 1925, Mao Zedong pointed out in the inaugural issue of *Political Weekly*, “Why make revolution? To liberate the Chinese nation, to realize the people’s rule, and to bring economic happiness to the people.” Political goals are the examination papers posed to us by the times and the heavy responsibilities entrusted to us by history; political ideals are the paths we choose and the banners we raise high in order to realize our original aspiration and founding mission. At the moment of its birth, the Communist Party of China faced the main theme of the era: saving the nation and the people. After repeated screening and comparison, the pioneers chose Marxism as their advanced ideological weapon. The First National Congress of the Party determined the Party’s name as “the Communist Party of China” and clarified that “the revolutionary army must join with the proletariat to overthrow the regime of the capitalist class,” “recognize the dictatorship of the proletariat until the end of class struggle,” and “eliminate capitalist private ownership.” [2]2 The First National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1921 in Shanghai and Jiaxing, marking the formal founding of the Party. Therefore, from the moment it set sail, the Communist Party of China raised high the banner of Marxism and embarked on a path of socialist modernization different from that of the early capitalist countries. A great beginning lays the foundation for a great cause; a great spirit guides a great dream. As Mao Zedong said, “When our Party was founded in 1921, it had only a few dozen members, a minority, but these few dozen represented the truth and represented China’s destiny.” The Party united and led the Chinese people to successfully open up the correct path for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a century of struggle. In just a few decades, it completed the industrialization process that took developed countries several hundred years, creating two miracles: rapid economic development and long-term social stability, writing the most magnificent epic in the thousands of years of Chinese history.

“践行初心、担当使命”阐明中国共产党的政治目标。中国共产党一经诞生，就把为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴确立为自己的初心使命。1925年，毛泽东在《政治周报》发刊词中指出，“为什么要革命？为了使中华民族得到解放，为了实现人民的统治，为了使人民得到经济的幸福”。政治目标是时代给我们出的考卷、历史赋予我们的重任；政治理想则是我们为了实现初心使命选择的道路、高擎的旗帜。中国共产党在诞生之初就面临着救国救民这一时代主旋律，在反复甄别对比后，先驱者选择了马克思主义这一先进的思想武器。党的一大确定党的名称为“中国共产党”，明确“革命军队必须与无产阶级一起推翻资本家阶级的政权”“承认无产阶级专政，直到阶级斗争结束”“消灭资本家私有制”等。因此，中国共产党从扬帆启航之际就高举起了马克思主义旗帜，踏上了一条不同于早发资本主义国家的社会主义现代化道路。伟大开端奠基伟大事业，伟大精神引领伟大梦想。正如毛泽东所说，“我们党在一九二一年成立的时候，只有几十个党员，也是少数人，可是这几十个人代表了真理，代表了中国的命运”。党团结带领中国人民在百年奋斗中成功开辟了实现中华民族伟大复兴的正确道路，仅用几十年时间就走完发达国家几百年走过的工业化历程，创造了经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹，书写了中华民族几千年历史上最恢宏的史诗。

The latter two sentences of the great founding spirit of the Party answer the fundamental question of “what the Communist Party of China is,” which concerns the source of the Party’s strength, namely the Party’s political character and political foundation. Once the political line is determined, cadres are the decisive factor. Party building has always been closely linked to the Party’s historical tasks, providing political guarantees for those tasks. In 1939, Mao Zedong pointed out in *The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party* that no other political party except the Communist Party of China could lead the two great revolutions—the Chinese democratic revolution and the Chinese socialist revolution—to their complete fulfillment. “Without a Communist Party of China that is nationwide in scope, broadly mass-based, and fully consolidated ideologically, politically, and organizationally in the Bolshevik style, such a task cannot be accomplished.”

伟大建党精神的后两句话回答了“中国共产党是什么”这一关乎党的力量之源的根本问题，即党的政治本色和政治根基。政治路线确定之后，干部就是决定的因素。党的建设历来同党的历史任务紧密联系，为党的历史任务提供政治保证。1939年，毛泽东在《中国革命和中国共产党》中指出，领导中国民主主义革命和中国社会主义革命这样两个伟大的革命到达彻底的完成，除了中国共产党之外，是没有任何一个别的政党能够担负的，“没有一个全国范围的、广大群众性的、思想上政治上组织上完全巩固的、布尔什维克化的中国共产党，这样的任务是不能完成的”。

“Daring to sacrifice and fighting valiantly” manifests the political character of the Marxist revolutionary party. In his speech at Marx’s graveside, Engels pointed out, “His true mission in life was to participate, in one way or another, in the overthrow of capitalist society and the state institutions it had established, and to participate in the liberation of the modern proletariat.” Driven by such a mission, “struggle was his element of life.” The spirit of struggle is the theoretical character of Marxism and the political quality of a Marxist political party. Over more than a century, in responding to various difficulties and challenges, the Communist Party of China has tempered its backbone and quality of fearing no strong enemy, no risk, daring to struggle, and daring to win. With that powerful spirit of revolution plus desperate effort, the Party led the Chinese people in unremitting struggle and continuous progress, enabling the Chinese nation to stand tall in the East with a thriving atmosphere, greatly enhancing the ambition, backbone, and confidence of the Chinese people, and writing the magnificent chapter on the land of China: “Sacrificing so much, daring to make the sun and moon shine in a new sky.” [3]3 This is a couplet from Mao Zedong’s 1959 poem “Shaoshan Revisited,” expressing revolutionary heroism and sacrifice.

“不怕牺牲、英勇斗争”彰显马克思主义革命党的政治本色。恩格斯在马克思墓前的讲话中指出，“他毕生的真正使命，就是以这种或那种方式参加推翻资本主义社会及其所建立的国家设施的事业，参加现代无产阶级的解放事业”。在这样的使命驱使下，“斗争是他的生命要素”。斗争精神是马克思主义的理论品格和马克思主义政党的政治品质。百余年来，在应对各种困难挑战中，中国共产党锤炼了不畏强敌、不惧风险、敢于斗争、勇于胜利的风骨和品质。凭着那么一股革命加拼命的强大精神，党带领中国人民不懈奋斗、不断进取，使中华民族以欣欣向荣的气象屹立于世界东方，极大增强了中国人的志气、骨气、底气，在神州大地书写了“为有牺牲多壮志，敢教日月换新天”的壮丽篇章。

“Being loyal to the Party and living up to the people’s trust” emphasizes the political foundation of the Communist Party of China rooted in the people. Popular support is the greatest politics; the Party-mass relationship is a “concentric circle,” and the support and endorsement of the masses are the most reliable source of the Party’s strength. The Second National Congress of the Party’s *Resolution on the Organizational Charter of the Communist Party of China* pointed out that the “vanguard of the revolutionary movement” must follow “two major laws”: (1) all movements of the Party must penetrate deeply into the broad masses; (2) the Party’s internal organization and training must be adapted to the revolution. [4]4 The Second National Congress of the CPC was held in July 1922 in Shanghai, where it formulated the Party’s first constitution and clarified its anti-imperialist and anti-feudal program. In 1945, Mao Zedong pointed out at the Seventh National Congress of the Party: “Serving the people wholeheartedly, never separating from the masses; proceeding from the interests of the people in everything, not from the interests of individuals or small groups; the unity of responsibility to the people and responsibility to the leading organs of the Party—these are our starting points.” In October 2022, at the press conference with Chinese and foreign journalists after the First Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly pledged that on the new journey, we must always adhere to doing everything for the people and relying on the people, and always advance the Party’s self-revolution, once again emphasizing the inherent unity of loyalty to the Party and living up to the people’s trust. [5]5 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in October 2022 in Beijing, where

“对党忠诚、不负人民”强调中国共产党扎根人民的政治根基。民心是最大的政治，党群关系是“同心圆”，人民群众拥护和支持是我们党最可靠的力量源泉。党的二大《关于共产党的组织章程决议案》指出，“革命运动的急先锋”要遵循“两个重大的律”：（一）党的一切运动都必须深入到广大的群众里面去；（二）党的内部必须有适应于革命的组织与训练。1945年，毛泽东在党的七大上指出：“全心全意地为人民服务，一刻也不脱离群众；一切从人民的利益出发，而不是从个人或小集团的利益出发；向人民负责和向党的领导机关负责的一致性；这些就是我们的出发点。”2022年10月，习近平总书记在二十届中央政治局常委同中外记者见面时庄严承诺，新征程上，我们要始终坚持一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，始终推进党的自我革命，再次强调了对党忠诚和不负人民的内在统一性。

The great founding spirit of the Party is not only the source and living water of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists but also embodies the great foundation and great origin of that spiritual lineage. Formed a century ago and passed down over a century, it is a timeless heirloom on the new journey. The great founding spirit of the Party centrally answers the fundamental question of “what the Communist Party of China is and what it wants to do,” summarizes the political attributes of a Marxist political party, and implies the focus and direction of the Party’s political construction. It will surely inspire the entire Party to continue advancing courageously, providing a strong political guarantee for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

伟大建党精神既是中国共产党人精神谱系的源头活水，也体现了中国共产党人精神谱系的大本大源，形成于百年前，传承于百年间，是新征程上历久弥新的传家宝。伟大建党精神集中回答了“中国共产党是什么、要干什么”这个根本问题，概括了马克思主义政党的政治属性，暗含了党的政治建设的着眼点与着力点，必将激励全党继续勇毅前行，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强政治保证。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心