The Transformation of the Marxist View of History in the New Era and Its Ideological Effects

The Chinese nation has a cultural tradition of compiling, preserving, governing, and using history, and is adept at drawing historical wisdom from the long river of history to understand principles, increase confidence, promote virtue, and practice diligently. This serves as the ideological support for the Communist Party of China in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping mentioned the word “history” 48 times in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, not only broadly summarizing the brilliant achievements of the decade since the 18th National Congress of the CPC with three “historic victories,” but also vividly displaying the high-spirited fighting spirit and practical wisdom of the Communists in the New Era through numerous historical assertions such as “historical consciousness,” “historical confidence,” “historical initiative,” “historical responsibility,” “historical patience,” “historical trend,” “standing on the right side of history,” and “historic achievements.” It profoundly interprets the spiritual outlook and value pursuit of a mission-oriented party. To fully grasp the great transformations and brilliant achievements of the decade of the New Era, one cannot simply remain at the level of combing through historical events and summarizing historical contributions; rather, one must perceive the correct view of history contained within these objective historical facts. This is the result of the CPC, with dialectical materialism and historical materialism as its ideological core, grasping the historical process and refining historical laws through historical thinking. The series of scientifically precise viewpoints formed thereby deepen the Marxist view of history and also lay a cultural foundation for achieving the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.

中华民族素有修史、存史、治史、用史的文化传统，善于从历史长河之中汲取明理、增信、崇德、力行的历史智慧，是中国共产党推进马克思主义中国化时代化的思想支撑。习近平总书记在党的二十大报告中48次提及“历史”一词，不仅以三个“历史性胜利”宏观概括党的十八大距今十年间取得的辉煌成就，更在“历史自觉”“历史自信”“历史主动”“历史担当”“历史耐心”“历史大势”“站在历史正确一边”“历史伟业”等众多“历史”论断中，生动展现了新时代中国共产党人的昂扬斗志和实践智慧，深刻诠释了使命型政党的精神风貌和价值追求。全面把握新时代十年的伟大变革和光辉成就，不能单纯停留在历史事件的爬梳和历史贡献的汇总，而要从这些客观历史事实中透视蕴于其中的正确历史观。这是中国共产党以辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义为思想内核，在历史的运思中把握历史进程和提炼历史规律的结果，从中形成的系列训释精当的科学观点深化了马克思主义历史观，也为实现全面建成社会主义现代化强国奋斗目标筑牢了文化根基。

I. Theoretical Roots: The Enrichment and Deepening of Marxist Historical Ontology in the New Era

一、理论之根：新时代马克思主义历史本体论的丰富和深化

Historical ontology is a theory that reveals the nature of the historical process, aiming to fundamentally grasp the universal stipulations of history. The “history” in the Marxist view of history is an activity history that unfolds in practice and is immanent within history; “people always make their history through each person pursuing his own consciously intended goals.” [1]1 This is a paraphrase of a passage from Friedrich Engels’s letter to Joseph Bloch (21–22 September 1890), often cited in Marxist discussions of historical causality and the role of individual agency. This “real history” differs from the “speculative spiritual history” of Western philosophy of history; it proceeds from “human activity” and emphasizes the scientific history of creating both natural history and human history. Therefore, the practical grasp of historical ontology is not only the objective basis for understanding the formation, development, and change of history but also determines the standpoint and viewpoint from which history is examined. Clarifying this is the primary task for understanding the correct view of history of the CPC.

历史本体论是揭示历史过程具有何种性质的理论，旨在从根本上把握历史的普遍规定性。马克思主义历史观中的“历史”是内在于历史之中在实践中展开的活动历史，“人们总是通过每一个人追求他自己的、自觉预期的目的来创造他们的历史”1。这种“现实的历史”区别于西方历史哲学“思辨的精神历史”，主张从“人的活动”出发，强调创造自然史与人类史的科学历史。所以，历史本体论的实践把握不仅是理解历史形成、发展、变化的客观性依据，更决定着以什么样的立场与观点查审历史，明确这一点，是理解中国共产党正确历史观的首要之义。

First, in essence, it is a practical history centered on the mode of production, coordinating “the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world.” The essence of history is a holistic grasp of the connotation and basic characteristics of history. The materialist conception of history understands the objective essence of history from “people’s real-life process,” drawing a principled boundary with the idealist conception of history. As an objective reality existing prior to humans, the objectivity of history lies first in its distinct practicality; it is the result of people responding to the issues of the times and transforming the objective world in practice. The practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is an important chapter in the Party’s history. General Secretary Xi Jinping made an essential stipulation of it at the Party History Study and Education Mobilization Conference: “The whole Party should bear in mind the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, establish a grand view of history, analyze the mechanisms of evolution and explore historical laws from the long river of history, the tide of the times, and global winds and clouds, and propose corresponding strategic strategies.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Party History Study and Education Mobilization Conference,” 20 February 2021. The “two overall situations” refer to the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world. Taking the coordination of the “two overall situations” as the starting point of the CPC’s view of history in the New Era reflects a profound consideration of the practical nature of history and helps transform historical experience generated from practice into the driving code for guiding the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Practical history is not a unilinear process of sequential replacement but is rooted in the interactive relationships among the various elements of the social organism, concretized into the interactive integration of multiple fields such as economy, politics, culture, society, and ecology. It is a polyphonic dynamic generation process covering multiple themes, with the mode of production as the main axis in history. In this way, the practical history of the CPC, with the “two overall situations” as its overarching theme, follows the principle that “material productive forces are the material premise of all social life, and the sum total of relations of production corresponding to a certain stage of development of the productive forces constitutes the economic base of society,” [3]3 This paraphrases the classical Marxist formulation of the base-superstructure model, as found in Marx’s Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (1859). while also emphasizing that “only by solving both the problems of maladaptation in the relations of production and the problems of maladaptation in the superstructure,” [4]4 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of Marx’s Birth,” 4 May 2018, emphasizing the dialectical interaction between productive forces, relations of production, and superstructure. it constructs a practical history of the overall structure of society and its evolution centered on the mode of production. It can be seen that the CPC’s view of history in the New Era adheres to historical materialism’s core of the mode of production and emphasizes the constraining role of economic necessity, while also valuing the status of political, cultural, social, and ecological factors in society and their counter-effects on the economy. This makes history, in different departmental histories such as political history, cultural history, social history, and ecological history, a practical history that reaches the overarching theme of the “two overall situations.”

其一，本质上是以生产方式为核心之义，统筹“中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局”的实践历史。历史的本质是对历史的内涵要义与基本特征的总体性把握，唯物主义历史观从“人们的现实生活过程”理解历史的客观本质，与唯心主义历史观划清了原则界限。作为先于人存在的客观实际，历史的客观性首先在于其鲜明的实践性，是人们在实践中回应时代课题和改造客观世界的结果。新时代中国特色社会主义实践是党史中的重要一章，习近平总书记在党史学习教育动员大学上对其做了本质规定：“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，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。”2把统筹“两个大局”作为新时代中国共产党历史观的出发点，反映了对历史实践本性的深刻考量，有助于把从实践中生成的历史经验转换为指导新时代中国特色社会主义伟大实践的动力密码。实践的历史并非一个单线式依次更迭过程，而是扎根于社会有机体各要素之间的互动关系中，并具象化为经济、政治、文化、社会、生态等多领域的互动融合，是一个涵盖多重主题的复调式动态生成过程，生产方式是历史中的主轴线。这样一来，中国共产党以“两个大局”为总主题的实践历史，遵循“物质生产力是全部社会生活的物质前提，同生产力发展一定阶段相适应的生产关系的总和构成社会经济基础”3，又注重“只有既解决好生产关系中不适应的问题，又解决好上层建筑中不适应的问题”4，架构起以生产方式为核心的社会总体结构及其演变的实践历史。可见，新时代中国共产党历史观坚持历史唯物主义以生产方式为核心、强调经济必然制约作用的同时，重视政治、文化、社会、生态等因素在社会中的地位及其对经济的反作用，使历史在政治史、文化史、社会史、生态史等不同部门史中，成为通达以“两个大局”为总主题的实践历史。

Second, in process, it is a total history based on objective facts as the fundamental basis, encompassing the “history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation.” The historical process refers both to the objective historical process independent of human will and to the subject’s writing of that objective historical process, i.e., historiography. These two aspects constitute a dialectical unity and also form the dual historical dimension of historical materialism. Historical facts are the foundation for the formation of process history and written history. History itself is far richer and more diverse than the historical facts presented by historiography. Scientific historiography implies that events have evidence and that evidence has reason, rather than separating historical theory from historical facts or using theory to lead facts. The CPC presents the historical process from five dimensions: “the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation,” [5]5 The “five histories” (五史) is a Party formulation that expands the more common “four histories” (四史: Party history, New China history, reform and opening up history, and socialist development history) by adding the history of the development of the Chinese nation. forming a total history that integrates objective history and historical writing. The one-hundred-year “history of the Party” is the focal point of history, the history of the CPC uniting and leading people of all ethnic groups to achieve tremendous creations and accomplishments in four stages: the New Democratic Revolution, socialist revolution and construction, reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. The seventy-plus-year “history of New China” is the foothold of history, the exploratory history of building the People’s Republic of China into a modern socialist country. The forty-plus-year history of reform and opening up is the entry point of history, the history of the self-improvement and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The five-hundred-plus-year history of socialist development is the lookout point of history; the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics further demonstrate the superiority of socialism, shifting the ideological contest between socialism and capitalism in a direction favorable to the former. The five-thousand-plus-year history of the development of the Chinese nation is the concern point of history, the result of placing the “four histories” within the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The successive struggles of the CPC in the “history of the Party, the history of New China, and the history of reform and opening up” have created great miracles in the “history of socialist development and the history of human society,” revealing that modern Chinese history is a history centered on the theme of national rejuvenation. Today, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical stage. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “History is history, facts are facts, and no one can change history and facts. The Chinese people, who have made tremendous sacrifices, will unswervingly defend the history written with blood and life.” [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,” 3 September 2015. Therefore, the “five histories” are an internally connected organic whole. They not only condense historical experience and wisdom based on objective historical facts but also reproduce historical contexts and events in a retrospective manner, demonstrating the scientific perspective of the CPC in grasping total history from the intersection of China and the world. This reflects a high degree of historical consciousness and historical confidence, enriches and develops the historical dimension of historical materialism, and aligns with the theme and essence of a century of historical development.

其二，过程上是以客观事实为基本依据，涵盖“党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史、中华民族发展史”的总体历史。历史过程既指不以人的意志为转移的客观历史进程，也指主体对于客观历史进程的书写，即史学，这两者是辩证统一的过程，也构成了历史唯物主义之双重历史维度。历史事实是过程历史和书写历史的形成基础，历史自身远比史学呈现的史实要丰富和多样，科学的历史学意味于事有据、于事有理，而不是史论分立、以论带史。中国共产党从“党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史、中华民族发展史”5五个维度呈现历史过程，是一个融客观历史与历史书写为一体的总体历史。一百年“党史”是历史的着眼点，是中国共产党团结带领各族人民在新民主主义革命、社会主义革命和建设、改革开放和社会主义现代化建设、新时代中国特色社会主义四个阶段取得巨大创造与成就的历史。七十余年“新中国史”是历史的立足点，是把中华人民共和国建设成为一个社会主义现代化国家的探索史。四十余年改革开放史是历史的切入点，是中国特色社会主义自我完善和发展的历史。五百余年社会主义发展史是历史的瞭望点，中国特色社会主义理论与实践进一步彰显了社会主义的优越性，使得社会主义与资本主义意识形态之间的较量朝着有助于前者的方向转变。五千余年中华民族发展史是历史的关切点，是把“四史”置于中华民族伟大复兴进程的结果。中国共产党在“党史、新中国史、改革开放史”的接续奋斗创造了“社会主义发展史、人类社会史”上的伟大奇迹，揭示近代中国历史是以实现民族复兴为核心主题的历史，如今中华民族伟大复兴已经进入了不可逆转的历史阶段。习近平总书记指出：“历史就是历史，事实就是事实，任何人都不可能改变历史和事实。付出了巨大牺牲的中国人民，将坚定不移捍卫用鲜血和生命写下的历史。”6所以，“五史”是一个内在联系的有机整体，既基于客观史实凝聚历史经验和智慧，也以回溯方式再现历史脉络和事件，彰显了中国共产党从中国与世界的交汇视角出发把握总体史的科学视野，反映了高度的历史自觉与历史自信，实现对历史唯物主义历史维度的丰富与发展，契合百年历史发展的主题与本质。

Third, in terms of driving force, it takes the principal contradiction as its internal support, answering the real history of “the questions of China, the questions of the world, the questions of the people, and the questions of the era.” History always advances by solving old problems and raising new ones. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Viewed from the grand historical perspective of several thousand years, reform and opening up have generally been the historical norm in China. The Chinese nation’s continued march toward the future in the posture of reform and opening up has profound historical origins and deep cultural foundations.”[7]7 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening Up,” December 18, 2018. Questions and contradictions are synonymous. Whether the Communist Party of China can scientifically judge the principal social contradiction bears on whether it can determine the principal task, and bears on the rise or fall of the Party’s cause. In considering the principal social contradiction within the contradictory movement of the relations between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, the Communist Party of China is in fact answering the epochal topic of “the questions of China, the questions of the world, the questions of the people, and the questions of the era.”[8]8 This phrase refers to the major theoretical and practical questions raised by the contemporary era that China must address. Based on China’s new historical juncture, the 19th National Congress of the CPC defined the principal social contradiction from the historical starting point of the New Era: “The principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved into the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development.”[9]9 Report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 18, 2017. On the one hand, since reform and opening up, China’s social and economic development has achieved comprehensive progress, its comprehensive national strength has significantly increased, it has risen to become the world’s second-largest economy, and it has gradually extricated itself from the historical condition of backward productive forces, adapting to a multipolar world, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversification. Following this, the people’s needs in areas such as democracy, the rule of law, fairness, justice, security, and the environment are growing day by day. On the other hand, given China’s actual conditions of a large population and a weak foundation, the state of unbalanced and inadequate development has not fundamentally changed. This manifests as an increasing wealth gap between rural and urban areas, coastal and inland regions, and developed and underdeveloped areas in the spatial dimension, and as a growing contradiction between supply and demand in the production dimension, among other aspects, becoming the main factor restricting the people’s needs for a better life. Thus, the 19th National Congress’s judgment on the principal contradiction is based on the actual development of China’s productive forces and relations of production, combined with the continuous enrichment of the content of the people’s needs, the deepening of the levels of their needs, and the improvement of the quality of their needs. This thesis sparkles with the truth of dialectical materialism and historical materialism and the value orientation of the people’s subject position, interprets the demands of the era and the expectations of the people as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new stage, and is a key step taken in examining history and then moving forward on the journey to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and become stronger.

其三，动力上是以主要矛盾为内在支撑，回答“中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问”的现实历史。历史总是在解决老问题、提出新问题中前进。正如习近平总书记指出的：“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。”7问题与矛盾是同义语，中国共产党能否科学研判社会主要矛盾，关系其能否确定主要任务，关系到党的事业的兴衰成败。中国共产党在生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑关系的矛盾运动中考量社会主要矛盾，实际上是在回答“中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问”8的时代课题。党的十九大基于中国新的时代方位，站在新时代的历史起点上来界定社会主要矛盾：“我国社会主要矛盾已经转化为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。”9一方面，改革开放以来中国社会经济发展取得全面进步，综合国力显著增强，跻身为世界第二大经济体，逐步摆脱落后生产力的历史境况，与世界多极化、经济全球化、社会信息化、文化多样化相适应，随之而来的是人民群众在民主、法治、公平、正义、安全、环境等方面的需要日益增长。另一方面，鉴于中国人口多、底子薄的实际，发展不平衡不充分的状态没有在根本上改变，表现为空间维度上农村与城市、沿海与内地、发达与欠发达地区之间的贫富差距愈益增大，生产维度上供给与需求之间的矛盾日益凸显等，成为制约人民群众美好生活需要的主要方面。可见，党的十九大对主要矛盾的研判立足中国生产力和生产关系的发展实际，结合人民群众的需要内容不断丰富、需要层次不断深化、需要质量不断提升。这一论断闪烁着辩证唯物主义与历史唯物主义真理光辉与人民主体地位的价值导向，诠释了中国特色社会主义步入新阶段的时代要求与人民期待，是在实现中华民族伟大复兴强起来征程审视历史继而迈出的关键性步伐。

Fourth, in terms of form, it takes putting the people first as its distinctive background, engraving “the country is the people, the people are the country,” and returns to the subject history written by the people. Historical materialism examines the evolutionary logic of human social history starting from the activities of real people. History is not the creation of God, not the spontaneous generation of natural objects, not the generation of speculative spirit, but the history created by real people for survival, development, and ultimately the realization of a better life. “People are not in some kind of illusory isolation and fixed state, but in a real, empirically observable process of development under given conditions.”[10]10 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, *The German Ideology* (1845–1846). Thus, history is generated by real people in handling the relationships between humans and nature, between humans and society, and between humans themselves, reflecting human will and intentions and written by humans—a living, continuous, and authentic subject history. The vitality of history lies in the subjective initiative engraved within it. The Communist Party of China has always regarded the masses of the people as the practical subject and the evaluating subject driving social progress. In concentrating on resolving the contradictions the people most eagerly anticipate and care about, it traces the clues of historical change, and history thus manifests as a history of the ontology of putting the people first. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The 5,000-plus-year history of Chinese civilization, the 170-plus-year history of struggle of the Chinese people since modern times, the 90-plus-year history of struggle of the Communist Party of China, and the 60-plus-year history of development of the People’s Republic of China—all are histories written by the people.”[11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Commemorating the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China,” July 1, 2016. The Chinese people, occupying the subject position, not only shouldered heavy burdens in the turbulent revolutionary era but will inevitably continue to strive under the Party Central Committee’s coordinated advancement in the New Era of education and employment, income distribution, social security, medical and health care, global governance, and the construction of cultural confidence and self-strengthening. Thus, understanding history from the dimension of the historical subject actually continues, in maintaining the flesh-and-blood connection between the Communist Party of China and the masses of the people, the main historical threads of a heroic and moving history of unremitting struggle, theoretical exploration, unremitting sacrifice, self-building, and spiritual genealogy. The historical theme of realizing national rejuvenation is a further condensation of the multiple historical threads of the century-long history of the CPC, running through which is a high affirmation of the subject position of the masses of the people in their practice in different fields, full of respect, reverence, and pride for the people.

其四，样态上是以人民至上为鲜明底色，镌刻“江山就是人民，人民就是江山”，归由人民书写的主体历史。历史唯物主义从现实的人的活动出发考察人类社会历史的演进逻辑，历史不是上帝之创造，不是自然物之自生，不是思辨精神之生成，而是现实的人为了生存、发展直至实现美好生活而创造的历史。“人，不是处在某种虚幻的离群索居和固定不变状态中的人，而是处在现实的、可以通过经验观察到的、在一定条件下进行的发展过程中的人。”10可见，历史是现实的人在处理人与自然、人与社会、人与人之间的关系中生成，反映人的意志和意愿并为人所书写的，具有生命力的、延续性、真实性的主体历史。历史的鲜活性在于镌刻其中的主体能动性，中国共产党始终把人民群众视为推动社会进步的实践主体和评价主体，在集中解决人民群众最期盼、最关心的矛盾中描摹历史更迭线索，历史也就表现为人民至上本体论的历史。习近平总书记指出：“中华民族5000多年的文明史，中国人民近代以来170多年的斗争史，中国共产党90多年的奋斗史，中华人民共和国60多年的发展史，都是人民书写的历史。”11居于主体地位的中国人民不仅能够在风起云涌的革命年代勇挑重担，也必然能在新时代党中央统筹推进教育就业、收入分配、社会保障、医疗卫生、全球治理、文化自信自强建构中继续奋斗。由此可见，从历史主体维度上理解历史，实际上在保持中国共产党与人民群众的血肉联系中续写了可歌可泣的不懈奋斗史、理论探索史、不懈牺牲史、自身建设史、精神谱系史等历史主线，实现民族复兴的历史主题是对中共百年党史多维历史主线的进一步凝练，贯穿其中的是对人民群众在不同领域的实践中主体地位的高度肯定，饱含对人民的尊重、敬意与自豪之情。

II. The Reality of Theory: The Enrichment and Deepening of the Marxist Historical Epistemology in the New Era

二、理论之实：新时代-马克思主义历史认识论的丰富和深化

Historical epistemology is a theory that reveals the understanding of the objective historical process and its laws of development by humans as historical subjects. It aims to explore the nature and characteristics of history as knowledge from the dimension of the relationship between historical subject and object, and manifests itself in concrete historical forms such as historical time, historical orientation, historical mission, historical experience, and historical spirit. History contains thought, forming a temporal lineage connected by historical knowledge; thought also depends on history, being an understanding of the era within a certain field. History and thought are unified in the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, making history truly a history that cuts through the axes of the past, present, and future, and serves practice.

历史认识论是揭示作为历史主体的人对于客观历史过程及其发展规律的理论，旨在从历史主客体关系维度探讨作为认识的历史的性质和特点，并呈现为历史时间、历史方位、历史使命、历史经验和历史精神等具体历史形态。历史之中蕴含思想，是由历史知识连接而成的时间谱系，思想之中也依存历史，是在一定场域中对于时代的理解，历史与思想统一于新时代-中国特色社会主义理论与实践之中，使得历史真正成为切中过去、现在和未来轴线，成为为实践服务的历史。

(I) Historical Time Standing at the “Critical Moment” and Asking “Where to Go”

（一）立于“关键时刻”追问“何去何处”的历史时间

Time is a reality immanent in history, rooted in the practical activities of real people. Marx and Engels’ understanding of historical time has a complete temporal flow of “past–present–future.” The temporal sequence starts from reality, traces back to the past in seeking “origins,” and faces the future in “scientific foresight,” constituting a sequence of generation and development converging on the present moment. The century-long historical temporal sequence of the Communist Party of China unfolds in the context of continuing modern China’s quest for national rejuvenation in practice, rather than being a separate practice outside the history of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Standing at the “critical moment” when the first centenary goal is achieved on schedule and the second centenary goal is auspiciously launched, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core asks about the temporal flow of history’s “where to go.” It not only imprints the complete temporal flow of “past–present–future,” but also, in inheriting historical experience and glorious traditions, seeks the main temporal thread of “where we came from” and “where we are going,” deeply cultivating the ideological foundation for opening up new prospects in governance. On the one hand, in asking about the “source” of history, it traces roots and origins, “deeply pondering where we originally set out from and why we set out.”[12]12 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China,” July 1, 2016. The process of appealing to the historical starting point is also the process of looking back to the original aspiration and founding mission, guiding the discovery of the human life-world and the consistent internal tradition within historical continuity. On the other hand, the discussion of development history based on historical “occurrence” implies a holistic grasp of the logic of historical movement, including both the critical inheritance of past historical and civilizational achievements and the scientific foresight of future prospects, reaching a total understanding of history through the logical chain of critique, interpretation, and foresight. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “History, reality, and the future are interconnected. History is the reality of the past, and reality is the history of the future.”[13]13 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Seminar for Leading Cadres at the Provincial and Ministerial Level on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 18th National Congress of the CPC,” January 5, 2013. The Communist Party of China’s concern for historical time is a view of history that, based on the “today” of the Chinese nation, looks back to the “yesterday” of the Chinese nation and looks forward to the “tomorrow” of the Chinese nation in a connected manner. It is also a spatiotemporal extension that links the historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic of the formation and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics with the movement of scientific socialism. This process, starting from the original aspiration and founding mission, grasping the historical context and judging historical trends in practice, and realizing the unity of historical occurrence and development, deepens the cognition of historical time.

时间是内在于历史之中的现实性存在，根源于现实的人的实践活动之中。马克思恩格斯对于历史时间的理解有着“过去—现在—未来”的完整时间流向，时间序列由现实出发在追思“起源”中导向过去，在“科学预见”中面向未来，是一种汇聚于现实时刻的生成与发展序列。中国共产党百年历史时间序列，是在接续近代中国求索民族复兴实践语境中展开的，而不是游离于中华民族复兴史之外的另类实践。立足第一个百年奋斗目标如期实现和第二个百年奋斗目标如愿开启的“关键时刻”，以习近平同志为核心的党中央追问历史“何去何从”的时间流向，不仅印刻了“过去—现在—未来”的完整时间流向，而且在继承历史经验和光荣传统之中，求解“从哪里来”和“到哪里去”的时间主线，厚植开辟治国理政新局面的思想根基。一方面，在追问历史之“源”中寻根溯源、追本求源，“深入思考我们当初是从哪里出发的、为什么出发的”12。诉诸历史起点的过程也是回望初心使命的过程，导引在历史的连续性中发现人的生活世界，以及一以贯之的内在传统。另一方面，基于历史“发生”之上的发展史探讨，意味着对于历史运动逻辑的整体性把握，既有对以往历史文明成果的批判性继承，又有对未来图景的科学性预见，在批判、解释与预见的逻辑链中通达对历史的总体性认知。正如习近平总书记指出的：“历史、现实、未来是相通的。历史是过去的现实，现实是未来的历史。”13中国共产党对于历史时间的关怀是立足中华民族“今天”之上的回溯中华民族“昨天”与展望中华民族“明天”的贯通式历史观，更是把中国特色社会主义形成与发展的历史逻辑、理论逻辑与实践逻辑和科学社会主义运动联系起来的时空延展结果。这种从初心使命出发，在实践中把握历史脉络和研判历史趋势，实现历史发生性与发展性相统一的过程，深化了历史时间认知。

(II) Standing at the “Crossroads” to Judge the Historical Orientation of the “Intersection Period”

（二）站于“十字路口”判断“交汇时期”的历史方位

The historical orientation is a specific field formed at the intersection of time and space, and is the realistic basis for Marx and Engels to critique capitalist society and look forward to the future direction of the development of communist society. Marx and Engels did not confine their vision to the corner of European-centered national history, but adhered to a global historical perspective that unifies national history and world history, grasping the overall historical process encompassing both Eastern and Western societies with a world-spanning vision of “the two poles being connected,” and thereby making the orientation judgments of the “two inevitables” and the “two will nots.” [14]14 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Karl Marx,” *People’s Daily*, May 5, 2018. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Although the era we live in has undergone tremendous and profound changes compared with the era in which Marx lived, from the broad perspective of 500 years of world socialism, we are still in the historical era indicated by Marxism.” [14]14 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Karl Marx,” *People’s Daily*, May 5, 2018. This historical era is a “major historical era” in the evolution of social formations, an era in which the capitalist social formation is dominant. Under the major era that continues to this day, the diversity of development paths of various nations within the world does not constitute a negation of the laws of history; the laws of historical development do not become invalid due to the particularities of national history. Socialist countries at a “crossroads” correctly assessing their historical orientation and conducting theoretical and practical explorations in line with their own realities constitute an important link in world history. The 19th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: “After long-term efforts, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, which is a new historical orientation for China’s development.” [15]15 Xi Jinping, “Secure a Decisive The New Era is the result of the CPC’s scientific assessment based on China’s basic national conditions and in line with the general trend of world development. However, the basic national condition that China is still in the primary stage of socialism for a long time has not changed, and China’s international status as the world’s largest developing country has not changed. Continuing this spatiotemporal spectrum, General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out: “The new stage of development is a new stage in which our Party has led the people to achieve a historic leap from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong.” [16]16 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Celebrating the Centenary of the Communist Party of China” (July 1, 2021). It can be seen that the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics began with the 18th National Congress of the CPC, and the new stage of development within the primary stage of socialism began with the start of the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and marching toward the second centenary goal. [17]17 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” (October 16, 2022). Although the New Era and the new stage of development, as carriers of historical orientation, differ in time length, they are internally consistent in achieving the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects, representing a refinement of the existing view of historical orientation and taking an important step forward in the direction of socialism.

历史方位是在时空交汇处形成的特定场域，是马克思恩格斯批判资本主义社会，展望未来共产主义社会发展方向的现实依据。马克思恩格斯没有把目光局限于欧洲中心的民族史一隅，而是坚持民族史与世界史相统一的全球史视野，以“两极相连”的世界性眼光把握涵盖东西方社会的总体历史进程，进而做出“两个必然”和“两个决不会”的方位判断。习近平总书记指出：“尽管我们所处的时代同马克思所处的时代相比发生了巨大而深刻的变化，但从世界社会主义500年的大视野来看，我们依然处在马克思主义所指明的历史时代。”14这个历史时代是社会形态演进中“大的历史时代”，是资本主义社会形态占统治地位的时代。在延续至今的大时代之下，世界范围内各民族发展道路的多样性并不构成对历史规律的否定，历史发展规律不因民族史的特殊性而失效，处于“十字路口”的社会主义国家正确研判历史方位，进行符合自身实际的理论和实践探索构成世界历史中的重要一环。党的十九大指出：“经过长期努力，中国特色社会主义进入了新时代，这是我国发展新的历史方位。”15新时代是中国共产党立足中国基本国情和顺应世界发展大势的科学研判结果，但中国长期处于社会主义初级阶段的基本国情没有变，中国是世界上最大发展中国家的国际地位没有变。延续这一时空谱系，习近平总书记进一步指出：“新发展阶段是我们党带领人民迎来从站起来、富起来到强起来历史性跨越的新阶段。”16可见，中国特色社会主义新时代始于党的十八大，社会主义初级阶段中的新发展阶段始于开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程、向第二个百年奋斗目标进军。作为历史方位载体的新时代与新发展阶段时间长度不同，但实现全面建成社会主义现代化强国的奋斗目标内在一致，是对既有历史方位观的细化，朝着社会主义前进方向迈出了重要一步。

(III) Situated in the “New Journey,” Planning the Historical Mission “Leading to the Future”

（三）位于“新的征程”谋划“通向未来”的历史使命

The lifelong historical mission of Marx and Engels was to achieve human liberation and the free and comprehensive development of the individual. However, at each historical stage, new situations arise and new problems emerge, and the specific missions of the proletarian political party also differ accordingly. The historical missions of different stages do not imply a rupture in the overall historical mission, but rather push history deeper in the process of striving to become the gravedigger of capitalism and the builder of communism. Contemporary China has an inherent continuity with historical China. Continuity and stage-specificity constitute the magnificent, tumultuous, and struggle-after-struggle historical journey of modern China over the past century. The historical mission of the CPC’s century-long struggle also exhibits the characteristic of the unity of continuity and stage-specificity. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party has put forward the great vision of the “Chinese Dream” on the basis of the “two centenary goals,” and revised “building a moderately prosperous society in all respects” to “completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects,” making the moderately prosperous society standard higher, more balanced, and more sustainable, striving to win new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era on the “new journey.” In 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping declared: “We have achieved the first centenary goal, built a moderately prosperous society in all respects on the land of China, historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, and are now marching confidently towards the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.” [17]17 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” (October 16, 2022). The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC reiterated that the central task of the CPC “is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups in the country to comprehensively build a great modern socialist country and achieve the second centenary goal.” [18]18 Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (October 16, 2022). On the basis of revealing the essential connotation of “Chinese-path modernization” from five aspects — “modernization of a huge population, modernization of common prosperity for all, modernization of material and cultural-ethical progress, modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, and modernization along the path of peaceful development” — it clarified the overall strategic arrangement of “two steps” to basically achieve modernization and to build a great modern socialist country. [19]19 Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle (November 11, 2021). It can be seen that the historical missions formulated by the CPC at different historical stages are organic components of the great cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, a composite and comprehensive reform promoted link by link. This transformation does not refer only to a certain aspect of society, but to all aspects from economy, politics, and culture to social life, that is, the transformation of various elements within the social organism. It is a transformation combining path, theory, system, and culture, reflecting the close integration of the Marxist historical dialectic with China’s problems and the external release of its political efficacy, deepening existing cognition while strengthening confidence in the direction of historical progress.

马克思恩格斯的毕生历史使命是实现人类解放和人的自由全面发展，但就各个历史阶段而言，会出现新情况、面临新问题，无产阶级政党相应的具体使命也不尽相同。不同阶段的历史使命不意味着总体历史使命的断裂，而是在致力成为资本主义掘墓人和共产主义建设者中把历史推向纵深。当代中国与历史中国具有内在连续性，连续性和阶段性构成近代中国近百年波澜壮阔、跌宕起伏、一个奋斗接一个奋斗的历史征途，中国共产党百年奋斗的历史使命也呈现出连续性和阶段性相统一的特征。党的十八大以来，党在“两个一百年”奋斗目标基础上提出了“中国梦”的伟大构想，并将“全面建设小康社会”修改成为“全面建成小康社会”，使小康标准更高、更均衡、更可持续，在“新的征程”上奋力夺取新时代中国特色社会主义的新胜利。2021年，习近平总书记宣告：“我们实现了第一个百年奋斗目标，在中华大地上全面建成了小康社会，历史性地解决了绝对贫困问题，正在意气风发向着全面建成社会主义现代化强国的第二个百年奋斗目标迈进。”17党的二十大报告重申中国共产党的中心任务“就是团结带领全国各族人民全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标”18，在从“人口规模巨大的现代化、全体人民共同富裕的现代化、物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化、人与自然和谐共生的现代化、走和平发展道路的现代化”五个方面揭示“中国式现代化”本质内涵基础上，明确基本实现现代化、建成社会主义现代化强国“两步走”总的战略安排。19可见，中国共产党在不同历史阶段制定的历史使命是实现中华民族伟大复兴事业中的有机组成部分，是一环连接一环地推行的一种复合型全面改革。这种变革不是仅指社会的某一方面，而是从经济、政治、文化到社会生活的诸方面，也就是社会有机体内部各要素的变革，是道路、理论、制度和文化结合在一起的变革，体现了马克思主义的历史辩证法与中国问题的紧密结合及其政治效能的外在释放，在坚定对历史前进方向自信的同时深化既有认知。

(IV) Relying on “Critical Junctures” to Summarize “Interconnected” Historical Experiences

（四）倚于“重大关头”总结“相互贯通”的历史经验

Historical experience is a further refinement of historical phenomena and historical events, the result of the abstract weaving of historical facts by thought. The history of human social development has proven that historical progress always advances amidst contradictions. No matter what twists and turns are encountered, history always develops forward according to its laws, and no force can stop the wheel of history. Whether progress or twists and turns are not abstract; the crux of the issue lies in how to examine lessons from the past based on the existence and development of human society. The “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle” occurred at the important historical moment of the centenary of the founding of the CPC, at the critical historical juncture when the Party and the people had successfully achieved the first centenary goal and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and were marching towards the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects. If the first two historical resolutions [20]20 The third historical resolution refers to the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. unified thinking by ending historical debates at home and abroad, the third historical resolution refines historical experience, enhances historical confidence, and gains historical initiative in the process of “overcoming a series of major risks and challenges, solving many long-standing problems that were difficult to solve, and accomplishing many major tasks that were previously desired but could not be accomplished.” [20]20 The third historical resolution refers to the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. Understanding history from reality, reflecting on reality from history, and grasping the future from reality. The third historical resolution summarizes the historical experience of the century-long struggle from ten aspects: upholding the Party’s leadership, putting the people first, theoretical innovation, independence and self-reliance, the Chinese path, embracing the world, pioneering and innovation, daring to struggle, the united front, and self-revolution. This greatly highlights the guiding role of Marxist thought, helps to gather the surging forces of unity and endeavor, and opens up a new historical situation for socialism with Chinese characteristics. Historical development is dialectical and forward-moving, advancing steadily amidst the contradictions of solving old problems, raising new problems, and solving new problems. The experiential achievements generated amidst historical progress and twists and turns are all closely related to the theoretical themes promoting the Sinicization of Marxism, and are all closely linked to the relevant theories and practical issues of exploring socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the interaction between theoretical innovation and practical innovation, they present a theoretical posture of coexistence of inheritance, development, and transcendence. It can be seen that summarizing historical experience is actually a kind of historical retrospective research. In the New Era, the Party summarizes historical experience while understanding the progressiveness and tortuousness of history, presenting a grand view of history that jumps out of specific historical details and fragments, using the main themes, main lines, mainstream, and essence of historical development to govern details and fragments. This enriches the epistemology of history and, moreover, reflects the Party’s own theoretical, political, institutional, and cultural advantages.

历史经验是对历史现象、历史事件等的进一步提炼，是思维对于历史事实的抽象编织结果。人类社会发展史已经证明，历史的进步总是在矛盾中前进的，无论遇到什么样的曲折，历史总是依循规律向前发展，没有任何力量能够阻挡历史前进的车轮。无论是进步抑或曲折都不是抽象的，问题的关键在于如何从人类社会存在和发展的基础上审视前车之鉴。《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》发生在中国共产党成立一百周年的重要历史时刻，在党和人民胜利实现第一个百年奋斗目标、全面建成小康社会，正在向着全面建成社会主义现代化强国的第二个百年奋斗目标迈进的重大历史关头。如果说前两个历史决议是在结束国内外历史争论中统一思想，第三个历史决议则在“战胜一系列重大风险挑战，解决了许多长期想解决而没有解决的难题，办成了许多过去想办而没有办成的大事”20中提炼历史经验、增进历史自信、获取历史主动。从现实中认识历史，从历史中反思现实，从现实中把握未来。第三个历史决议从坚持党的领导、人民至上、理论创新、独立自主、中国道路、胸怀天下、开拓创新、敢于斗争、统一战线、自我革命十个方面总结了百年奋斗的历史经验，极大凸显了马克思主义思想领航作用，有助于汇聚团结奋进的蓬勃力量，开辟中国特色社会主义历史新局面。历史发展是辩证向前的，是在解决老问题、提出新问题、解决新问题的矛盾中稳步前进的。在历史前进和曲折中生成的经验成果都与推动马克思主义中国化的理论主题息息相关，都与探索中国特色社会主义的相关理论和实际问题紧密相连，在理论创新与实践创新的互动中呈现出继承、发展和超越并存的理论态势。可见，历史经验总结其实是一种历史回溯式研究，新时代党在理解历史的进步性与曲折性中总结历史经验，呈现出的是跳出具体历史细节和片段的大历史观，用历史发展的主题主线、主流本质统领细节和片段，是对历史认识论的丰富，更反映了党自身所具有的理论优势、政治优势、制度优势和文化优势。

(V) Situated at the “Forefront of the Times,” Refining the Historical Spirit of “Motivational Support”

（五）处于“时代潮头”提炼“动力支撑”的历史精神

The historical spirit is a free and transcendent existence generated in history, whereby the subject subjects the object to aesthetic scrutiny and value judgment, satisfying the subject’s emotional and psychological needs. General Secretary Xi Jinping compares the century-long history of the Communist Party of China to “a great historical drama that has moved heaven and earth and startled the gods, created in human history.” [16]16 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Celebrating the Centenary of the Communist Party of China” (July 1, 2021). On the one hand, the history reflected in the drama represents real life, that is, the historical content of which the subject is conscious. The historical dimension within the drama is a procedural art: within a limited time setting and stage space, it unfolds the contradictions and conflicts of the story through plot elements such as prelude, climax, and denouement. The generation of conflict is also a vivid reflection of the various contradictory relations in real life. Art for the people; an excellent historical drama is a profound reflection of the people’s history, an understanding and narration of historical practice, manifested as a realist line in artistic creation. On the other hand, the historical drama originates from life yet rises above it; it is an overall leap beyond the historical subject’s real life, practical experience, surrounding conditions, and future anticipations. The grand history embedded in the drama purifies the human mind and infuses the human heart with passion and strength. More importantly, it is elevated from the reality and aesthetics of history into a historical spirit, which is a holistic grasp of the internal system of history—its continuity, process, and stages—giving birth to “the beauty of history, the beauty of mountains and rivers, and the beauty of culture.” [17]17 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” (October 16, 2022). This cultural nourishment and spiritual gestation of history has become an internal driving force nourishing the decade of the New Era. The 20th National Congress of the CPC, standing at the tide of the times, proposed the important content of “carrying forward the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists originating from the great founding spirit of the Party.” [18]18 Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (October 16, 2022). This spiritual lineage unfolds along the dual dimensions of time and space, presenting a rich landscape composed of many spirits—including the founding spirit, the Jinggangshan spirit, the Soviet Area spirit, the Long March spirit, the Zunyi Conference spirit, and the spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression—manifesting the spiritual banner and ideological treasure that enables the Chinese nation to stand tall among the nations of the world, and imprinting the distinctive qualities and cultural markers of the Chinese nation passed down to this day: ideals and beliefs, patriotic sentiments, the people’s standpoint, and the tradition of pioneering. Thus, the historical spirit is concretized and adapted to the times in the vivid practice initiated by the century-old Party; its ideological connotations are constantly enriched and expanded, ensuring that the Party’s nature and purpose, its original aspiration and founding mission, remain unshaken, maintaining a high degree of unity in the whole Party in politics, ideology, and action, and enriching and deepening existing historical cognition in the process of building, maintaining, and safeguarding the spiritual home.

历史精神是主体对于客体予以美学审视和价值评判，满足主体的情感心理需要，这是一种在历史中生成的自由超越性存在。习近平总书记把中国共产党的百年历史比作“创造了人类历史上惊天地、泣鬼神的伟大史剧”21。一方面，剧目中的历史反映的是现实生活，也就是主体意识到的历史内容。剧目中的历史之维是一种过程性艺术，在有限的时间设定和舞台空间里，通过序曲、高潮、尾声等情节展现故事中的矛盾冲突，冲突的生成也是现实生活中各种矛盾关系的生动反映。人民艺术为人民，优秀的历史剧目是对人民历史的深切反映，是对历史实践的领悟与叙事，表现为艺术创作中的现实主义路线。另一方面，历史剧目源于生活又高于生活，是在历史主体在现实生活、实践经历、周遭条件、未来预想之上的总体跃迁。剧目内蕴的恢宏历史，荡涤了人的胸怀，为人的心灵注入了激情和力量。更重要的是，在历史的现实性和审美性中提升为历史精神，这是对历史的连续性、过程性、阶段性等内在体系的整体性把握，孕生着“历史之美、山河之美、文化之美”22，这种对历史的文化涵养和精神孕育已经成为滋育新时代十年的内在动力。党的二十大立足时代潮头提出“弘扬以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系”23重要内容。这一精神谱系从时间和地域双重维度展开，展现了由建党精神、井冈山精神、苏区精神、长征精神、遵义会议精神、抗战精神等诸多精神构成的丰富图景，彰显了使中华民族巍然耸立于世界民族之林的精神旗帜和思想瑰宝，印刻了中华民族传承至今的理想信念、爱国情怀、人民立场、创业传统等鲜明品格和文化标识。可见，历史精神在百年大党开创的生动实践中得以具体化、时代化，其思想内涵不断丰富和拓展，保证党的性质和宗旨、初心与使命不动摇，使全党在政治、思想、行动上保持高度一致，在建设好、维护好、守护好心灵家园中丰富和深化了既有历史认知。

III. The Benefit of Theory: The Enrichment and Deepening of the Marxist Historical Methodology in the New Era

三、理论之益：新时代马克思主义历史方法论的丰富和深化

Historical methodology is the way in which the historical subject obtains theoretical results in practical and cognitive activities; it is theory in application, requiring that the main content and structural features of a specific era be solved from the starting point of reality. In the decade of the New Era, the CPC has constructed historical theory starting from the current profound changes in China and the world, forming a scientific methodology for evaluating and interpreting history centered on dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and concretizing it into the historical cognition of the “grand view of history,” the historical practice of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, the historical evaluation of concrete analysis, the historical thinking of dialectical analysis, and the historical perspective of embracing the world with a broad mind, thereby deepening the Marxist historical methodology.

历史方法论是历史主体在实践活动和认识活动中获取理论成果的方式，是处于运用之中的理论，要求从实际出发求解具体时代的主要内容和结构特征。新时代十年中国共产党从当前正在深刻变化的中国与世界出发架构历史理论，形成了以辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义为核心来评价和阐释历史的科学方法论，并具体化为“大历史观”的历史认知、守正创新的历史实践、具体分析的历史评价、辩证分析的历史运思、胸怀天下的历史视阈，从而深化了马克思主义历史方法论。

(I) Implementing the Grand View of History in Grasping the “Theme, Main Line, Mainstream, and Essence”

（一）在把握“主题主线、主流本质”中贯彻大历史观

The grand view of history, based on historical materialism, is a landmark achievement in the Sinicization of Marxist historical theory and also serves as an implicit methodology running through the Party’s research, analysis, and interpretation of history. The “grand” here superficially refers to the breadth of coverage, constructing an overall historical coordinate in a broader spatiotemporal background, “to see clearly why we were successful in the past from the Party’s century-long struggle and to understand how we can continue to succeed in the future,” [19]19 Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle (November 11, 2021). so as to better uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. More importantly, it refers to the depth of interpretation, revealing internal laws from the essence of historical movement, i.e., drawing wisdom and methodological guidance for solving practical problems by grasping the “theme, main line, mainstream, and essence” of history. The “theme” concerns the strategic issue of holding high the banner and setting the direction; the third historical resolution [20]20 The third historical resolution refers to the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. takes “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” as its theme, which has also become a new reference point for evaluating historical figures and events of the CPC. The “main line” concerns the practical issue of path selection, internally composed of multiple themes such as the history of unremitting struggle, the history of fearing no sacrifice, the history of theoretical exploration, the history of benefiting the people, and the history of self-building. The “theme and main line,” combined with practical requirements, must grasp the “mainstream and essence” in the dialectical thinking of reality and objectivity, system and comprehensiveness, connection and development. Only in this way can one grasp the key points and discard the trivial. For example, in evaluating the relationship between the two 30-year periods before and after reform and opening up, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “These are two periods that are interrelated but also significantly different; however, in essence, they are both practical explorations by our Party leading the people in socialist construction.” [21]21 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong’s Birth” (December 26, 2013). Before reform and opening up, the CPC’s theoretical innovation, represented by the development view of the socialist construction period, such as “On the Ten Major Relationships,” provided theoretical preparation for the new development concepts of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing after reform and opening up; in practical innovation, the establishment of the basic socialist system and the completion of a comprehensive national economic system and industrialization system provided the institutional guarantee and material foundation for the advancement of socialist practice with Chinese characteristics after reform and opening up. Of course, as an unprecedented construction undertaking in the history of socialism, the CPC’s preliminary exploration of socialist construction inevitably had some mistakes. From the perspective of the “grand view of history,” these two historical stages and their relationship are a dialectical relationship of inheritance, innovation, and development in the historical sequence; twists and turns are not a rupture in history but contain the practical effort to seek China’s rapid economic development; in historical content, they are unified under the socialist system and the leadership of the CPC, reflecting the exploratory path in the economic, political, cultural, and other fields of this period; in historical goals, they are oriented toward building a modern socialist country, serving the goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Thus, the grand view of history conforms to the methodological requirement of grasping the “theme, main line, mainstream, and essence,” helping to avoid the metaphysical view of history that severs history and ensuring the correct direction of historical development.

以唯物史观为立论之基的大历史观，是马克思主义历史理论中国化的标志成果，也作为一种隐而不彰的方法论贯穿于中国共产党对于历史的研究、分析和阐释之中。这里的“大”表面是指涵盖范围之广，在更加广阔的时空背景中搭建历史总体坐标，“从党的百年奋斗中看清楚过去我们为什么能够成功、弄明白未来我们怎样才能继续成功”24，在新时代更好坚持和发展中国特色社会主义。更重要的是指诠释层次之深，从历史运动的本质出发揭示内在规律，即在把握历史“主题主线、主流本质”中为解决现实问题汲取智慧和方法导引。“主题”关乎举旗定向的战略课题，第三个历史决议以“实现中华民族伟大复兴”为主题，这也成为评价中国共产党历史人物和历史事件新的参照点。“主线”关乎道路选择的现实课题，内由不懈奋斗史、不怕牺牲史、理论探索史、为民造福史、自身建设史等多重主题构成。“主题和主线”结合实践要求在现实客观、系统全面、联系发展的辩证思维中抓“主流本质”，只有这样才能做到纲举目张、执本舍末。如在评价改革开放前后两个30年的关系上，习近平总书记指出：“这是两个相互联系又有重大区别的时期，但本质上都是我们党领导人民进行社会主义建设的实践探索。”25改革开放之前中国共产党在理论创新上以《论十大关系》等为代表的社会主义建设时期发展观，为改革开放之后以创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念提供了理论准备；在实践创新上建立社会主义基本制度、建成完整的国民经济体系和工业化体系，为改革开放之后中国特色社会主义实践推进奠定了制度保障和物质基础。当然，作为社会主义史上一项前无古人的建设事业，中国共产党社会主义建设的初步探索难免出现部分失误。从“大历史观”来看两个历史阶段及其关联，它们在历史序列中是继承、创新与发展的辩证关系，曲折并非历史的断裂，而是蕴含求索中国经济快速发展的现实努力；在历史内容上统一于社会主义制度之下，中国共产党的领导之中，反映这一时期经济、政治、文化等领域的探索道路；在历史目标上以建设社会主义现代化强国为导向，服务实现中华民族伟大复兴目标。可见，大历史观契合把握“主题主线、主流本质”的方法要求，有助于避免割裂历史的形而上学历史观，确保历史发展的正确前进方向。

(II) Upholding Fundamental Principles and Breaking New Ground in Nurturing the Bloodline and Genes of National History and Culture

（二）在厚植民族历史文化的血脉基因中坚持守正创新

Culture is an indispensable element driving the development of human beings and social history. History is generated in human practice, and human positive initiative is expressed through people’s spiritual and cultural activities. Culture is an important dimension of historical materialism. While following the general laws of the development of human society as set out by historical materialism, the grand view of history [22]22 The “grand view of history” (大历史观) refers to a broad, long-term perspective on history that emphasizes macro-level patterns and civilizational continuity, as promoted in Xi Jinping’s historical thought. thickens the bloodline and genes from the more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization. The internal continuity of Chinese civilization is consistent with historical continuity, and the spiritual impetus for national rejuvenation must be cultivated in the upholding and innovation of Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Compiling history and establishing canons, preserving history to enlighten wisdom, and using culture to educate people—this is a tradition that the Chinese nation has continued for several thousand years.” [26]26 The “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors” (三皇五帝) are legendary early rulers in Chinese mythology, often studied as part of prehistoric Chinese history. Upholding means cherishing the philosophical thought, humanistic spirit, educational ideas, and moral concepts within historical culture, making them the ideological treasures for the construction of confidence and self-strengthening in the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Of course, historical understanding in historical texts cannot be isolated and absolutized into a monument without time; rather, it depends on the temporal unfolding of the text, that is, seeking the resonance of the times between the basic principles of Marxism and historical culture. This requires a dual mechanism of innovation and interaction between theory and practice. In view of this, General Secretary Xi Jinping uses “three metaphors” to summarize the meaning and value of history: “history is the best teacher,” [27]27 The “Three Imperatives” (三个务必) are: 1)务必不忘初心、牢记使命 (never forget the original aspiration and founding mission), 2)务必谦虚谨慎、艰苦奋斗 (remain modest, prudent, and hardworking), and 3)务必敢于斗争、善于斗争 (dare to struggle and be good at struggling), introduced at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. “history is the best textbook,” [28]28 The “Two Imperatives” (两个务必) were Mao Zedong’s 1949 call for Party members to remain modest and prudent, and to maintain a hardworking style. and “history is a mirror and a wise person.” [29]29 V. I. Lenin, “The Defeat of the Paris Commune: On the Speech of the General Council of the International,” *Lenin Collected Works*, Vol. 13, p. 22. The original quotation is from Lenin’s 1908 article “The Historical Destiny of the Doctrine of Karl Marx,” where he emphasizes Marx’s focus on the spontaneous revolutionary activity of the masses. This indicates that wisdom should be drawn from the mutual illumination of history and the times, and strength should be enhanced from the deep integration of upholding and innovation. Specifically, experience can be drawn from the study of the natural philosophical history of “the unity of heaven and humanity” [23]23 “The unity of heaven and humanity” (天人合一) is a classical Chinese philosophical concept emphasizing harmony between nature and human society. for the construction of ecological civilization in the New Era, from the study of the cultural philosophical history of “literature conveys the Way” [24]24 “Literature conveys the Way” (文以载道) is a traditional Chinese literary principle that writing should serve moral and philosophical purposes. for the construction of cultural confidence in the New Era, and from the study of global history of “the Great Harmony under Heaven” [25]25 “The Great Harmony under Heaven” (天下大同) is an ancient Confucian ideal of a harmonious, universal society. for the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, among others. “Valuing history, studying history, and learning from history can bring humanity much wisdom for understanding yesterday, grasping today, and creating tomorrow,” [30]30 This phrase is a classical allusion to the Chinese historiographical tradition, where studying history yields valuable lessons for the present. It echoes the common saying “以史为鉴，可以知兴替” (taking history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall). sometimes directly referred to as “historical wisdom.” Thus, historical culture embodies the philosophical reflections of ancient sages on the relationships and developmental laws among nature, humanity, and society. History, in the upholding and innovation of cultural traditions, manifests the positive spirit of inheritance, continuity, and renewal. Only after long-term falsification and examination can history present an increasingly vivid picture, continuously enriching and innovating historical conclusions through repeated argumentation of understanding.

文化是推动人和社会历史发展不可或缺的要素，历史在人的实践中生成，人的积极能动性通过人的精神文化活动表现出来。文化是唯物史观的重要向度，大历史观遵循唯物史观关于人类社会发展一般规律的同时，从中华民族五千余年的文明史中厚植血脉基因，中华文明的内在连续性与历史连续性具有一致性，要在对中华文明的守正创新中厚植民族复兴的精神动力。习近平总书记指出：“修史立典，存史启智，以文化人，这是中华民族延续几千年的一个传统。”26守正意味着珍视历史文化中的哲学思想、人文精神、教化思想、道德理念等，使其成为中国特色社会主义文化自信自强建设的思想瑰宝。当然，历史典籍中的历史认识不能孤立起来，绝对化为一种没有时间的丰碑，而是有赖文本的时间性发挥，也就是寻找马克思主义基本原理与历史文化的时代共鸣，这就需要理论与实践双重创新互动机制。有鉴于此，习近平总书记使用“三个比喻”来概括历史的意义与价值，“历史是最好的老师”27，“历史是最好的教科书”28，“历史是一面镜子和一位智者”29。这表明要从历史与时代的交相辉映中汲取智慧，从守正创新的深度融合中增进力量。具体来说，可以从“天人合一”自然哲学史研究中汲取新时代生态文明建构的经验，从“文以载道”文化哲学史的研究中汲取新时代文化自信建构的经验，从“天下大同”全球史研究中汲取人类命运共同体建构的经验等。“重视历史、研究历史、借鉴历史，可以给人类带来很多了解昨天、把握今天、开创明天的智慧”30，有时直接称之为“历史智慧”。可见，历史文化凝聚着先贤对于自然、人、社会之间关系及其发展规律的哲思，历史在对文化传统的守正创新中彰显传承、延续、革新的积极精神，历史在经过长时间的证伪和考辨后才能愈加呈现更为生动的画面，在认识的反复论证中不断丰富和创新历史结论。

(3) Emphasizing the Constraints of the Times and Socio-Historical Conditions in Evaluating Historical Figures

（三）在评价历史人物中注重时代和社会历史条件制约

Historical materialism applies a scientific attitude and method throughout the analysis of all human social history. The human character of history suggests examining the background and times in which historical figures lived from a historical perspective, thereby conducting a comprehensive and full-field scientific evaluation of historical figures. The century-long process of the Communist Party of China in compiling and governing history has consistently involved examining the practical activities of people as subjects of historical and cultural activities. This includes leading groups represented by Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and others; revolutionary martyrs represented by Liu Hulan, Dai Anlan, Huang Jiguang, and others; theoretical workers represented by Ai Siqi, Li Da, and others; literary and artistic workers represented by Zhou Yang, Ding Ling, and others; as well as numerous advanced models emerging in fields such as labor, education, assistance, and medical care. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has successively attended symposiums marking the decadal anniversaries of the births of leaders such as Mao Zedong, Sun Yat-sen, Zhou Enlai, and Liu Shaoqi, delivering important speeches that comprehensively review the life experiences of these leaders. He not only makes objective and fair historical evaluations of them but also does not forget to shape the collective characteristics of the CPC members, repeatedly expressing the need to care for Party cadres, ordinary Party members, and the masses. This process embodies the glorious history of the CPC, full of suffering and glory, engraves the ideological consensus of the Party and the people on historical figures, and interprets the CPC’s people-centered value orientation. This provides methodological guidance for correctly evaluating historical figures. He points out: “The evaluation of historical figures should be analyzed within the historical conditions of their times and society. It cannot depart from a comprehensive understanding of historical conditions and processes, nor from a scientific grasp of historical laws, nor can it ignore the relationship between historical inevitability and historical contingency.” [31] In short, adhering to a comprehensive and dialectical perspective to understand historical figures, adhering to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, distinguishing the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, and not allowing the merits and demerits of a certain stage or aspect to replace the understanding of the merits and demerits of their entire life—this is the proper method for Marxists to evaluate historical figures. At the same time, it is proposed that the masses create history, while not denying the role of individuals in history, thereby transcending the heroic view of history. This also explains the analytical principle of the unity of individual history and group history in historical evaluation. In evaluating historical figures, the CPC emphasizes historicity, conditionality, and stages to establish a correct view of Party history, solidifying the spiritual foundation for the bright prospects of socialism with Chinese characteristics in rehabilitating the names of historical Party figures.

历史唯物主义将科学的态度和方法贯穿于整个人类社会历史的分析中，历史的属人性启示以历史性视野考察历史人物生存的背景与时代，从而对历史人物进行全过程、全领域的科学评价。中国共产党修史治史的百年历程，始终贯穿对作为历史活动和文化活动主体的人的实践活动的考察，其中有以毛泽东、周恩来等为代表的领袖群体，有以刘胡兰、戴安澜、黄继光等为代表的革命英烈，有以艾思奇、李达等为代表的理论工作者群体，也有以周扬、丁玲等为代表的文艺工作者群体，还有众多在劳动、教育、帮扶、医疗等领域涌现出的先进典型。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记先后出席毛泽东、孙中山、周恩来、刘少奇等领导人逢十诞辰座谈会并发表重要讲话，完整回顾领导人一生经历，不仅对他们做出客观公正的历史评价，同时不忘对中国共产党人的群体特色塑造，多次坦言要关怀党的干部、普通党员和人民群众。其间熔铸着中国共产党饱含苦难辉煌的光荣历史，镌刻着党和人民对历史人物的思想共识，诠释着中国共产党坚持以人民为中心的价值导向。这为正确评价历史人物提供了方法指引。他指出：“对历史人物的评价，应该放在其所处时代和社会的历史条件下去分析，不能离开对历史条件、历史过程的全面认识和对历史规律的科学把握，不能忽略历史必然性和历史偶然性的关系。”31要言之，坚持用全面和辩证的眼光去认识历史人物，坚持实事求是的思想路线，分清主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，不能因某一阶段、某一方面的功过取代对其一生功过是非的认识，这才是马克思主义者评价历史人物应有方法。同时，提出人民群众创造历史，同时不否认个人在历史中的作用，实现了对英雄史观的超越，也即说明了历史评价中个人历史与群体历史相统一的分析原则。中国共产党在评价历史人物中对于历史性、条件性、阶段性地重视树立正确党史观，在为党史人物正名中筑牢中国特色社会主义光明前景的精神根基。

(4) Adhering to Dialectical Thinking in Clearly Opposing the Trend of Historical Nihilism

（四）在明确反对历史虚无主义思潮中恪守辩证性思维

From the perspective of historical materialism, history presents a process of the unity of progress and twists and turns. Grasping the dialectical relationship between historical progress and twists helps to strengthen confidence in historical development and avoid falling into the quagmire of historical nihilism. Historically, historical nihilism, from the perspective of intellectual history, is the manifestation of “nihilism” penetrating the field of history. By negating historical figures, historical events, historical laws, and historical values, it dissolves human subjectivity, erodes people’s common ideals, subverts existing historical traditions, and leaves people in a state of aimless existence due to a lack of faith. At the mobilization meeting for Party history study and education, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Correctly understand and scientifically evaluate major events, important meetings, and important figures in Party history. We must clearly oppose historical nihilism.” [32] That is to say, the CPC’s understanding and evaluation of history unfold in a context of correcting errors represented by the erroneous trend of historical nihilism. On the one hand, in defending the objectivity of history, “use facts to counter various distortions and slanders of the history of the Chinese nation.” [33] Here, we can take General Secretary Xi Jinping’s opposition to historical nihilism in the study of ancient history as an example. He emphasizes that research must use archaeological discoveries to confirm as reliable history those periods with large gaps and insufficient written records, specifically carrying out projects such as the study of prehistoric legends like the “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors” [26]26 The “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors” (三皇五帝) are legendary early rulers in Chinese mythology, often studied as part of prehistoric Chinese history. and the “Comprehensive Study of the Origin and Early Development of Chinese Civilization.” It is worth noting that, in view of the spread of historical nihilism through the internet, General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “We must use new means and tools provided by science and technology to improve the ability to discover and analyze archaeological work and to enhance the capacity to protect historical and cultural heritage.” [34] On the other hand, in the process of studying history, special emphasis is placed on opposing fragmentation in handling the relationship between “existing conclusions and the latest understandings” of history, stressing that “the evaluation of major events, important meetings, and important figures should be aligned with the existing conclusions of the Party Central Committee.” [35] For example, in the New Era, the CPC has found “self-revolution” as the second answer to escaping the historical cycle of “order and chaos, rise and fall,” developing the first answer of “letting the people supervise the government.” The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasizes the “Three Imperatives,” [27]27 The “Three Imperatives” (三个务必) are: 1)务必不忘初心、牢记使命 (never forget the original aspiration and founding mission), 2)务必谦虚谨慎、艰苦奋斗 (remain modest, prudent, and hardworking), and 3)务必敢于斗争、善于斗争 (dare to struggle and be good at struggling), introduced at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. enriching and developing Mao Zedong’s thought of the “Two Imperatives.” [28]28 The “Two Imperatives” (两个务必) were Mao Zedong’s 1949 call for Party members to remain modest and prudent, and to maintain a hardworking style. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized: “The crux of historical nihilism is to fundamentally negate the guiding position of Marxism and the historical inevitability of China’s path to socialism, and to negate the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” [36] Thus, the nihilist view of history is also a trend with strong ideological overtones. Its main target is to question historical objectivity and the political legitimacy of the CPC’s leadership. In this regard, the state urgently needs to build institutional defenses to provide solid guarantees for safeguarding national cultural and ideological security, and to jointly build an ideological community under new historical conditions.

唯物史观视域中的历史呈现前进性和曲折性相统一的过程，对于历史进步与曲折辩证关系的把握，有助于从中坚定历史发展的信心，避免陷入历史虚无主义的泥潭之中。历史虚无主义从思想史上看，是“虚无主义”（nihilism）渗透至历史领域的表现，它通过否弃历史人物、历史事件、历史规律和历史价值，消解人的主体性，蚕食人的共同理想，颠覆既有的历史传统，使人因缺失信仰处于一种漫无目的的生存状态。习近平总书记在党史学习教育动员大会上强调，“正确认识和科学评价党史上的重大事件、重要会议、重要人物。要旗帜鲜明反对历史虚无主义”32。也就是说，中国共产党对于历史的认识和评价是在反对以历史虚无主义思潮为代表错误思潮的纠错语境中展开的，一方面，在捍卫历史的客观性中“用事实回击对中华民族历史的各种歪曲污蔑”33。这里不妨以习近平总书记对于反对古代史研究中的历史虚无主义为例，他强调研究要通过考古发现证实存在大量空白、缺乏足够文字记载的历史为信史，具体开展如“三皇五帝”等史前传说的研究、“中华文明起源与早期发展综合研究”等工程。值得提出的是，有鉴于历史虚无主义借助网络散播的态势，习近平总书记指出：“要运用科学技术提供的新手段新工具，提高考古工作发现和分析能力，提高历史文化遗产保护能力。”34另一方面，在研究历史的过程中尤为重视在处理历史“已有结论和最新认识”的关系中反对割裂，强调“对重大事件、重要会议、重要人物的评价注重同党中央已有结论相衔接”35。如新时代中国共产党找到了“自我革命”这一跳出“治乱兴衰”历史周期率的第二个答案，发展了“让人民来监督政府”第一个答案的思想；党的二十大报告中强调“三个务必”，丰富发展了毛泽东“两个务必”的思想等。习近平总书记多次强调：“历史虚无主义的要害，是从根本上否定马克思主义指导地位和中国走向社会主义的历史必然性，否定中国共产党的领导。”36可见，虚无主义历史观还是一种具有浓厚意识形态色彩的思潮，其发难重点是质疑历史客观性和中国共产党领导的政治合法性，就此国家亟待筑牢制度防线为维护国家文化与意识形态安全提供坚实保障，在新的历史条件下共筑思想共同体。

(5) Exercising Historical Initiative from the Perspective of Integrating the Global Situation and the Trends of the Times

（五）在融合世界大局和时代潮流视域中发挥历史主动

Historical initiative is an active state of consciously mastering one’s own destiny in historical activities. Lenin once pointed out: “What Marx attached the greatest importance to was the historical initiative of the masses.” [29]29 V. I. Lenin, “The Defeat of the Paris Commune: On the Speech of the General Council of the International,” *Lenin Collected Works*, Vol. 13, p. 22. The original quotation is from Lenin’s 1908 article “The Historical Destiny of the Doctrine of Karl Marx,” where he emphasizes Marx’s focus on the spontaneous revolutionary activity of the masses. As a historical methodology, historical initiative refers to the spiritual conduct of Chinese Communists who, with a strong sense of historical responsibility, conform to the trend of history, take responsibility for history, and actively assume their role, thereby providing the possibility of confronting reality and the future, and expanding the scope of cognition on the basis of grasping the inherent characteristics of history. The view of history of the Communist Party of China possesses a broad world-historical perspective, reflecting the Party’s profound consideration of the international environment and demonstrating its humanistic concern for simultaneously pursuing its own development while benefiting the world, as it strives to advance the cause of modernization. As history increasingly transforms into world history, the CPC moves from the periphery of the world to its center, guiding people’s consideration of history beyond the scope of their own nation. Within the fusion of horizons of the global situation and the trends of the times, it weighs issues such as ideology, the ecological environment, social harmony, institutional construction, cultural confidence, global governance, and the people as the subject, thereby firmly grasping the historical initiative to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation within a space that accommodates more domestic and international development. In the practice of advancing the construction of a socialist modern state with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, the CPC follows the laws of the development of human society, actively and proactively responds to various risks and challenges, promotes civilizational dialogue among countries and regions around the world, and drives the world toward a shared future of common destiny. The advocacy of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the commitment to international cooperation in pandemic prevention and control all embody the CPC’s moral principles and humanistic feelings in promoting global economic prosperity and development, fostering exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, and maintaining world security and stability, thereby contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to solving human problems. The Chinese wisdom that “has created a new form of human civilization” demonstrates the image of a major party with a global vision. This is a world-historical perspective based on the global structure, rooted in national characteristics, integrating the cultures of various countries, and highlighting the construction of human civilization. Historical initiative includes the spirit of courageous perseverance, which is the spiritual code for the CPC to overcome difficulties, obstacles, risks, and challenges, to strive with determination and unremitting effort, and also a value orientation for grasping the present, caring for humanity, and facing the future. For this reason, advancing historical development while grasping the global situation and conforming to the trends of the times, gathering wisdom and drawing blueprints while inheriting traditions and upholding the banner, and pushing the cause of national rejuvenation deeper in the practical creation of leading the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and in guiding practice and opening up the future with historical experience are inevitable requirements of historical methodology.

历史主动是在历史活动中自觉掌握自身命运的主动状态。列宁曾指出：“马克思最重视的是群众的历史主动性。”37作为一种历史方法论的历史主动是指中国共产党人以强烈的历史责任感顺应历史潮流，对历史负责、主动担当的精神作为，为直面现实和未来提供了可能性，在把握历史内在特性基础之上拓展了认知范围。中国共产党的历史观有着宏阔的世界历史视域，反映了中国共产党对国际环境的深刻考量，展示了中国共产党致力推动现代化事业，谋求自身发展的同时兼济天下的人文情怀。随着历史日益转变为世界历史，中国共产党从世界边缘走向世界中心，导引人们对于历史的考量溢出本民族范围，在世界大局和时代潮流的视域融合中权衡意识形态、生态环境、社会和谐、制度建构、文化自信、全球治理、人民主体等问题，在容纳更多国内外发展空间中牢牢把握实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史主动。新时代中国共产党在推进中国特色社会主义现代化国家建设实践中遵循人类社会发展规律，积极主动地应对各类风险、挑战，推动世界各个国家地区的文明对话，推动全球走向命运与共的美好未来。如人类命运共同体理念的倡导、“一带一路”倡议的贯彻、疫情防控国际合作的致力，无不体现了中国共产党推动世界经济繁荣发展、促进世界文明交流互鉴、维护世界安全稳定局势的道义和情怀，为解决人类问题贡献了中国智慧和中国方案。“创造了人类文明新形态”的中国智慧，展示了胸怀天下的大党形象。这是基于世界格局，立足民族特色，融合各国文化，凸显人类文明建构的世界历史视野。历史主动中包含勇毅前行的担当精神，这是中国共产党克服艰难险阻、风险挑战，坚持踔厉奋发，笃行不怠的精神密码，也是把握当代、关怀人类、面向未来的价值导向。为此，在把握世界大局和顺应时代潮流中推进历史发展，在继承传统、举旗定向中凝心聚智、擘画蓝图，在引领中华民族伟大复兴的实践创造中和以历史经验引导实践、开辟未来中，把民族复兴事业推向纵深是历史方法论的必然要求。

The view of history in the New Era is an important component of the CPC’s century-long view of history and the latest achievement of the Marxist view of history in the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. From a theoretical perspective, historical ontology concerns the essence of history and is the prerequisite basis for the formation of historical epistemology. The rich dimensions of historical epistemology interpret the actual form of historical ontology, representing an overall historical consciousness based on grasping the laws of history. Historical methodology is the guiding thread running through historical ontology and historical epistemology, providing basic principles for scientifically grasping the relationship between the historical subject and object, and guiding us to delve into the depths of history to form “many instructive things” [30]30 This phrase is a classical allusion to the Chinese historiographical tradition, where studying history yields valuable lessons for the present. It echoes the common saying “以史为鉴，可以知兴替” (taking history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall). that benefit later generations. Historical ontology, historical epistemology, and historical methodology form an organic theoretical whole, unified in the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, reflecting the CPC’s fine tradition of respecting and revering history, studying and believing in history, and compiling and using history. This respect and defense of history concerns the strategic steps and future destiny of the Party and the country, greatly upholds the authority of the Party Central Committee and the core leadership of the leader, enhances historical confidence in the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and deeply cultivates the historical spirit within the more than five thousand years of cultural lineage of the Chinese nation. In the New Era, it is necessary to maintain historical sobriety in establishing and adhering to a correct view of history, and to push forward the great historical undertaking of realizing the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with an indomitable spirit of historical initiative.

新时代历史观是中国共产党百年历史观的重要构成，也是马克思主义历史观在新时代中国特色社会主义理论与实践中的最新成果。从理论构成来看，历史本体论关乎历史本质，是历史认识论形成的前提依据，历史认识论的丰富维度诠释了历史本体论的现实样态，是在把握历史规律基础之上的总体历史意识。历史方法论是贯穿历史本体论和历史认识论之中的思维向导，为科学把握历史主客体关系提供了基本准则，引导我们走进历史深处形成“很多有教益的东西”38泽被后世。历史本体论、历史认识论、历史方法论是有机联系的理论整体，统一于新时代中国特色社会主义理论与实践之中，反映了中国共产党尊史崇史、学史信史、修史用史的优良传统。这种对历史的尊重捍卫，关乎党和国家发展的战略步骤和前途命运，极大维护了党中央权威和维护了领袖的核心领导，增进了对于中国特色社会主义理论和实践的历史自信，厚植了中华民族五千余年文化血脉中的历史精神。新时代有必要在树立和坚持正确历史观中保持历史清醒，以一往无前的历史主动精神把实现中华民族伟大复兴目标的历史伟业推向前进。

Source: *Yunnan Social Sciences*, Issue 3, 2023

文章来源：《云南社会科学》2023年第3期

Online Editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆