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

In his important discourse on carrying forward and promoting the Party’s great spirit, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of original and emblematic concepts. Among these, the “great founding spirit of the Party” occupies an extremely important position. In 2021, at the special historical juncture of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping formally proposed the great founding spirit of the Party and summarized its profound connotations in his important speech on July 1. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “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 the original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and being loyal to the Party and faithful to the people. This is the spiritual source of the Communist Party of China.” He put forward the important requirement to “always carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party and pass it on from generation to generation.” In November of the same year, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Party, in the form of a Party historical resolution, further elaborated on this important new understanding of the Party and established the status of the great founding spirit of the Party as the source of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists. “Source” (源) means root, beginning, and cause. To deepen the understanding of the original and emblematic concept of the “great founding spirit of the Party,” it is necessary to focus on the fundamental issue of the “spiritual source.”

在关于传承弘扬党的伟大精神的重要论述中，习近平总书记提出了一系列原创性概念标识性概念。“伟大建党精神”在其中处于极为重要的地位。2021年，在中国共产党成立100周年的特殊历史节点上，习近平总书记在“七一”重要讲话中，正式提出了伟大建党精神并概括其深刻内涵。习近平总书记指出“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”，提出“永远把伟大建党精神继承下去、发扬光大”的重要要求。同年11月召开的党的十九届六中全会，以党的历史决议的形式，进一步论述了党的这一重要新认识，确立了伟大建党精神作为中国共产党人精神谱系的源头地位。源者，本也，始也，因也。深化对“伟大建党精神”这一原创性概念标识性概念的认识，有必要在“精神之源”这一根本问题上下功夫。

A Deepened Understanding of the Party’s Own Spiritual Essence

对党的自身精神本质的深入认识

The connotations of the great founding spirit of the Party were formed in the process of founding the Communist Party of China over a hundred years ago and have been continuously carried forward in the Party’s unremitting history of struggle over the subsequent hundred-plus years. The process of founding the Communist Party of China was a process of integrating Marxism-Leninism with the Chinese workers’ movement, and also a process of forming the great founding spirit of the Party. The lofty spiritual demeanor displayed by the pioneers of the Communist Party of China during the Party-building process and the long-term revolutionary struggle — such as Comrade Li Dazhao’s [1]1 A couplet from the Song-dynasty neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi’s poem “Reflections While Reading, Part One,” often used to emphasize the importance of a continuous source of knowledge or inspiration. “advancing courageously to pursue it,” “risking decapitation and shedding blood to follow it,” and “exhausting all efforts to accomplish it” regarding faith in Marxism; Comrade Mao Zedong’s [2]2 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, adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. far-sighted political vision, unwavering revolutionary conviction, extraordinary boldness in pioneering, masterful art of struggle, outstanding leadership ability, childlike heart devoted to the people, broad and magnanimous mind, and hardworking and frugal fine style of work; Comrade Zhou Enlai’s [3]3 “Scraping the poison off the bone” (刮骨疗毒) is a classical allusion from the historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, referring to the general Guan Yu enduring the pain of having poison scraped from his arm bone during surgery, symbolizing the courage to confront and eliminate deep-seated problems without flinching. viewing himself as the people’s “chief steward,” working with utter devotion to the point of exhaustion and death — all both nurtured and formed, and also concentratedly and vividly embodied, the great founding spirit of the Party. They were the personal embodiments of the great founding spirit of the Party.

伟大建党精神内涵形成于100多年前中国共产党创建进程中，并持续弘扬于其后100多年来我们党的不懈奋斗史中。中国共产党创建的进程，是马克思列宁主义同中国工人运动结合的进程，也是伟大建党精神形成的进程。中国共产党的先驱们在建党过程及长期革命斗争进程中表现出来的崇高精神风范，如李大钊同志对马克思主义信仰的“勇往奋进以赴之”“断头流血以从之”“瘅精瘁力以成之”，毛泽东同志展现出的一位伟大革命领袖高瞻远瞩的政治远见、坚定不移的革命信念、勇于开拓的非凡魄力、炉火纯青的斗争艺术、杰出高超的领导才能、心系人民的赤子情怀、坦荡宽广的胸怀境界、艰苦奋斗的优良作风，周恩来同志把自己看成是人民的“总服务员”，鞠躬尽瘁、死而后已等，都既孕育、形成，又集中且生动体现了伟大建党精神。他们是伟大建党精神的人格化身。

The formation of any scientific concept is closely linked to historical practice and the revelation of the essence of things. The proposal of the great founding spirit of the Party is the inevitable result of the Party’s continuous deepening of its understanding of its own spirit, based on a century of historical accumulation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a unique and outstanding contribution in this regard.

任何科学概念的形成，都是与历史实践以及对事物本质的揭示紧密连在一起的。伟大建党精神的提出，是在百年来历史积淀的基础上，我们党不断深化对自身精神认识的必然结果。习近平总书记在其中作出了独特而杰出的贡献。

Our Party has always treasured its own precious spirit and defined its spirit as the “revolutionary spirit.” During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “This army has an indomitable spirit; it must overwhelm all enemies and never yield to them. No matter how difficult and arduous the circumstances, as long as there is one person, that person will continue to fight on” and “Be resolute, fear no sacrifice, and surmount every difficulty to win victory.” These all reflected the fundamental requirements of this revolutionary spirit. After the founding of New China, in response to the problem of some Party cadres’ revolutionary will declining, Comrade Mao Zedong seriously demanded: “We must maintain the same drive, the same revolutionary enthusiasm, and the same desperate spirit from the period of the revolutionary war, and carry the revolutionary work through to the end.” During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping [4]4 The “historical cycle of rise and fall” (历史周期率) refers to the recurring pattern of dynastic rise, peak, decline, and collapse in Chinese history, a concept famously discussed by Mao Zedong in 1945 as a challenge for the CPC to overcome through democratic oversight and self-reform. required all Party comrades to devote themselves to the great cause of reform and opening up with the firm revolutionary spirit and high morale of the revolutionary war era, believing that “if a Communist Party member lacks these spirits, he can by no means be considered a qualified Communist Party member.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping summarized the Party’s revolutionary spirit as the “five revolutionary spirits,” pointing out: “In the long revolutionary wars, under the guidance of the correct political direction, starting from the analysis of actual conditions, we carried forward the spirit of revolution and desperate struggle, the spirit of strict discipline and self-sacrifice, the spirit of selflessness and putting others before oneself, the spirit of overwhelming all enemies and all difficulties, and the spirit of adhering to revolutionary optimism and surmounting all difficulties to win victory, and achieved great victories.”

我们党始终珍视自身的宝贵精神，并以“革命精神”界定自身精神。在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东同志就指出：“这个军队具有一往无前的精神，它要压倒一切敌人，而决不被敌人所屈服。不论在任何艰难困苦的场合，只要还有一个人，这个人就要继续战斗下去”“下定决心，不怕牺牲，排除万难，去争取胜利”。这些都反映了这种革命精神的根本要求。新中国成立后，针对一些党员干部革命意志衰退问题，毛泽东同志严肃要求：“我们要保持过去革命战争时期的那么一股劲，那么一股革命热情，那么一种拼命精神，把革命工作做到底。”在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平同志要求全党同志像革命战争年代那样，以坚定的革命精神和旺盛的斗志投入到改革开放的伟大事业中来，认为“如果一个共产党员没有这些精神，就决不能算是一个合格的共产党员”。邓小平同志把党的革命精神概括为“五种革命精神”，指出：“在长期革命战争中，我们在正确的政治方向指导下，从分析实际情况出发，发扬革命和拼命精神，严守纪律和自我牺牲精神，大公无私和先人后己精神，压倒一切敌人、压倒一切困难的精神，坚持革命乐观主义、排除万难去争取胜利的精神，取得了伟大的胜利。”

General Secretary Xi Jinping is the main representative in tracing the Party’s own spirit back to its source. As early as June 2005, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, pointed out in his published important article “Carry Forward the ‘Red Boat Spirit’ and Walk at the Forefront of the Times” that “the ‘Red Boat Spirit’ is precisely the source of the Chinese revolutionary spirit: all the fine traditions and revolutionary spirits formed in the history of the Communist Party of China have a direct origin relationship with it,” making a preliminary exploration of the “spiritual source of the Party.” [5] In March 2007, Comrade Xi Jinping’s first public appearance after becoming Secretary

习近平总书记是对党自身精神追本求源的主要代表。早在2005年6月，时任浙江省委书记的习近平同志在公开发表的《弘扬“红船精神” 走在时代前列》重要文章中指出“‘红船精神’正是中国革命精神之源：中国共产党历史上形成的优良传统和革命精神，无不与之有着直接的渊源关系”，对“党的精神之源”作了初步探索；2007年3月，习近平同志担任上海市委书记后的第一次公开亮相是带领上海市相关领导班子成员瞻仰中共一大、二大会址，目的是接受革命传统教育，重温党的光辉历程，缅怀党的丰功伟绩，学习革命先辈的崇高精神，进一步激发为党和人民的事业不懈奋斗的豪情和斗志，把上海建设得更美好；2016年在中国共产党成立95周年之际，习近平总书记进一步提出了“保持建党时中国共产党人的奋斗精神”及“不忘初心”的重要要求。在深入思考的基础上，2021年在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上的重要讲话中，习近平总书记郑重提出了伟大建党精神并概括其深刻内涵，指出“伟大建党精神，这是中国共产党的精神之源”。这一重要论述，站在中国共产党成立100周年的新的历史高度深入剖析党的伟大精神的“元问题”，从先驱们创建党的整个过程而不是具体时空深入认识党的最初精神，具有高度的概括性和历史的纵深感。

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s definition of the connotation of the great founding spirit of the Party is not only a profound revelation of the historical connotation of the Party’s fighting spirit at the time of its founding, but also a profound revelation of the common essence of the great spirit cultivated and the spiritual wealth accumulated by the Party over more than 100 years. It centrally embodies the Party’s firm conviction, fundamental purpose, and fine style of work, condenses the great character of the Chinese Communists of hard struggle, sacrifice and dedication, and pioneering and enterprising spirit, and contains the profound truth, tested by more than 100 years of historical practice, of “why the Communist Party of China can.” “The spiritual source of the Party” is the origin, source, and fountainhead from which the Party’s great spirit and other spiritual wealth are generated and exist, and is the great fundamental source that runs through and is embodied in the Party’s great spirit and other spiritual wealth. The proposal of concepts such as the great founding spirit of the Party is a fundamental sign that the Party has reached a new realm in its understanding of its own spirit, enriches and develops the treasure trove of Marxist political party building theory, and opens up a new horizon for understanding the history of the Communist Party of China.

习近平总书记对伟大建党精神内涵的界定，不仅是对党创建时奋斗精神历史内涵的深刻揭示，也是对党100多年来培育的伟大精神、积累的精神财富共同本质的深刻揭示，集中体现了党的坚定信念、根本宗旨、优良作风，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，蕴含着经过100多年历史实践检验“中国共产党为什么能”的深奥道理。“党的精神之源”是党的伟大精神及其他精神财富生成和存在的本源、源头和源泉，是党的伟大精神及其他精神财富贯穿和体现的大本大源。伟大建党精神等相关概念的提出，是党对自身精神认识达到新境界的根本标志，丰富和发展了马克思主义政党建设理论宝库，开拓了认识中国共产党历史的新视野。

“Upholding truth and坚守 ideals” marks the firm belief in Marxism and the firm conviction in the lofty ideal of communism that the Communist Party of China has possessed since its birth. This is the political soul of Chinese Communists and the spiritual pillar that has enabled them to withstand all trials. “Practicing the original aspiration and undertaking the mission” marks the steadfast pursuit of faithfully practicing the original aspiration of seeking happiness for the people and undertaking the historical mission of seeking rejuvenation for the nation that the Communist Party of China has possessed since its birth. “Fearing no sacrifice and fighting valiantly” marks the powerful spiritual force of “daring to struggle and daring to win” that the Communist Party of China has possessed since its birth, highlighting that daring to struggle is the Party’s innate political gene and the distinctive character tempered over more than a century. “Being loyal to the Party and living up to the people’s trust” marks that from the very founding of the Communist Party of China, its members have unconditionally been loyal to the Party’s faith, loyal to the Party organization, loyal to the Party’s theory, line, principles, and policies, and have always adhered to the noble spiritual quality of wholeheartedly serving the people as the fundamental purpose. Such an advanced political party, possessing a firm spiritual pillar, a strong spiritual pursuit, a powerful spiritual force, and a noble spiritual quality, was bound, from the moment of its founding, to radiate a powerful historical initiative to transform the world, leading the people in unremitting struggle and courageous advance, continuously pushing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation to new heights.

“坚持真理、坚守理想”，标示了中国共产党从诞生起就具有的对马克思主义的坚定信仰和对共产主义远大理想的坚定信念，这是中国共产党人的政治灵魂，是中国共产党人经受住各种考验的精神支柱；“践行初心、担当使命”，标示了中国共产党从诞生起就具有的忠实践行为人民谋幸福的初心，以及担当起为民族谋复兴历史使命的坚定精神追求；“不怕牺牲、英勇斗争”，标示了中国共产党从诞生起就具有的“敢于斗争、敢于胜利”这一强大精神力量，彰显了敢于斗争是我们党与生俱来的政治基因和百余年淬炼的鲜明品格；“对党忠诚、不负人民”，标示了中国共产党成立伊始，其成员就无条件地对党的信仰忠诚、对党组织忠诚、对党的理论和路线方针政策忠诚，始终坚持全心全意为人民服务根本宗旨的高尚精神品质。这样一个具有牢固精神支柱、强烈精神追求、强大精神力量、高尚精神品质的先进政党从成立的那一刻起，必然焕发出改造世界的强大历史主动精神，带领人民不懈奋斗、勇往直前，把强国建设、民族复兴伟业不断推向新的高度。

The Party’s theory develops through adherence, and the Party’s spirit is carried forward through observance. Under different historical conditions, the great founding spirit of the Party is endowed with different contemporary connotations and requirements. Facing the new circumstances and tasks of the New Era and the new journey, to carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, it is necessary to firmly establish confidence and belief in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, unswervingly use this latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to unite hearts and forge souls, and continuously consolidate the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. It is necessary to adhere to the people-centered development thought, highlight the people-centered nature of China’s socialist modernization, and comprehensively advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. It is necessary to dare to struggle and be adept at struggle, opening up new horizons for the cause through tenacious struggle. It is necessary to uphold the Party’s overall leadership, firmly safeguard the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and more consciously maintain a high degree of alignment with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in thought, politics, and action.

党的理论在坚持中发展，党的精神在恪守中弘扬。不同的历史条件下，伟大建党精神被赋予不同的时代内涵和要求。面对新时代新征程新的形势任务，弘扬伟大建党精神，必须牢固树立对习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的信心信念，坚持不懈地用这一党的创新理论最新成果凝心铸魂，不断巩固全党全国各族人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础；必须坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，突出我国社会主义现代化建设的人民性，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业；必须敢于斗争、善于斗争，通过顽强斗争打开事业发展新天地；必须坚持党的全面领导，坚定维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，更加自觉地在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致。

A clear positioning of the source of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists

对中国共产党人精神谱系源头的明确定位

To understand the status of the great founding spirit of the Party as the “spiritual source,” it must be examined within the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists.

认识伟大建党精神的“精神之源”地位，必须把其放在中国共产党人精神谱系中考察。

The “spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists” is another important original and iconic concept for the Party’s deep understanding of its own spirit, and its proposal has also gone through a process. With the accumulation of the Party’s spiritual wealth, how to integrate the many great spirits of the Party, linking them together in the order of the Party’s history to form an organic whole, has become a very important issue. “A genealogy is the history of a family; history is the genealogy of a nation.” The spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists is precisely the historical record of the inheritance and promotion of the Party’s great spirits. Following his use of the concept of “spiritual genealogy” in October 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping formally proposed the concept of “the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists” in February 2021 and summarized the basic content of this spiritual lineage.

“中国共产党人精神谱系”，是党深入认识自身精神的另一个重要原创性概念标识性概念，其提出也有一个过程。随着党的精神财富的积累，如何整合诸多党的伟大精神，以党的历史为序贯通起来，连接成一个有机整体，成为一个非常重要的问题。“谱乃家之史，史乃国之谱也。”中国共产党人精神谱系就是党的伟大精神传承弘扬的历史记录。习近平总书记继2016年10月使用“精神族谱”概念后，2021年2月正式提出“中国共产党人的精神谱系”概念，并对这一精神谱系的基本内容作出概括。

“One asks how the canal can be so clear, because there is a source of living water flowing from it.” [1]1 A couplet from the Song-dynasty neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi’s poem “Reflections While Reading, Part One,” often used to emphasize the importance of a continuous source of knowledge or inspiration. In a certain sense, the construction of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists is the result of carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The Communist Party of China, by carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, has built up the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists in the course of its long struggle.” The Party’s third historical resolution [2]2 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, adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. called the great founding spirit of the Party the “source” of the spiritual lineage, and the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC further expressed it as “the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source.” Approved by the Party Central Committee, the first batch of 46 great spirits of the Party included in the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, as compiled by the Central Propaganda Department, was released at the end of September 2021. In this spiritual lineage, the great founding spirit of the Party is prominently placed in the first position; this is the concrete manifestation of the “spiritual source” within the spiritual lineage.

“问渠那得清如许，为有源头活水来。”从一定意义上说，中国共产党人精神谱系的构建，就是伟大建党精神弘扬的结果。习近平总书记指出：“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”。党的第三个历史决议把伟大建党精神称为精神谱系的“源头”，党的二十大报告进一步表述为“以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系”。经党中央批准，中央宣传部梳理的第一批纳入中国共产党人精神谱系的46种党的伟大精神，于2021年9月底发布。在这一精神谱系中，伟大建党精神被突出地排在第一的位置，这是“精神之源”在精神谱系中的具体体现。

The “source” determines the quality and direction of the “flow,” and the “flow” demonstrates the vitality of the “source”; without the “source” there is no “flow,” and without the “flow” the “source” becomes a pool of stagnant water. The spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists begins with the great founding spirit of the Party, continuously enriching and developing under different temporal and spatial conditions, presenting a flourishing scene of a solid foundation and luxuriant branches, deep roots and lush leaves. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the Party cultivated and formed great spirits such as the Jinggangshan Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan’an Spirit, characterized by bloody struggle and indomitable perseverance. During the period of Socialist Revolution and Construction, the Party cultivated and formed great spirits such as the Spirit of Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aiding Korea, the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” Spirit, and the Lei Feng Spirit, characterized by self-reliance and vigorous endeavor. During the new period of Reform and Opening Up and Socialist Modernization, the Party cultivated and formed great spirits such as the Reform and Opening Up Spirit, the Manned Spaceflight Spirit, and the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Spirit, characterized by ideological emancipation and enterprising drive. In the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the Party cultivated and formed great spirits such as the Spirit of Fighting Poverty, the Anti-epidemic Spirit, and the Scientist Spirit, characterized by self-confidence and self-reliance, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. Looking to the future, while continuously creating new brilliant achievements, the Party leading the people will inevitably accumulate more spiritual wealth, continuously writing new chapters in the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source.

“源”决定“流”的质地及走向，“流”展现“源”的生机活力；无“源”则无“流”，无“流”则“源”就成了一潭死水。中国共产党人精神谱系从伟大建党精神开始，在不同时空条件下不断丰富和发展，呈现本固枝荣、根深叶茂的繁荣景象。在新民主主义革命时期，党培育形成了以浴血奋战、百折不挠为时代特征的井冈山精神、长征精神、延安精神等伟大精神；在社会主义革命和建设时期，党培育形成了以自力更生、发愤图强为时代特征的抗美援朝精神、“两弹一星”精神、雷锋精神等伟大精神；在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，党培育形成了以解放思想、锐意进取为时代特征的改革开放精神、载人航天精神、青藏铁路精神等伟大精神；在中国特色社会主义新时代，党培育形成了以自信自强、守正创新为时代特征的脱贫攻坚精神、抗疫精神、科学家精神等伟大精神。面向未来，党领导人民在不断创造新的辉煌业绩的同时，也必将积累更多的精神财富，不断续写以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系的新篇章。

The historical process of constructing the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source reflects the historical process of the Chinese nation moving from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong in spirit. The great founding spirit of the Party formed during the founding process of the Communist Party of China is not only the source of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists but also marks a clear milestone in the Chinese nation’s spirit shifting from passivity to initiative. From this point, the Chinese people began to straighten their spiritual backbone and coalesce into a whole; the congealed national fortitude was reawakened; the “white-haired nation” and “white-haired people” began a phoenix-like nirvana towards a “youthful nation, youthful people.” The great spirit of the Chinese nation has been continuously stimulated in the construction of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists. For example, the great Spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japan indicates that “this national awakening and spiritual sublimation reached a new height during the War of Resistance Against Japan”; the great Spirit of Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aiding Korea centrally reflects the Chinese nation’s national backbone of not fearing brutality and resisting power, the national strength of unity and concerted effort, the national fortitude of sacrificing life and defying death, and the national wisdom of upholding fundamental principles, breaking new ground, and forging ahead courageously; the great Reform and Opening Up Spirit “greatly enriched the connotation of the national spirit”; the great Spirit of Fighting Poverty “carried forward and inherited the great national spirit and the spirit of the times.” Without understanding the promotion of the great founding spirit of the Party and the construction of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, it is difficult to grasp the mainstream of the Chinese nation’s awakening and consciousness in modern times, its spirit moving from passivity to initiative, and it is difficult to understand the spiritual driving force behind China’s leapfrog progress and its continuous, ever-changing development.

以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系构筑的历史进程，反映了中华民族在精神上从站起来、富起来走向强起来的历史进程。中国共产党创建进程中形成的伟大建党精神，不仅是中国共产党人精神谱系的源头，同时标注了中华民族精神上从被动转为主动的鲜明界碑，中国人民由此开始挺起精神脊梁、凝聚为一个整体，凝固的民族血性被重新唤醒，“白首之国家”“白首之民族”开始了向“青春之国家，青春之民族”的凤凰涅槃。中华民族伟大精神在中国共产党人精神谱系构筑中不断被激发起来。如伟大抗战精神标示着“这种民族觉醒和民族精神升华，在抗日战争时期达到了全新的高度”；伟大抗美援朝精神，集中反映了中华民族不畏强暴、反抗强权的民族风骨，万众一心、勠力同心的民族力量，舍生忘死、向死而生的民族血性，守正创新、奋勇向前的民族智慧；伟大改革开放精神，“极大丰富了民族精神内涵”；伟大脱贫攻坚精神，“赓续传承了伟大民族精神和时代精神”。不理解伟大建党精神弘扬及中国共产党人精神谱系构筑，就难以抓住近现代中华民族觉醒觉悟、精神上由被动走向主动的主流，就难以理解中国何以实现飞跃性进步并继续发生日新月异变化的精神动因。

The historical process of constructing the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source is even more a historical process of the continuation of the Party’s red genes, of “sequencing” and verifying the Party’s red genes. The great founding spirit of the Party, as the spiritual source of the Party, clearly marks the Party’s red genes. Times change, the Party’s historical position changes, and the manifestations of the Party’s great spirits also change under different temporal and spatial conditions. However, the red genes and the original aspiration carried by the great founding spirit of the Party will never change and must not change; to change them would be to change the Party’s nature and lose its soul. No matter how far forward we go, we must not forget the path we have traveled; no matter how far we go, no matter how glorious the future we reach, we must not forget the past we have passed through, nor forget why we set out.

以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系构筑的历史进程，更是一个党的红色基因赓续、对党的红色基因“测序”和验证的历史进程。伟大建党精神作为党的精神之源，鲜明标注了党的红色基因。时代在变，党的历史方位在变，党的伟大精神在不同时空的表现形态也在变，但伟大建党精神所承载的红色基因和初心永远不会变，也不能变，变了就变了质、丢了魂。一切向前走，都不能忘记走过的路；走得再远、走到再光辉的未来，也不能忘记走过的过去，不能忘记为什么出发。

Constructing the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists has as one of its main purposes educating later generations to pass on the red gene and ensure that the Party’s cause has successors. The 20th National Congress of the CPC put forward the requirement to “carry forward the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source”; the fundamental starting point of this is to strive to cultivate a new generation capable of shouldering the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Every Party member, and indeed every citizen, can find in the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source the specific spiritual object they are to carry forward, and can measure themselves against the countless vivid heroic martyrs and model figures behind this spiritual genealogy. To ensure that the red gene does not change, that fine traditions are not lost, and that the spiritual genealogy continues to be written, it is necessary to continuously cultivate a large number of outstanding inheritors and reliable successors.

构筑中国共产党人精神谱系，一个主要目的是为了教育后人传承好红色基因，保证党的事业后继有人。党的二十大提出了“弘扬以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系”要求，其根本出发点就是着力培养担当民族复兴大任的时代新人。每一名共产党员乃至每一位公民，在以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系中，都能找到自己弘扬的具体精神对象，都能对标这一精神谱系后面的无数生动鲜活的英烈、英模等先进人物。要确保红色基因不改变、优良传统不失传、精神谱系不断谱，需要不断培养出大量优秀的传承者、可靠的接班人。

A Profound Revelation of the Reasons for the Party’s Perpetual Youth and Vitality

对党永葆青春活力原因的深刻揭示

Spirit is the fundamental characteristic of vitality; the strength of vitality is expressed through spirit: where spirit is strong, vitality is strong; where spirit is weak, vitality declines. The great founding spirit of the Party is the spiritual source of the Party, and also the source of the Party’s vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The reason our Party, after a hundred years of trials and tribulations, remains vigorous and full of vitality is precisely that it has relied on that powerful spirit of revolution plus hard struggle.” This is a profound understanding of the fundamental reason for the Party’s century-long flourishing vitality.

精神是生命力的根本特征，生命力的强弱会通过精神表现出来；精神强则生命力强，精神弱则生命力衰。伟大建党精神是党的精神之源，也是党的生命力之源。习近平总书记指出：“我们党之所以历经百年而风华正茂、饱经磨难而生生不息，就是凭着那么一股革命加拼命的强大精神。”这是对党百年风华正茂根本原因的深刻认识。

In the course of more than 100 years of struggle, our Party has created brilliance and also endured hardships. For example, during the period of the new-democratic revolution, the Party suffered the failure of the Great Revolution and the failure of the Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaign; during the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Party encountered serious setbacks. Yet in every case it turned danger into safety and crisis into stability, constantly opening up new prospects for the development of its cause. The fundamental reason is that the great spirit of historical initiative, empowered by the “spiritual source of the Party,” was fully brought into play within the Party. We do not resign ourselves to fate, we do not blame heaven or others, we do not accept any fatalistic arrangement imposed by any force or objective conditions; instead, we act proactively, actively seek ways to resolve problems, maintain a momentum of forging ahead courageously, and always keep our destiny in our own hands. Without this spirit of historical initiative, it would have been impossible to win a position of historical initiative.

在100多年奋斗历程中，我们党创造了辉煌，也饱经了磨难。如在新民主主义革命时期党曾遭受大革命失败以及第五次反“围剿”失败，社会主义革命和建设时期党曾遭遇严重挫折，但最终都化险为夷、转危为安，不断打开事业发展的新局面。究其原因，根本的一条就是由“党的精神之源”赋能的伟大历史主动精神在党的身上得以充分发挥。我们不听天由命，不怨天尤人，不接受任何势力及客观条件宿命式的安排，而是主动作为，积极寻找破解之道，保持勇往直前的气势，始终把命运掌握在自己手里。没有这种历史主动精神，就不可能赢得历史主动地位。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in the face of a series of long-accumulated and newly emerging prominent contradictions and problems that urgently needed resolution, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with a great spirit of historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, has worked hard to govern, solving many long-standing problems that were difficult to solve and accomplishing many major tasks that were previously difficult to accomplish, promoting historic achievements and historic transformations in the cause of the Party and the state. This is the result of the conscious promotion of the great founding spirit of the Party in the great transformations of the New Era. The Party’s youthful vitality has been constantly demonstrated in historical turning points and in overcoming difficulties.

党的十八大以来，面对一系列长期积累及新出现的亟待解决的突出矛盾和问题，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以伟大的历史主动精神、巨大的政治勇气、强烈的责任担当，励精图治，解决了许多长期想解决而没有解决的难题，办成了许多过去想办而没有办成的大事，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。这是伟大建党精神在新时代伟大变革中自觉弘扬的结果。党的青春活力在一次次历史转折及攻坚克难中不断彰显出来。

The Party’s clear raising of the banner of the great founding spirit of the Party is, in fact, the establishment at the historical source of a benchmark coordinate for measuring the Party’s vitality. Our Party’s expressed firm determination to “carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party” is the youthful vow of this century-old major party, a major political declaration of Chinese Communists facing the New Era and the new journey. The strength of a political party’s vitality cannot be simply judged by the length of time since its founding or its time in power; rather, it depends on whether it can consistently maintain the spirit of struggle it had at the time of its founding and undertaking of its cause. The addition of years does not mean old age; the loss of fighting spirit is what truly falls into decrepitude. A party that always adheres to its beliefs and pursuits, holds fast to its original aspiration and founding mission, dares to struggle and sacrifice, and upholds unity and loyalty will, at any time, be full of vitality and invincible.

党鲜明竖起伟大建党精神的旗帜，实际上是在历史源头上建立了衡量党的生命力的基准坐标。我们党表明的“弘扬伟大建党精神”坚定决心，是这个百年大党的青春誓言，是面向新时代新征程中国共产党人的重大政治宣示。一个政党的生命力强大与否，不能简单从其成立及执政时间的长短作出判断，而是要看其能不能始终如一保持创建、创业时的奋斗精神。年岁有加，并非垂老；斗志丧失，方堕暮年。一个始终坚持信念追求，坚守初心使命，敢于斗争牺牲，秉持团结忠诚的党，到什么时候都是充满活力、不可战胜的。

Strengthening confidence requires facing problems squarely. The Communist Party of China has been founded for over 100 years and has been in power for over 70 years. A large party has the appearance of a large party, but also the difficulties of a large party; a long history has the advantages of a long history, but also the challenges of a long history. Various tests and dangers facing the Party will exist for a long time; the Party faces the unique problems of a large party, the “six how to always” [n3]. When discussing the unique problems of a large party, General Secretary Xi Jinping listed many situations that may occur within the Party, such as “

坚定信心必须正视问题。中国共产党已经成立100多年并执政70多年。大有大的样子，也有大的难处；长有长的优势，也有长的难题。对党的各种考验及危险将长期存在，党面临“六个如何始终”的大党独有难题。习近平总书记在论述大党独有难题时列举了党内可能发生的许多情况，如“忘记了为什么出发”“尾大不掉、自行其是”“思维惯性、行为惰性”“追求安逸享乐而意志消沉、不思进取”“忽略自身不足、忽视自身问题”等，这些消极因素在现实生活中的表现就是腐败、“四风”等严重问题。这与伟大建党精神格格不入甚至背道而驰。尽管这些问题只是发生在少数人身上，是党员队伍的支流，但如任其蔓延开来，势必对“党的精神之源”及党的主流造成污染，败坏政治生态，发展下去，我们又如何成功跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率？习近平总书记提醒全党：“要居安思危，时刻警惕我们这个百年大党会不会变得老态龙钟、疾病缠身。”

To solve the unique problems of a large party, it is necessary to advance the Party’s self-revolution, which is an important embodiment and requirement for carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “As long as we vigorously carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, remain true to our original aspiration and founding mission, have the courage to engage in self-revolution, constantly eliminate all harmful factors that undermine the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and constantly eradicate all pathogens that erode the Party’s healthy body, we will surely be able to ensure that the Party never changes its nature, never changes its color, and never changes its flavor.” “Promoting” and “stopping” are two sides of the same coin. To carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, we must focus on solving the erroneous and negative tendencies that the unique problems of a large party point to, and we must stop and overcome all dark sides that deviate from the “spiritual source of the Party.” This can only be resolved through the Party’s self-revolution. We must resolutely block and eliminate the dirty water and turbid currents that may pollute the Party’s spiritual source and the Party’s mainstream. Taking the requirements of the great founding spirit of the Party as an important indicator, we must constantly conduct health check-ups on the Party, detect viruses and lesions, and with the courage to turn the blade inward, promptly treat and eliminate them, even scraping the poison off the bone [3]3 “Scraping the poison off the bone” (刮骨疗毒) is a classical allusion from the historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, referring to the general Guan Yu enduring the pain of having poison scraped from his arm bone during surgery, symbolizing the courage to confront and eliminate deep-seated problems without flinching.. We must never conceal our illness for fear of treatment or gloss over our mistakes. Only in this way can our Party always maintain its own physical health, always be full of vigor and vitality, continuously consolidate its long-term governing position, and lay a more solid foundation for breaking out of the historical cycle of rise and fall [4]4 The “historical cycle of rise and fall” (历史周期率) refers to the recurring pattern of dynastic rise, peak, decline, and collapse in Chinese history, a concept famously discussed by Mao Zedong in 1945 as a challenge for the CPC to overcome through democratic oversight and self-reform..

解决好大党独有难题，必须推进党的自我革命，这是弘扬伟大建党精神的重要体现和要求。习近平总书记指出：“只要大力弘扬伟大建党精神，不忘初心使命，勇于自我革命，不断清除一切损害党的先进性和纯洁性的有害因素，不断清除一切侵蚀党的健康肌体的病原体，我们就一定能够确保党不变质、不变色、不变味。”“扬”与“止”是一个问题的两个方面。弘扬伟大建党精神，必须重点解决好大党独有难题所指向的错误、消极的倾向性问题，必须制止、克服背离“党的精神之源”的一切阴暗面，这必须通过党的自我革命才能解决。要坚决阻断、清除可能污染党的精神之源和党的主流的污水浊流，以伟大建党精神的要求作为重要指标，时刻对党进行健康体检，发现病毒和病灶，以刀刃向内的勇气，及时治疗和清除，甚至刮骨疗毒，决不能讳疾忌医、文过饰非。只有这样，我们党才能始终保持自身肌体健康，始终充满蓬勃生机和旺盛活力，不断巩固党的长期执政地位，为跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率打下更为坚实的基础。

(The author is a specially appointed researcher at the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)

（作者为北京市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）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心