Deeply Understand and Grasp the Generative Logic of the Conception of History

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward the conception of history from the height of historical philosophy, taking it as a scientific concept for understanding, drawing on, and grasping history in the New Era, which possesses rich theoretical connotations and important guiding significance. The generation of this signature concept of the conception of history is deeply rooted in the theoretical fertile soil of Marxist historical materialism, the historical deep soil of fine traditional Chinese culture, and the practical hot soil of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era; it has its origins and deep foundations. Deeply understanding and grasping the generative logic of the conception of history is beneficial for more firmly establishing the conception of history and drawing experience and wisdom from a broad historical perspective to create the future.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记从历史哲学高度提出大历史观，以之为新时代认识、借鉴和把握历史的科学观念，具有丰富的理论内涵和重要的指导意义。大历史观这一标识性概念的生成，深深扎根于马克思主义唯物史观的理论沃土、中华优秀传统文化的历史厚土、新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的实践热土，其来有自，渊源深厚。深刻认识和把握大历史观的生成逻辑，有益于更加牢固树立大历史观，从宏阔的历史视野中汲取开创未来的经验智慧。

First, the conception of history has profound theoretical origins. The conception of history is a development and innovation of Marxist historical materialism; it both upholds the basic principles of historical materialism and endows historical materialism with a brand-new contemporary connotation according to the characteristics of the times and practical changes.

第一，大历史观具有深厚的理论渊源。大历史观是对马克思主义唯物史观的发展创新，既坚持了唯物史观基本原理，又根据时代特点和实践变革赋予唯物史观崭新的时代内涵。

Historical materialism, as the “only scientific conception of history,” emphasizes exploring history with materialist and dialectical viewpoints, providing a sharp ideological weapon for people to understand the essence of history and reveal the laws of history. Historical materialism is the theoretical foundation of the conception of history, and the conception of history is the contemporary development of historical materialism. Facing enormous historical changes and drastic transformations of the times, General Secretary Xi Jinping

唯物史观作为“唯一科学的历史观”，强调用唯物、辩证的观点来探究历史，为人们认识历史本质、揭示历史规律提供了锐利的思想武器。唯物史观是大历史观的理论底色，大历史观是唯物史观的时代发展。面对巨大的历史变迁和剧烈的时代变革，习近平总书记指出，“当今世界正在经历百年未有之大变局。这场变局不限于一时一事、一国一域，而是深刻而宏阔的时代之变”。如何正确看待这场大变局，如何有效应对时代之变？习近平总书记强调，要“树立大历史观，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，提出因应的战略策略，增强工作的系统性、预见性、创造性”。只有树立大历史观，以历史的眼光看待历史，以真理的精神追求真理，才能做到不被浮云遮眼、不被乱花迷眼。习近平总书记还指出：“要坚持辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的方法论，用具体历史的、客观全面的、联系发展的观点来看待党的历史。”习近平总书记不仅对党史作如是观，而且将新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史、中华民族发展史都置于大历史观的宏大视野中，将其作为一个充满生动联系的整体，从发展规律、内在机理的深度进行系统认识和深入思考，展现出吞吐今古、纵横捭阖的理论气魄。习近平总书记指出：“人类社会发展的历史证明，无论会遇到什么样的曲折，历史都总是按照自己的规律向前发展，没有任何力量能够阻挡历史前进的车轮。”这是历史自身的发展逻辑，也是运用大历史观考察历史得出的科学结论。

Second, the grand view of history has a solid historical foundation. The grand view of history represents the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, elevating the experiential wisdom of the Chinese nation in narrating, studying, and applying history to a new height of the times.

第二，大历史观具有坚实的历史依托。大历史观是对中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化、创新性发展，将中华民族述史、学史、用史的经验智慧提升到了新的时代高度。

“Learning from the past can provide guidance for governance.” [1]1 The “three rural issues” (三农问题) refer to the problems concerning agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, a longstanding focus of Chinese policy. Chinese historiography originated as early as the Shang and Yin dynasties, with a long and profound history. Many nations and countries in the world possess rich historical materials and works, and have formed diverse historical perspectives and thoughts in different cultural environments. Comparatively speaking, however, the Chinese nation’s recording of history and preservation of historical materials is second to none in the world. Liang Qichao stated in his *Research Methods in Chinese History*: “Among all fields of learning in China, historiography is the most developed; among all countries in the world, China’s historiography is the most developed.” [2]2 The “great ship of China” (中国号巨轮) is a common metaphor in Chinese political discourse for the nation’s development trajectory under the leadership of the CPC. The vast sea of historical classics and the grand and profound historical memory connect and sustain the weighty steps of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, leaving countless inspirations for people today. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “For the Chinese civilization that has spanned more than 5

“鉴于往事，有资于治道。”中国史学早在殷商时期即已肇其源，源远流长，博大精深。世界上很多民族、国家都有丰富的史料和历史著作，也在不同的文化环境中形成了多种多样的史学观点和思想。但比较而言，中华民族对历史的记述和对史料的保存，在世界上是首屈一指的。梁启超在《中国历史研究法》中就说过：“中国于各种学问中，惟史学为最发达，史学在世界各国中，惟中国为最发达。”浩如烟海的历史典籍，恢宏厚重的历史记忆，串联和延续着5000多年中华文明史的厚重步伐，也给今人留下无数启迪。习近平总书记指出，“对绵延5000多年的中华文明，我们应该多一份尊重，多一份思考。对古代的成功经验，我们要本着择其善者而从之、其不善者而去之的科学态度，牢记历史经验、牢记历史教训、牢记历史警示”“中华文明具有突出的连续性，从根本上决定了中华民族必然走自己的路。如果不从源远流长的历史连续性来认识中国，就不可能理解古代中国，也不可能理解现代中国，更不可能理解未来中国”。中国史学素有经世济民、心怀天下的优良传统，史学研究之所以能经世致用，就在于历史中蕴含着治国理政的宝贵经验、亲仁善邻的卓越智慧、走向未来的重要启示。习近平总书记秉持历史的大视野，以宏大的气魄纵览悠久灿烂的中华文明史，既从历史长河中汲取有益于时代的经验智慧，又根据新时代新要求为传统历史观赋予崭新的价值内核。基于大历史观的宏阔视野，习近平总书记强调，“要特别重视挖掘中华五千年文明中的精华，把弘扬优秀传统文化同马克思主义立场观点方法结合起来，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义道路”。胸怀千秋史，放目新征程，习近平总书记指出，“以数千年大历史观之，变革和开放总体上是中国的历史常态。中华民族以改革开放的姿态继续走向未来，有着深远的历史渊源、深厚的文化根基”。大历史观既扎根于中华优秀传统文化的历史厚土，又在新的历史条件下绽放出绚烂的时代之花。

Third, the grand view of history has a vivid practical basis. The grand view of history is a product of the practice of the times, a theoretical summation and ideological sublimation of the great historical practice unfolding in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it possesses a solid foundation in reality.

第三，大历史观具有鲜活的实践依据。大历史观是时代实践的产物，是对中国特色社会主义新时代所展开的伟大历史实践的理论总结和思想升华，具有雄厚的现实根基。

Understanding the past can serve as a mirror for the present; examining the past enables knowledge of the future. Only by understanding history can one see far, and only by comprehending history can one go far. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “We must educate and guide the entire Party to keep in mind the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, and to establish a grand view of history.” Only by drawing lessons from history and gaining historical wisdom can we create historical achievements. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has required that a series of important tasks be viewed, planned, and advanced within the broad framework of the grand view of history. Regarding the work of philosophy and social sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “A broad perspective is needed, one that places it within the grand history of world and Chinese development.” On the issue of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers (the “three rural issues”), he emphasizes, “We must adhere to using the grand view of history to look at issues concerning agriculture, rural areas, and farmers.” For the flourishing development of literary and artistic work in the New Era, he states, “We must establish a grand view of history and a grand view of the times, grasping the historical process and the general trend of the times.” Grand history condenses grand wisdom; new theories lead new development. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with extraordinary historical vision, examines the paths, successes, failures, gains, and losses of other countries and nations in achieving modernization, steadily steering the helm of the great ship of China amidst high winds, treacherous waves, and turbulent clouds, enabling the cause of the Party and the state to achieve historic accomplishments and undergo historic transformations, writing a new brilliant chapter in the history of Chinese civilization and the history of socialist development. The great transformation of the New Era over the past decade, shaking the past and shining in the annals of history, has both laid a solid practical foundation for the proposal of the grand view of history and further enriched and expanded its theoretical connotation through new grand practice.

知古可以鉴今，察往可以知来。了解历史才能看得远，理解历史才能走得远。习近平总书记强调，“要教育引导全党胸怀中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，树立大历史观”。汲取历史教训，获得历史智慧，才能开创历史伟业。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记对一系列重要工作都要求放在大历史观的宏大框架内予以看待、谋划和推动。关于哲学社会科学工作，习近平总书记指出，“需要有一个宽广的视角，需要放到世界和我国发展大历史中去看”。在“三农”问题上，他强调，“要坚持用大历史观来看待农业、农村、农民问题”。对于繁荣发展新时代的文艺工作，他指出，“要树立大历史观、大时代观，把握历史进程和时代大势”。大历史凝练大智慧，新理论引领新发展。以习近平同志为核心的党中央以非凡的历史眼光审视世界上其他国家和民族走向现代化的路径和成败得失，在风高浪急、乱云飞渡中稳稳掌控中国号巨轮发展之舵，党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，书写了中华民族文明史和社会主义发展史上新的灿烂篇章。新时代10年的伟大变革，震古烁今、彪炳史册，既为大历史观的提出奠定了坚实的实践基础，又以新的宏伟实践进一步丰富、拓展了大历史观的理论内涵。

(Author: Wang Guang, Research Fellow at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Editor at the Chinese Academy of History)

（作者：王广，系中国社会科学院习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心研究员、中国历史研究院编审）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心