The Theoretical Origins, Essential Tenets, and Major Significance of Xi Jinping’s Outlook on Heroes

The outlook on heroes is an overall view of the essence and historical status of heroes, a basic perspective on a series of issues such as how to treat heroes and how to cultivate heroes, and an important component of the outlook on history. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized honoring heroes and promoting the heroic spirit. Starting from the Marxist outlook on heroes, he has made a series of important expositions on the outlook on heroes in light of the world situation, national conditions, Party conditions, and popular sentiment, establishing Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes for a New Era, which is rich in meaning and scientifically systematic. An in-depth study of Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes for a New Era, tracing its theoretical origins, distilling its essential tenets, and revealing its major significance, plays an important role in helping people understand, grasp, and thoroughly comprehend Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes for a New Era.

英雄观是关于英雄的本质和历史地位的总体看法，是关于如何对待英雄和怎样培育英雄等系列问题的基本观点，是历史观的重要内容。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记多次强调崇尚英雄和弘扬英雄精神，从马克思主义英雄观出发，结合世情、国情、党情、民情对英雄观作出一系列重要论述，确立起意涵丰富且科学系统的习近平新时代英雄观。深入研究习近平新时代英雄观，回溯其理论渊源，凝练其基本要旨，揭示其重大意义，对促进人们学懂、弄通、悟透习近平新时代英雄观具有重要作用。

I. The Theoretical Origins of Xi Jinping’s Outlook on Heroes for a New Era

一、习近平新时代英雄观的理论渊源

No theoretical system is established without being built on the theoretical foundations of predecessors. Marx once emphasized: “Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past.” [1]1 Karl Marx, “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,” in Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *Selected Works* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), Vol. 1, p. 669. If material production is like this, then spiritual production must also proceed on the basis of previous material and spiritual achievements. Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes for a New Era takes historical materialism as its philosophical foundation, creatively transforms and innovatively develops the excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture, fully absorbs the rich nourishment of the excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture, and is nurtured and developed within revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, possessing rich and far-reaching theoretical origins.

任何理论体系无不建立在前人理论基础之上。马克思曾着重指出：“人们自己创造自己的历史，但是他们并不是随心所欲地创造，并不是在他们自己选定的条件下创造，而是在直接碰到的、既定的、从过去承继下来的条件下创造。”。物质生产如此，精神生产亦要在以往物质成果和精神成果的基础上进行。习近平新时代英雄观以历史唯物主义为哲学基础，创造性转化和创新性发展中华优秀传统英雄文化，充分吸收中华优秀传统英雄文化的丰厚滋养，在革命文化和社会主义先进文化中孕育发展，具有丰富深远的理论渊源。

(A) Taking Historical Materialism as the Philosophical Foundation

(一)以历史唯物主义为哲学基础

Historical materialism centrally embodies the positions, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism and is the philosophical foundation of Marxist doctrine. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “In every historical period of revolution, construction, and reform, our Party has used historical materialism to systematically, concretely, and historically analyze the movement and developmental laws of Chinese society.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 28th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,” *People’s Daily*, December 5, 2013. The CPC, as a proletarian party guided by Marxism, using historical materialism to innovatively develop the outlook on heroes is its own fine tradition and historical mission.

历史唯物主义集中体现了马克思主义的立场、观点、方法，是马克思主义学说的哲学基础。习近平总书记指出：“在革命、建设、改革各个历史时期，我们党运用历史唯物主义，系统、具体、历史地分析中国社会运动及其发展规律。”。中国共产党作为以马克思主义为指导思想的无产阶级政党，运用历史唯物主义创新发展英雄观是其自身的优良传统和历史使命。

1. Taking the basic principle of historical materialism regarding the creators of history as the ideological premise. Historical materialism truly discovered that the people occupy the position of creators of history. Marx and Engels pointed out: “History is nothing but the activity of man pursuing his aims,” [3]3 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The Holy Family*, in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 1, p. 295. and “the first premise of all human history is, of course, the existence of living human individuals.” [4]4 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The German Ideology*, in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 1, p. 519. The reason the masses of the people are the creators of history and play a decisive role in the process of creating history is that the practical activities of the masses of the people conform to the inevitable laws of social and historical development and represent the developmental trends of social history, thereby determining that the masses of the people occupy the position of the subject of history. At the same time, historical materialism moves “heroes” out of the conceptual world of the heroic conception of history, emphasizing that the times create heroes. In the process of social development, as long as the material foundation exists, it meets social needs, can reflect the demands of the times and the aspirations of the people, and engages in social practice activities, some among the masses of the people will surely grow into heroes. Which person becomes a hero is an accidental event determined by historical inevitability, because “as Helvetius said, every social epoch needs its great men, and if it does not find them, it creates them,” [5]5 Karl Marx, “The Class Struggles in France, 1848 to 1850,” in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 2, p. 137. and “history has long proven that great revolutionary struggles create great men, bringing into play talents that were previously impossible to exert.” [6]6 V. I. Lenin, “The Tasks of the Youth Leagues,” in *Collected Works of Lenin* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), Vol. 39, p. 334. Furthermore, historical materialism reveals the intrinsic relationship between the people and heroes. Heroes are by no means solitary “lone heroes” living in isolation, nor are they lofty “saviors.” Rather, they come from the masses of the people, rely on the masses of the people, serve the masses of the people, and their relationship with the masses of the people is like that of “fish and water.” Once they break away from the masses of the people, they are like the ancient Greek mythological hero Antaeus, whose feet leave the ground and who loses his strength.

1.以历史唯物主义关于历史创造者的基本原理为思想前提。历史唯物主义真正发现人民处于历史创造者的地位。马克思恩格斯指出：“历史的活动是群众的活动，随着历史活动的深入，必将是群众队伍的扩大”。人民群众之所以是历史的创造者，在创造历史的过程中起着决定性作用，是因为人民群众的实践活动符合社会历史发展的必然规律，代表社会历史的发展趋势，从而决定人民群众处于历史主体地位。同时，历史唯物主义把“英雄”移出英雄史观的观念世界，强调时势造英雄。在社会发展过程中，只要具备物质基础，符合社会需要，能够反映时代要求和民心所向，投入社会实践活动，人民群众中一定会有人成长为英雄，而哪个人成为英雄则是由历史必然性决定的偶然事件，因为“如爱尔维修所说的，每一个社会时代都需要有自己的伟大人物，如果没有这样的人物，它就要创造出这样的人物来”，“历史早已证明，伟大的革命斗争会造就伟大人物，使过去不可能发挥的天才发挥出来”。此外，历史唯物主义揭示了人民与英雄的内在关系。英雄决不是离群索居的“孤胆英雄”，也不是高高在上的“救世主”，而是从人民群众中来，依靠人民群众，为人民群众服务，与人民群众的关系是“鱼水”关系，一旦脱离人民群众，就如同双脚离地、失去力量的古希腊神话英雄安泰。

2. Taking the basic viewpoint of historical materialism on heroes as the logical starting point. Historical materialism holds that the masses of the people are the creators of history, but it also highly affirms the important role of heroes in historical activities, believing that heroes are outstanding representatives of the masses of the people in different periods, and are “those who, by working for the common goal, make themselves noble.” [7]7 Karl Marx, “Youth’s Choice of a Profession,” in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 1, p. 459. Although constrained by objective conditions and social needs, heroes stand higher and see farther than ordinary individuals, their desire to solve historical tasks is stronger than that of ordinary individuals, and with their enormous influence they unite scattered ordinary individuals into a whole. Their subjective motives conform to regularity, they can master and create scientific thought and theory, and make scientific and major decisions. Thus, they play a greater role in the process of historical development than ordinary individuals. As the Russian Marxist theorist Plekhanov said, “He will solve the scientific problems placed on the agenda by the previous development of social intelligence; he will point out the new social needs created by the previous development of social relations; he will take the initiative to satisfy these needs.” [8]8 G. V. Plekhanov, *On the Role of the Individual in History* (Beijing: Commercial Press, 2010), p. 38. Unlike heroes of other classes, heroes of the proletariat can deeply understand and grasp the laws of history, reflect the will of the people, put forward practical and feasible thought and theory as solutions for completing historical tasks, carry forward the revolutionary spirit of daring to be the first in the world, mobilize and lead the masses of the people to carry out historical transformative activities, and are committed to promoting social development and civilizational progress, achieving the complete liberation of all humanity.

2.以历史唯物主义关于英雄的基本观点为逻辑起点。历史唯物主义认为人民群众是历史的创造者，也高度肯定英雄在历史活动中的重要作用，认为英雄是不同时期人民群众的杰出代表，是“那些为共同目标劳动因而自己变得高尚的人”。虽然受到客观条件和社会需要的制约，但英雄比普通个人站得高、看得远些，解决历史任务的欲望比普通个人强烈些，凭借巨大的影响力把分散的普通个人团结成一个整体，他们的主观动机合乎规律性，能够掌握和创立科学的思想理论，作出科学重大的决策，因而比普通个人在历史发展进程中起着更大的作用，如俄国马克思主义理论家普列汉诺夫所言，“他会解决先前的社会智慧发展进程提上日程的科学课题；他会指出先前的社会关系发展所造成的新的社会需要；他会发挥首倡精神来满足这些需要”。与其他阶级的英雄不同，无产阶级的英雄能够深刻认识和把握历史规律，反映人民的意志，提出切实可行的思想理论作为完成历史任务的解决方案，发扬敢为天下先的革命精神，发动带领人民群众进行历史变革活动，致力于推动社会发展和文明进步，实现全人类彻底解放。

(B) Absorbing the Rich Nourishment of the Excellent Traditional Chinese Heroic Culture

(二)吸收中华优秀传统英雄文化的丰厚滋养

The more than five thousand years of civilizational development history of the Chinese nation has nurtured a broad and profound excellent traditional Chinese culture, including a time-honored excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture, which is the excellent cultural gene and spiritual wealth of the Chinese nation. Nourished by the excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture, heroes have emerged in succession in the Chinese nation, and many heroes and the heroic spirit are still affectionately celebrated by people today, enduring and ever new.

中华民族五千多年的文明发展史孕育了博大精深的中华优秀传统文化，包括源远流长的中华优秀传统英雄文化，是中华民族的优秀文化基因和精神财富。在中华优秀传统英雄文化涵养下，中华民族英雄辈出，许多英雄和英雄精神至今被人们深情传颂，历久弥新。

How did the ancient Chinese view heroes? The Eastern Han Dynasty [9]9 The Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE) was a period of Chinese history following the Western Han, known for its cultural and intellectual achievements. writer Liu Shao said in his *Renwu Zhi: Yingxiong* (Treatise on Personalities: Heroes): “Thus, those who are outstanding in intelligence and talent are called *ying* (heroic in intellect), and those whose courage and insight surpass others are called *xiong* (heroic in valor).” [10]10 Liu Shao, *Renwu Zhi: Yingxiong* (Treatise on Personalities: Heroes), a third-century CE work on human typology and leadership. In Liu Shao’s view, heroes must be people who are both civil and military, outstanding in talent and wisdom, brave and resolute. Of course, each era has its own heroes; heroes bear the mission and tasks of their era and are an important embodiment and vivid carrier of the spirit of the times. However, because a scientific outlook on history had not been formed, the ancient Chinese people’s cognition of heroes inevitably mixed the good and the bad. Some revered national heroes and ordinary heroes among the common people, while others regarded emperors, generals, ministers, and wandering knights as heroes. But generally speaking, the ancient Chinese regarded those who served the country and the people as heroes. Historical facts are also like this. If they are true heroes, regardless of the type, they not only reflect a valuable quality of tenacious struggle, indomitable spirit, and daring to struggle, but also manifest a lofty spirit of sacrificing one’s life for righteousness, serving the country with utmost loyalty, and worrying about the country and the people. From Su Wu, Yue Fei, Wen Tianxiang, Zheng Chenggong to Feng Zicai, Lin Zexu, and so on, all are like this, and they will surely be long celebrated by the sons and daughters of China. As Mr. Lu Xun said: “Since ancient times, we have had people who worked hard, people who worked with all their might, people who pleaded for the people, and people who sacrificed themselves to seek the truth. Even the so-called ‘official histories,’ which are like genealogies for emperors, generals, and ministers, often cannot conceal their brilliance. These are the backbone of China.” [11]11 Lu Xun (1881–1936), a leading modern Chinese writer and cultural critic, from his essay “The Backbone of China.”

中国古人是如何看待英雄的呢？东汉文学家刘劭在《人物志·英雄》中说：“是故聪明秀出谓之英，胆识过人谓之雄。”。在刘劭看来，英雄必须是文武兼备之人，才智出众，勇毅刚强。当然，每个时代有每个时代的英雄，英雄承载所属时代的使命和任务，是时代精神的重要体现和生动载体。然而，由于没有形成科学的历史观，中国古人对英雄的认知难免良莠并存，有的崇敬民族英雄和百姓中的平凡英雄，有的把帝王将相和侠客当英雄。但总的来说，中国古人把报国为民者视为英雄。历史事实也是如此，如果是真正的英雄，无论是哪种英雄，既映射一种顽强拼搏、不屈不挠、敢于斗争的可贵品质，更彰显一种舍生取义、精忠报国、忧国忧民的崇高精神，从苏武、岳飞、文天祥、郑成功到冯子材、林则徐等皆是如此，必定为中华儿女长久传颂，正如鲁迅先生所言：“我们自古以来，就有埋头苦干的人，有拼命硬干的人，有为民请命的人，有舍身求法的人。虽是等于为帝王将相作家谱的所谓‘正史’，也往往掩不住他们的光耀，这就是中国的脊梁。”

In the various periods of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, Chinese Communists have taken the excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture as a precious spiritual asset, endowed it with new contemporary connotations, guided people to inherit and promote it, and educated people to establish a scientific outlook on heroes. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized vigorously promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, including the traditional Chinese heroic culture and heroic spirit, “adhering to making the past serve the present and using the past to illuminate the present, adhering to treating it with discrimination and inheriting it with a critical approach,” [12]12 Xi Jinping, “Speech at a Symposium on the Work of Philosophy and Social Sciences,” *People’s Daily*, May 19, 2016. drawing rich resources and nourishment from it, thereby developing Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes for a New Era, which is deeply rooted in national culture. Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes for a New Era is rooted in the excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture, nurtured within the bloodline of the traditional Chinese heroic spirit, and, based on the great practice of the New Era, creatively transforms and innovatively develops the traditional Chinese outlook on heroes. It both continues the same lineage and adds new qualities.

在中国革命、建设和改革的各个时期，中国共产党人把中华优秀传统英雄文化作为宝贵的精神财富，赋予其新的时代内涵，引导人们继承和弘扬，教育人们树立科学英雄观。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记反复强调要大力弘扬包括中华传统英雄文化和英雄精神在内的中华优秀传统文化，“要坚持古为今用、以古鉴今，坚持有鉴别的对待、有扬弃的继承”，从中吸取丰厚资源滋养，从而发展出民族文化底蕴深厚的习近平新时代英雄观。习近平新时代英雄观植根于中华优秀传统英雄文化，涵养于中华传统英雄精神的血脉之中，并立足于新时代伟大实践对中华传统英雄观进行创造性转化和创新性发展，既一脉相承又增添新质。

(C) Nurtured and Developed within Revolutionary Culture and Advanced Socialist Culture

(三)在革命文化和社会主义先进文化中孕育发展

Revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture are advanced cultural achievements created by the Chinese Communists, uniting and leading the Chinese people in the process of realizing national rejuvenation. They “embody the deepest spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation and represent the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation.” [1]1 Karl Marx, “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,” in Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *Selected Works* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), Vol. 1, p. 669. Revolutionary culture refers mainly to the cultural relics formed during the course of the Chinese Communists leading the Chinese people in revolutionary struggle. Among these, revolutionary heroes and the revolutionary spirit are the most distinct, vivid, and important essential components of revolutionary culture, concentratedly manifested in spiritual styles such as courage to sacrifice, willingness to contribute, loyalty and unity, fearlessness of hardship, and daring to win, forming a spiritual genealogy including the Red Boat Spirit, the Jinggangshan Spirit, the Soviet Area Spirit, the Long March Spirit, the Yan’an Spirit, the Xibaipo Spirit, etc., “placing the interests of the revolution above all else, possessing a high sense of responsibility and initiative toward the revolutionary cause, sharing the revolution’s worries as one’s own worries and the revolution’s joys as one’s own joys, utterly devoted, and struggling for the revolutionary cause all one’s life.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 28th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,” *People’s Daily*, December 5, 2013. Advanced socialist culture is the concentrated reflection in conceptual form of China’s social economy and politics during the socialist construction period. It takes Marxism as its guiding ideology, takes “realizing the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics” as its theme, takes “cultivating new-era figures capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation” as its goal, and takes “national, scientific, and popular” as its attributes. During the socialist construction period, under the leadership of the Chinese Communists, heroes and models emerged in large numbers, and the masses created many important achievements of advanced socialist culture, including the Daqing Spirit, the Jiao Yulu Spirit, the Lei Feng Spirit, the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” Spirit, the Earthquake Relief Spirit, the Anti-Epidemic Spirit, etc., stamping advanced socialist culture with distinct spiritual markers. It can be seen that whether in revolutionary culture or advanced socialist culture, heroes and the heroic spirit are the essence.

革命文化和社会主义先进文化是中国共产党人团结带领中国人民在实现民族复兴进程中创造的先进文化成果，“积淀着中华民族最深层的精神追求，代表着中华民族独特的精神标识。”。革命文化主要是指中国共产党领导中国人民的革命斗争历程中形成的文化遗存。其中，革命英雄和革命精神是革命文化最鲜明、最生动、最重要的精华部分，集中表现为勇于牺牲、甘于奉献、忠诚团结、不畏艰辛、敢于胜利等精神风范，形成红船精神、井冈山精神、苏区精神、长征精神、延安精神、西柏坡精神等精神谱系，“视革命的利益高于一切，对革命事业有高度的责任心和积极性，以革命之忧为忧，以革命之乐为乐，赤胆忠心，终身为革命事业奋斗。”社会主义先进文化是社会主义建设时期中国社会经济和政治在观念形态上的集中反映，以马克思主义作为指导思想，以“实现中国特色社会主义共同理想”为主题，以“培养担当民族复兴大任的时代新人”为目标，以“民族的、科学的、大众的”为属性的先进文化。社会主义建设时期，在中国共产党领导下，英雄模范辈出，人民群众创造出社会主义先进文化的许多重要成果，包括大庆精神、焦裕禄精神、雷锋精神、“两弹一星”精神、抗震救灾精神、抗疫精神等，为社会主义先进文化打上鲜明的精神标识。可见，不论是革命文化，还是社会主义先进文化，英雄和英雄精神都是其中的精华。

Based on the consistency of cultural genes, we use the specific cultural connotation of “red” for figurative expression, calling revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture red culture. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized “inheriting revolutionary culture and developing advanced socialist culture,” and that “the red gene must not change; if it changes, the nature changes.” [3]3 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The Holy Family*, in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 1, p. 295. These important discussions enlighten us that Xi Jinping’s view of heroes in the New Era is rooted in the matrix of revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, gestated and generated from the inherent red gene of this matrix, and obtains inexhaustible developmental momentum from this matrix. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that “red resources must be well utilized, red traditions well promoted, and the red gene well passed on.” He takes the lead and sets an example, gaining insight into revolutionary history, visiting revolutionary holy sites, commemorating heroic martyrs, and exalting the revolutionary spirit. He uses the “four must not forget” and the “three were not easy” [4]4 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The German Ideology*, in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 1, p. 519. to admonish Party cadres to study and grasp Party history and the history of New China. At the same time, he pays tribute to and praises heroes from various periods, calling on people to learn from heroes, models, and the heroic spirit of each period. He himself takes the older generation of heroes as his role models, making the solemn vow “I will live up to the people with utter devotion,” [5]5 Karl Marx, “The Class Struggles in France, 1848 to 1850,” in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 2, p. 137. putting into practice the resolute actions of “remaining true to our original aspiration and keeping our founding mission firmly in mind,” [6]6 V. I. Lenin, “The Tasks of the Youth Leagues,” in *Collected Works of Lenin* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), Vol. 39, p. 334. working diligently on the path of politics, serving the people, never daring to slacken, and fulfilling the solemn pledge to “pass on the red mountain and rivers from generation to generation.” [7]7 Karl Marx, “Youth’s Choice of a Profession,” in *Collected Works of Marx and Engels* (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2009), Vol. 1, p. 459.

基于文化基因的一致性，我们借助“红色”的特定文化内涵进行形象化的表述，把革命文化与社会主义先进文化称为红色文化。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记反复强调“继承革命文化，发展社会主义先进文化”，“红色基因不能变，变了就变了质”。这些重要论述启示我们，习近平新时代英雄观植根于革命文化和社会主义先进文化这个母体，从这一母体固有的红色基因孕育生成，从这一母体获得无穷的发展动力。习近平总书记强调“要把红色资源利用好、把红色传统发扬好、把红色基因传承好”，他率先垂范、身体力行，洞悉革命历史，遍访革命圣地，缅怀英雄烈士，高扬革命精神，以“四个不要忘”和“三个来之不易”告诫党员干部学习把握党史、新中国史；同时，致敬褒扬各个时期的英雄，号召人们学习各个时期的英雄模范和英雄精神，自己更是以老一辈英雄为榜样，立下“我将无我，不负人民”的铮铮誓言，付诸“不忘初心，牢记使命”的铿锵实践，在从政道路上兢兢业业、为人民服务，丝毫不敢懈怠，践履“把红色江山世世代代传下去”的庄重誓言。

II. The Essential Tenets of Xi Jinping’s View of Heroes in the New Era

二、习近平新时代英雄观的基本要旨

The era is the mother of thought; practice is the source of theory. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, based on the goals and tasks of the New Era, has closely integrated the Marxist view of heroes with the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, clarifying the contemporary connotation of Xi Jinping’s view of heroes in the New Era. This contemporary connotation can be summarized as essential tenets such as: the people are the matrix that gives birth to heroes; heroes are a powerful force for realizing national rejuvenation; and honoring heroes is an inevitable requirement for the emergence of heroes in large numbers in the New Era.

时代是思想之母，实践是理论之源。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记根据新时代的目标和任务，把马克思主义英雄观与中国特色社会主义新时代的伟大实践紧密结合，明确习近平新时代英雄观的时代内涵。这一时代内涵，可以概括为人民是孕育英雄的母体、英雄是实现民族复兴的强大力量、厚待英雄是新时代英雄辈出的必然要求等基本要旨。

(I) The People Are the Matrix That Gives Birth to Heroes

(一)人民是孕育英雄的母体

Any view of heroes must clarify the relationship between heroes and the people. That the people are the matrix that gives birth to heroes is the basic judgment of Xi Jinping’s view of heroes in the New Era regarding the relationship between heroes and the people. In other words, from the perspective of the people creating history, the people are the true heroes; from the perspective of the role of individuals in history, heroes who play an important role in history come from the people.

任何英雄观都必须明确英雄与人民的关系。人民是孕育英雄的母体，是习近平新时代英雄观对英雄与人民的关系的基本判断。换而言之，从人民创造历史来说，人民是真正的英雄，从个人在历史上的作用来说，在历史中发挥重要作用的英雄来自人民。

1. The people are the true heroes. The masses, as the subjects of social history, are the true heroes who propel history forward, playing a decisive role at every historical stage. During the various periods of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, our Party was able to continuously cross one “snowy mountain” or “grassland” after another and overcome countless “Loushan Passes” and “Lazikou Passes,” [8]8 G. V. Plekhanov, *On the Role of the Individual in History* (Beijing: Commercial Press, 2010), p. 38. inseparable from the heartfelt support and endorsement of the people, relying on fully unleashing the decisive role of the people in creating history. General Secretary Xi Jinping draws wisdom from the history of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, emphasizing that “the historical materialist view that the masses are the true heroes must not be discarded,” and adheres to and practices this in his own life experience and political career. From Liangjiahe to Zhengding in Hebei, to Fujian, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, and then to the central leadership, the conviction that “the people are the true heroes” has been as firm as a rock in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s heart. In his youth, General Secretary Xi Jinping

1.人民是真正的英雄。人民群众作为社会历史的主体，是推动历史前进的真正英雄，在每一个历史阶段发挥决定性的作用。在中国革命、建设和改革各个时期，我们党能不断跨越一个个“雪山”“草地”，攻克无数“娄山关”“腊子口”，离不开人民的衷心拥护和支持，靠的是充分发挥人民创造历史的决定性作用。习近平总书记从中国革命、建设和改革历史中汲取智慧，强调“坚信群众是真正英雄的历史唯物主义观点不能丢”，并在自己的人生经历和从政实践中恪守力行。从梁家河到河北正定，到福建、浙江和上海，再到中央，“人民是真正的英雄”的信念在习近平总书记心中坚如磐石。习近平总书记年轻时经历七年农村插队生涯，真正看到了人民群众的力量，真正理解了人民群众，后来强调对他帮助最大的“一是革命老前辈，一是我那陕北的老乡们”，还曾在《之江新语》中指出：“离开了人民，我们将一无所有。一事无成；背离了人民的利益；我们这些公仆就会被历史所淘汰”。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记继续对“人民是真正的英雄”进行系统论述，认为中国人民书写了波澜壮阔的中华民族发展史、创造了博大精深的中华文明、培育了历久弥新的中华民族精神，强调“人民群众是我们力量的源泉”，“每个人的力量是有限的，但只要我们万众一心、众志成城，就没有克服不了的困难”，等等，闪烁着历史唯物主义的真理光芒。

2. Heroes come from the people. Heroes grow up from among millions of ordinary individuals; the role of heroes is conditioned by the decisive role of the people in creating history. At the same time, maintaining close ties with the masses, taking root among the people, learning from the people, and establishing and practicing the fundamental pursuit of serving the country and the people are the fundamental paths for ordinary individuals to grow into heroes. Individuals who belittle or detach themselves from the people cannot become heroes; even if they are called "heroes," they can accomplish nothing for the people and are not true heroes. As Mao Zedong said: "The masses are the real heroes, while we ourselves are often childish and ignorant; without understanding this, it is impossible to acquire even the most rudimentary knowledge." [13]13 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Awarding Medals of the Republic and National Honorary Titles" (September 29, 2019), in Xi Jinping, *Selected Readings from Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2 (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2023), p. 253; Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Commendation Conference for the Fight against COVID-19" (September 8, 2020), in *Selected Readings from Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2, p. 280; Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Awarding Medals of the Republic and National Honorary Titles," p. 253. On the one hand, "the ordinary creates the great"; any great achievement is never created solely by a few heroes or "lone heroes," but is created together by countless ordinary people, including heroes. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "In the face of this sudden epidemic, millions of working people have worked hard and contributed silently in their respective posts, gathering a powerful force to overcome the epidemic." On the other hand, "the great comes from the ordinary"; countless ordinary people closely link their personal future and destiny with the future and destiny of the country and the people, firm up their ideals and convictions, strive unremittingly, create extraordinary achievements, and write extraordinary lives—all of them can be called heroes, such as Zhang Fuqing, Huang Wenxiu, the 31 heroes of Muli, Sichuan, Du Fuguo, and so on. [14]14 Yu Dafu (1896–1945), a modern Chinese writer and poet, made this statement in his essay "On the Death of Lu Xun" (1936).

2.英雄来自人民。英雄从千万普通个人中成长起来，英雄的作用受制于人民创造历史的决定性作用；同时，密切联系群众，植根于人民，以人民为师，确立和践行报国为民的根本追求，是普通个人成长为英雄的根本途径。轻视或脱离人民的个人不可能成为英雄，即便被称为“英雄”也不能对人民有所作为，不是真正的英雄，正如毛泽东所说：“群众是真正的英雄，而我们自己则往往是幼稚可笑的，不了解这一点,就不能得到起码的知识。”一方面，“平凡造就伟大”，凡是伟大的成就，决不是由少数英雄或“孤胆英雄”单独创造的，而是由包括英雄在内的无数普通人一起创造的，正如习近平总书记所说：“面对这次突如其来的疫情，千千万万劳动群众在各自岗位上埋头苦干、默默奉献，汇聚起了战胜疫情的强大力量。”另一方面，“伟大出自平凡”，无数普通人把个人的前途命运和国家人民的前途命运紧密联系在一起，坚定理想信念，不懈奋斗，创造不平凡的成就，书写不平凡的人生，都可以称得上英雄，如张富清、黄文秀、四川木里31名勇士、杜富国，等等。

(II) Heroes Are a Powerful Force for Realizing National Rejuvenation

(二)英雄是实现民族复兴的强大力量

Any view of heroes includes a judgment on the status and role of heroes. Xi Jinping’s view of heroes for the New Era holds that heroes are a powerful force for realizing national rejuvenation, playing an important role in each period of China’s revolution, construction, and reform. This basic judgment stems from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound reflection on the history of the Chinese nation’s resistance and development.

任何英雄观都包含对英雄的地位和作用的判断。习近平新时代英雄观认为，英雄是实现民族复兴的强大力量，在中国革命、建设和改革各个时期发挥重要作用。这一基本判断源于习近平总书记对中华民族抗争史和发展史的深刻思考。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly highly appraised the status and role of heroes

习近平总书记多次高度评价英雄的地位和作用，强调“一个有希望的民族不能没有英雄，一个有前途的国家不能没有先锋”等，充分揭示英雄对国家和民族的重要性。英雄的地位和作用不是抽象的，通过报国为民的英雄业绩表现出来。习近平总书记多次赞扬英雄业绩，指出“为了探求救亡图存的正确道路，中国的先进分子带领中国人民始终坚持在苦难和挫折中求索、在风雨飘摇中前进，敢于挽狂澜于既倒、扶大厦之将倾”，“新中国成立以后，也是因为我们党有一大批像焦裕禄、谷文昌、杨善洲、张富清这样的英雄模范率先垂范，才团结带领人民群众不断开创各项事业发展新局面。”各个时期的英雄创造不同的英雄业绩，但英雄精神是相通的，在同一精神基因上生发出来，形成一条坚不可摧的精神基因链贯穿于各个时期，产生强大的精神力量。“精神是一个民族赖以长久生存的灵魂，唯有精神上达到一定的高度，这个民族才能在历史的洪流中屹立不倒、奋勇向前”，习近平总书记以对“英雄精神”的深刻洞察，在颁发“抗战”纪念章仪式上的讲话中从必胜信念、英雄气概、民族气节、爱国情怀等方面凝练英雄精神，提出“百折不挠、坚忍不拔”“不畏强暴、血战到底”“视死如归、宁死不屈”“天下兴亡、匹夫有责”等英雄风范，对英雄发出崇高礼赞。

Heroes follow the currents of the times, discern the missions of the era, and mobilize and lead the masses to overcome all difficulties and challenges, creating a bright future for the motherland and the nation. History, reality, and the future are interconnected; heroes and the heroic spirit are not only historical but also present and future—they never become obsolete and should be remembered and promoted by the people. To firmly establish this concept, it is necessary to enhance historical consciousness, adhere to historical thinking, and view heroes and the heroic spirit with a dialectical approach that connects history, reality, and the future. General Secretary Xi Jinping, with a lofty historical perspective, precise attention to reality, and profound vision for the future, analyzes the current situation, judges trends, and grasps the future. Standing at the historical juncture of the New Era, he earnestly admonishes us: "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is by no means something that can be achieved easily, with a mere clatter of gongs and drums," and further emphasizes, "To realize our goals, we need heroes and the heroic spirit," and "Their deeds and spirit are powerful forces inspiring us to move forward." [13]13 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Awarding Medals of the Republic and National Honorary Titles" (September 29, 2019), in Xi Jinping, *Selected Readings from Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2 (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2023), p. 253; Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Commendation Conference for the Fight against COVID-19" (September 8, 2020), in *Selected Readings from Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2, p. 280; Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Awarding Medals of the Republic and National Honorary Titles," p. 253.

英雄顺应时代潮流，洞悉时代使命，发动和带领人民群众战胜一切艰难挑战，开创祖国和民族的美好未来。历史、现实和未来是相通的，英雄和英雄精神不仅是历史的，更是现在的和未来的，不会过时，应被人们牢记和弘扬。要牢固树立这一观念，必须提升历史意识，坚持历史思维，以贯通历史、现实和未来的辩证思维看待英雄和英雄精神。习近平总书记以高远的历史站位、精准的现实关照和深邃的未来视野，分析现状，判断趋势，把握未来，站在新时代的历史方位上，语重心长地告诫我们：“中华民族伟大复兴，绝不是轻轻松松、敲锣打鼓就能实现的”，进而强调“实现我们的目标，需要英雄，需要英雄精神”“他们的事迹和精神都是激励我们前行的强大力量”。

(3) Treating Heroes Well Is an Inevitable Requirement for the Emergence of Heroes in the New Era

(三)厚待英雄是新时代英雄辈出的必然要求

How to treat heroes is a major proposition for any country and nation in any era. It not only reflects the scope and realm of that country and nation but also concerns their future and prospects. As Yu Dafu said: "A country that has great figures but does not know how to support, cherish, and revere them is a hopeless nation of slaves." [14]14 Yu Dafu (1896–1945), a modern Chinese writer and poet, made this statement in his essay "On the Death of Lu Xun" (1936). On the basis of scientifically judging the status and role of heroes, General Secretary Xi Jinping, starting from the historical position of the New Era, profoundly explains how to treat heroes. He emphasizes, "Through morning frost and evening snow, do not change the heroic spirit," and "We must extensively carry out activities to study and publicize advanced models, creating a strong atmosphere of revering heroes, learning from heroes, defending heroes, and caring for heroes." This points out for us the attitude and methods for treating heroes well, guiding and educating people to do so.

如何对待英雄，在任何时代都是一个国家和民族的重要命题，既体现这个国家和民族的格局和境界，也关系着这个国家和民族的未来和前途，正如郁达夫所言：“有了伟大的人物，而不知拥护，爱戴，崇仰的国家，是没有希望的奴隶之邦。”习近平总书记在科学判断英雄的地位和作用基础上，从新时代的历史方位出发，深刻阐释如何对待英雄这一问题，强调“暮雪朝霜，毋改英雄意气”，“要广泛开展先进模范学习宣传活动，营造崇尚英雄、学习英雄、捍卫英雄、关爱英雄的浓厚氛围”，为我们指明了厚待英雄的态度和方式，引导和教育人们厚待英雄。

1. Revering Heroes Is the Value Foundation for Treating Heroes Well. A country and nation with hope and prospects will inevitably revere the heroes of their own country and nation. The Communist Party of China, as the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation, has established a fine tradition of revering heroes since its founding, and thus has always risen from setbacks and forged brilliance from suffering. Shortly after the founding of New China, the Party and the state erected the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square. The inscription, drafted by Mao Zedong and inscribed by Zhou Enlai, pays tribute to the great people's heroes with "three immortalities." [15]15 The "three immortalities" refer to the phrase in the inscription: "Eternal glory to the heroes who laid down their lives in the people's war of liberation and the people's revolution in the past three years! Eternal glory to the heroes who laid down their lives in the people's war of liberation and the people's revolution in the past thirty years! Eternal glory to the heroes who from 1840 laid down their lives in the struggles against domestic and foreign enemies, for national independence and the freedom and well-being of the people!" After reform and opening up, and especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, on August 31, 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress issued the "Decision on Establishing Martyrs' Memorial Day"; on December 14, 2015, the CPC Central Committee issued the "Opinions on Establishing and Improving the National Merit and Honor Recognition System," and on the 27th of the same month, the President of the People's Republic of China signed the "Law of the People's Republic of China on National Medals and National Honorary Titles." The Party and the state have grandly held hero recognition ceremonies, carried out hero commemoration activities, promoted the creation of literary and artistic works about heroes, and developed red culture education and tourism. Revering heroes has formed an even stronger atmosphere, moving onto a track of institutionalization, ritualization, and routinization.

1.崇尚英雄是厚待英雄的价值基础。一个有希望和前途的国家和民族，必然崇尚自己国家和民族的英雄。中国共产党作为中国工人阶级、中国人民和中华民族的先锋队，自成立之日就树立了崇尚英雄的优良传统，所以总是从挫折中不断奋起、从苦难中铸就辉煌。新中国刚刚成立不久，党和国家在天安门广场为人民英雄建立纪念碑，由毛泽东起草、周恩来题写了人民英雄纪念碑碑文，用“三个不朽”，向伟大的人民英雄致敬。改革开放后尤其党的十八大以来，2014年8月31日，全国人民代表大会常务委员会出台《关于设立烈士纪念日的决定》；2015年12月14日，中共中央印发《关于建立健全党和国家功勋荣誉表彰制度的意见》，同月27日，中华人民共和国主席令签发《中华人民共和国国家勋章和国家荣誉称号法》。党和国家隆重举行英雄表彰仪式，开展英雄纪念活动，推进英雄文艺创作，发展红色文化教育和旅游，崇尚英雄形成更加浓厚的氛围，走上制度化、仪式化和日常化的轨道。

2. Learning from Heroes Is the Inherent Requirement for Treating Heroes Well. Treating heroes well is not only expressed as the fine sentiment and value concept of revering heroes but also requires implementation in the concrete actions of learning from heroes, to carry forward and develop the great spirit and noble character of heroes. Treating heroes well inevitably requires learning from heroes. The power of role models is infinite. Taking heroes as role models for learning, inheriting and promoting their great spirit and noble character, promotes the comprehensive and healthy growth of individuals. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "All Party members and the people of all ethnic groups in the country should persevere like heroes and role models, and strive like heroes and role models, jointly composing a magnificent song for the People's Republic in the New Era," "We should promote the distinct qualities of loyalty, perseverance, and simplicity they display," and "Learn from heroic figures, advanced individuals, and fine things, cultivating good ideological and moral pursuits in learning." This provides us with important methodological guidance for learning from heroes. Clearly, not everyone can become a hero, but everyone should learn from heroes, transforming their great spirit and noble character into the spiritual strength for personal growth, success, and undertaking endeavors.

2.学习英雄是厚待英雄的内在要求。厚待英雄，既表现为崇尚英雄这一美好情感和价值观念，又要求落实于学习英雄的实际行动中，把英雄的伟大精神和崇高品德发扬光大。厚待英雄，必然要求学习英雄。榜样的力量是无穷的，把英雄作为学习榜样，继承和弘扬英雄的伟大精神和崇高品德，促进个人全面健康成长。习近平总书记指出：“全党全国各族人民要像英雄模范那样坚守、像英雄模范那样奋斗，共同谱写新时代人民共和国的壮丽凯歌”，“要弘扬他们身上展现的忠诚、执着、朴实的鲜明品格”，“学习英雄人物、先进人物、美好事物，在学习中养成好的思想品德追求”，为我们学习英雄提供了重要的方法论指导。显然，不是每个人都能够成为英雄，但人人都应当学习英雄，把英雄的伟大精神和崇高品德化为个人成长成才和干事创业的精神力量。

3. Defending Heroes Is a Powerful Guarantee for Treating Heroes Well. In order to achieve the sinister goals of subverting progressive history, dissolving mainstream values, and confusing people's minds, "some people deliberately smear our heroic figures and distort our glorious history, which requires our high vigilance." [16]16 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work" (August 19, 2013), in Xi Jinping, *Excerpts from Xi Jinping's Discussion on the United Front Work* (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2017), p. 27. In response, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly requires the use of historical materialism to guide historical research, "basing historical conclusions on solid and accurate historical evidence and thorough and meticulous research and analysis." In important discussions on literary and artistic work, he clarifies methods and requirements, emphasizing "recording and portraying heroes with rich colors, so that heroes are propagated in literary and artistic works," and "never do anything that desecrates ancestors, classics, or heroes." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has made wise decisions, enacted the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs," providing powerful legal force for defending heroes, strengthened and improved ideological work, governed the chaos in the ideological and cultural fields, and effectively cracked down on words and deeds that smear and defame heroes.

3.捍卫英雄是厚待英雄的有力保障。为了达到颠覆进步历史、瓦解主流价值、搞乱人心的险恶目的，“有些人刻意抹黑我们的英雄人物，歪曲我们的光辉历史，要引起我们高度警觉。”对此，习近平总书记明确要求用唯物史观指导历史研究，“把历史结论建立在翔实准确的史料支撑和深入细致的研究分析的基础之上”。在关于文艺工作的重要论述中明确方法和要求，强调“浓墨重彩记录英雄、塑造英雄，让英雄在文艺作品中得到传扬”，“绝不做亵渎祖先、亵渎经典、亵渎英雄的事情”。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央英明决策，出台《中华人民共和国英雄烈士保护法》，为捍卫英雄提供了强有力的法治力量，加强和改进意识形态工作，治理思想文化领域出现的乱象，有力地打击了抹黑诋毁英雄的言行。

4. Caring for heroes is an important manifestation of treating them generously. Heroes are the spiritual high ground and moral benchmark of a nation and its people; in reality, they are also living, flesh-and-blood, emotional ordinary people, whose sole distinction is possessing a great heart. As an internet saying goes, “There is no such thing as a peaceful and easy time; it’s just that someone is carrying the burden for you.” Those who carry the burden for us are primarily heroes who come from ordinary people. It goes without saying that heroes make sacrifices and contributions to the Party, the state, and the people, and they deserve more and better care and love from the whole of society. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “We must forever cherish the memory of heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the nation and the people, and bestow upon them the greatest honor and reverence. Otherwise, who would be willing to sacrifice for the country and the people?” To this end, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core calls

4.关爱英雄是厚待英雄的重要体现。英雄是一个国家和民族的精神高地和道德标杆，其实也是一个个活生生、有血有肉、有情感的普通人，唯一的特别之处是拥有一颗伟大的心，正如一句网络流行语所说，“哪有什么岁月静好，不过是有人替你负重前行”，这个替我们负重前行的人主要是一个个来自普通人的英雄。不言而喻，英雄对党、国家和人民作出奉献和牺牲，理应得到全社会更多更好的关怀和爱护，习近平总书记强调：“对为国牺牲、为民牺牲的英雄烈士，我们要永远怀念他们，给予他们极大的荣誉和敬仰，不然谁愿意为国家和人民牺牲呢？”为此，以习近平同志为核心的党中央号召“各级党委和政府要关心、关怀、关爱英雄模范”，建立退役军人事务部，制定英雄烈士保护法，构建国家荣誉制度，设立烈士纪念日，维护英雄及亲属的合法权益，不断提高物质待遇和抚恤金标准，从组织机构、制度建设、荣誉表彰、物质待遇等方面构建和完善关爱英雄的体系，确保英雄无后顾之忧，确保英雄及其家人过上幸福美好的生活。

III. The Major Significance of Xi Jinping’s View of Heroes in the New Era

三、习近平新时代英雄观的重大意义

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, the Chinese nation is closer than at any time in its history to the great goal of national rejuvenation. The closer it comes to realizing the great goal of national rejuvenation, the more it needs heroes to charge forward, and the more it needs the spirit of heroes to forge souls and inspire aspirations. To revere heroes and promote the spirit of heroes becomes all the more urgent in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and all the more necessary for Xi Jinping’s view of heroes in the New Era to provide guidance and direction.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中华民族比历史上任何时期都更接近实现民族复兴的伟大目标。越接近实现民族复兴的伟大目标，越需要英雄为之冲锋在前，越需要英雄精神铸魂励志。崇尚英雄，弘扬英雄精神，在中国特色社会主义新时代愈加迫切，更加需要习近平新时代英雄观为之导航指向。

(1) Opening a New Realm for the Marxist View of Heroes

(一)开创马克思主义英雄观的新境界

Keeping pace with the times is the theoretical quality of Marxism. As the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context has deepened in practice, the Marxist view of heroes has taken root and sprouted on Chinese soil, eventually growing into the towering tree of the view of heroes of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in light of the new changes and new circumstances of socialism with Chinese characteristics, has put forward new viewpoints and new judgments on the view of heroes, thereby opening a new realm for the Marxist view of heroes.

与时俱进是马克思主义的理论品质。伴随马克思主义中国化在实践中深入发展，马克思主义英雄观在中国大地上生根发芽，最终长成中国特色社会主义英雄观的参天大树。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记根据中国特色社会主义的新变化和新情况，对英雄观提出新观点、新论断，开创了马克思主义英雄观的新境界。

1. New viewpoints on the essence and role of heroes. The mass historical viewpoint and the heroic historical viewpoint are fundamentally opposed on the question of who creates history. The heroic historical viewpoint exaggerates a small number of heroes as the decisive force dominating history, treats the masses as tools for a few heroes to realize their aims, extols heroes who are divorced from the masses and serve the interests of the exploiting classes, reflects the will of the exploiting classes to maintain their rule, plays the role of befuddling and paralyzing the masses, and dissolves the fighting spirit of the masses. The mass historical viewpoint holds that both the masses and individuals play a role in history, but emphasizes that their roles are at different levels: the masses play a decisive role in history, while individuals do not play a decisive role in history; even heroes at most play an important role. General Secretary Xi Jinping calls the people true heroes. The “heroes” here do not refer to heroes in the ordinary sense, nor to “superheroes” divorced from the masses, but to the great force by which the people create history. This judgment truly restores “heroes” to the people, dissolves the concept of heroes that the heroic historical viewpoint has stuffed into people’s minds, and enhances the people’s consciousness, sense of responsibility, and sense of mission in creating history. At the same time, the people are the root and foundation of heroes; heroes who breathe the same air and share the same fate with the people play an important and progressive role in history, and can educate and guide the people to understand and fully exert their own strength. Thus, Xi Jinping’s view of heroes in the New Era not only criticizes the “heroes” in the heroic historical viewpoint, but also unifies the people and heroes on the basis of the mass historical viewpoint, thereby innovatively developing the basic viewpoints of the mass historical viewpoint on heroes.

1.对英雄的本质与作用提出新观点。群众史观与英雄史观在历史创造者问题上是根本对立的。英雄史观把少数英雄夸大为主宰历史的决定力量，把人民群众当作少数英雄实现其目的的工具，推崇的是脱离群众、为剥削阶级利益服务的英雄，反映了剥削阶级维护统治的意志，起到愚昧和麻痹人民群众的作用，消解人民群众的斗争精神。群众史观认为人民群众和个人都在历史上起作用，但强调两者的作用处于不同层次，人民群众在历史上起决定作用，而个人在历史上不起决定作用，即便是英雄也至多起重要作用。习近平总书记称人民为真正的英雄，这里的“英雄”不是指一般意义上的英雄，也不是指脱离群众的“超级英雄”，而是代表人民创造历史的伟大力量。这一论断把“英雄”真实还原为人民，消解英雄史观塞进在人们头脑中的英雄观念，增强人民创造历史的自觉性、责任感和使命感。同时，人民是英雄的根和本，与人民同呼吸，共命运的英雄在历史上起重要的进步作用，能够教育和引导人民认识与充分发挥自身的力量。可见，习近平新时代英雄观不但批判了英雄史观中的“英雄”，而且在群众史观上把人民与英雄统一起来，进而创新发展了群众史观关于英雄的基本观点。

2. New judgments on cultivating heroes and treating heroes. Historical materialism tells us that the times create heroes; the times do not change according to human will; only by changing with the times and guiding according to circumstances can heroes accomplish something. Besides the times, there are many specific factors that have an important and complex influence on the emergence of heroes, and under specific circumstances play a crucial role, such as individual factors, subjective factors, and factors that can be adjusted by human effort, which are often overlooked because they occupy a secondary position. Xi Jinping’s view of heroes in the New Era inherits and develops the viewpoint that “the times create heroes,” emphasizing that a hopeful country and nation will not sit idly by and wait for heroes to emerge spontaneously, but should conform to the times, fully leverage the combined effect of various factors, consciously and actively cultivate heroes, create a favorable situation where heroes emerge in large numbers, and “promote the formation of a good social atmosphere of emulating the worthy, revering heroes, and striving to be pioneers.” [17]17 “The brave wins when the narrow road meets” (狭路相逢勇者胜) is a Chinese idiom from the historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, meaning that in a confrontation, the one with greater courage prevails. In the past, we often used the “lofty, complete, and great” method to propagate heroes, presenting a stereotyped image of “heroes as strong individuals who only seek dedication,” along with the negative impact of interest differentiation and erroneous concepts brought about by the market economy, leading some people to lack respect and gratitude for heroes, or even to smear and slander them. In response, Xi

2.对培育英雄和对待英雄作出新论断。唯物史观告诉我们，时势造英雄，时势不以人的意志为转移，只有因时而变、因势利导，英雄才能有所作为。除了时势之外，还有许多具体因素对产生英雄具有重要而复杂的影响，在特定情况下发挥至关重要的作用，如个体因素、主观因素和人力可以调整的因素等，往往由于处于次要地位而被人忽视。习近平新时代英雄观继承发展“时势造英雄”的观点，强调一个有希望的国家和民族不会坐等英雄自发产生，而应顺应时势，充分发挥各种因素的共同作用，自觉主动地培育英雄，造成英雄辈出的良好局面，“推动全社会形成见贤思齐、崇尚英雄、争做先锋的良好氛围。”以往我们常用“高大全”方式宣传英雄，呈现“英雄是只求奉献的强者”的脸谱化形象，以及市场经济带来的利益分化和错误观念的负面影响，导致一些人对英雄缺乏敬重、感恩，甚至抹黑诋毁。对此，习近平新时代英雄观强调，一方面要高扬英雄的伟大精神和崇高品德，另一方面也必须充分满足英雄作为现实人的合理需要，应获得人们、国家和社会更多更好的关心和支持，从而创新发展了对待英雄的观念和方法。

(2) Forging the spiritual pillar of firm cultural confidence

(二)铸牢坚定文化自信的精神支柱

Cultural confidence is people's heartfelt affirmation of and identification with the culture of their own country and nation, and it is an important force bearing on the rise and fall of a nation's fortunes, cultural security, and the independence of the national spirit. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has stated, "Cultural confidence is a more fundamental, deeper, and more enduring force." [17]17 “The brave wins when the narrow road meets” (狭路相逢勇者胜) is a Chinese idiom from the historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, meaning that in a confrontation, the one with greater courage prevails. Cultural confidence must be built on the basis of an advanced culture; a backward and decadent culture tends to plunge people into cultural arrogance or cultural inferiority. On the eve of the Opium War, [18]18 “With the sacrifice of so many, daring to make the sun and moon shine in a new sky” (为有牺牲多壮志，敢教日月换新天) is a line from Mao Zedong’s 1959 poem “Shaoshan Revisited,” praising the revolutionary spirit of sacrifice. Chinese society was riddled with corruption, and the feudal rulers, intoxicated by the dream of the Celestial Empire, regarded modern Western culture as "clever tricks and crafty devices," displaying extreme cultural arrogance. After suffering the profound calamity of imperialist invasion, however, some went to the opposite extreme of cultural inferiority, advocating "wholesale Westernization." [19]19 “The great project” (伟大工程) refers to the Party’s project of strengthening itself, a term used in CPC discourse since the 1990s. Guided by Marxism, the Chinese Communists have advanced the Sinicization of Marxism, creatively transformed and innovatively developed the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation, continuously enriched and developed revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, and created an advanced socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, thereby leading the Chinese people to establish unprecedented cultural confidence.

文化自信是人们对自己国家和民族的文化发自内心的肯定和认同，是攸关国运兴衰、文化安全、民族精神独立的重要力量，正如习近平总书记所言“文化自信是更基本、更深沉、更持久的力量。”文化自信必须建立在先进文化的基础上，落后腐朽的文化往往使人陷入文化自负或文化自卑。鸦片战争前夕，中国社会腐败不堪，封建统治者沉醉于天朝上国的迷梦，把西方近代文化视为“奇技淫巧”，在文化上极其自负自大，而经历帝国主义入侵的深重灾难之后，有些人又走到文化自卑的极端，鼓吹“全盘西化论”。中国共产党人以马克思主义为指导，推进马克思主义中国化，创造性转化和创新性发展中华民族优秀传统文化，不断丰富发展革命文化和社会主义先进文化，创造出先进的中国特色社会主义文化，从而带领中国人民建立前所未有的文化自信。

Heroes are important creators, integrators, believers, defenders, and practitioners of advanced culture, and the heroic spirit is the most direct, vivid, and typical essence of advanced culture and its most dazzling spiritual marker. To revere heroes and carry forward the heroic spirit is both an inevitable requirement for firming up cultural confidence and the spiritual pillar of firm cultural confidence. If there are no heroes or heroic spirit, or if heroes and the heroic spirit are not revered but are smeared and slandered, then the people of a country and nation cannot establish cultural confidence, or their cultural confidence will collapse for lack of powerful support and a solid foundation, sinking into the mire of cultural inferiority. The causes of the dissolution of the Soviet Union were complex and intertwined, but one very important cause was that the United States and other Western countries, colluding with hostile forces within the Soviet Union, wantonly smeared and slandered Soviet heroes and history, causing the spiritual monuments in the hearts of the Soviet people to crumble and collapse, and cultural confidence to vanish completely.

英雄是先进文化的重要创造者、集成者、自信者、捍卫者和践行者，英雄精神是先进文化最直接、最生动、最典型的精华和最耀眼的精神标识。崇尚英雄，弘扬英雄精神，既是坚定文化自信的必然要求，也是坚定文化自信的精神支柱。如果没有英雄和英雄精神，或者不崇尚英雄、抹黑诋毁英雄和英雄精神，那么，一个国家和民族的人们不可能建立文化自信，或者文化自信因缺失有力支撑和坚实基础而土崩瓦解，陷入文化自卑的泥淖。造成苏联解体的原因错综复杂，其中一个非常重要的原因就是美国等西方国家勾结苏联国内的敌对势力大肆抹黑诋毁苏联英雄和历史，使苏联人民心中的精神丰碑解体崩塌，文化自信荡然无存。

Xi Jinping's view of heroes in the New Era scientifically answers such major and fundamental questions as "who are heroes," "how to treat heroes," and "how to cultivate heroes," helping people establish a scientific view of heroes as the ideological premise, and educating and guiding people to revere heroes and carry forward the heroic spirit. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's view of heroes in the New Era, the Chinese people understand heroes scientifically, treat heroes correctly, and actively cultivate heroes. They take pride in the heroes of their own country and nation, and their will is made firmer through the baptism of the heroic spirit, thereby forging the spiritual pillar of firm cultural confidence.

习近平新时代英雄观科学回答了“谁是英雄”“如何对待英雄”和“怎样培育英雄”等重大基本问题，帮助人们树立科学英雄观这一思想前提，教育和引导人们崇尚英雄和弘扬英雄精神。在习近平新时代英雄观指导下，中国人民科学认识英雄，正确对待英雄，积极培育英雄，为自己国家和民族的英雄而骄傲自豪，因英雄精神的洗礼而意志弥坚，从而铸牢坚定文化自信的精神支柱。

(3) Enhancing the powerful force for carrying out the great struggle

(三)增强进行伟大斗争的强大力量

Guided by Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes in the New Era, we must vigorously foster a rich atmosphere of revering heroes, universally cultivate people’s moral pursuit of striving to become heroes, and transform the spirit of struggle embodied in heroes into a common spiritual quality of the whole society, thereby educating and inspiring people to face and overcome all “unimaginable stormy waves” and to strengthen the mighty force for carrying out the great struggle.

以习近平新时代英雄观为指导，大力营造崇尚英雄的浓郁氛围，普遍养成人们争做英雄的道德追求，使英雄身上体现的斗争精神成为全社会的共同精神品质，教育和鼓舞人们直面和战胜一切“难以想象的惊涛骇浪”，增强进行伟大斗争的强大力量。

1. The great struggle requires the spirit of struggle. The great struggle refers to the spirit of struggle and resolute actions by which our Party leads the people to successfully confront and overcome all risks and challenges in the process of achieving the goals and tasks of the New Era. At present, the world situation is undergoing changes unseen in a century; the tasks of domestic reform, development, and stability are arduous and complex; the construction of the great project [of Party building] is a matter of life and death; the advancement of the great cause [of socialism with Chinese characteristics] is unprecedentedly complex; and the realization of the great dream [of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation] entails a long and arduous journey. For this reason, we must prepare to carry out a great struggle with many new historical features. The great struggle in the New Era differs from the past and has many new historical features, but no matter how it changes, the spirit of struggle in the various periods of the Chinese revolution, construction, and reform and opening up has developed in an unbroken line—that is, it always emphasizes the spirit of struggle of “the brave wins when the narrow road meets” and “the more dangerous the situation, the more one must press forward,” including establishing a consciousness of struggle, strengthening the will to struggle, mastering the art of struggle, and enhancing the ability to struggle. This is a mighty force for carrying out the great struggle and an important magic weapon for achieving the goals and tasks of the New Era.

1.进行伟大斗争需要斗争精神。伟大斗争是指我们党领导人民实现新时代的目标和任务过程中成功应对和战胜一切风险挑战的斗争精神和果敢行动。当前，世界局势迎来百年未有之大变局，国内改革发展稳定任务艰巨复杂，建设伟大工程的生死攸关，推进伟大事业的空前复杂，实现伟大梦想的任重道远，为此，我们必须准备进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争。新时代的伟大斗争不同以往，具有许多新的历史特点，但不论如何变化，中国革命、建设和改革各个时期的斗争精神一脉发展，即始终强调“狭路相逢勇者胜”、“越是艰险越向前”的斗争精神，包括树立斗争意识、坚定斗争意志、讲究斗争艺术、增强斗争本领等，是进行伟大斗争的强大力量，是实现新时代的目标和任务的重要法宝。

2. Heroes are the embodiment and model of the spirit of struggle. “In times of great difficulty in the world, the times create heroes.” Heroes are never nurtured in a greenhouse; they are always born and grow in struggle. In the arduous struggles of the Chinese people for national independence, people’s liberation, and the realization of national prosperity and people’s wealth, many heroes have emerged. According to incomplete statistics, since modern times, approximately 20 million heroes in our country have made the ultimate sacrifice, rendering immortal meritorious service to the motherland and the people. “With the sacrifice of so many, daring to make the sun and moon shine in a new sky,” heroes, through the baptism and tempering of struggle in their respective eras, have integrated the spirit of struggle into their blood and genes. They dare to struggle and are skilled in struggle, becoming the embodiment and model of the spirit of struggle. The spirit of struggle has become the distinctive political character of heroes, a concentrated expression of heroic temperament, heroic bearing, and heroic mettle. In the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese nation has long since shaken off the suffering and humiliation of old China and is moving toward a happier and better life. But crises have never gone away; the various struggles we face will only become increasingly intense and complex and will persist for a long time. This requires us to revere heroes and promote the heroic spirit, and it requires us to continuously inherit and develop the spirit of struggle. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world; to be happy, one must struggle,” and “any idea of seeking comfort and ease, of being unwilling to continue hard struggle, is unacceptable.”

2.英雄是斗争精神的化身和典范。“天下艰难际，时势造英雄”，英雄从不在温室里孕育，从来是在斗争中产生成长。在中国人民争取民族独立、人民解放和实现国家富强、人民富裕的艰苦卓绝斗争中产生出许多英雄，据不完全统计，近代以来我国约有2000万名英雄壮烈牺牲，为祖国和人民立下不朽功勋。“为有牺牲多壮志，敢教日月换新天”，英雄经过各自时代的斗争洗礼和淬炼，把斗争精神融入了血液基因，敢于斗争，善于斗争，成为斗争精神的化身和典范。斗争精神成为英雄的鲜明政治品格，是英雄气质、英雄气度和英雄气概的集中体现。在中国特色社会主义新时代，中华民族早已摆脱旧中国的苦难和屈辱，迈向更加幸福美好的生活，但危机从未远去，面临的各种斗争只会日益激烈复杂，并将长期存在，需要我们崇尚英雄和弘扬英雄精神，需要我们不断继承和发扬斗争精神，正如习近平总书记所说“世界上没有坐享其成的好事，要幸福就要奋斗”，“一切贪图安逸、不愿继续艰苦奋斗的想法都是要不得的”。

In summary, Xi Jinping’s outlook on heroes in the New Era is the New Era’s reflection on and answer to such major fundamental questions as “who are heroes,” “how to treat heroes,” and “how to cultivate heroes.” Its theoretical origins are profound: it is founded on historical materialism, absorbs the rich nourishment of the excellent traditional Chinese heroic culture, and is nurtured and developed within revolutionary culture and the advanced socialist culture. Its connotations are rich, including that the people are the matrix that gives birth to heroes, that heroes are a mighty force for realizing national rejuvenation, and that treating heroes well is an inevitable requirement for the emergence of heroes in large numbers in the New Era. Its significance is great: it opens up a new realm of the Marxist outlook on heroes, forges the spiritual pillar for strengthening cultural confidence, and enhances the mighty force for carrying out the great struggle.

综上所述，习近平新时代英雄观是新时代对“谁是英雄”“如何对待英雄”和“怎样培育英雄”等重大基本问题的思考与回答，其理论渊源深远，建基于历史唯物主义，吸收中华优秀传统英雄文化的丰厚滋养，在革命文化和社会主义先进文化中孕育发展。意涵丰富，包括人民是孕育英雄的母体、英雄是实现民族复兴的强大力量、厚待英雄是新时代英雄辈出的必然要求等基本要旨。意义重大，开创了马克思主义英雄观的新境界，铸牢了坚定文化自信的精神支柱，增强了进行伟大斗争的强大力量。

Source: *Red Culture Journal*, September 30, 2024

文章来源：《红色文化学刊》2024年9月30日

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆