The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to Historical Materialism

Historical materialism, also known as the materialist conception of history, is a science concerning human society and its laws of evolution and development, and is a wholly new historical outlook and methodology for comprehending the world and history. General Secretary Xi Jinping has clearly pointed out: “Both history and reality show that only by adhering to historical materialism can we continuously raise our understanding of the laws of socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new level and continuously open up new realms for the development of Marxism in contemporary China.”[1]1 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China" (July 1, 2016), People's Publishing House, 2016, p. 9. This important thesis profoundly reveals the fundamental ideological method by which our Party has been able to always grasp historical initiative and lead the times. It is precisely on the basis of persisting in this principle that “our Party has always viewed the history of the Chinese nation from the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism,”[2]2 Xi Jinping, "Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" (October 18, 2017), in Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works, Vol. 2, Foreign Languages Press, 2023, p. 10. drawing wisdom and strength for continuing to advance from a profound summation of historical experience and exploration of historical laws. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new viewpoints, new theses, and new ideas concerning historical laws, historical trends, historical forces, historical direction, historical experience, and historical confidence, demonstrating his scientific attitude of adhering to the guidance of historical materialism, basing himself on the height of the development of human civilization, accurately grasping the laws of the development of human society, and comprehensively understanding the direction of advance of Chinese-path modernization. The publication of important works such as the fifth volume of *Xi Jinping: The Governance of China* has further deepened and expanded these original viewpoints, systematically presenting the profound connotations of historical materialism within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This thought faces real society, penetrates into the overall structure of society and its deep operational logic, manifests the contemporary vitality of historical materialism, achieves innovative development of historical materialism in terms of systematization and adaptation to the times, and makes original contributions to historical materialism.

唯物史观也可以称为历史唯物主义，是关于人类社会及其演进发展规律的科学，是把握世界和历史的全新的历史观和方法论。习近平总书记明确指出：“历史和现实都表明，只有坚持历史唯物主义，我们才能不断把对中国特色社会主义规律的认识提高到新的水平，不断开辟当代中国马克思主义发展新境界。” 这一重要论断深刻揭示了我们党之所以能够始终把握历史主动、引领时代的根本思想方法。正是基于对这一原则的始终坚持，“我们党历来用历史唯物主义的立场观点方法看待中华民族历史” ,在深刻总结历史经验、探究历史规律中汲取继续前进的智慧和力量。习近平总书记围绕历史规律、历史大势、历史动力、历史方向、历史经验、历史自信等提出一系列新观点、新论断、新思想，展现了他坚持以历史唯物主义为指导，立足人类文明发展高度，准确把握人类社会发展规律，全面认识中国式现代化前进方向的科学态度。《习近平谈治国理政》第五卷等重要著作的出版，进一步深化和拓展了这些原创性观点，系统呈现了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想深厚的唯物史观内涵。这一思想面向现实社会，深入到社会总体结构及其深层运行逻辑中，彰显了唯物史观的当代生命力，在体系化、时代化等方面实现了对唯物史观的创新发展，对历史唯物主义作出了原创性贡献。

I. Research Origins, Problem Domain, and Major Significance

一、研究缘起、问题域及其重大意义

Historical materialism is both a scientific view of history and a scientific worldview; moreover, it is the thought and method of the science concerning human society. As the core theory of Marxism, historical materialism reveals the general laws of the development of human society. In essence, it is Marxist philosophy, not a philosophy of history[3]3 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Conference Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China" (July 1, 2021), People's Publishing House, 2021, p. 13. nor an empirical science,[4]4 Ibid., p. 12. and still less can it be treated as a simple application of dialectical materialism in the realm of human social history. As world history has entered the 21st century, the contradictions of capitalist society have undergone profound changes, the technological revolution is reshaping humanity’s mode of production, and human civilization faces profound transformations. Historical materialism needs to undergo innovative development in light of new changes of the times and new historical conditions. General Secretary Xi Jinping, basing himself on Chinese practice, responding to the issues of the times, adhering to historical materialism, scientifically, comprehensively, and dialectically understanding and grasping the laws of the evolution of human social history and the development of the changes of the times, has applied historical materialism to the governance of socialism with Chinese characteristics, making valuable innovations to historical materialism. An in-depth study of the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism can profoundly reveal its leading significance for the development of Marxism, while simultaneously manifesting the contemporary vitality of historical materialism in the dual dimensions of theory and practice, and promoting the transformation of the truth force of Marxism into a practical driving force for realizing national rejuvenation and human progress.

唯物史观既是科学的历史观，也是科学的世界观，更是关于人类社会科学的思想和方法。唯物史观作为马克思主义的核心理论，揭示了人类社会发展的一般规律，本质上是马克思主义哲学，而不是历史哲学 或实证科学 ,更不能把它作为辩证唯物主义在人类社会历史领域的简单运用。随着世界历史进入21世纪，资本主义社会矛盾发生了深刻变化，科技革命重塑着人类的生产方式，人类文明面临着深刻的变革，唯物史观需要结合新的时代变化和历史条件进行创新发展。习近平总书记立足中国实践，回应时代课题，坚持历史唯物主义，科学、全面、辩证认识和把握人类社会历史演进和时代变化的发展规律，将唯物史观运用到中国特色社会主义的治国理政之中，对唯物史观作出了有价值的创新。深入研究习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观的原创性贡献，能深刻揭示其对马克思主义发展的引领性意义，同时在理论和实践双重维度上彰显唯物史观的当代生命力，推动马克思主义真理力量转化为实现民族复兴和人类进步的现实动力。

At the level of the problem domain, the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism focus on core issues such as the development and trends of social history, the forces and laws of social development, and the status and role of the historical subject, achieving an expansion of categories, theoretical extension, practical innovation, and value deepening of historical materialism. This has enabled historical materialism to present a comprehensive expansion from its theoretical core to the field of practice. This expansion did not arise from nothing; its root lies in General Secretary Xi

在问题域层面，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观的原创性贡献聚焦社会历史发展与趋势、社会发展动力与规律、历史主体地位与作用等核心议题，实现了唯物史观的范畴拓展、理论延展、实践创新和价值深化，使唯物史观呈现出从理论内核到实践场域的全方位拓展。这一拓展并非凭空产生，其根本在于习近平总书记立足实践，坚持以历史唯物主义的纵深思维和全球视野把握人类社会发展规律，自觉运用辩证法贯通历史观与文明观，将历史发展的客观规律与文明演进的内在逻辑有机统一。《习近平谈治国理政》第五卷作为系统阐述习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要著作，为我们理解上述拓展提供了鲜活文本。如在社会历史发展与趋势议题方面，中国式现代化理论突破西方现代化模式的单一叙事，运用并发展了唯物史观的核心原理，确立了现代化道路的多样性原则；在社会发展动力与规律议题方面，进一步全面深化改革与因地制宜发展新质生产力揭示了社会基本矛盾运动中的创新动能，深化了对历史发展动力机制的认识；在历史主体自觉性与能动性议题方面，“推进党的自我革命是跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率的重要法宝” 的重要论述深刻体现了政党在把握规律的基础上对自身实践的自觉塑造，深化了对历史主体作用机制的理解。这些重大理念和实践共同构成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观在现代化路径、发展动力、文明形态和政党建设等维度上的原创性贡献，不仅拓展了唯物史观的理论边界，更为其注入了新的时代内涵与实践价值。

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has multi-layered and systematic significance for the innovation of historical materialism: it is both a profound interpretation of the laws of social historical development and future prospects based on the practice of the New Era, revealing the dialectical movement of New Era history itself and embodying the logic of historical progress, and it also provides universally significant theory and method for us to observe and understand the relationship between people and society, between China and the world in the New Era, as well as the process of human social development. At the theoretical level, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rooted in the soil of China, takes China's reality as its starting point for research, systematically deepens "the understanding of the laws of governance by the Communist Party, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development,"[1]1 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China" (July 1, 2016), People's Publishing House, 2016, p. 9. and constructs a contemporary interpretive system of historical materialism in the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. It is an active attempt and fruitful result of the theoretical construction of China's independent knowledge system. At the practical level, the key reason why China's economic and social development has been able to achieve major accomplishments lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping's creative application of historical materialism, based on China's practice and grasping the trends of the times, "clarifying that the principal contradiction facing Chinese society is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life, and advancing all work closely around this principal contradiction,"[2]2 Xi Jinping, "Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" (October 18, 2017), in Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works, Vol. 2, Foreign Languages Press, 2023, p. 10. relying on the people to advance reform and development, profoundly demonstrating the truth power of historical materialism oriented toward practice and leading the era. At the spiritual level, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that "our Party, with a great historical initiative spirit, constantly changes those aspects of the relations of production and the superstructure that are incompatible with the productive forces and the economic base,"[3]3 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Conference Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China" (July 1, 2021), People's Publishing House, 2021, p. 13. advocates "respecting the people's pioneering spirit,"[4]4 Ibid., p. 12. and "making new contributions to the development of Marxism with a more active historical responsibility and creative spirit."[5]5 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Conference on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China" (October 25, 2022), People's Publishing House, 2022, p. 8. This fully demonstrates that historical development requires not only a profound understanding and respect for the objective laws of the movement of the basic contradictions of society, but also, with a high degree of historical initiative spirit, seizing historical opportunities, acting in accordance with the trend, and firmly advancing the great process of Chinese-path modernization and national rejuvenation.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观的创新具有多层次、系统性的重大意义：既是立足新时代实践对社会历史发展规律和未来前景的深刻阐释，揭示了新时代历史自身的辩证运动，体现了历史前进的逻辑，也为我们观察和理解新时代人与社会、中国与世界的关系，以及人类社会发展进程提供了具有普遍意义的理论和方法。从理论层面看，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想扎根中国大地，以中国实际为研究起点，系统深化了“对共产党执政规律、社会主义建设规律、人类社会发展规律的认识” ,在马克思主义中国化时代化进程中构建了唯物史观的当代阐释体系，是中国自主知识体系理论建构的主动尝试和有益成果；从现实层面看，我国经济社会发展之所以能取得重大成就，关键在于习近平总书记创造性运用唯物史观，立足中国实践、把握时代大势，“明确我国社会主要矛盾是人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾，并紧紧围绕这个社会主要矛盾推进各项工作” ,依靠人民推进改革和发展，深刻彰显了唯物史观面向实践、引领时代的真理力量；从精神层面看，习近平总书记强调，“我们党以伟大历史主动精神不断变革生产关系和生产力之间、上层建筑和经济基础之间不相适应的方面” ,倡导“尊重人民首创精神” ,“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” ,这充分说明了历史发展既要深刻认识并尊重社会基本矛盾运动的客观规律，更要以高度的历史主动精神，抓住历史机遇、顺势而为，坚定推进中国式现代化与民族复兴伟大进程。

II. Historical Materialism as an Important Manifestation of the Marxist Worldview and Methodology

二、唯物史观是马克思主义世界观和方法论的重要表现形态

To sort out the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism, it is inseparable from the study of the basic viewpoints and methods of historical materialism, including the basic process of thinking in historical materialism.

要想梳理习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观的原创性贡献，离不开对唯物史观基本观点和方法包括唯物史观思维基本进程的研究。

Historical materialism is an important manifestation of the Marxist worldview and methodology. Its establishment was not only a great revolution in the history of human thought and cognition, but also a great revolution in Marxist philosophy; it was both the process by which Marx critiqued capitalist society and revealed its secrets in order to seek a path to complete liberation, and a scientific demonstration of the historical mission of the proletariat in completing the creation of its own theory. The establishment of this scientific view of history, historical materialism, indicates that Marx focused on social existence based on natural existence, focused on human practice and the real world thereby created, and demonstrates that to achieve a deep inner cognition of their own social history, humans need a broad historical perspective. And the reason history chose Marx is precisely because Marx possessed such a historical perspective, truly understood and grasped the questions posed by the era, penetrated into the interior of human society and the depths of history, revealed the secrets contained in objective historical facts, and found the general laws of historical development.

唯物史观是马克思主义世界观和方法论的重要表现形态。它的创立既是人类思想史和认识史上的伟大变革，也是马克思主义哲学的伟大变革；既是马克思对资本主义社会进行批判并揭示其秘密从而寻求彻底解放道路的过程，也是对无产阶级完成自己理论创立的历史使命的科学论证。唯物史观这一科学历史观的创立，表明马克思关注的是基于自然存在基础之上的社会存在，关注的是人类实践和由此创造的现实世界，说明了人类要想达到对自己社会历史的深层内在认知需要一种宏阔的历史视野。而历史之所以选择了马克思，也正是因为马克思具有这样一种历史视野，真正读懂并且把握住了时代提出的问题，深入到人类社会内部和历史深处，把客观历史事实中蕴含的秘密揭示出来，找到了历史发展的一般规律。

From the texts, Marx and Engels provided many concentrated explanations of the positions, viewpoints, and methods of historical materialism. For example, in the “Preface” to *A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy*, Marx clearly explained why he examined the capitalist economic system and what theory he used to guide his research, and explained why he turned to the study of political economy; this is the basic thread for our understanding of historical materialism. In *Socialism: Utopian and Scientific*, Engels discussed the basic principles of historical materialism and its worldview and methodological significance for scientifically understanding socialism; in *The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State*, through the study of the history of primitive society, he provided an authoritative interpretation of the origins of class, the state, and human civilization, further enriching the theoretical content of historical materialism.

从文本来看，马克思恩格斯对历史唯物主义立场观点方法有很多集中说明。比如，在《〈政治经济学批判〉序言》中，马克思清晰地阐明了自己为什么要考察资本主义经济制度以及用何种理论来指导自己的研究，阐明了自己为何转向政治经济学研究，这是我们理解唯物史观的基本线索。恩格斯在《社会主义从空想到科学的发展》中讨论了唯物史观的基本原理，以及唯物史观对于科学认识社会主义的世界观和方法论意义；在《家庭、私有制和国家的起源》中通过对原始社会历史的研究，对阶级、国家和人类文明的起源作出权威阐释，进一步丰富了唯物史观的理论内涵。

In terms of basic content, historical materialism mainly includes six aspects. First, social existence and historical laws. The fundamental question of historical materialism is that social existence determines social consciousness. This most basic principle advocates analyzing problems from the perspective of human practice, penetrating into the depths of human history, and discerning the laws of historical development. Second, the basic contradictions of society and social dynamics. The contradictions between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, constitute the basic contradictions of human society; the movement of these basic contradictions of human society is the driving force of human social development. Third, social structure and the social organism. Society is based on human practical activity; its holistic existence and operation constitute the content of social historical development. Fourth, the class viewpoint and class analysis. In class society, class struggle drives social development; class is a social historical phenomenon, possessing temporariness and historicity, and the essence of class can only be explained by finding it in changes in social economic relations. Fifth, the masses and the subject of history. Historical materialism clarifies the subject of history and provides an objective analysis and evaluation of the masses and heroic figures. The masses engaged in material productive labor are the subject of social practice, the decisive force in creating history and transforming society, and the bearers of the historical mission. Sixth, world history and human civilization. World history is the objective, material historical process in which nations break through their respective isolated states and achieve increasingly close mutual interaction and connection; world history has shaped human civilization, and human civilization tends toward more universal and normalized interactive connections.

从基础内容来看，唯物史观主要包括六个方面。一是社会存在与历史规律。唯物史观的基本问题是社会存在决定社会意识。这一最基本的原理主张要从人的实践出发分析问题并深入到人类历史深处，洞悉历史发展规律。二是社会基本矛盾与社会动力。生产力和生产关系、经济基础和上层建筑之间的矛盾构成人类社会的基本矛盾，人类社会基本矛盾的运动是人类社会发展的动力。三是社会结构与社会有机体。社会以人的实践活动为基础，其整体性存在和运行构成社会历史发展的内容。四是阶级观点与阶级分析。阶级社会中阶级斗争推动社会发展，阶级是一种社会历史现象，具有暂时性和历史性，阶级的本质也只能到社会经济关系的变化中找到说明。五是人民群众与历史主体。唯物史观明确了历史的主体，对人民群众和英雄人物进行客观的分析评价。从事物质生产劳动的人民群众是社会实践的主体，是创造历史、变革社会的决定性力量，是历史使命的承担者。六是世界历史与人类文明。世界历史是各民族突破各自孤立状态，实现彼此交往和联系越来越紧密的客观的、物质的历史进程，世界历史塑造了人类文明，人类文明趋向更普遍更常态的互动联系。

III. The Innovative Development of Historical Materialism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

三、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观的创新发展

General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to historical materialism, repeatedly emphasizes the need to adhere to historical materialism, and has made a series of important statements: “Adhere to using historical materialism to understand and record history, basing historical conclusions on solid and accurate historical evidence support and in-depth and meticulous research and analysis”; [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War” (September 3, 2015). “The whole Party must adhere to historical materialism and a correct view of Party history”; [7]7 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Plenary Session of the Delegates’ Meeting of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” (October 22, 2017). “Vigorously promote investigation and research, which means urging leading cadres at all levels to firmly establish historical materialism”; [8]8 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Conference on Work Related to the Elderly” (May 27, 2016). “The historical materialist viewpoint that the masses are the true heroes cannot be discarded”; [9]9 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Conference on Work Related to the United Front” (May 18, 2015). “We must adhere to the basic historical materialist viewpoint that the people are the fundamental force in creating history”; [10]10 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Conference on Work Related to the Mass Line” (June 18, 2013). “Practice and development have no end, ideological emancipation has no end, and reform and opening up also have no end; reform and opening up is always in progress, never completed. This is the attitude of historical materialism”; [11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Conference on Work Related to Reform” (December 2, 2013). “Only by adhering to and applying dialectical materialism and historical materialism can we correctly answer the major questions raised by the era and practice.” [12]12 Xi Jinping, “Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist These important statements profoundly demonstrate that General Secretary Xi Jinping regards historical materialism, this scientific worldview and methodology, as the ideological key to discerning the laws of historical development and grasping the pulse of the era, and as a powerful ideological weapon for advancing the development of various undertakings. The scientific nature of historical materialism lies in the fact that its people-centered practical character is always internally unified with historical development, providing regular guidance and spiritual motivation for social change. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new ideas and new theses on many important aspects of historical materialism, such as the methodological principles of historical research, the subject of history and social development, and the progress of civilization, achieving an innovative development of historical materialism. This is specifically reflected in the following aspects.

习近平总书记高度重视唯物史观，反复强调要坚持唯物史观，并作出一系列重要论述：“坚持用唯物史观来认识和记述历史，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” ;“全党要坚持唯物史观和正确党史观” ;“大兴调查研究，就是要推动各级领导干部树牢唯物史观” ;“群众是真正英雄的历史唯物主义观点不能丢” ;“要坚持人民是创造历史根本动力的历史唯物主义基本观点” ;“实践发展永无止境，解放思想永无止境，改革开放也永无止境，改革开放只有进行时、没有完成时。这是历史唯物主义态度” ;“坚持运用辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义，才能正确回答时代和实践提出的重大问题” 。这些重要论述深刻表明，习近平总书记将唯物史观这一科学的世界观和方法论看作洞悉历史发展规律、把握时代脉搏的思想钥匙，是推进各项事业发展的强大思想武器。唯物史观的科学性在于其以人民为中心的实践品格始终与历史发展内在统一，为社会变革提供规律指引与精神动力。习近平总书记在历史研究方法论原则、历史主体与社会发展、文明进步等诸多唯物史观重要内容方面提出了一系列新思想和新论断，实现了对唯物史观的创新发展，具体而言体现在以下几个方面。

1. Continuously Deepening the Regular Understanding of the Methodological Principles of Historical Research

1.不断深化对历史研究方法论原则的规律性认识

General Secretary Xi Jinping adheres to historical materialism, consciously applies it to the concrete reality of contemporary China, and scientifically analyzes the problems in contemporary Chinese-path modernization construction, considering both the specific historical, cultural, and social background in which historical events occurred and the progress of the contemporary world pattern; he deeply understands that history is a process of inheritance and continuation, while also paying attention to historical change, forming methods and rules for researching social historical phenomena with innovative characteristics of the New Era.

习近平总书记坚持唯物史观，自觉将其运用于当代中国具体实际，对当代中国式现代化建设中的问题进行科学分析，既考量历史事件发生的特定历史、文化和社会背景，又关照当代世界格局进展；既深刻认识历史是一个传承和延续的过程，也关注历史变革，形成探究具有新时代特色的创新的研究社会历史现象的规则和方法。

First, innovatively proposing to “firmly establish a grand view of history.” [13]13 Xi Jinping, “Explanatory Notes on the ‘Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-Path Modernization’,” People’s Daily, July 22, 2024. “Firmly establishing a grand view of history” is an innovative viewpoint proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, a summary of the historical experience of the CPC’s struggle over more than a century, and reflects the methodological premise of the CPC in the New Era for scientifically, concretely, and innovatively applying historical materialism. This innovative viewpoint emphasizes “grasping the development context and correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective,” [14]14 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, July 2, 2016. advocating “analyzing the mechanisms of evolution and exploring historical laws from the long river of history, the tide of the times, and global winds and clouds.” [15]15 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, March 1, 2018. This methodology breaks through the limitations of the past in viewing historical events in relative isolation, forming a more holistic framework for historical cognition. Its core lies in placing the CPC’s struggle over more than a century within the grand coordinate system of the history of the Chinese nation’s development, the history of world socialist development, and the history of human civilization’s progress, and on the basis of clearly recognizing the grand logic and grand trends of China’s social development and human social development, systematically grasping the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese-path modernization. Firmly establishing a grand view of history requires us to “deepen the regular understanding of promoting high-quality development and building a new development pattern amidst the new round of technological revolution, the grand pattern of global economic development, and the stage-specific characteristics of China’s development, and deepen the regular understanding of the Party’s self-revolution strategic thought amidst the comparison of the fates of Marxist political parties worldwide and the real tests facing our Party’s long-term governance.” [16]16 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, March 1, 2018. The innovation of firmly establishing a grand view of history lies in establishing new principles for historical research with macro vision, systematic thinking, and regular orientation as core essentials, emphasizing proceeding from the holistic perspective of the long river of history, the evolution of civilization, and global interaction, transcending the limitations of stage-specific and partial cognition, and highlighting the methodological vitality of historical materialism as a historical science.

一是创新性地提出“牢固树立大历史观” 。“牢固树立大历史观”是习近平总书记提出的创新性观点，是对中国共产党百余年奋斗历史经验的总结，体现了新时代中国共产党科学、具体和创新运用唯物史观的方法论前提。这一创新观点强调“以更宽广的视野、更长远的眼光把握世界历史的发展脉络和正确走向” ,倡导“从历史长河、时代大潮、全球风云中分析演变机理、探究历史规律” 。这一方法论突破了过去相对孤立看待历史事件的局限性，形成了更具整体性的历史认知框架。其核心在于将中国共产党的百余年奋斗置于中华民族发展史、世界社会主义发展史和人类文明进步史的宏大坐标系中，在认清我国社会发展、人类社会发展的大逻辑大趋势的基础之上，系统把握中国式现代化的历史沿革和实践要求。牢固树立大历史观，要求我们“在新一轮科技革命、全球经济发展大格局和我国发展的阶段性特征中深化对推动高质量发展、构建新发展格局的规律性认识，在世界马克思主义政党命运比较和我们党长期执政面临的现实考验中深化对党的自我革命战略思想的规律性认识” 。牢固树立大历史观的创新之处在于确立了以宏观视野、系统思维和规律导向为核心要义的历史研究新原则，强调从历史长河、文明演进和全球互动的整体性视野出发，超越阶段性、局部性认知局限，彰显唯物史观作为历史科学的方法论活力。

Second, it applies the analytical method of social basic contradictions to the major issues of China’s development in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed: “Only by combining the observation of the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production with that between the economic base and the superstructure, and by observing the social basic contradictions as a whole, can we comprehensively grasp the basic features and development direction of the entire society.” The logical structure “only by…can…” indicates a necessary condition, which profoundly reveals the need to view the movement of social basic contradictions from a holistic and total perspective, providing us with a methodological foundation for scientifically understanding comprehensive deepening of reform. First, this methodological innovation is fully reflected in the analysis of major issues in the New Era. It points out the historical inevitability and continuity of comprehensive deepening of reform; the essence of reform is the conscious adjustment of the relations of production and the superstructure based on social basic contradictions, and since the movement of social basic contradictions is a continuously changing holistic process, reform is a dynamic process of continuous deepening, requiring that “we must further comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, constantly liberate and develop the social productive forces, and liberate and enhance social vitality.” [13]13 Xi Jinping, “Explanatory Notes on the ‘Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-Path Modernization’,” People’s Daily, July 22, 2024. Second, this methodological innovation provides scientific guidance for identifying the focal points of reform. The holistic nature of social basic contradictions requires that reform be advanced systematically, but it also necessitates “identifying the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction one faces, and formulating concrete reform measures suited to actual conditions,” [14]14 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, July 2, 2016. which embodies the dialectical thinking of grasping particularity within universality and seizing key links within overall reform. Third, this methodological innovation profoundly reveals the inherent consistency between comprehensive deepening of reform, adapting to changes in the principal contradiction in society, and promoting high-quality development. High-quality development is a profound response to the characteristics of the movement of social basic contradictions at a new historical stage, and is “an urgent need to better adapt to changes in the principal contradiction in our society.” [15]15 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, March 1, 2018. The problems emerging in development are “reflections of changes in the principal contradiction in society,” [16]16 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, March 1, 2018. which must be resolved through comprehensive deepening of reform at the institutional and mechanism level. This means that high-quality development is a systemic transformation encompassing the leap in productive forces, the optimization of relations of production, and the improvement of the superstructure, profoundly reflecting the inherent requirement that all links in the movement of social basic contradictions promote and advance each other as a whole.

二是运用社会基本矛盾分析法分析新时代中国发展的重大问题。习近平总书记创造性地提出：“只有把生产力和生产关系的矛盾运动同经济基础和上层建筑的矛盾运动结合起来观察，把社会基本矛盾作为一个整体来观察，才能全面把握整个社会的基本面貌和发展方向。” “只有……才……”在逻辑上表示的是必要条件关系，这深刻揭示了需要以整体性、总体性的视角看待社会基本矛盾运动，为我们科学理解全面深化改革提供了方法论基础。第一，这一方法论创新在分析新时代的重大议题中得到充分体现。这一方法论创新指明了全面深化改革的历史必然性与持续性，改革的本质是基于社会基本矛盾对生产关系和上层建筑进行的自觉调整，而社会基本矛盾运动是不断变化的整体过程，因此改革是一个持续深化的动态过程，“必须进一步全面深化改革开放，不断解放和发展社会生产力、解放和增强社会活力” 。第二，这一方法论创新为改革找准着力点提供了科学指引。社会基本矛盾的整体性要求改革必须系统推进，但也需要“找准自身面临的主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，制定切合实际的具体改革举措” ,这体现了从普遍性矛盾中把握特殊性、在整体改革中抓关键环节的辩证思维。第三，这一方法论创新深刻揭示了全面深化改革与适应社会主要矛盾变化、推动高质量发展的内在一致性。高质量发展是对社会基本矛盾运动在新的历史阶段的特征的深刻回应，是“更好适应我国社会主要矛盾变化的迫切需要” 。发展中出现的问题是“社会主要矛盾变化的反映” ,必须通过体制机制层面的全面深化改革予以破解，这意味着高质量发展是涵盖生产力跃升、生产关系优化、上层建筑完善的系统性变革，深刻体现了社会基本矛盾运动的各环节相互促进、整体推进的内在要求。

2. Continuously deepening the understanding of the laws governing historical subjects and social development

2.不断深化对历史主体与社会发展的规律性认识

Historical materialism scientifically reveals the subjective and objective categories of the historical development of human society, providing us, from the dimension of the unity of epistemology and methodology, with a theoretical paradigm for understanding the laws of the evolution and development of human society through the combination of theory and practice. The question of the subject of historical development is essentially the question of how to treat the people. In response, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed upholding the primacy of the people. This is both an important development concept and the value foundation of Chinese-path modernization, fully embodied in the institutional arrangements of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The basic laws of historical evolution are, in essence, practical issues based on the law of the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal of the new development philosophy and new quality productive forces precisely finds, from the philosophical height that social being determines social consciousness, the key force driving the development of contemporary China.

唯物史观科学揭示了人类社会历史发展的主体性范畴与客体性范畴，从认识论与方法论相统一的维度，为我们以理论和实践相结合的方式理解人类社会演进发展的规律提供了理论范式。历史发展主体的问题就是如何对待人民的问题。对此，习近平总书记提出坚持人民至上，这既是重要的发展理念，也是中国式现代化的价值底色，全面体现在中国特色社会主义制度安排之中。历史演进的基本规律在本质上是基于生产力和生产关系矛盾运动规律的实践性问题，习近平总书记提出新发展理念和新质生产力，正是从社会存在决定社会意识的哲学高度，从根本上找到了驱动当代中国发展的关键性力量。

First, it innovatively proposes that “we must uphold the primacy of the people.” “Upholding the primacy of the people” is an important theoretical innovation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and also a contemporary development of the fundamental viewpoint of historical materialism that the people are the creators of history. This concept elevates the Marxist mass view of history into the Party’s ideal, belief, and spiritual banner, clearly stating that “only the people are the driving force creating world history,” [17]17 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, July 2, 2016. and on this basis emphasizes “adhering to the concept of the primacy of the people, highlighting the people-centered nature of modernization,” [18]18 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties,” People’s Daily, March 16, 2023. manifesting the principal position of the people as the creators of history and the fundamental driving force of modernization. At the theoretical level, it creatively applies the mass line to the governance of the country from the perspective of the unity of epistemology, axiology, and historical view, deepening and expanding the Party’s mass line. “We must adhere to the basic historical materialist viewpoint that the people are the fundamental driving force of history, and uphold the principal position of the people,” [19]19 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China,” People’s Daily, October 1, 2019. internalizing the people’s aspiration for a better life into the strategic planning of national development, while taking serving the people’s interests and promoting the comprehensive development of the individual as the highest value orientation. At the practical level, the primacy of the people is not only a consistent fundamental stance but is also continuously transformed into operable institutional practices within institutional forms such as “developing whole-process people’s democracy and ensuring the people are the masters of the country,” [20]20 Xi Jinping, “Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects – Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, October 26, 2022. ensuring that the people being the masters of the country is realized from a value concept into governance effectiveness, vividly embodying that “the people are the creators of history, the firmest foundation and deepest strength for advancing modernization.” [21]21 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties,” People’s Daily, March 16, 2023. These innovative viewpoints mark a systematic leap in the thought of the people as the subject from a philosophical concept to a national governance strategy.

一是创新性地提出“必须坚持人民至上” 。“必须坚持人民至上”是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要理论创新，也是唯物史观中人民是历史的创造者根本观点的当代发展。这一理念将马克思主义群众史观升华为党的理想信念和精神旗帜，明确提出“只有人民，才是创造世界历史的动力” ,并在此基础上强调要“坚守人民至上理念，突出现代化方向的人民性” ,彰显人民作为历史创造者和现代化根本动力的主体地位。在理论层面，它从认识论、价值论和历史观相统一的角度将群众路线创造性地运用到治国理政中，深化和拓展了党的群众路线。“我们要坚持人民是创造历史根本动力的历史唯物主义基本观点，坚持人民主体地位” ,既将人民对美好生活的向往内化于国家发展的战略谋划，又以服务人民利益、促进人的全面发展作为最高价值取向。在实践层面，人民至上不仅是一以贯之的根本立场，更是在“发展全过程人民民主，保障人民当家作主” 等制度形态中不断被转化为可运行的制度实践，确保人民当家作主从价值理念落实为治理效能，生动体现了“人民是历史的创造者，是推进现代化最坚实的根基、最深厚的力量” 。这些创新观点标志着人民主体思想实现了从哲学理念到治国方略的系统性跃升。

Second, it innovatively proposes the new development philosophy and new quality productive forces. The innovation of the new development philosophy and the theory of new quality productive forces in terms of historical materialism is mainly manifested in their profound grasp of the characteristics and requirements of the movement of social basic contradictions in the New Era, systematically answering the major contemporary question of “how to achieve high-quality development,” thereby achieving an important expansion of the Marxist theory of productive forces and the theory of social development. “Implementing the new development philosophy is the only way for our country to grow and prosper in the New Era.” [22]22 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China,” People’s Daily, October 1, 2019. The “new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing” [23]23 Xi Jinping, “Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects – Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, October 26, 2022. not only provides fundamental guidance for economic and social development but also manifests the Party’s deepened understanding of the laws of modernization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, “we have fully implemented the new development philosophy, continuously deepened our understanding of the phased characteristics and laws of our country’s economic development, and placed greater emphasis on the high quality of development.” [24]24 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, March 1, 2018. “Implementing the new development philosophy, building a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, comprehensively advancing reform and opening up, continuously improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity” [25]25 Xi Jinping, “Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects – Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, October 26, 2022. is precisely a systematic strategy proposed based on a profound insight into the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure. The new development philosophy did not emerge from nowhere but is rooted in the great practice of reform and opening up. “The new development philosophy was formed in the course of reform, and the ideological concepts and institutional drawbacks that affect and constrain high-quality development are broken through in reform.” [26]26 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Economic Work Conference,” People’s Daily, December 13, 2023. The new development philosophy provides scientific guidance for the new development stage from multiple dimensions such as value orientation, development mode, and institutional construction. “Developing new quality productive forces is the inherent requirement and important focus for promoting high-quality development.” [27]27 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Politburo of the 20th Central Committee,” People’s Daily, February 2, 2024. New quality productive forces are “an advanced form of productive forces that conforms to the new development philosophy,” [28]28 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Politburo of the 20th Central Committee,” People’s Daily, February 2, 2024. whose essence is to achieve a qualitative leap in productive forces with scientific and technological innovation as the core driver, through the innovative allocation of production factors and deep industrial transformation and upgrading. The proposal of this concept originates from the Party’s theoretical summary of our country’s innovation-driven development practice, achieving a contemporary development of the Marxist theory of productive forces. The theory of new quality productive forces explicitly requires placing innovation in a dominant position, promoting the transformation of the development model from “factor-driven” to “innovation-driven,” highlighting the key role of science and technology in modern social production. In practice, “fully implementing the new development philosophy, continuously deepening reform and opening up, vigorously developing industries with distinctive advantages, and developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions” [29]29 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Economic Work Conference,” People’s Daily, December 13, 2023. is a vivid manifestation of stimulating the potential of productive forces by adjusting relations of production and promoting high-quality development with an advanced form of productive forces. Developing new quality productive forces requires removing institutional and mechanism obstacles that constrain innovation and establishing new relations of production that adapt to the development of new quality productive forces, thereby solidifying the material and technological foundation for Chinese-path modernization, “continuously opening up new fields and new tracks for development, and shaping new drivers and new advantages for development.” [30]30 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Politburo of the 20th Central Committee,” People’s Daily, February 2, 2024.

二是创新性地提出新发展理念和新质生产力。新发展理念和新质生产力理论在唯物史观方面的创新主要表现为深刻把握了社会基本矛盾运动在新时代的特征和要求，系统回答了“如何实现高质量发展”这一重大时代课题，实现了对马克思主义生产力理论与社会发展理论的重要拓展。“贯彻新发展理念是新时代我国发展壮大的必由之路” ,“创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念” 不仅为经济社会发展提供了根本遵循，更彰显了党对现代化建设规律认识的深化。党的十八大以来，“我们全面贯彻新发展理念，不断深化对我国经济发展阶段性特征和规律的认识，更加强调发展的高质量” 。“贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，推动高质量发展，全面推进改革开放，不断完善中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化” ,正是基于对生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑的矛盾运动深刻洞察所提出的系统性方略。新发展理念并不是凭空产生的，而是植根于改革开放的伟大实践。“新发展理念是在改革中形成的，影响和制约高质量发展的思想观念和体制机制弊端是在改革中破除的” 。新发展理念从价值导向、发展方式与制度建构等多种维度为新发展阶段提供了科学指引。“发展新质生产力是推动高质量发展的内在要求和重要着力点” 。新质生产力是“符合新发展理念的先进生产力质态” ,其本质是以科技创新为核心驱动，通过生产要素的创新性配置和产业深度转型升级，实现生产力质的跃升。这一概念的提出源于党对我国创新发展实践的理论总结，实现了对马克思主义生产力理论的当代发展。新质生产力理论明确要求将创新置于主导地位，推动发展模式从“要素驱动”到“创新驱动”,彰显了现代社会生产中科技的关键性作用。在实践中，“全面贯彻新发展理念，不断深化改革开放，大力发展特色优势产业，因地制宜发展新质生产力” ,正是通过调整生产关系激发生产力潜能、以先进生产力质态推动高质量发展的生动体现。发展新质生产力要求破除制约创新的体制机制障碍，建立适应新质生产力发展的新型生产关系，从而为中国式现代化筑牢物质技术基础，“不断开辟发展新领域新赛道，塑造发展新动能新优势” 。

3. Continuously deepening the understanding of the laws governing the progress of civilization

3.不断深化对文明进步的规律性认识

Historical materialism holds that changes in the mode of production are the fundamental driving force of social development, propelling profound transformations in social structures and human relations. In a civilizational sense, such changes constitute the practical basis of civilizational progress, prompting the continuous evolution of civilizational forms. Human civilization exhibits rich and diverse characteristics in terms of modes of production, social organization, and values, reflecting the unique wisdom of different civilizations in responding to nature and society. Therefore, historical development can be seen as the process of forming different civilizational development paths and value systems shaped by civilizational differences and diversity. The relevant assertions put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping enrich and deepen the connotation of historical materialism, reveal the diversity of civilizations in the process of modernization, and provide a new theoretical paradigm for the progress of human civilization.

唯物史观认为，生产方式的变革是社会发展的根本动力，推动社会结构和人类关系的深刻变革。从文明意义上说，这种变革构成文明进步的实践基础，促使文明形态不断演进。人类文明在生产方式、社会组织、价值观念上展现出丰富多样的特点，反映了不同文明应对自然和社会的独特智慧，因此，历史发展可以看作文明差异性和多样性所塑造的不同文明发展路径和价值体系的形成过程。习近平总书记提出的相关论断，丰富和深化了唯物史观的内涵，揭示了现代化进程中的文明多样性，为人类文明进步提供新的理论范式。

First, it innovatively proposes the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan [31]31 The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan (五位一体) refers to China's overall plan for promoting economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress simultaneously. and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy [32]32 The Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy (四个全面) refers to comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively governing the country according to law, and comprehensively governing the Party strictly.. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC explicitly states that one of the great transformations of the first decade of the New Era is the formation of a "scientific and complete strategic deployment" [33]33 Quotation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC., which coordinates the "Four Greats" [34]34 The "Four Greats" (四个伟大) refers to the great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream., and "clarifies the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy" [35]35 Quotation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC., continuously enriching and developing new forms of human civilization. This strategic deployment is a major strategic innovation made by General Secretary Xi Jinping based on historical materialism, on the basis of a profound grasp of the basic laws of China's economic and social development and a new starting point, with an eye on the overall cause of Chinese-path modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It realizes an innovation in the theory of social structure and social organism within historical materialism.

一是创新性地提出“五位一体”总体布局和“四个全面”战略布局。党的二十大报告明确提出新时代十年的伟大变革，其中之一就是形成了“科学完整的战略部署” ,统揽“四个伟大”,“明确‘五位一体’总体布局和‘四个全面’战略布局” ,不断丰富和发展人类文明新形态。这一战略部署是习近平总书记立足唯物史观，在深刻把握我国经济社会发展基本规律和新起点的基础之上，着眼于中国式现代化和中华民族伟大复兴事业大局作出的重大战略创新，实现了对唯物史观的社会结构和社会有机体理论的创新。

"Coordinated promotion of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and balanced advancement of the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy" is the fundamental basis for "planning the further deepening of reform comprehensively" [36]36 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping.. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization of comprehensive development, and "further deepening reform comprehensively must also be all-encompassing" [37]37 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., "highlighting the content of economic system reform, while also fully covering institutional and mechanism innovations in democracy, rule of law, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, national defense and military construction, as well as Party building system reform" [38]38 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping.. Its goal is systematic optimization and coordinated efficiency, that is, "forming overall effectiveness, neither acting in isolation nor neglecting one aspect while attending to another" [39]39 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping.. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan regards the economy, politics, culture, society, and ecology as an organic whole, expanding the dimensional connotation of civilizational progress and constructing a new modernization paradigm with coordinated elements; the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, through institutional arrangements such as law-based governance in all respects and comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, strengthens the active role of the superstructure on the economic base, providing solid institutional guarantees for development. The coordinated advancement of the two innovates the driving mechanism of civilizational development, profoundly embodying the institutional advantages and governance wisdom of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“统筹推进‘五位一体’总体布局、协调推进‘四个全面’战略布局”是“谋划进一步全面深化改革” 的根本依据。中国式现代化是全面发展的现代化，“进一步全面深化改革也必然是全方位的” ,“突出了经济体制改革的内容，也全面涵盖了民主、法治、文化、社会、生态文明、国家安全、国防和军队建设等方面的体制机制创新以及党的建设制度改革” ,其目标是系统优化、协同高效，即“形成整体效能，既不能单打一，也不能顾此失彼” 。“五位一体”总体布局将经济、政治、文化、社会和生态视为有机整体，拓展了文明进步的内涵维度，构建了要素协调的现代化新范式；“四个全面”战略布局则通过全面依法治国、全面从严治党等制度安排，强化上层建筑对于经济基础的能动作用，为发展提供坚实的制度保障。两者协同推进，创新了文明发展的动力机制，深刻体现了中国特色社会主义的制度优势和治理智慧。

Second, it innovatively proposes Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, on the basis of inheriting historical materialism and grounded in the new trends of the times and civilizational evolution, creatively expands the theory of the relationship between culture and social development, providing a new perspective and theoretical support for understanding the process of human civilization. This thought emphasizes the Party's cultural leadership, deepening the relevant principles in historical materialism concerning the leading role of political parties in the ideological sphere: it proposes "upholding the fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain" [40]40 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., consolidating the foundation in the realms of thought, spirit, and soul; it advocates "extensively practicing core socialist values" [41]41 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., innovatively developing the historical dialectical theory of culture's counteractive effect on the economic base. The innovativeness of this thought is centrally embodied in deepening the theory of the counteractive effect of social consciousness, systematically explaining cultural confidence and its fundamental sources. Cultural confidence is the more foundational, broader, and deeper confidence among the Four Confidences [42]42 The Four Confidences (四个自信) refers to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity" [43]43 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., and emphasizes that "the creation of Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful embodiment of this cultural subjectivity" [44]44 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., "with cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense, and cultural confidence has a fundamental foundation" [45]45 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping.. Cultural subjectivity not only constitutes the foundation of cultural confidence but also embodies the "five prominent characteristics" [46]46 The "five prominent characteristics" (五大突出特性) of Chinese civilization are continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature. of Chinese civilization, fully confirming that "Chinese civilization possesses cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality for self-development, responding to challenges, and creating new situations" [47]47 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping.. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposes the new concept of "upholding exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations" [48]48 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., requiring the CPC to "be committed to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and advancing the progress of human civilization" [49]49 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping., grasping the laws of civilizational interaction from the height of world history, breaking through the traditional stereotype of the "clash of civilizations" theory, reshaping the theoretical framework and practical logic for deepening the diversity of civilizations in historical materialism, and innovatively developing the Marxist view of civilization. Discourses such as "coordinated development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress" [50]50 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping. and "the Second Integration has given the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and deeper historical depth, expanding the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics" [51]51 Quotation from a speech by Xi Jinping. perfect the dialectical relationship between culture and social development, indicating that culture and social development are not a unidirectional relationship of determination and being determined, creating a new form of human civilization with subjectivity and vitality.

二是创新性地提出习近平文化思想。习近平文化思想在继承唯物史观的基础之上，立足时代发展与文明演进新态势，对文化与社会发展关系的理论进行了创造性拓展，为理解人类文明进程提供了全新视角与理论支撑。这一思想强调党的文化领导权，深化了唯物史观中政党在意识形态领域发挥引领作用的相关原理：提出“坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度” ,在思想、精神和灵魂领域固本强基；倡导“广泛践行社会主义核心价值观” ,创新发展了历史辩证法中文化对于经济基础的反作用。这一思想的创新性集中体现在深化了社会意识反作用理论，系统阐释文化自信及其根本来源。文化自信是“四个自信”中更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信。习近平总书记指出，“文化自信就来自我们的文化主体性” ,并强调“创立新时代中国特色社会主义思想就是这一文化主体性的最有力体现”,“有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上坚定的自我，文化自信就有了根本依托” 。文化主体性不仅构成了文化自信的根基，更体现出中华文明所具有的“五大突出特性”,充分印证了“中华文明具有自我发展、回应挑战、开创新局的文化主体性与旺盛生命力” 。习近平总书记提出“坚持文明交流互鉴” 的新理念，要求中国共产党“致力于推动文明交流互鉴，促进人类文明进步” ,从世界历史高度把握文明交往规律，突破了“文明冲突论”的传统窠臼，重塑了深化唯物史观文明多样性的理论框架与实践逻辑，创新发展了马克思主义文明观。“物质文明和精神文明协调发展” ,以及“‘第二个结合’让中国特色社会主义道路有了更加宏阔深远的历史纵深，拓展了中国特色社会主义道路的文化根基” 等论述，完善了文化与社会发展的辩证关系，表明文化与社会发展并非单向决定与被决定的关系，开创出一种具有主体性和生命力的人类文明新形态。

IV. The Theoretical Basis and Practical Logic of the Innovative Development of Historical Materialism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

四、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观创新发展的理论依据与实践逻辑

The above discussions demonstrate the rich and important innovative development of historical materialism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To explore why it can make such contributions, that is, why these contents constitute original contributions, it is necessary to approach from the dual dimensions of theory and practice; it is necessary both to deeply excavate its inheritance and development of the basic principles of historical materialism, to explore how it achieves theoretical breakthroughs based on the issues of the times, and also to attend to the practical dimension, examining the unique logic formed in solving the actual problems of contemporary China.

上述论述展现了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观丰富且重要的创新发展。探究其为何能有此贡献，即这些内容何以成为原创性贡献，需要从理论与实践双重维度切入；既要深入挖掘其对唯物史观基本原理的继承与发展，探究其如何立足时代课题实现理论突破，也要关照实践维度，考察其在解决当代中国实际问题中形成的独特逻辑。

1. The Theoretical Basis and Practical Logic of Continuously Deepening the Understanding of the Regularity of the Methodological Principles of Historical Research

1.不断深化对历史研究方法论原则规律性认识的理论依据与实践逻辑

The key reason why Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era can achieve original development in the methodological principles of historical research lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping's profound grasp of the dialectical laws of historical development and the practical requirements of the New Era.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想之所以能够在历史研究方法论原则上实现原创性发展，关键在于习近平总书记深刻把握了历史发展的辩证规律和新时代的实践要求。

Firmly establishing a grand historical perspective is a major theoretical innovation proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, guided by Marxist historical dialectics and on the basis of a profound grasp of historical laws. Its essence lies in breaking through the temporal and spatial limitations of traditional historical research, examining historical events within a large historical period and a long historical cycle, scientifically recognizing the dialectical unity of historical necessity and contingency, fully considering the constraints of specific historical conditions when evaluating historical events, while profoundly revealing the objective laws of historical development, displaying a broad historical vision and a high degree of historical consciousness. This innovative method analyzes the mechanisms of historical evolution from the unified perspective of the long river of history, the tide of the times, and global trends, constructing a scientific and systematic historical cognitive system that connects the past and the present through the dialectical thinking of tracing back history and linking the future. From a practical dimension, the formation of the grand historical perspective is based on the practical needs of governing the country in the New Era. Facing the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, the grand historical perspective provides scientific guidance for grasping historical trends and planning development strategies. Firmly establishing a grand historical perspective both adheres to the basic principles of historical materialism and embodies the new connotation of the times and practical requirements. "Chinese Communists are not historical nihilists or cultural nihilists" [52]52 Qu, but are historical materialists who always adhere to the high unity of Party spirit, scientificity, and people-centeredness. This stance is centrally embodied in resisting historical nihilism, providing a fundamental guideline for us to strengthen historical confidence and reinforce theoretical armament. This enlightens us that to discern historical laws, we must set things right, learn from history, and grasp the truth in the continuous strengthening of ideological guidance and enhancement of theoretical discernment.

牢固树立大历史观是习近平总书记以马克思主义历史辩证法为指引，在深刻把握历史规律基础上提出的重大理论创新。其根本在于突破传统历史研究的时空局限，将历史事件置于大的历史时段和长的历史周期中加以考察，科学认知历史必然性与偶然性的辩证统一，在评价历史事件时既充分考虑特定历史条件的限制，又深刻揭示历史发展的客观规律，展现出宏阔的历史视野和高度的历史自觉。这一创新方法，在历史长河、时代大潮、全球风云等多维视角的统一中分析历史演变机理，通过回溯历史、联结未来的辩证思维，构建起贯通古今、科学系统的历史认知体系。从实践维度看，大历史观的形成是基于新时代治国理政的实践需要。面对中华民族伟大复兴的战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，大历史观为把握历史大势、谋划发展战略提供科学指引。牢固树立大历史观既坚持了唯物史观的基本原理，又体现了新的时代内涵和实践要求。“中国共产党人不是历史虚无主义者、文化虚无主义者” ,而是始终坚持党性、科学性与人民性高度统一的历史唯物主义者。这一立场集中体现为抵制历史虚无主义，为我们坚定历史自信、强化理论武装提供了根本遵循。这启示我们，洞悉历史规律必须正本清源、以史鉴今，在不断强化思想引领和提升理论鉴别能力中把握真理。

The innovative development in the method of analyzing the fundamental contradictions of society originates from a profound understanding of historical materialism: on the one hand, it accurately grasps the core essence of the Marxist theory of the law of motion of the fundamental contradictions of society, recognizing the inherent unity of the two pairs of contradictions—productive forces and relations of production, and the economic base and the superstructure; on the other hand, based on the reform needs of the New Era, it reveals the profound law that “reform is always ongoing.” This innovation provides a systematic method for understanding the transformation of relations of production and the adjustment of the superstructure triggered by the development of productive forces, guiding comprehensive and deepening reforms to continuously promote institutional improvement. The problems faced by development in the New Era are more complex and uncertain, requiring a breakthrough from the limitations of viewing contradictions in isolation; at the same time, achieving high-quality development also requires establishing a more coordinated institutional system, which necessitates grasping the interactive relationships of the fundamental contradictions of society as a whole. This innovation provides a scientific basis for understanding the systemic nature and continuity of reform.

在社会基本矛盾分析方法上的创新发展则源于对历史唯物主义的深刻理解：一方面，准确理解了马克思主义关于社会基本矛盾运动规律的核心要义，认识到生产力与生产关系、经济基础和上层建筑这两对矛盾的内在统一性；另一方面，立足新时代改革需求，揭示了“改革永远在路上”的深刻规律。这一创新为理解生产力发展引发的生产关系变革和上层建筑调整提供了系统方法，指导全面深化改革不断推动制度完善。新时代发展面临的问题更具复杂性和不确定性，需要突破孤立看待矛盾的思维局限；同时，实现高质量发展也需要建立更加协调的制度体系，这就需要从整体上把握社会基本矛盾的互动关系。这一创新为理解改革的系统性和持续性提供了科学依据。

2. The Theoretical Basis and Practical Logic of Continuously Deepening the Understanding of Historical Subjects and the Laws of Social Development

2.不断深化对历史主体与社会发展规律性认识的理论依据与实践逻辑

The formation of the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regarding historical subjects and social development has a profound theoretical basis and practical logic, originating both from the creative application of the basic principles of historical materialism and taking root in the vivid practice of China’s development in the New Era.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在历史主体与社会发展方面的原创性贡献的形成具有深厚的理论依据与实践逻辑，既源于对唯物史观基本原理的创造性运用，又扎根于新时代中国发展的生动实践。

From the theoretical foundation, the originality of these innovative achievements is reflected in the historical expansion and paradigm innovation of historical materialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping not only profoundly grasps the essence of basic principles of historical materialism such as “the people are the creators of history” and “productive forces determine relations of production,” but also achieves major breakthroughs in both theory and practice, creatively transforming the classic people-centered thought into a governance system with Chinese characteristics and revolutionarily developing traditional productive forces theory into a future-oriented theory of new quality productive forces. This theoretical character of making breakthroughs while inheriting and innovating while upholding fundamental principles enables historical materialism to exhibit new theoretical heights and practical depths.

从理论根基来看，这些创新成果的原创性体现在对唯物史观的历史性拓展和范式创新。习近平总书记不仅深刻把握了“人民是历史的创造者”和“生产力决定生产关系”等唯物史观基本原理的精髓要义，更在理论与实践上实现了重大突破，将经典的人民主体思想创造性转化为具有中国特色的治国理政体系，将传统的生产力理论革命性发展为面向未来的新质生产力理论。这种在继承中突破、在守正中创新的理论品格使唯物史观展现出新的理论高度和实践深度。

From the practical source, these innovative achievements originate from the law-based understanding, essential insight, and systematic refinement of China’s development practice in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping, based on the rich practice of Chinese-path modernization, elevates the fundamental stance of putting the people first from the Party-led modernization process of revolution, construction, and reform; refines the new development philosophy from the practical exploration of solving unbalanced and inadequate development; and condenses the theory of new quality productive forces from the development practice of achieving an overall breakthrough and historic leap in social productive forces. This theoretical innovation, originating from Chinese practice, solving Chinese problems, and guiding China’s development, both embodies the practical character of Marxism and demonstrates the original value of theory.

从实践源泉来看，这些创新成果源于对新时代中国发展实践的规律性认识、本质性洞察和系统性提炼。习近平总书记立足中国式现代化的丰富实践，从党领导人民进行革命、建设、改革的现代化历程中升华出坚持人民至上的根本立场，从破解不平衡不充分问题的实践探索中提炼出新发展理念，从实现社会生产力整体性突破和历史性跨越的发展实践中凝练出新质生产力理论。这种源于中国实践、解决中国问题、指导中国发展的理论创新，既体现了马克思主义的实践品格，也彰显了理论的原创性价值。

From the value of the times, these innovative achievements originate from a precise grasp of the historical juncture and strategic guidance for future development. The people-first principle is General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core governing philosophy, refined and condensed based on China’s national conditions and the characteristics of the times, drawing wisdom from the creative practice of the masses, and elevating the Marxist view of the masses. The new development philosophy is a strategic guide for addressing development challenges, while new quality productive forces are a key focus for achieving high-quality development based on the historical opportunity of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. These theoretical innovations both accurately grasp the historical juncture of the New Era and prospectively guide the path of future development, demonstrating General Secretary Xi Jinping’s historical insight and strategic foresight.

从时代价值来看，这些创新成果源于对历史方位的精准把握和对未来发展的战略引领。人民至上理念是习近平总书记立足中国国情和时代特征，从人民群众的创造性实践中汲取智慧，在继承马克思主义群众史观基础之上升华凝练而成的核心执政理念。新发展理念是应对发展挑战的战略指引，新质生产力则是基于新一轮科技革命和产业变革的历史机遇，实现高质量发展的重要着力点。这些理论创新，既准确把握了新时代的历史方位，又前瞻性地引领了未来发展路径，彰显了习近平总书记的历史洞察力和战略前瞻力。

3. The Theoretical Basis and Practical Logic of Continuously Deepening the Understanding of the Laws of Civilizational Progress

3.不断深化对文明进步规律性认识的理论依据与实践逻辑

The theoretical innovations of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the field of civilizational progress constitute original contributions for three main reasons.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在文明进步方面的理论创新之所以构成原创性贡献，主要有三个方面原因。

First, creative development at the level of social structure and social organism theory. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy are based on the basic principle of historical materialism that social structure is the inevitable product of the mode of production and exchange, profoundly grasping the dynamic laws of interaction among internal elements of the social organism. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan innovatively develops Marxist social organism theory, particularly by incorporating the construction of an ecological civilization into an important dimension of social development, expanding the connotation of traditional social structure theory, and forming a more complete and systematic framework for modern social development theory. The Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy constructs a systematic plan for promoting the healthy development of the social organism from four key dimensions: the phased goals of social organism development, the internal mechanism of the social organism’s self-improvement, the institutional guarantees for the operation of the social organism, and ensuring the correct direction of social organism development, thereby expanding and innovating social organism theory in the practical dimension. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy not only construct a theoretical paradigm for social development with Chinese characteristics but also develop it from a theoretical analytical framework into an operable practical system, answering the epochal question of how a socialist state promotes the coordinated development of the social organism.

一是社会结构和社会有机体理论层面上的创造性发展。“五位一体”总体布局与“四个全面”战略布局，立足于唯物史观关于社会结构是生产方式和交换方式的必然产物的基本原理，深刻把握社会有机体内部要素交互作用的动态规律。“五位一体”总体布局创新发展了马克思主义社会有机体理论，特别是将生态文明建设纳入社会发展的重要维度，拓展了传统社会结构理论的内涵，形成了更为完整和系统的现代社会发展理论框架。“四个全面”战略布局从社会有机体发展的阶段性目标、社会有机体自我完善的内在机制、社会有机体运行的制度保障以及确保社会有机体发展的正确方向这四个关键维度，构建了推动社会有机体健康发展的系统方案，在实践维度拓展和创新了社会有机体理论。“五位一体”总体布局与“四个全面”战略布局，既构建了具有中国特色的社会发展理论范式，又将其从理论分析框架发展为可操作的实践体系，回答了社会主义国家推动社会有机体协调发展的时代课题。

Second, paradigm transcendence at the level of civilizational development theory. First, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era achieves a major breakthrough in cultural ontology, making innovative assertions about “cultural confidence” and “cultural subjectivity,” elucidating that cultural subjectivity is the foundation of cultural confidence, emphasizing the adherence to and self-awareness of one’s own cultural roots and core values in the era of multicultural exchange and collision, and pointing out that only by establishing cultural subjectivity can one deeply recognize the value and vitality of one’s own culture, forming a spiritual steadfastness based on the laws of cultural development. This new understanding of the status and role of culture innovatively develops the Marxist theoretical connotation of the reactive effect of culture. Second, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era achieves a paradigm shift in the view of civilizational development. The concept of “exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations” fundamentally breaks through the limitations of thinking such as the “clash of civilizations,” profoundly clarifying that civilizational diversity is the driving force of human progress, and that equal dialogue and mutual learning among different civilizations are inevitable requirements for the historical development of human society. This innovation both adheres to the basic stance of historical materialism and expands the scope and content of civilizational interaction within the Marxist perspective. Third, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era achieves theoretical innovation in the dynamic mechanism of cultural development, systematically revealing the composite role of culture as a development driver at the spiritual, practical, and innovative levels, adding new contemporary content to the Marxist principle of the reactive effect of culture. Finally, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era achieves a major innovation in the strategy of cultural development. “General Secretary Xi Jinping excavates the points of value convergence between different civilizations,” [53]53 Dong Hui, “The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to Historical Materialism,” *Social Science Research*, 2024, no. 6, p. 3. The original footnote reads: “Xi Jinping, ‘Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning to Promote the Progress of Human Civilization,’ *People’s Daily*, March 28, 2014.” puts forward the important thesis of the “Two Integrations,” “establishes the subject status and intersubjective relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, achieving an organic connection between tradition and modernity,” [54]54 Dong Hui, “The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to Historical Materialism,” *Social Science Research*, 2024, no. 6, p. 3. The original footnote reads: “Chen Xi, ‘The “Second Integration” and the Creative Transformation and Innovative Development of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture,’ *Guangming Daily*, July 3, 2023.” forming a scientific methodology for cultural innovation and development, providing a fundamental guideline for us to formulate cultural development strategies. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture promotes historical materialism to exhibit new explanatory power and practical vitality in the cultural field, representing an original contribution of Marxist cultural theory in the 21st century.

二是文明发展理论层面上的范式超越。首先，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在文化本体论上实现了重要突破，对“文化自信”“文化主体性”作出创新论断，阐发了文化主体性是文化自信的根基，强调在多元文化交流碰撞的时代背景下，对自身文化根源、核心价值的坚守与自觉，指出只有确立文化主体性，才能深刻认知自身文化价值与生命力，形成基于文化发展规律的精神定力。这种对文化地位和作用的新认识，创新发展了马克思主义关于文化反作用的理论内涵。其次，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在文明发展观上实现了范式转换。“文明交流互鉴”理念从根本上突破了“文明冲突论”等思维的局限，深刻阐明了文明多样性是人类进步的动力，不同文明之间的平等对话、互学互鉴是人类社会历史发展的必然要求。这一创新既坚持了历史唯物主义的基本立场，又拓展了马克思主义视野下文明交往的范畴和内容。再次，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在文化发展动力机制上实现了理论创新，系统揭示了文化作为发展动能在精神层面、实践层面、创新层面的复合作用，为唯物史观关于文化反作用原理增添了新的时代内容。最后，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在文化发展方略上实现了重大创新。“习近平总书记挖掘不同文明之间的价值契合点”,提出“两个结合”重要论断，“确立了马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的主体地位和主体间性关系，实现了传统与现代的有机衔接” ,形成了文化创新发展的科学方法论，为我们制定文化发展战略提供了根本遵循。习近平文化思想推动唯物史观在文化领域展现出新的解释力和实践生命力，是马克思主义文化理论在21世纪的原创性贡献。

Third, the guiding innovation at the practical level of the new form of human civilization is mainly manifested in: establishing a new paradigm on the path of modernization, breaking the myth that “modernization equals Westernization” through the practice of Chinese-path modernization, inaugurating a new development model that coordinates material civilization and cultural-ethical progress and achieves harmony between humanity and nature, creating the two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, and successfully avoiding the pitfalls of polarization and ecological crises that have accompanied the Western modernization process; opening up a new path in civilizational development, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind through concrete practices such as the Belt and Road Initiative, forming a new paradigm of win-win cooperation in civilizational exchange, and reshaping a pattern of civilizational exchange in which different civilizations engage in equal dialogue and mutual learning; contributing new solutions to global governance, advancing the international order toward a more just and reasonable direction through the concept of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and demonstrating the strong vitality of a new type of international relations. These original new explorations expand the new realm of socialist practice, reshape the coordinate system of human civilizational development, and inject strong vitality into the development of Marxism in the 21st century.

三是人类文明新形态实践层面上的引领性创新，主要体现为：在现代化道路上树立新范式，以中国式现代化实践打破了“现代化=西方化”的迷思，开创了物质文明和精神文明相协调、人与自然和谐共生的新发展模式，创造了经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹，成功避免了西方现代化进程中的两极分化、生态危机等困境；在文明发展上开辟新路径，通过“一带一路”建设等具体实践，推动构建人类命运共同体，形成了合作共赢的文明交往新范式，重塑了不同文明平等对话、互学互鉴的文明交流格局；在全球治理上贡献新方案，通过共商共建共享的全球治理观，推动国际秩序向更公正更合理的方向发展，展现了新型国际关系的强大生命力。这些原创性的新探索，拓展了社会主义实践的新境界，重塑了人类文明发展的坐标系，为21世纪马克思主义发展注入了强大生机活力。

Conclusion

结语

Historical materialism is a scientific theoretical system abstracted and summarized from the observation and study of human history; it grasps the general laws of the development of human society. The original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism have important epochal significance for our understanding of the general trend of China’s development, for understanding the laws of historical development, and for writing a new chapter of contemporary Chinese historical materialism. They inspire us to further pay attention to the human world and the existence of real people, to deeply understand that social life is in essence practical, to pull the historical perspective back into the perspective of real people, and to continuously deepen humanity’s historical cognition of its own development and social development; at the same time, they inspire us to take China’s actual conditions as the starting point for research, to deepen understanding, grasp laws, and actively apply laws in social practice, to cultivate a keen sense of problems and a high degree of attention to reality, to continuously strengthen historical thinking, enhance historical initiative, maintain historical patience, strengthen historical confidence, and draw on historical experience and wisdom, to continuously confirm and expand the important value of historical materialism in practical exploration, and to actively promote the achievement of new developments in the various undertakings of the Party and the state.

历史唯物主义是从对人类历史的观察和研究中概括提炼出来的科学理论体系，是对人类社会发展一般规律的把握。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对唯物史观的原创性贡献，对我们认识中国发展大势，认识历史发展规律，谱写当代中国历史唯物主义新篇章具有重要的时代意义，启发我们既要进一步关注人类世界和现实的人的存在，深刻理解社会生活在本质上是实践的，将历史视野拉回到现实的人的视野之中，不断深化人类对自身发展和社会发展的历史认知；又要以我国实际为研究起点，在社会实践中深化认识、把握规律并积极运用规律，培养敏锐的问题意识和对现实的高度关注，不断强化历史思维、增强历史主动、保持历史耐心、坚定历史自信、汲取历史经验和智慧，在实践探索中不断确证和拓展唯物史观的重要价值，积极推动党和国家各项事业取得新的发展。

Author’s biography: Dong Hui, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Marxism, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

作者简介:董慧，华中科技大学马克思主义学院教授、博士生导师。