Research Team from the Department of Culture and Ideological Construction of the Academy of Marxism Conducts Field Research in Shanxi

To better understand major theoretical and practical issues in the current cultural and ideological fields, a five-person research team from the Department of Culture and Ideological Construction of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, led by Researcher Zhang Xiaoping, conducted a seven-day field research trip to Shanxi from October 15 to 21, 2019. The theme of this research was “Shanxi’s Historical and Cultural Heritage and the Cultural Genes of the Chinese Nation.”

为了更好地了解当前文化与意识形态领域重大理论与现实问题， 中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院文化与意识形态建设研究室一行五人在张小平研究员带领下，于2019年10月15日至21日赴山西开展为期7天的调研。此次调研的主题为“山西历史文化底蕴与中华民族文化基因”。

Shanxi Province has a long history and rich culture. It is an important cradle of Chinese civilization and holds a significant position in the history of the development of the Chinese nation. Shanxi not only possesses abundant historical and cultural relics but is also a key gathering place for red cultural resources. [1]

山西省历史文化悠久，是华夏文明的重要发祥地，在中华民族发展史上具有重要地位。山西省不仅有丰厚的历史文化遗存，也是红色文化资源的重要聚集地。

Figure 1: The research team holds a discussion with the Theory Department of the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department.

图一：调研组与山西省委宣传部理论处座谈

On the afternoon of October 16, the research team held a discussion with the Theory Department of the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department. Also participating in the discussion were experts and scholars from the Institute of History and the Institute of Marxism of the Shanxi Academy of Social Sciences, as well as from the School of History and Culture and the School of Marxism of Shanxi University. During the discussion, scholars pointed out that the Dazhai Spirit and the Youyu Spirit of Shanxi embody the Chinese spirit of self-reliance, hard struggle, striving for strength, and selfless dedication, and they carry forward the excellent cultural genes of the Chinese nation that have been passed down for several millennia. [2] Youyu County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, is located at the northwestern tip of Shanxi, less than 100 kilometers from the Mu Us Desert, and has long been known as the “Northern Gate of Shanxi.” In the early days of the founding of New China, the county’s forest coverage rate was only 0.3%, and it was described by experts as “the most unsuitable area for human habitation.” Over the past 70 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people of Youyu have created a miracle of turning a desert into an oasis, giving rise to the world-renowned Youyu Spirit. Today, Youyu County’s forest coverage rate has reached as high as 54%, earning it the title “Oasis Beyond the Great Wall.” In addition, the scholars also introduced the protection, development, and inheritance of Shanxi’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as some practical problems faced, and discussed issues related to the cultural industry and ideology. During the discussion, the research team exchanged in-depth views with Shanxi experts on relevant issues.

10月16日下午，调研组与山西省委宣传部理论处座谈，参加座谈的还有来自山西省社科院历史所和马研所、山西大学历史文化学院和马克思主义学院的专家学者。座谈会上，学者们提出山西的大寨精神和右玉精神，体现的是自强不息、艰苦奋斗、奋发图强、无私奉献的中国精神，传承的是中华民族延续几千年的优秀文化基因。山西省朔州市右玉县地处山西省西北端，距离毛乌素沙漠不到100千米，素有山西北大门之称。新中国成立初期，全县森林覆盖率仅有0.3%，被专家称为“最不适宜人类生存的地区”。70年来，在中国共产党的坚强领导下，右玉人民创造了荒漠变绿洲的人间奇迹，创造了举世瞩目的右玉精神。目前，右玉县森林覆盖率高达54%，被誉为“塞上绿洲”。另外，学者们也介绍了山西历史文化遗产的保护、开发、传承情况，以及面临的一些现实问题，还讨论了文化产业与意识形态的相关问题。座谈会上，调研组就相关问题与山西的专家们深入交换意见。

Figure 2: The research team holds a discussion with Dazhai Party Secretary Guo Fenglian.

图二：调研组与大寨郭凤莲书记座谈

On October 17, accompanied by leaders from the Jinzhong Municipal Federation of Social Sciences and the Xiyang County Propaganda Department, the research team went to Dazhai Village, Xiyang County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and held a discussion with Comrade Guo Fenglian, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and Party Branch Secretary of Dazhai Village, Xiyang County, Shanxi Province. The discussion focused on Dazhai’s exploratory process of starting anew over the 40 years of reform and opening up and the achievements of its current transformation and development. Dazhai is located deep in the Taihang Mountains, with a harsh natural environment, and the lives of the masses were very difficult before liberation. After the founding of New China, the people of Dazhai worked hard, transformed mountains and rivers, changed the situation of relying on the weather for food, and became a red banner on the national agricultural front. [3] Since reform and opening up, the people of Dazhai have repeatedly gone out to advanced regions to learn concepts and technologies, introduced new projects one after another, and set off a wave of “starting anew a second time.” Party Secretary Guo Fenglian introduced to the research team the current old-age support and education assistance mechanisms in Dazhai Village. In particular, speaking of the green development concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” she noted that Dazhai Village’s forest coverage rate has now reached 64.7%. After the discussion, the research team visited Hutou Mountain, the Dazhai Memorial Hall, Dazhai’s old cave dwellings and new villas, and also conducted household surveys on the production and living conditions of Dazhai villagers today. They deeply felt the hard struggle spirit of the Dazhai people during the socialist construction period, profoundly experienced the tremendous changes brought to Dazhai by reform and opening up, and gained a deeper understanding of the profound connection between the Dazhai Spirit and the great spirit of the Chinese nation.

10月17日，调研组在晋中市社科联和昔阳县宣传部领导的陪同下赴山西省晋中市昔阳县大寨村，与全国人大代表、山西省昔阳县大寨村党总支书记郭凤莲同志进行座谈。座谈主要围绕大寨改革开放40年来再次创业的探索历程以及目前取得的转型发展成果展开交流。大寨地处太行山腹地，自然环境恶劣，解放前群众生活十分艰苦。新中国成立后，大寨人艰苦奋斗，治山治水，改变了靠天吃饭的状况，成为全国农业战线上的一面红旗。改革开放以来，大寨人一次次走出去，到先进地区学理念学技术，引进一个个新项目，掀起了“二次创业”的热潮。郭凤莲书记向调研组介绍了如今大寨村的养老和助学机制，特别是讲到“绿水青山就是金山银山”的绿色发展理念，她说目前大寨村的森林覆盖率已经达到64.7%。座谈结束后，调研组实地参观了虎头山、大寨纪念馆、大寨的旧窑洞和新别墅，还入户调查了今天大寨村民的生产和生活情况，深切感受到社会主义建设时期大寨人的艰苦奋斗精神，也深刻体会到改革开放带给大寨的巨大变化，对大寨精神与中华民族伟大精神的深刻联系有了更加深入的体察领悟。

From October 18 to 20, the research team successively conducted research in Xiangfen, Fenxi, and Hongtong counties in Linfen City. They had in-depth exchanges with leaders of the propaganda departments of the three counties on the protection, development, and inheritance of cultural heritage, and particularly held thorough discussions on the innovation of ideological and theoretical propaganda work in the New Era. The propaganda department leaders reported that since the launch of the “Study Power” platform, it was initially promoted by the propaganda departments to Party cadres, but now it has become a platform for the vast majority of Party cadres to study voluntarily and with great enthusiasm. [4] On the platform, they not only read international and domestic news but also study Marxist classics and important expositions by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and they can listen to lectures by famous scholars. Everyone

10月18日—20日，调研组先后赴临汾市的襄汾、汾西、洪洞县调研，与三个县的宣传部领导就文化遗产保护、开发、传承情况深入交流，特别是新时代意识形态和理论宣传工作的创新问题进行了深入讨论。宣传部领导反映，“学习强国”平台上线以后，开始是由宣传部向机关党员干部进行推送，现在已经是广大党员干部自觉学习且热情高涨，在平台上不仅看国际国内新闻，还学习马克思主义经典和习近平总书记的重要论述，还能听到名家的讲座。大家认为，“学习强国”平台的开通，有助于更好地学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和党的十九大精神，有助于进一步激励广大党员干部奋发作为，为谱写新时代中国特色社会主义的山西篇章提供强大动力。

Over the course of three days, the research team conducted on-site inspections of the Dingcun site and the Taosi site within Linfen’s jurisdiction, and visited the Linfen Museum, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the origins of Chinese culture, its cultural genes, and its historical evolution.

在3天的时间里，调研组实地考察了临汾境内的丁村遗址和陶寺遗址，参观了临汾博物馆，对中华文化的起源、文化基因及其历史演变有了更加深刻的认识。

The Dingcun site was discovered in 1953, located on the banks of the Fen River near Dingcun Village, Xiangfen County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. It is a Paleolithic site containing ancient human fossils and was among the first batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level announced in 1961. The Taosi site is located south of Taosi Village, Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province. Through archaeological excavation and research, it has been preliminarily revealed to be the prehistoric capital with the most complete functional zoning in China. The painted dragon plate unearthed at Taosi, dating to approximately 2300 BCE, is the earliest dragon image scientifically excavated in China that is truly meaningful and continuous with later traditions, holding significant academic value for the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization.

丁村遗址发现于1953年，位于山西省临汾市襄汾县丁村附近的汾河畔，是含有古人类化石的旧石器时代遗址，是1961年公布的第一批全国重点文物保护单位。陶寺遗址位于山西省襄汾县陶寺村南，经考古发掘与研究，初步揭示它是中国史前功能区划最完备的都城。陶寺出土的彩绘龙盘，年代约在公元前2300年，是中国迄今科学发掘所见到的最早的？真正意义上的、且与后世一脉相承的龙形象，对于中华文明探源工程具有重要的学术价值。

On October 21, the research team traveled to Yangcheng County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province for investigation. The team went deep into grassroots villages and towns, engaged in in-depth exchanges with local cadres and the masses, fully listened to their opinions and suggestions on cultural construction and development, and conducted thorough research on the key and difficult issues in current ideological work, obtaining a wealth of vivid and practical materials.

10月21日，调研组赴山西晋城市阳城县调研。调研组深入基层村镇，与当地干部群众深入交流，充分听取他们对文化建设发展的意见建议，并就当前意识形态工作的重点难点问题进行深入调研，取得了不少生动鲜活的实践资料。

(Written by Chen Jianbo)

（陈建波撰稿）