Forging the Great Cause of National Rejuvenation with the Great Founding Spirit of the Party

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China: “Over the past hundred years, the Communist Party of China has carried forward the great founding spirit of the Party, forged a spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists in its long-term struggle, and tempered its distinct political character.” [1]1 "Old path" refers to the path of rigidly adhering to the traditional socialist model before reform and opening up; "evil path" refers to the path of capitalist liberalization. Looking back on the historical course of the CPC’s struggle of more than a hundred years, and striding forward on the historical journey toward national rejuvenation, we must return to the depths of theoretical thinking and highlight the scholarly study of the great founding spirit of the Party as the ideological essence that steers the great cause of national rejuvenation.

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。”回顾中国共产党百余年奋斗的历史进程，阔步迈向实现民族复兴的历史征程，必须回到理论思维深处，突出对伟大建党精神这一领航民族复兴伟业的思想精华的学理研究。

The great founding spirit of the Party is the magic weapon for victory tempered through the Party’s more than a hundred years of struggle. A country cannot stand without spirit, and a person cannot be strong without spirit. The spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists is forged in the course of the Party’s leadership of the people in seeking national rejuvenation over more than a hundred years. More than a hundred years ago, advanced Chinese elements bearing the hope of the nation and the country set out from Wangzhi Road in Shanghai and the shores of South Lake in Jiaxing, leading the masses amid the gunfire of revolution to establish the scientific ideal of taking Marxism as the guide, overthrowing the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, and ultimately realizing communism; they created a completely new type of proletarian party firmly representing the interests of the working class and the working people, thereby giving rise to the great founding spirit of the Party as the source of the Party’s spirit and the Red Boat spirit [2]2 A quotation from Xi Jinping, emphasizing that theory arises from the practical needs of a given era. embodying the Party’s spiritual characteristics, and thus the logical starting point of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists was generated.

伟大建党精神是党百余年奋斗历程淬炼的制胜法宝。国无精神不立，人无精神不强。中国共产党人的精神谱系熔铸于百余年来党领导人民谋求民族复兴的奋斗历程。一百多年前，承载国家和民族未来希望的中国先进分子从上海望志路、嘉兴南湖畔出发，带领人民群众在革命炮火中确立了以马克思主义为指导、推翻资产阶级专政，最终实现共产主义的科学理想；创建了一个完全崭新的、坚定代表工人阶级和劳动人民利益的新型无产阶级政党，彰显中国共产党精神之源的伟大建党精神、内蕴中国共产党精神特质的红船精神由此领航，中国共产党人精神谱系的逻辑起点由此生发。

After 28 years of bloody struggle, the Communist Party of China led the people to overthrow the three mountains [3]3 The great founding spirit of the Party (伟大建党精神): The spirit of the founding of the Communist Party of China, formally defined at the 100th anniversary of the CPC in 2021 as embodying the ideals and sacrifices of the Party's founders., found a new revolutionary path suited to China’s national conditions, highlighting revolutionary characteristics, and meeting the demands of the times, and achieved the great leap in China’s thousands of years of history from feudal autocracy to people’s democracy. In this historical process of revolution, a series of precious spirits imbued with the strong revolutionary will and firm political faith of Chinese Communists—such as the Jinggangshan spirit, the Long March spirit, the Zunyi Conference spirit, and the Yan’an spirit—were successively born, becoming the theoretical weapons and magic weapons for the Party to face all challenges and overcome all difficulties during the revolutionary period, thereby enriching and developing the great founding spirit of the Party. After the founding of New China, facing the international threat of imperialist powers and the domestic construction of a hundred things waiting to be done, the Party led the people to create a series of earth-shaking Chinese spirits, such as the spirit of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, the Daqing spirit, and the Red Flag Canal spirit, which boosted national morale, demonstrated national integrity, and deepened the spiritual core of the great founding spirit of the Party. Entering the new period, the Party led the masses with the theoretical consciousness of “blazing our own path” to make the key choice of reform and opening up, maintaining political resolve in the practical tempering of responding to various major domestic and international risks and challenges, and sublimated great spirits highlighting national self-confidence and cohesion, such as the reform and opening-up spirit, the special economic zone spirit, the spirit of fighting SARS, the spirit of earthquake relief, and the manned spaceflight spirit, writing a new chapter of the great founding spirit of the Party. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken up the practical great cause of national rejuvenation, driven socialism with Chinese characteristics into a New Era with a strong sense of responsibility and tremendous political courage, forged a spiritual map showing the spiritual outlook of Communists in the New Era, such as the spirit of poverty alleviation, the great spirit of fighting COVID-19, and the “three oxen” spirit [4], and extended the temporal genes of the great founding spirit of the Party.

中国共产党带领人民经过28年的浴血奋战，推翻三座大山，找到了一条适合中国国情、凸显革命特色、顺应时代要求的革命新路，实现了中国几千年历史由封建专制向人民民主的伟大飞跃。在这一革命历史进程中，饱含中国共产党人坚强革命意志与坚定政治信仰的井冈山精神、长征精神、遵义会议精神、延安精神等一批宝贵精神相继诞生，成为革命时期党面对一切挑战、战胜一切困难的理论武器与制胜法宝，伟大建党精神由此得以丰盈与发展。新中国成立后，面对帝国主义强敌的国际威胁和百废待兴的国内建设，党领导人民缔造了抗美援朝精神、大庆精神、红旗渠精神等一系列感天动地的中国精神，提振了民族士气、彰显了民族气节，深化了伟大建党精神的精神内核。进入新时期，党带领人民群众以“闯出自己的道路”的理论自觉做出改革开放的关键抉择，在应对各种国内外重大风险挑战的实践历练中始终保持政治定力，升华出改革开放精神、特区精神、抗击“非典”精神、抗震救灾精神、载人航天精神等凸显民族自信心与凝聚力的伟大精神，谱写了伟大建党精神的新篇章。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央接力民族复兴的实践伟业，以强烈责任担当和巨大政治勇气推动中国特色社会主义进入新时代，锻造了脱贫攻坚精神、伟大抗疫精神、“三牛”精神等展现新时代共产党人精神风貌的精神图谱，延展了伟大建党精神的时代基因。

The great founding spirit of the Party is a vivid portrayal of the century-old Party’s practice of its original aspiration and founding mission. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has always adhered to the historical materialist stance that “the people are the creators of history.” In the theoretical characteristics of Marxism, the people-centered nature is an important “historical red thread” running through the entire process of the formation and development of Marxism, a “key key” for mastering and applying Marxism in the contemporary era, and the fundamental “source of innovation” for the forging and innovation of the great founding spirit of the Party. The Party’s history of more than a hundred years is a history of serving the people, relying on the people, uniting the people, and benefiting the people.

伟大建党精神是百年大党践行初心使命的生动写照。中国共产党成立以来，始终坚守“人民是历史创造者”的唯物史观立场。在马克思主义的理论特质中，人民性是贯穿马克思主义形成发展过程始终的重要“历史红线”，是当代掌握运用马克思主义的“关键密钥”，也是伟大建党精神熔铸创新的根本“创新之源”。党的百余年历史就是一部为了人民、依靠人民、团结人民、造福人民的历史。

Always bear in mind the scientific and lofty faith that “revolutionary ideals are higher than the sky.” General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized: “Ideals and convictions are the ‘

时刻铭记“革命理想高于天”的科学崇高信仰。习近平总书记曾多次强调：“理想信念是共产党人精神上的‘钙’。”党带领人民筚路蓝缕、砥砺前行的百余年，在精神领域最深层次、最为系统的有力支撑便是科学而崇高的坚定信仰。无论是作为精神之源的伟大建党精神，抑或战争年代在革命实践中淬炼而成的长征精神、建设时期彰显优秀党员王进喜忘我拼搏、为国分忧的铁人精神，还是新时代在抗击新冠疫情的人民战争中铸就的伟大抗疫精神，一代又一代共产党人以坚定的信仰、谋求民族复兴的历史使命作为精神支撑与力量来源，接续奋斗、薪火相传，凸显了伟大建党精神的信念之“核”。

Courageously practice the practical consciousness of the "great self-revolution." Being courageous in self-revolution is an inevitable requirement that manifests the essential attributes of a Marxist political party. As a Marxist political party, the century-plus history of struggle of the Communist Party of China is also a history of daring to turn the blade inward and being courageous in self-revolution. Daring to engage in self-criticism and being courageous in self-revolution are the "fine prescription for Party governance" that the century-old major Party has passed down to the present day, and they are also the "key link" in the formation, construction, and enrichment of the great founding spirit of the Party. Seeking the rationale and path for theoretical innovation on the basis of practice through self-revolution, and continuously elevating and refining the great spirit through self-revolution, are vivid portrayals of how generations of Communists creatively inherit and promote the great founding spirit of the Party. Looking back over the century-plus Party history, successive generations of Communists, such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, with the historical consciousness of self-revolution, led the Chinese people to blaze a new path, achieve great accomplishments, and enrich the great founding spirit of the Party. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core is, with the immense courage of self-revolution and

勇于践行“伟大自我革命”的实践自觉。勇于自我革命是彰显马克思主义政党本质属性的必然要求。作为马克思主义政党，中国共产党的百余年奋斗史也是敢于刀刃向内、勇于自我革命的历史。敢于自我批判、勇于自我革命是百年大党传承至今的“治党良方”，也是伟大建党精神形成、构筑、丰盈的“关键环节”。在自我革命中寻求实践基础上的理论创新的理与路、在自我革命中不断升华凝练伟大精神是一代代共产党人创造性传承、弘扬伟大建党精神的生动写照。回溯百余年党史，毛泽东、邓小平等历代共产党人以自我革命的历史自觉带领中国人民闯出了一条新路、取得了伟大成就、丰盈了伟大建党精神。以习近平同志为核心的党中央正以自我革命、壮士断腕的巨大勇气持续深化社会革命，创新共产党人精神谱系的现实图景。

The great founding spirit of the Party steers the great cause of national rejuvenation. It raises the banner and sets the direction, strengthening the Chinese path for national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the fundamental theme running through all the creations and sacrifices made by the Party leading the people over the past century is "realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." As the source of the spiritual home of Communists, the great founding spirit of the Party is the spiritual driving force that steers the great cause of national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the issue of the path is the most fundamental issue. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the correct path opened up by the Party leading the people through practical exploration over more than a century; it is the choice of history and the choice of the people. The banner guides the direction, and the path determines destiny. On the new historical journey, the spiritual pedigree of Communists, with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source, continues to steer the great cause of national rejuvenation. It must always hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, neither taking the "old path" nor stepping onto the "evil path," [1]1 "Old path" refers to the path of rigidly adhering to the traditional socialist model before reform and opening up; "evil path" refers to the path of capitalist liberalization. strengthen confidence and pride in taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and use the banner to solidify the foundation of rejuvenation thought.

伟大建党精神领航民族复兴伟业。举旗定向，坚定民族复兴的中国道路。习近平总书记指出，百年来党带领人民所进行的一切创造、付出的一切牺牲，归结起来的根本主题就是“实现中华民族伟大复兴”。作为共产党人精神家园的源头，伟大建党精神是领航民族复兴伟业的精神动力。习近平总书记指出，道路问题是最根本的问题。中国特色社会主义道路是百余年来党带领人民在实践探索中开辟的正确道路，是历史的选择、人民的选择。旗帜引领方向，道路决定命运。新的历史征程上，以伟大建党精神为源头的共产党人精神谱系持续领航民族复兴伟业，必须始终高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，不走“老路”，不踏“邪路”，坚定走中国特色社会主义道路的自信心与自豪感，以旗帜筑牢复兴思想之基。

Scientific condensation, summarizing the spirit of the times in the historical process. The great founding spirit of the Party has always been enriched and developed along with the changes of the times and the progress of history. From the Jinggangshan Spirit to the Xibaipo Spirit, from the Spirit of Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aiding Korea to the Reform and Opening-up Spirit, from the Model Worker Spirit to the Lunar Exploration Spirit… the series of great spirits interwoven to construct the spiritual pedigree of Communists are all spiritual condensations and scientific summaries of specific historical periods, specific historical events, and specific historical figures, and they reflect historical progress and the changes of the times. Over more than a century, the great founding spirit of the Party has spanned the long river of time and space, still shining brightly today, becoming the spiritual guide for the great cause of national rejuvenation in the New Era. "The times are the mother of thought, and practice is the source of theory." [2]2 A quotation from Xi Jinping, emphasizing that theory arises from the practical needs of a given era. The continuous inheritance of the great founding spirit of the Party has no "completion date." On the journey of the times striving to realize national rejuvenation, the Party leading the people will surely compose one epic of rejuvenation after another. Scientifically condensing and systematically summarizing the precious spirit contained within will inevitably continuously enrich and substantiate the great founding spirit of the Party, making it more imbued with the meaning of the times and more manifest the national style.

科学凝练，总结历史进程的时代精神。伟大建党精神始终伴随时代的变迁与历史的进步而不断得以充盈与发展。从井冈山精神到西柏坡精神，从抗美援朝精神到改革开放精神，从劳模精神到探月精神……交织构筑起共产党人精神谱系的系列伟大精神均是对一定历史时期、一定历史事件、一定历史人物的精神凝练和科学总结，并观照历史进步与时代变迁。百余年来，伟大建党精神跨越时空长河，在当下依然熠熠生辉，成为新时代民族复兴伟业的精神领航。“时代是思想之母，实践是理论之源。”伟大建党精神的接续传承没有“完成时”，在奋力实现民族复兴的时代征程上，党带领人民群众必将谱写出一曲又一曲复兴史诗，对其内蕴的宝贵精神加以科学凝练与系统总结，必将不断丰盈充实伟大建党精神，使其更具时代意蕴，更显民族风范。

To rectify the source and root out the erroneous trend of thought that defames the spirit. Criticism reveals the truth-power of Marxism. Since its birth, Marxism has been systematized and systemized in the process of criticizing all kinds of erroneous trends of thought. The great founding spirit of the Party [3]3 The great founding spirit of the Party (伟大建党精神): The spirit of the founding of the Communist Party of China, formally defined at the 100th anniversary of the CPC in 2021 as embodying the ideals and sacrifices of the Party's founders. centrally manifests the spiritual power of Marxism as scientific truth. Whether it is the attack on and obliteration of the series of great spirits within the lineage, or of the model advanced individuals as image carriers, the essence is nothing other than the spread of the trend of historical nihilism. To steer the great cause of national rejuvenation with the great founding spirit of the Party, we must counter and refute all kinds of erroneous social trends of thought with a clear-cut stance. To rectify the source and root out, we must gather the strong positive energy of promoting the great founding spirit of the Party throughout society, while jointly advancing the work of propaganda and education on the great founding spirit of the Party to go deeper and more solid, integrating it into the overall situation of the development of the cause of the Party and the state, and truly converging the mighty power of realizing the great cause of national rejuvenation in the New Era.

正本清源，批判污蔑精神的错误思潮。批判方显马克思主义的真理力量。马克思主义诞生至今，在批判形形色色的各类错误思潮的过程中不断得以体系化、系统化。伟大建党精神集中彰显了马克思主义作为科学真理的精神伟力。无论是对谱系内蕴的系列伟大精神，抑或作为形象载体的模范先进个人的攻击与抹杀，其实质无外乎历史虚无主义思潮的泛滥。以伟大建党精神领航民族复兴伟业，必须以鲜明的态度回击和驳斥种种错误社会思潮。正本清源，在全社会凝聚弘扬伟大建党精神的强大正能量，同时合力推进伟大建党精神宣传教育工作走深走实，融入党和国家事业发展全局，真正汇聚起新时代实现民族复兴伟业的磅礴伟力。

(The author is Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism at Central China Normal University)

（作者系华中师范大学马克思主义学院院长、教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心