Understanding Comrade Mao Zedong’s Thought of Seeking Truth from Facts from Multiple Dimensions

Seeking truth from facts is the fundamental viewpoint of Marxism, the fundamental requirement for Chinese Communists to understand and transform the world, and the basic method of thinking, working, and leading of our Party. Reviewing the Party’s history, “seeking truth from facts” is a high-level summary of the Marxist worldview and methodology in Chinese discourse, profoundly grasped by Chinese Communists represented mainly by Comrade Mao Zedong, who deeply understood the essence of Marxist thought and integrated it with the practice of the Chinese revolution. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the symposium commemorating the 130th anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong’s birth: “Comrade Mao Zedong applied dialectical materialism and historical materialism to all the work of the proletarian party, and in the long and arduous struggle of the Chinese revolution and construction, formed positions, viewpoints, and methods with the distinctive characteristics of Chinese Communists, embodied in the three basic aspects of seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence and self-reliance. This is the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought.” Examining Comrade Mao Zedong’s exploration of the ideological line of seeking truth from facts from multiple dimensions is of great significance for us to consciously take “seeking truth from facts” as an effective ideological weapon and better understand and transform the world.

实事求是，是马克思主义的根本观点，是中国共产党人认识世界、改造世界的根本要求，是我们党的基本思想方法、工作方法、领导方法。回顾党的历史，“实事求是”是以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，深刻把握马克思主义思想精髓，结合中国革命斗争实践，用中国话语对马克思主义世界观和方法论进行的高度概括。习近平总书记在纪念毛泽东同志诞辰130周年座谈会上指出：“毛泽东同志把辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义运用于无产阶级政党的全部工作，在中国革命和建设的长期艰苦斗争中形成了具有中国共产党人鲜明特色的立场、观点、方法，体现为实事求是、群众路线、独立自主三个基本方面。这是毛泽东思想活的灵魂。”多维度考察毛泽东同志对实事求是思想路线的探索，对于我们自觉把“实事求是”作为有效思想武器，更好认识世界、改造世界具有重要意义。

The view of history based on the masses. The Marxist view of history based on the masses holds that the masses of the people are the subjects of practice and the creators of social history. Everything for the people was the starting point and ultimate goal of Comrade Mao Zedong’s revolutionary work, and became his value pursuit and revolutionary motivation. From a young age, Comrade Mao Zedong was concerned about the sufferings of the people, once naming himself “Ziren” [1]1 The “national bourgeoisie” refers to the Chinese capitalist class that was neither comprador nor bureaucratic; Mao regarded it as an ally that could participate in the revolution under certain conditions but was inherently wavering., meaning to take the world as his own responsibility. He clearly stated, “Why do we want revolution? To liberate the Chinese nation, to realize the rule of the people, and to bring economic happiness to the people.” As a staunch Marxist, Comrade Mao Zedong always thought about and solved problems from the standpoint of the people, emphasizing that “all words and deeds of Communists must be measured by the highest standard of conforming to the greatest interests of the broadest masses of the people and being supported by the broadest masses of the people.” He took serving the masses wholeheartedly, relying on the masses, coming from the masses, and going to the masses as the epistemological and practical basis for adhering to seeking truth from facts, upholding truth for the people, and “serving the people wholeheartedly,” thus winning the heartfelt support of the masses of the people and leading the Chinese revolution and socialist construction from victory to victory. To implement the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts, we must proceed from the Marxist view of history based on the masses, always adhere to the people-centered approach, firmly stand with the people, grasp the people’s aspirations, respect the people’s creativity, and concentrate the people’s wisdom. We must persist in doing everything for the people and relying on the people, and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

群众史观。马克思主义群众史观认为，人民群众是实践的主体，是社会历史的创造者。一切为了人民，是毛泽东同志开展革命工作的出发点和落脚点，并成为他的价值追求和革命动力。毛泽东同志自小就关注人民疾苦，曾给自己取名“子任”，寓意以天下为己任。他明确指出，“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”。毛泽东同志作为坚定的马克思主义者，始终做到从人民的立场来思考问题和解决问题，强调“共产党人的一切言论行动，必须以合乎最广大人民群众的最大利益，为最广大人民群众所拥护为最高标准”，把一切为了群众，一切依靠群众，从群众中来，到群众中去，作为坚持实事求是的认识和实践基础，为人民而坚持真理，“全心全意为人民服务”，赢得了人民群众的衷心拥护，领导中国革命和社会主义建设不断从胜利走向胜利。我们贯彻党的实事求是思想路线，必须从马克思主义群众史观出发，始终坚持人民至上，站稳人民立场、把握人民愿望、尊重人民创造、集中人民智慧，坚持一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。

The view of the subject. The Chinese people have always been the main force in developing China, and at the same time, they have always been the main force in understanding China, knowing best China’s concrete reality and fine traditional culture. Comrade Mao Zedong always regarded the Chinese people as the main force, believed in the people, relied on the people, and used the people’s strength to transform China and the world. He sought truth from facts in investigating and analyzing the specific conditions of various classes in China, and on this basis, formulated policies and measures to mobilize the broad masses of peasants and workers, exploring the path of the Chinese revolution and socialist construction. He pointed out, “The victory of the Chinese revolution depends on Chinese comrades understanding the Chinese situation.” “China’s affairs must be handled by the Communist Party and by the people.” It was precisely by basing himself on China’s reality, daring to uphold truth, and deeply learning the lessons of the failure of the Great Revolution [2]2 The Great Revolution (1925–27) was the first period of CPC-KMT cooperation against warlords and imperialism; the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937–45) was the war against Japanese invasion; the War of Liberation (1945–49) was the civil war that ended with the CPC’s victory. that he put forward important judgments such as “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun” and “the Party commands the gun,” leading the Chinese people onto the path of the new-democratic revolution of encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing political power by armed force. He insisted on proceeding from reality, comprehensively criticized Wang Ming’s [3]3 “Magic weapon” (法宝) is a standard CPC term for a policy or method considered indispensable for victory. “left” dogmatist errors, and used the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism to solve the Party’s line, principles, and policy issues, saving the Party, the Red Army, and the Chinese revolution at a critical historical juncture. The Chinese Communists represented mainly by Comrade Mao Zedong, closely relying on the people, independently explored the successful path of the Chinese revolution. A basic point running through this is that China’s problems must be solved by the Chinese people themselves, starting from China’s basic national conditions. To implement the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts, we must proceed from the Marxist view of the subject, always adhere to confidence and self-reliance, and make new contributions to the development of Marxism with a more active sense of historical responsibility and creative spirit. We must neither be rigid and closed-minded like “marking the boat to find the sword” [4]4 The quotation is from Mao’s 1936 essay “Problems of Strategy in China’s Revolutionary War.”, nor copy and imitate mechanically or fail to digest foreign things.

主体观。中国人民始终是发展中国的主体力量，同时也始终是认识中国的主体力量，最了解中国的具体实际和中华优秀传统文化。毛泽东同志始终将中国人民视为主体力量，相信人民，依靠人民，以人民的力量改造中国和世界。他实事求是地调查分析中国各阶层的具体情况，在此基础上制定调动广大农民、工人的政策措施，探索中国革命道路和社会主义建设道路。他指出，“中国革命斗争的胜利要靠中国同志了解中国情况”。“中国的事情，要靠共产党办，靠人民办”。正是立足中国实际，敢于坚持真理，深刻汲取大革命失败的教训，他提出了“枪杆子里面出政权”“党指挥枪”等重要论断，带领中国人民走出一条农村包围城市、武装夺取政权的新民主主义革命道路。他坚持从实际出发，全面批判王明“左”倾教条主义错误，运用马克思列宁主义基本原理解决党的路线、方针和政策问题，在危急的历史关头挽救了党，挽救了红军，挽救了中国革命。以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，紧紧依靠人民，独立自主探索出中国革命的成功道路，贯穿其中的一个基本点就是中国的问题必须从中国基本国情出发，由中国人民自己来解答。我们贯彻党的实事求是思想路线，必须从马克思主义主体观出发，始终坚持自信自立，以更加积极的历史担当和创造精神为发展马克思主义作出新的贡献，既不能刻舟求剑、封闭僵化，也不能照抄照搬、食洋不化。

The view of contradiction. Contradictions exist in all things and run through the entire process of their development. Problems are the external manifestation of contradictions. To seek truth from facts, one must adhere to the view of contradiction, face up to various existing problems, and find methods and approaches to solve problems through investigation and research. Comrade Mao Zedong had a strong sense of problem awareness, adhered to the combination of theory and practice, and actively explored the truth of saving the country and the people. Investigation and research were important working methods for Comrade Mao Zedong to solve problems and resolve contradictions, and were an effective way to link Marxist theory with China’s concrete practice. To explore the path of the Chinese revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong conducted a large number of social surveys, writing reports such as “Analysis of the Classes in Chinese Society,” “Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan,” “Xunwu Investigation,” “Xingguo Investigation,” “Changgang Township Investigation,” and “Caixi Township Investigation,” and put forward famous judgments such as “Oppose Book Worship” and “No investigation, no right to speak,” providing rich and detailed first-hand materials and important bases for the Party and the Red Army at that time to understand the situation in rural and urban areas, study the prominent problems existing in the revolutionary struggle, and formulate correct policies and guidelines. Doing a good job of investigation and research is a prerequisite for adhering to seeking truth from facts. Only through investigating and understanding the objective actual situation, and conducting analysis and research to discard the dross and select the essential, eliminate the false and retain the true, proceed from one thing to another, and go from the surface to the core, can we understand the truth of things, grasp the essence of problems, and find the right ideas and countermeasures to resolve contradictions. To implement the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts, we must proceed from the Marxist view of contradiction, always adhere to problem orientation, focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, problems of urgent concern to the people, major problems in international changes, and prominent problems facing Party building, and continuously put forward new ideas, new thinking, and new methods that truly solve problems.

矛盾观。矛盾存在于一切事物中，并且贯穿于事物发展过程的始终。问题是矛盾的外在表现，要做到实事求是就必须坚持矛盾观，正视存在的各类问题，并通过调查研究找到解决问题的方法和途径。毛泽东同志具有强烈的问题意识，坚持理论和实践相结合，积极探索救国救民真理。调查研究是毛泽东同志解决问题、化解矛盾的重要工作方法，是贯通马克思主义理论与中国具体实践的有效途径。为探究中国革命的道路，毛泽东同志进行了大量的社会调查，撰写了《中国社会各阶级的分析》《湖南农民运动考察报告》《寻乌调查》《兴国调查》《长冈乡调查》《才溪乡调查》等报告，提出“反对本本主义”“没有调查，就没有发言权”等著名论断，为当时党和红军了解农村和城镇的情况，研究革命斗争中存在的突出问题，制定正确的方针政策，提供了丰富、翔实的第一手材料和重要依据。做好调查研究是坚持实事求是的前提条件，只有通过对客观实际情况的调查了解，进行去粗取精、去伪存真、由此及彼、由表及里的分析研究，才能了解事情真相，把握问题本质，找准解决矛盾的思路和对策。我们贯彻党的实事求是思想路线，必须从马克思主义矛盾观出发，始终坚持问题导向，聚焦实践遇到的新问题、改革发展稳定存在的深层次问题、人民群众急难愁盼问题、国际变局中的重大问题、党的建设面临的突出问题，不断提出真正解决问题的新理念新思路新办法。

The view of development. Truth itself exists objectively, unaffected by subjective consciousness and social history, while at the same time truth depends on human society and historical conditions for its existence, because human cognition is constantly developing. Comrade Mao Zedong did not treat Marxism as an immutable formula. On the question of the motive forces of the Chinese revolution, he conducted in-depth investigation and analysis of the economic status and political conditions of the various social classes in China, holding that “if the Chinese revolution lacks the leadership of the proletariat, it will inevitably be unable to win victory,” that the peasants are the firm ally of the working class, that the urban petty bourgeoisie is also a reliable ally, and that the national bourgeoisie is an ally only for a certain period and to a certain degree. [1]1 The “national bourgeoisie” refers to the Chinese capitalist class that was neither comprador nor bureaucratic; Mao regarded it as an ally that could participate in the revolution under certain conditions but was inherently wavering. Based on these circumstances, he viewed problems with a developmental perspective, adopting different policies as the central tasks and principal contradictions of the Chinese revolution changed. For example, in the early days of the Party’s founding and during the Great Revolution, the central task was to oppose imperialism and feudalism, and the policy of the National Revolutionary United Front was put forward; after the failure of the Great Revolution, the focus of work shifted from the cities to the countryside, and the policy of the Worker-Peasant Democratic United Front was put forward; during the War of Resistance Against Japan, the central task was to defeat the Japanese aggressors, and the policy of the Anti-Japanese National United Front was put forward; during the War of Liberation, the central task was to liberate the whole of China and realize the people being the masters of the country, and the policy of establishing a broad People’s Democratic United Front was put forward. [2]2 The Great Revolution (1925–27) was the first period of CPC-KMT cooperation against warlords and imperialism; the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937–45) was the war against Japanese invasion; the War of Liberation (1945–49) was the civil war that ended with the CPC’s victory. Comrade Mao Zedong, in accordance with the development of the practice of the Chinese revolution, adhered to the line of great unity and great alliance, solved the problem of people’s hearts and strength, enriched and developed the Marxist theory and policy on the united front, and made it an important magic weapon for the Party to defeat the enemy, govern the country, and rejuvenate the nation. [3]3 “Magic weapon” (法宝) is a standard CPC term for a policy or method considered indispensable for victory. In implementing the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts, we must proceed from the Marxist view of development, always uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, both adhere unswervingly to the basic tenets of Marxism and eradicate dogmatism, bookishness, and empiricism in practical work, treat all new things with full enthusiasm, constantly expand the breadth and depth of understanding, dare to say new things that predecessors have not said, dare to do things that predecessors have not done, and guide new practice with new theory.

发展观。真理本身是客观存在的，不受主观意识和社会历史的影响而存在，同时真理又依赖于人类社会和历史条件而存在，因为人类的认知是不断发展的。毛泽东同志没有把马克思主义当作一成不变的公式。在中国革命动力问题上，他对中国社会各阶级的经济地位和政治状况等进行了深入调查分析，认为“中国革命如果没有无产阶级的领导，就必然不能胜利”，农民是工人阶级的坚固的同盟军，城市小资产阶级也是可靠的同盟军，民族资产阶级则是在一定时期和一定程度上的同盟军。根据这些情况，用发展的眼光看问题，随着中国革命的中心工作和社会主要矛盾变化而采取不同的政策。例如，在党成立之初和大革命时期，中心工作是反帝反封建，提出了国民革命统一战线政策；大革命失败之后，工作重点由城市转向农村，提出了工农民主统一战线政策；抗日战争时期，中心任务是打败日本侵略者，提出了抗日民族统一战线政策；解放战争时期，中心工作是解放全中国，实现人民当家作主，提出建立广泛的人民民主统一战线政策。毛泽东同志根据中国革命实践的发展，坚持大团结大联合路线，解决了人心和力量问题，丰富和发展了马克思主义关于统一战线的理论和政策，成为党克敌制胜、执政兴国的重要法宝。我们贯彻党的实事求是思想路线，必须从马克思主义发展观出发，始终坚持守正创新，既要坚持马克思主义基本原理不动摇，又要破除实际工作中的教条主义、本本主义、经验主义，以满腔热忱对待一切新生事物，不断拓展认识的广度和深度，敢于说前人没有说过的新话，敢于干前人没有干过的事情，以新的理论指导新的实践。

The systematic view. Marxism holds that the world is an organic whole, and that all things in the world are in a state of mutual influence, mutual interaction, and mutual constraint. Comrade Mao Zedong was adept at thinking about and solving problems from an overall or holistic perspective, and paid attention to using the Marxist systematic view to understand, analyze, and solve a series of major problems of the Chinese revolution. He pointed out, “Without the whole situation in mind, it is impossible to really make a good move,” emphasizing the importance of using “holistic” thinking to understand the problems of the Chinese revolution, and insisting on studying and grasping the characteristics and laws of the Chinese revolution with a strategic thinking that has distinct systematic features. [4]4 The quotation is from Mao’s 1936 essay “Problems of Strategy in China’s Revolutionary War.” In the early construction of the Red Army, Comrade Mao Zedong studied and analyzed the basic situation of the old armies, and proposed that military affairs could not be separated from politics, economy, culture, etc.; that one must mount the horse to fight battles, and dismount to shoulder the tasks of propagating among the masses, organizing the masses, arming the masses, and helping the masses establish revolutionary political power. [5]5 “Mount the horse … dismount” is a paraphrase of Mao’s description of the Red Army’s dual military and political role, often cited in Party history. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, he fully analyzed the situation of China’s War of Resistance and the world anti-fascist war, scientifically grasped the laws of development of the War of Resistance, and wrote *On Protracted War*, etc., which not only systematically expounded the line of total resistance and the strategic policy of protracted war, but also created a whole set of strategies and tactics for continuously annihilating the enemy’s effective strength, strengthening the Chinese people’s confidence in victory in the War of Resistance. During the War of Liberation, Comrade Mao Zedong, based on the actual situation, systematically organized the three major campaigns of Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin; these three major campaigns were not scattered or isolated, but were a complete deployment with overall planning, each link closely linked and mutually coordinated. [6]6 The three campaigns (September 1948 – January 1949) were the decisive battles of the civil war that destroyed the main forces of the KMT army in the northeast, central, and north China. Comrade Mao Zedong always proceeded from the actual conditions of Chinese society, deeply understood and systematically grasped the characteristics and laws of the Chinese revolution, and was adept at deploying work around the principal contradiction, which also became the Party’s successful experience in analyzing and solving specific problems in the practice of the Chinese revolution, construction, and reform. In implementing the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts, we must proceed from the Marxist systematic view, always adhere to systematic thinking, and carry forward the various undertakings of the Party and the state with forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and holistic advancement.

系统观。马克思主义认为，世界是一个有机的整体，世界上的一切事物都处于相互影响、相互作用、相互制约之中。毛泽东同志善于从全局或整体上思考和解决问题，注重运用马克思主义系统观念认识、分析、解决中国革命的一系列重大问题。他指出，“没有全局在胸，是不会真的投下一着好棋子的”，强调运用“全局性”思想认识中国革命问题的重要性，坚持以具有鲜明系统性特征的战略思维来研究和把握中国革命的特点和规律。毛泽东同志在早期红军建设中，研究分析了旧军队的基本情况，提出军事不能同政治、经济、文化等割裂开来，要上马打仗，下马担负起宣传群众、组织群众、武装群众，帮助群众建立革命政权等工作。到了抗日战争时期，他充分分析了中国抗日战争和世界反法西斯战争形势，科学把握抗日战争的发展规律，撰写了《论持久战》等，不仅系统阐述了全面抗战路线和持久战的战略方针，而且创造了一整套不断消灭敌人有生力量的战略战术，坚定中国人民抗战必胜的信心。解放战争时期，毛泽东同志依据现实情况，系统组织了辽沈、淮海、平津三大战役，三大战役不是分散的、孤立的，而是有着通盘筹划，一环紧扣一环，相互照应的完整部署。毛泽东同志始终坚持从我国社会实际状况出发，深刻认识和系统把握中国革命的特点、规律，善于围绕主要矛盾部署工作，这也成为我们党分析解决中国革命、建设和改革实践中具体问题的成功经验。我们贯彻党的实事求是思想路线，必须从马克思主义系统观出发，始终坚持系统观念，前瞻性思考、全局性谋划、整体性推进党和国家各项事业。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗