The Great Spirit of Resisting US Aggression and Aiding Korea Transcends Time and Remains Ever New — Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers’ Entry into the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea

October 25 is the Day to Commemorate the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Seventy-five years ago, the Chinese People’s Volunteers won their first annihilation battle in the Korean campaign — the Battle of Liangshuidong — achieving victory in their very first engagement. On October 25, 1951, the Party Central Committee decided to designate this day as the Day to Commemorate the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

10月25日，是抗美援朝纪念日。75年前，中国人民志愿军取得了赴朝作战第一个歼灭战——两水洞战斗的胜利，实现首战告捷。1951年10月25日，党中央决定将这一天定为抗美援朝纪念日。

Dandong, on the banks of the Yalu River. The broken bridge, scarred by the baptism of war, still bears shell marks on its steel body, silently gazing at the surging river. Seventy-five springs and autumns have passed; the river waters have carried away the smoke of gunpowder, yet they have permanently engraved a heroic epic that shakes heaven and earth into the nation’s collective memory.

丹东，鸭绿江畔。历经战火洗礼的断桥，钢铁桥身弹痕依旧，默默凝望着奔流的江水。七十五载春秋划过，江水带走了硝烟，却将一段气壮山河的英雄史诗，永久镌刻在民族的集体记忆里。

“Valiantly, spiritedly, crossing the Yalu River…” On October 19, 1950, the Chinese People’s Volunteers, holding high the just banner of defending peace and resisting aggression, set foot on the journey to resist US aggression, aid Korea, and protect the homeland. After 1,007 days of bloody combat, they shattered the aggressors’ scheme to station troops at the nation’s gates and thereby strangle the newborn People’s Republic of China in its cradle, winning through struggle a land free of war and a homeland at peace.

“雄赳赳，气昂昂，跨过鸭绿江……”1950年10月19日，中国人民志愿军高举保卫和平、反抗侵略的正义旗帜，踏上抗美援朝、保家卫国的征途。历时1007天的浴血奋战，粉碎了侵略者陈兵国门进而将新中国扼杀在摇篮之中的图谋，拼来了山河无恙、家国安宁。

“Strike with one blow to avoid a hundred blows.” [1]1 A saying attributed to Mao Zedong, meaning that a decisive, forceful action (the war) would deter future threats and prevent many subsequent conflicts. The victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea cleared external threats for the smooth implementation of the newly born People’s Republic of China’s First Five-Year Plan for developing the national economy, created a favorable international environment, and consolidated popular morale and military spirit at home. The great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea has become a precious spiritual treasure that inspires us to traverse storms and forge ahead.

“打得一拳开，免得百拳来。”抗美援朝战争的胜利，为新生的中华人民共和国顺利实施发展国民经济第一个五年计划，扫清了外部威胁，创造了有利的国际环境，凝聚了国内的民心士气。伟大抗美援朝精神成为激励我们穿越风雨、砥砺前行的宝贵精神财富。

Demonstrating National and Military Prestige, Laying the Foundation for Peace

打出国威军威 奠定和平基石

The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was a contest of vastly disparate strength. The newborn People’s Republic of China faced the world’s foremost military power at the time and the so-called “UN forces” it had cobbled together. Yet the heroic Volunteer officers and soldiers, with “less steel but more spirit,” overcame the enemy’s “more steel but less spirit,” [2]2 A phrase contrasting the material inferiority (“less steel”) and spiritual superiority (“more spirit”) of the Chinese forces with the material superiority (“more steel”) and spiritual inferiority (“less spirit”) of the enemy. demonstrating the national prestige of New China and the military prestige of the people’s armed forces.

抗美援朝战争是一场力量对比悬殊的较量。新生的中华人民共和国面对的是当时世界头号军事强国及其纠集的所谓“联合国军”。然而，英雄的志愿军将士以“钢少气多”力克“钢多气少”，打出了新中国的国威和人民军队的军威。

“The victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea completely shattered the myth of the invincibility of the US military, greatly shocked the international community, and reshaped the international格局 of the time,” said Sun Yongxiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Central China Normal University. New China stood on the world stage with a heroic and fearless posture, winning widespread respect and recognition, and its international status rose markedly. Wang Bing, a professor at the School of History and Culture at Harbin Normal University, believes that this victory created a relatively peaceful and stable international environment for New China’s economic, national defense, and other construction undertakings. “After the war, China actively participated in international affairs, and its international discourse power and influence continuously strengthened.”

“抗美援朝战争的胜利，彻底打破了美军不可战胜的神话，极大地震撼了国际社会，重塑了当时的国际格局。”华中师范大学马克思主义学院党委书记孙永祥表示，新中国以英勇无畏的姿态站在了世界舞台上，赢得了广泛尊重与认可，国际地位显著提升。哈尔滨师范大学历史文化学院教授王冰认为，这场胜利为新中国的经济、国防等各项建设事业创造了相对和平安定的国际环境。“战后，中国积极参与国际事务，国际话语权和影响力不断增强。”

The foundation of victory lay not only in the heroic fighting of the frontline officers and soldiers but also in the immense force formed by the unity and common hatred of the enemy among the people of all ethnic groups across the country. The movement to resist US aggression and aid Korea swept the entire nation; people from all walks of life converged into a powerful force of unity through various forms such as increasing production and practicing economy, donating weapons, and enthusiastically supporting the front. This movement also strongly promoted domestic economic and social development. Gong Shaoshan, Deputy Director of the Museum to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, said that the Party Central Committee, guided by the situation, transformed the patriotic fervor of the entire people into motivation for taking root in one’s post and launching patriotic production competitions, greatly promoting the recovery of the national economy and laying a solid foundation for the smooth launch of the First Five-Year Plan in 1953.

胜利的基石，不仅在于前线将士的英勇奋战，也在于全国各族人民团结一心、同仇敌忾形成的磅礴力量。抗美援朝运动席卷全国，各界群众以增产节约、捐献武器、踊跃支前等各种形式，汇聚起万众一心的强大合力。这场运动也强力促进了国内经济社会的发展。抗美援朝纪念馆副馆长宫绍山说，党中央因势利导，将全民爱国热情转化为立足岗位、开展爱国生产竞赛的动力，极大地促进了国民经济恢复，为1953年顺利开启第一个五年计划奠定了坚实基础。

Rescuing Living Memory

抢救鲜活记忆

In September this year, a solemn and dignified ceremony was again held at the Shenyang Cemetery for Martyrs of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Y-20 special aircraft repatriated, Air Force J-20 fighter jets escorted, the highest ceremonial “water cannon salute”… The remains of 30 martyrs of the Chinese People’s Volunteers in the Republic of Korea, along with 267 artifacts, returned to the embrace of the motherland. The land is at peace; the heroes come home. This is the deepest consolation for the spirits of the fallen and the most solemn commemoration of history.

今年9月，庄严肃穆的仪式再次在沈阳抗美援朝烈士陵园举行。运-20专机接返、空军歼-20战斗机护航、“过水门”最高礼仪……30位在韩中国人民志愿军烈士遗骸及267件遗物回到祖国怀抱。山河无恙，英雄归家。这是对英灵最深切的告慰，也是对历史最郑重的铭记。

Yet time passes, and the living witnesses of the war are aging. Rescuing their memories through recording is an urgent task racing against time.

然而，时光流逝，战争的亲历者正在老去。抢救性地记录他们的记忆，是一项与时间赛跑的紧迫任务。

In 2023, the major special project of the National Social Science Fund, “Collection, Recording, and Collation of Oral Materials on the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea,” was carried out in an orderly manner nationwide. More and more battlefield details and heroic deeds are being unearthed and organized.

2023年，国家社科基金重大专项“抗美援朝战争口述资料采录与整理”在全国范围内有序展开。越来越多的战场细节和英雄事迹被挖掘、整理。

“Telephone operator Liu Zhendong, at the critical moment when the telephone line was blown up, used his own body as a conductor to ensure the unimpeded flow of the command line, ultimately dying a heroic death…” During the process of collecting and recording the oral histories of veterans of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Xie Xiaojuan, Dean of the School of Marxism at Liaoning University, was deeply shocked by such stories. “The words in the books become incomparably concrete; we understand even more that victory was hard-won and peace was hard-won.”

“电话员刘振东，在电话线被炸断的危急时刻，用自己的身体做导体，保证了指挥线路的畅通，最终壮烈牺牲……”在采录抗美援朝老兵口述史的过程中，辽宁大学马克思主义学院院长谢晓娟被这样的故事深深震撼。“书本上的文字变得无比具象，我们更加理解胜利来之不易、和平来之不易。”

The scholars involved in this work are not only recording history but also undergoing a spiritual baptism. Wang Bing said with emotion that many veteran soldiers have impaired hearing, shrapnel remaining in their bodies, and endure pain for life, yet they never complain. “Compared with their fallen comrades, they consider themselves lucky and believe that ‘not causing trouble for the Party and the state’ is a ‘second’ act of protecting the homeland. Serving this group of ‘the most adorable people’ [3]3 A term of endearment for the Chinese People’s Volunteers, popularized by the writer Wei Wei in his 1951 reportage “Who Are the Most Adorable People?” and recording their heroic deeds is a rare spiritual baptism for us.”

参与这项工作的学者们，不仅是在记录历史，更是在接受精神的洗礼。王冰动情地说，许多老战士听力受损，体内残留弹片，终生忍受伤痛，但他们从不抱怨。“和牺牲的战友相比，他们觉得自己是幸运的，认为‘不给党和国家添麻烦’就是‘二次’保家卫国。能为这群最可爱的人服务，记录他们的英雄事迹，对我们而言是难得的精神洗礼。”

Since 2016, Eastern Liaoning University has continuously carried out the activity “A Thousand College Students Travel Ten Thousand Li to Visit a Hundred Veterans of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.” Over ten years, 2,380 college students have traveled across 38 cities in 15 provinces, covering a total distance of 106,000 kilometers, visiting 571 Volunteer veterans, shooting a large amount of video, and writing hundreds of thousands of words of oral history.

自2016年起，辽东学院连续开展“千名大学生行万里路 寻访百位抗美援朝老战士”活动。十年来，2380名大学生足迹遍及15个省的38个市，累计行程10.6万公里，寻访到571位志愿军老战士，拍摄了大量视频，撰写了数十万字的口述史。

“The children experienced the entire process of visiting, getting to know, revisiting, and even seeing off some veteran soldiers as they passed away, and their hearts were greatly shaken,” said Liu Yue, Dean of the School of Marxism at Eastern Liaoning University. “Like my students, I have had the emotional floodgates repeatedly breached by these red memories scattered among the people.”

“孩子们经历了寻访、认识、回访，直至目送一些老战士离世的整个过程，心灵受到巨大震撼。”辽东学院马克思主义学院院长刘越感慨，“我和学生一样，一次次被这些散落在民间的红色记忆冲击着情感的闸门”。

At the same time, the Museum to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, in cooperation with relevant departments, has since 2019 been filming the large-scale documentary “Remember,” interviewing and filming over 700 veteran soldiers, broadcasting more than 330 episodes, and publishing a book of the same name. Additionally, series of short videos such as “Ode to Heroes” and “Stories of Artifacts from the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea” have been produced, allowing revolutionary artifacts to “speak” and vividly interpreting the rich connotations of the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea.

与此同时，抗美援朝纪念馆与相关部门合作，自2019年启动大型纪录片《铭记》的拍摄，已采访拍摄700多位老战士，播出330余集，同名书籍也已出版。此外，还制作了《英雄赞歌》《抗美援朝文物故事》等系列短视频，让革命文物“说话”，生动诠释伟大抗美援朝精神的丰富内涵。

The Great Spirit Shines in the New Era

伟大精神在新时代闪耀光芒

History is the best textbook and also the best sobering agent. The great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea transcends time and remains ever new. How to make this precious spiritual treasure radiate new brilliance in the New Era is the key to its inheritance.

历史是最好的教科书，也是最好的清醒剂。伟大抗美援朝精神跨越时空，历久弥新。如何让这笔宝贵的精神财富在新时代焕发新的光芒，是传承的关键。

Sun Yongxiang proposed closely following the logic of dialogue between historical memory and modern communication. “Relying on technological means such as virtual reality and interactive exhibitions, transform oral historical materials into immersive cultural products, so that the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea moves from static display to dynamic experience. At the same time, deeply integrate oral history resources into physical spaces such as red tourism and thematic education, creating a ‘walking classroom.’”

孙永祥提出，要紧扣历史记忆与现代传播的对话逻辑。“依托虚拟现实、交互式展览等科技手段，将口述史料转化为沉浸式文化产品，使伟大抗美援朝精神从静态陈列走向动态体验。同时，将口述史资源深度融入红色旅游、主题教育等实体空间，打造‘行走的课堂’。”

For the vast number of young people, integrating the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea into ideological and political education is crucial. Xie Xiaojuan stated that as ideological and political course teachers, they must teach this history deeply, thoroughly, and vividly in the classroom, deeply excavating its spiritual core. “Transform the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea into a precious resource for fostering virtue and nurturing people, guiding students to turn ‘revolutionary optimism’ into resilience in facing academic work and difficulties, and concretize ‘protecting the homeland’ into daily behaviors such as abiding by social rules and safeguarding national interests.”

对于广大青少年而言，将伟大抗美援朝精神融入思想政治教育至关重要。谢晓娟表示，作为思政课教师，要在课堂上讲深、讲透、讲活这段历史，深入挖掘其精神内核。“将伟大抗美援朝精神转化为立德树人的宝贵资源，引导学生将‘革命乐观主义’转化为面对学业和困难的韧劲，将‘保家卫国’具象为遵守社会规则、维护国家利益的日常行为。”

Currently, we are experiencing changes unseen in a century, and the path forward will not be smooth sailing. In Wang Bing’s view, inheriting and promoting the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea means maintaining strong political resolve and strategic resolve. Gong Shaoshan believes that the prerequisite for inheritance is understanding and identification. “We must deeply excavate its contemporary value, identify the points of connection and resonance between history and reality, and truly allow the great spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea to demonstrate its power that transcends time.”

当前，我们正经历世界百年未有之大变局，前进道路上不会一帆风顺。在王冰看来，传承和弘扬伟大抗美援朝精神，就是要保持强大政治定力和战略定力。宫绍山认为，传承的前提是理解和认同。“要深入挖掘其时代价值，找准历史与现实的结合点、共鸣点，让伟大抗美援朝精神真正展现跨越时空的力量。”

Historical Research Empowers Contemporary Inheritance

历史研究赋能当代传承

Solid academic research is the firm foundation for clearing away historical fog, resisting historical nihilism, and promoting the inheritance of the spirit.

扎实的学术研究，是廓清历史迷雾、抵制历史虚无主义、推动精神传承的坚实基础。

Strengthening research on the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea has important documentary value and academic significance for enriching Party history, the history of New China, and military history. Wang Bing proposed that existing research pays insufficient attention to many specific issues and details, and the field of vision needs to be further broadened. Attempting to apply and draw on multidisciplinary theoretical methods will help drive research toward greater depth. Sun Yongxiang suggested conducting interdisciplinary integrated research to comprehensively analyze all aspects of the war. At the same time, “strengthen international academic exchange and cooperation, collect and organize relevant foreign archival materials, use the perspective of others to corroborate evidence, and forcefully refute historical nihilism.”

加强抗美援朝战争研究，对于丰富党史、新中国史、军事史等具有重要的史料价值和学术意义。王冰提出，现有研究对许多具体问题和细节关注不足，视野需要进一步拓宽。尝试运用和借鉴多学科的理论方法，将有助于推动研究向纵深发展。孙永祥建议，通过跨学科融合研究，全面剖析战争的各个方面。同时，“加强国际学术交流与合作，收集整理国外相关档案史料，从他者视角印证举证，有力驳斥历史虚无主义”。

Under the complex circumstances of ideological struggle, adhering to the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method and conducting in-depth research by seeking truth from facts appears especially important. Liu Yue stated that from the overall perspective of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the connections between the great spirit of Resisting US Aggression and Aiding Korea and other revolutionary spirits, its position and role within the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, its rich connotations and contemporary value, and so on, to bridge history and the present and find points of connection oriented toward the future.

在意识形态斗争复杂的形势下，坚持马克思主义的立场观点方法，实事求是地深入研究，显得尤为重要。刘越表示，要从中国共产党人精神谱系的整体视角出发，深入研究伟大抗美援朝精神与其他革命精神的联系，其在中国共产党人精神谱系中的地位和作用、丰富内涵和时代价值等，打通历史与当下，找到面向未来的连接点。

Xie Xiaojuan believes that promoting contemporary transmission through academic research has at its core the construction of a closed loop of “historical interpretation – value transformation – practical empowerment.” Use rigorous academic logic to connect historical depth with future dimensions, deepen historical empirical research to consolidate the factual foundation, carry out interdisciplinary value interpretation to build a bridge between history and the contemporary era, and focus on practice-oriented research to strengthen the capacity for spiritual inspiration.

谢晓娟认为，以学术研究推动当代传承，核心是构建“历史阐释—价值转化—实践赋能”的闭环。用严谨的学术逻辑打通历史深度与未来维度，深化历史实证研究筑牢事实根基，开展跨学科价值解读搭建历史与当代的桥梁，聚焦实践导向研究强化精神感召的能力。

Gong Shaoshan, in turn, proposed that advancing research on the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea requires doing a good job on the three articles of “breadth,” “detail,” and “depth.” “Breadth” means expanding into various fields such as economy, politics, society, diplomacy, and women’s contributions; “detail” means refining research content, such as the movement to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in different regions, as well as specific aspects like medals and letters from home; “depth” means making good use of documentary historical materials, deeply excavating new content and new stories, and providing a thicker foundation for the transmission of the spirit.

宫绍山则提出，推进抗美援朝研究要做好“宽”“细”“深”三篇文章。“宽”是向经济、政治、社会、外交、妇女贡献等各领域拓展；“细”是细化研究内容，如不同地区的抗美援朝运动，以及奖章、家书等具体方面；“深”是利用好文献史料，深入挖掘新内容、新故事，为精神传承提供更厚实的基础。

Standing at a new historical starting point, looking back on that period of blood-soaked glory, the great spirit of Resisting US Aggression and Aiding Korea remains a powerful driving force for our forging ahead. On the new journey of the New Era, we must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, carry forward the great spirit of Resisting US Aggression and Aiding Korea, stride forward with vigor and high morale, and, toward the grand goal of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, live up to our youth and advance courageously!

站在新的历史起点，回望那段浴血荣光，伟大抗美援朝精神依然是我们砥砺前行的强大动力。新时代新征程，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，弘扬伟大抗美援朝精神，雄赳赳、气昂昂，向着全面建设社会主义现代化国家、实现中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟目标，不负韶华，奋勇前进！

◇ China Social Sciences Today reporters Zhao Xuzhou, Ban Xiaoyue (Reporters Ming Haiying, Zha Jianguo, and Chen Lian participated in the interviews)

◇中国社会科学报记者 赵徐州 班晓悦（记者明海英、查建国、陈炼参与采访）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧