A Brief Analysis of Several Fundamental Categories of Marxism Adapted to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times and Their Interrelations

Xi Jinping has proposed: “Vigorously advance the systematic and theoretical development of the Party’s innovative theory.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Seminar for Provincial and Ministerial-Level Leading Cadres on the Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC,” *People’s Daily*, February 8, 2023. (This is a reference to a specific speech by Xi Jinping; the original Chinese note is retained as a citation.) Advancing the systematic and theoretical development of theory is an inherent requirement and an important pathway for theoretical innovation. As an attempt to promote the systematic and theoretical development of theory, this article briefly explores several fundamental categories of an integral nature within the Party’s innovative theory and their interrelations.

习近平提出：“着力推进党的创新理论体系化学理化。”[1]推进理论的体系化学理化，是理论创新的内在要求和重要途径。作为推进理论体系化学理化的一种尝试，本文就党的创新理论中若干具有整体性的基本范畴及其相互关系进行简要探析。

I. Advancing the systematic and theoretical development of theory requires sorting out fundamental categories and their logical relations

一、推进理论的体系化学理化，要求梳理基本范畴及其逻辑关系

Xi Jinping points out: “The reason Marxism has such a profound influence lies in its use of deep theoretical principles to reveal the truth of the development of human society and its use of a complete system to demonstrate the scientific nature of its theory.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Seminar for Provincial and Ministerial-Level Leading Cadres on the Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC,” *People’s Daily*, February 8, 2023. (This is a reference to a specific speech by Xi Jinping; the original Chinese note is retained as a citation.) The theoretical nature of science lies in the fact that its content reveals the essence and laws of things, and its concepts, judgments, and inferences follow the rules of logical thinking. The systematic nature of science lies in the fact that its various parts are interconnected, forming a complete system with rigorous structure and clear hierarchy. The world is a unified material world, a whole composed of interconnected things, and a process of development governed by laws. Therefore, only a complete theoretical system that uses profound theoretical principles to reveal the essence and developmental laws of the material world and human society can become a true science. The essence of Marxism as a scientific theory determines its characteristics of being systematic and theoretical, and determines that it inherently requires the continuous advancement of the systematic and theoretical development of theory. The development of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is a process of continuous enrichment and expansion, as well as continuous systematization and theorization. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a complete system composed of several component parts. As the practical process deepens, the Party’s theoretical innovation achievements become increasingly rich, continuously adding new categories and new propositions. Deepening the study of the Party’s innovative theory and promoting the systematic and theoretical development of theory requires an in-depth exploration of the internal connections among its theoretical achievements.

习近平指出：“马克思主义之所以影响深远，在于其以深刻的学理揭示人类社会发展的真理性、以完备的体系论证其理论的科学性。”[1]科学的学理化，在于其内容揭示了事物的本质和规律，其概念、判断、推理遵循逻辑思维规则。科学的体系化，在于其各部分内容相互关联，构成结构严谨、层次分明的完整体系。世界是统一的物质世界，是由相互联系的事物构成的整体，是有规律的发展过程。所以只有以深刻的学理揭示物质世界和人类社会本质和发展规律的完备的理论体系，才能成为真正的科学。马克思主义作为科学理论的本质决定了它具有体系化学理化的特征，决定了它内在地要求不断推进理论的体系化学理化。中国化时代化马克思主义的发展，是一个不断丰富拓展并不断体系化学理化的过程。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是一个由若干组成部分共同构成的完整体系。随着实践进程的深化，党的理论创新成果越来越丰富，不断增添新的范畴、新的命题。深化党的创新理论研究，推动理论的体系化学理化，要深入探讨其理论成果的内在联系。

The internal connections among theoretical achievements are inevitably embodied in the logical associations between categories. Complete cognition is the unity of perceptual and rational cognition. The hallmark of cognition’s leap from the perceptual stage to the rational stage is the emergence of concepts. Concepts are the cells of thought. In *On Practice*, Mao Zedong elucidated the important position of concepts in theoretical thinking, pointing out that once concepts are produced, “by using the method of judgment and inference, conclusions that conform to logic can be drawn.” [2]2 *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1991. (Standard citation for Mao’s works.)(P285) Rational cognition, as the higher stage of cognition, is “the stage of concepts, judgments, and inferences,” [2]2 *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1991. (Standard citation for Mao’s works.)(P290) “it is the work of the human brain using concepts to make judgments and inferences.” [2]2 *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1991. (Standard citation for Mao’s works.)(P285) Scientific theory is a systematized rational cognition that reveals the essence and developmental laws of things in the form of concepts, judgments, and inferences. Categories are the fundamental concepts that constitute a scientific theoretical system. Lenin pointed out that “the categories of thought” are “expressions of the laws of nature and of man.” [3]3 *Complete Works of Lenin*, Vol. 55, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1990. (Standard citation for Lenin’s works.)(P75) “Before man is the web of natural phenomena,” [4]4 *Complete Works of Lenin*, Vol. 55, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1990. (Standard citation for Lenin’s works.)(P131) and conscious man distinguishes himself from nature; “categories are the steps in the process of differentiation, i.e., the steps in the process of knowing the world, the nodal points in the web that help us to know and master the web of natural phenomena.” [4]4 *Complete Works of Lenin*, Vol. 55, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1990. (Standard citation for Lenin’s works.)(P132) If a theoretical system is a tightly woven net of thought, then categories are the nodal points that constitute it. The relations between categories are the reflection and embodiment in thought of the internal connections among the objective things that the categories reflect. Advancing the systematic and theoretical development of theory requires sorting out the relations among the various categories that constitute the theory, integrating the interrelated categories into a logically rigorous system. Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is a theoretical system composed of a series of scientific categories. The process of the Party’s theoretical innovation is a process of summing up experience, exploring the unknown, and discovering truth; it is a process of grasping the internal connections between things, revealing objective laws, and foreseeing the inevitable trends of development; the theoretical achievements formed thereby are a logically rigorous whole. In the development of the Party’s innovative theory, the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC put forward a series of major thoughts and major viewpoints. Since the 20th National Congress of the CPC, in the process of elaborating on the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has also proposed some new viewpoints, further enriching Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. These major thoughts and viewpoints are expressed using newly proposed categories or further enriched and developed categories. A theoretical system is a system with integrity, structure, and hierarchy. Modernization and Chinese-path modernization, Chinese civilization and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, scientific socialism and socialism with Chinese characteristics, Marxism and Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and the Chinese people and the Communist Party of China are all important categories of an integral nature that constitute the first level of the scientific system of the Party’s innovative theory. Sorting out the relations within each of these groups of categories, as well as the interrelations among these several groups of fundamental categories, is of great significance for advancing the systematic and theoretical development of the Party’s innovative theory.

理论成果的内在联系，必然体现为范畴之间的逻辑关联。完整的认识是感性认识与理性认识的统一。认识从感性阶段飞跃到理性阶段的标志是概念的产生。概念是思维的细胞。毛泽东在《实践论》中阐明了概念在理论思维中的重要地位，他指出，产生了概念，再“使用判断和推理的方法，就可产生出合乎论理的结论来”。[2](P285)理性认识作为认识的高级阶段，就是“概念、判断和推理的阶段”，[2](P290)“就是人在脑子中运用概念以作判断和推理的工夫”。[2](P285)科学理论是以概念、判断和推理的形式揭示事物本质和发展规律的体系化的理性认识。范畴是构成科学理论体系的基本概念。列宁指出，“思维的范畴”“是自然的和人的规律性的表述”。[3](P75)“在人面前是自然现象之网”，[4](P131)自觉的人把自己同自然界区分开来了，“范畴是区分过程中的梯级，即认识世界的过程中的梯级，是帮助我们认识和掌握自然现象之网的网上纽结”。[4](P132)如果说理论体系是一张严密的思维之网，那么范畴就是构成它的各个纽结。范畴之间的关系，是范畴所反映的客观事物之间的内在联系在思维中的反映和体现。推进理论的体系化学理化，要求梳理构成理论的各个范畴之间的关系，将相互关联的范畴整合成逻辑严密的体系。中国化时代化的马克思主义是由一系列科学范畴构成的理论体系。党的理论创新过程，是一个总结经验、探求未知、发现真理的过程，是一个把握事物之间内在联系、揭示客观规律、预见事物发展必然趋势的过程，由此形成的理论成果是一个逻辑严密的整体。在党的创新理论发展中，党的二十大报告提出了一系列重大思想和重大观点。党的二十大以来，在阐述党的二十大精神过程中，以习近平同志为核心的党中央又提出了一些新观点，进一步丰富了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。这些重大思想观点，是运用新提出的范畴或进一步丰富、发展了的范畴来表达的。理论体系是具有整体性、结构性和层次性的系统。现代化和中国式现代化、中华文明和中华民族现代文明、科学社会主义和中国特色社会主义、马克思主义和中国化时代化的马克思主义、中国人民和中国共产党，都是具有整体性的构成党的创新理论科学体系第一个层次的重要范畴。梳理其中每一组范畴之间的关系，以及这几组基本范畴之间的相互关系，对于推进党的创新理论体系化学理化具有重要意义。

II. Modernization and Chinese-path modernization

二、现代化和中国式现代化

Seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation is the original aspiration and founding mission of the Communist Party of China. Advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization is the central task of the Communist Party of China on the new journey and the biggest politics of the New Era. Our discussion begins with the category of “Chinese-path modernization.”

为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴，是中国共产党的初心和使命。以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业是中国共产党新征程上的中心任务，是新时代最大的政治。我们的讨论就以“中国式现代化”范畴为起点。

Discussing the category of “Chinese-path modernization” makes it impossible to avoid studying what “modernization” is. Xi Jinping points out that Chinese-path modernization “is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context.” [5]5 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,” Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2022. (Standard citation for the 20th National Congress report.)(P22)

讨论“中国式现代化”范畴，不能不研究什么是“现代化”。习近平指出，中国式现代化“是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色”。[5](P22)

The historical process of human society moving toward modernization began with the “transformation of history into world history.” [6]6 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for Marx and Engels’ works.)(P541) Marx and Engels put forward the idea of world history in *The German Ideology* and the *Manifesto of the Communist Party* (hereinafter referred to as the *Manifesto*). The *Manifesto* provides inspiration for our understanding of what modernization is. Marx and Engels pointed out: “The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionizing the instruments of production, and thereby the relations of production, and with them the whole relations of society.” [7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P34) In the author’s view, the “revolution” of the instruments of production mentioned here, followed by the “revolution” of the relations of production, and then the “revolution” of the whole relations of society—these three “revolutions”—are the main content of the historical transformation later called “modernization,” and are the common features of modernization in all countries. However, “modernization” as a historical transformation has different specific content in different historical stages and different historical tasks in different countries. In the West, these transformations were stamped with the brand of the bourgeoisie and became Western modernization. The picture painted by the *Manifesto*—of creating enormous productive forces, exploding feudal relations of property, making the production and consumption of all countries cosmopolitan, and thereby turning history into world history—depicts the process of Western society moving toward modernization along with the emergence and development of the capitalist mode of production. This is the history of the rise and development of the bourgeoisie, and also the history of the West moving toward modernization “wherever it has got the upper hand.” [7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P33) This is the bourgeoisie “creating a world after its own image.” [7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P36) The relationship between modernization and Western modernization is a relationship between universality and particularity combined under specific historical conditions. By studying the relevant discussions in the *Manifesto*, we can both reveal the essence of Western modernization and strip away the general features of modernization from it, helping us to understand what modernization is.

人类社会走向现代化的历史进程，是从“历史向世界历史的转变”[6](P541)开始的。马克思、恩格斯在《德意志意识形态》和《共产党宣言》（以下简称《宣言》）中提出了关于世界历史的思想。《宣言》为我们理解什么是现代化提供了启示。马克思、恩格斯指出：“资产阶级除非对生产工具，从而对生产关系，从而对全部社会关系不断地进行革命，否则就不能生存下去。”[7](P34)在笔者看来，这里所说的“对生产工具”的革命，进而“对生产关系”的革命，再进一步“对全部社会关系”的革命，这三个“革命”，就是后来被称为“现代化”的历史变革的主要内容，是各国现代化的共同特征；但是“现代化”作为一种历史变革在不同历史阶段有不同具体内容，在不同国家有不同历史任务。在西方，这些变革被打上了资产阶级的烙印，成为西方现代化。《宣言》描绘的创造出巨大的生产力、炸毁封建的所有制关系、使一切国家的生产和消费都成为世界性的从而使历史成为世界历史的图景，展现了西方社会随着资本主义生产方式的产生、发展而走向现代化的进程。这是资产阶级产生、发展的历史，也是资产阶级“已经取得了统治的地方”，[7](P33)即西方社会走向现代化的历史。这是资产阶级 “按照自己的面貌为自己创造出一个世界”。[7](P36)现代化与西方现代化的关系，是在特定历史条件下结合在一起的普遍性与特殊性的关系。我们研读《宣言》的相关论述，既可以揭示西方现代化的本质，又可以从中剥离出现代化的一般特征，帮助我们理解什么是现代化。

From the perspective of modernization, the history of the Communist Party of China uniting and leading the Chinese people in the pursuit of national rejuvenation over more than a century is also a history of continuously exploring the path of modernization. From winning the great victory of the New Democratic Revolution to create the fundamental social conditions for modernization, to completing the socialist revolution and advancing socialist construction to lay the fundamental political prerequisite and provide valuable experience, theoretical preparation, and material foundation for modernization, to carrying out reform and opening up and socialist modernization to provide the Chinese-path modernization with a system guarantee full of new vitality and material conditions for rapid development, and then to inaugurating a New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics and successfully advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization; from Mao Zedong proposing “development toward modernization”[8]8 The author refers to the transformation of scientific socialism from a theoretical doctrine into a concrete civilizational form through its practice in China.(P1430) at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC on the eve of the founding of New China, to Zhou Enlai proposing in the 1964 government work report the “comprehensive realization of the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology,”[9]9 The quotation is from Marx and Engels, *The Holy Family*, Chapter 6, Section 3. The English translation follows the standard edition.(P483) to Deng Xiaoping raising the “new concept” of “Chinese-style modernization”[10]10 The “Two Integrations” (两个结合) refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, a formulation formally established under(P54) during the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and then to the 20th National Congress of the CPC establishing “comprehensively building a great modern socialist country” as “the central task of the Communist Party of China from now on”[5]5 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,” Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2022. (Standard citation for the 20th National Congress report.)(P21) — all this records the history of how generations over more than a century have made unremitting efforts to explore and forge a path of Chinese-path modernization.

从现代化建设的视角看，中国共产党一百多年来团结带领中国人民追求民族复兴的历史，也是一部不断探索现代化道路的历史。从夺取新民主主义革命伟大胜利为实现现代化创造根本社会条件，到完成社会主义革命和推进社会主义建设为现代化建设奠定根本政治前提和提供宝贵经验、理论准备、物质基础，到进行改革开放和社会主义现代化建设为中国式现代化提供充满新的活力的体制保证和快速发展的物质条件，再到开创中国特色社会主义新时代成功推进和拓展中国式现代化；从新中国成立前夕毛泽东在党的七届二中全会上提出“向着现代化发展”，[8](P1430)到1964年周恩来在政府工作报告中提出“全面实现农业、工业、国防和科学技术的现代化”，[9](P483)到改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期邓小平提出“中国式的现代化”“新概念”，[10](P54)再到党的二十大把“全面建成社会主义现代化强国”确立为“从现在起，中国共产党的中心任务”，[5](P21)记载着百余年来数代人不懈努力探索出一条中国式现代化道路的历史。

Xi Jinping points out: “For a country to move toward modernization, it must not only follow the general laws of modernization but also conform to its own actual conditions and have its own characteristics.”[11]11 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in November 2021; it adopted the third historical resolution of the Party, which summarizes the Party’s major achievements and historical experience over the past century. The kind of modernization path a country chooses is determined by many factors, including its historical traditions, social system, development conditions, and external environment. In his report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping elucidated that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, the modernization of common prosperity for all, the modernization of material and cultural-ethical progress in harmony, the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, and the modernization of peaceful development. He summarized the Chinese characteristics of Chinese-path modernization from five aspects and revealed its scientific connotation. The fundamental nature of Chinese-path modernization lies in the fact that it is a socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. Party leadership determines that Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization, not any other kind of modernization.

习近平指出：“一个国家走向现代化，既要遵循现代化一般规律，更要符合本国实际，具有本国特色。”[11]一个国家选择什么样的现代化道路，是由其历史传统、社会制度、发展条件、外部环境等诸多因素决定的。习近平在党的二十大报告中阐明了中国式现代化是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，从五个方面概括了中国式现代化的中国特色，揭示了中国式现代化的科学内涵。中国式现代化的根本性质，在于它是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化。党的领导决定了中国式现代化是社会主义现代化，而不是别的什么现代化。

The relationship between Chinese-path modernization and modernization is a relationship between particularity and universality combined under historical conditions different from those of Western modernization. Chinese-path modernization not only conforms to China’s actual conditions but also embodies the general laws of modernization; it has both its own particular essence and contains the common features of modernization, containing universality within particularity.

中国式现代化和现代化的关系，是在不同于西方现代化的另一种历史条件下结合在一起的特殊性和普遍性的关系。中国式现代化既符合中国实际，又体现了现代化的一般规律；既有自己的特殊本质，又包含着现代化的共同特征，在特殊性中包含着普遍性。

In 2023, at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, Xi Jinping raised the “question of modernization” — “What kind of modernization do we need? How can we achieve modernization?”[12]12 The Constitution of the Communist Party of China is the Party’s fundamental law, setting out its nature, guiding ideology, organizational principles, and discipline. — and gave China’s answer from five aspects: the direction, path, process, outcomes, and leadership of modernization. This answer advocates upholding the principle of putting the people first, highlighting the people-centered nature of the direction of modernization; adhering to the principle of independence, exploring the diversity of modernization paths; establishing the awareness of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, maintaining the continuity of the modernization process; promoting the spirit of helping others to succeed while seeking one’s own success, enhancing the inclusiveness of the fruits of modernization; and maintaining a vigorous and enterprising posture, ensuring the steadfastness of modernization leadership. These theoretical achievements are extracted from the practical experience and theoretical treasure trove of Chinese-path modernization. They are universality contained within the particularity of Chinese-path modernization, universality for developing countries moving toward modernization. Compared with Western modernization, this universality is itself a particularity with essential differences. The theory and practice of Chinese-path modernization point to a different path from Western modernization, thus breaking the myth of “modernization = Westernization” and making new contributions to the theory and practice of modernization in the world.

2023年，习近平在中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会上提出了“我们究竟需要什么样的现代化？怎样才能实现现代化”的“现代化之问”，[12]并且从现代化的方向、道路、进程、成果、领导五个方面给出了中国答案——主张坚守人民至上理念，突出现代化方向的人民性；秉持独立自主原则，探索现代化道路的多样性；树立守正创新意识，保持现代化进程的持续性；弘扬立己达人精神，增强现代化成果的普惠性；保持奋发有为姿态，确保现代化领导的坚定性。这些思想理论成果，是从中国式现代化的实践经验和理论宝库中提取出来的，它们是包含在中国式现代化特殊性中的普遍性，是发展中国家走向现代化的普遍性。这种普遍性，同西方现代化相比，又是具有本质区别的特殊性。中国式现代化的理论和实践指明了不同于西方现代化的另一条道路，因而打破了“现代化＝西方化”的迷思，为世界现代化理论和实践作出了新贡献。

III. Civilization, Chinese Civilization, the New Form of Human Civilization, and the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

三、文明、中华文明、人类文明新形态和中华民族现代文明

Modernization and civilization, Chinese-path modernization and Chinese civilization, are closely related categories. Human civilization has a history of several thousand years, while modernization began only a few hundred years ago, when history became world history, in the course of the development of civilization. Chinese civilization has a long and continuous history, endowing Chinese-path modernization with profound depth; Chinese-path modernization has created a new form of human civilization, enabling Chinese civilization to develop into the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The logical is unified with the historical. The course of history determines the logical interrelations among categories.

现代化和文明、中国式现代化和中华文明是密切相关的范畴。人类文明已经有数千年历史，而现代化是在文明发展进程中从数百年前历史成为世界历史才开始的。中华文明源远流长，赋予中国式现代化以深厚底蕴；中国式现代化创造了人类文明新形态，使中华文明发展成为中华民族现代文明。逻辑的东西是同历史的东西相统一的。历史的进程决定了范畴之间的逻辑关联。

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era contains rich discussions on the issue of civilization, developing the Marxist theory of civilization. Xi Jinping points out: “We must establish a disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system for the study of civilization with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner, providing strong theoretical support for the practice of the new form of human civilization.”[13]13 The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China is the supreme law of the state, adopted in 1982 and subsequently amended. Civilization, Chinese civilization, the new form of human civilization, and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation are all important categories in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To advance the systematization and theorization of the theory, these categories and their interrelations must be sorted out and explored.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想包含着丰富的关于文明问题的论述，发展了马克思主义文明理论。习近平指出：“我们要建立中国特色、中国风格、中国气派的文明研究学科体系、学术体系、话语体系，为人类文明新形态实践提供有力理论支撑。”[13]文明、中华文明、人类文明新形态、中华民族现代文明都是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中的重要范畴，推进理论体系化学理化，要梳理、探讨这些范畴及其相互关系。

In Marx and Engels’ theory of civilization, civilization is first of all a concept of an era corresponding to the age of savagery and the age of barbarism. After entering the “epoch of civilization,”[14]14 The “important thought of Three Represents” was formulated by Jiang Zemin, stating that the Party must always represent the development trend of China’s advanced productive forces, the orientation of China’s advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the Chinese people.(P177) civilization has taken on multiple forms in its development. In addition to the “epoch of civilization,” Marx and Engels’ works also contain concepts such as “ancient civilization,”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P235) “modern civilization”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P56) or “bourgeois civilization.”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P37) Marx and Engels’ theory of civilization is founded on historical materialism. According to the theory of social formations in historical materialism, various civilizations are all civilizations under specific social formations.

在马克思、恩格斯的文明理论中，文明首先是一个同蒙昧时代、野蛮时代相对应的时代概念。进入“文明时代”[14](P177)后，文明在发展中又呈现多种形态。除了“文明时代”外，马克思、恩格斯的著作中还有 “古代文明”，[7](P235)“现代文明”[7](P56)或“资产阶级文明”[7](P37)等概念。马克思、恩格斯的文明理论是建立在唯物史观基础之上的。按照唯物史观的社会形态理论，各种文明都是一定社会形态下的文明。

Civilization is created jointly by the peoples of all countries and nations. Peoples of different countries and nations, under different social and natural conditions, have created different forms of civilization with their own characteristics. Today’s world has more than 200 countries and regions and more than 2,500 ethnic groups, each presenting a different civilization. Combining the practice of China’s civilization construction with contemporary realities, Xi Jinping has deeply expounded the diversity of civilizations

文明是世界各国、各民族人民共同创造的。不同国家、民族的人民在不同社会条件和自然条件下创造了各具特色的不同形态的文明体。当今世界有200多个国家和地区、2500多个民族，各自呈现不同的文明。习近平结合中国文明建设的实践和当代实际，深入阐述了不同国家、民族文明的多样性及其相互关系，发展了马克思主义文明理论。他指出：“第一，文明是多彩的，人类文明因多样才有交流互鉴的价值。”[15](P62)“第二，文明是平等的，人类文明因平等才有交流互鉴的前提。”[15](P63)“第三，文明是包容的，人类文明因包容才有交流互鉴的动力。”[15](P64)习近平强调：“文明因交流而多彩，文明因互鉴而丰富。文明交流互鉴，是推动人类文明进步和世界和平发展的重要动力。”[15](P62)

In its long historical process, the Chinese nation has traversed a developmental path different from that of other civilizations in the world, creating a profound and extensive Chinese civilization that has become the unique spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation. In June 2023, Xi Jinping elaborated on the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development. Chinese civilization possesses outstanding continuity; it is the only great civilization in the world that has continued unbroken and developed in the form of a state to the present day. It possesses outstanding innovativeness; it is a civilization that discards the old and embraces the new, shining with renewed brilliance each day. It possesses outstanding unity; within a long tradition of great unification, it has formed a civilization that is diverse yet integrated, united and centralized. It possesses outstanding inclusiveness; it is a civilization that integrates vast territories and diverse ethnic groups with immense internal differences into a pluralistic unity. It possesses outstanding peacefulness; it is a civilization that has transmitted the concepts of peace, harmony, and concord for over 5,000 years.

中华民族在漫长的历史进程中走过了不同于世界其他文明体的发展历程，创造了博大精深的中华文明，成为中华民族独特的精神标识。2023年6月，习近平在文化传承发展座谈会上阐述了中华文明的突出特性。中华文明具有突出的连续性，是世界上唯一绵延不断且以国家形态发展至今的伟大文明；具有突出的创新性，是革故鼎新、辉光日新的文明；具有突出的统一性，在长期的大一统传统中形成了多元一体、团结集中的文明；具有突出的包容性，是把内部差异极大的广土巨族整合成多元一体的文明；具有突出的和平性，是5000多年来一直传承和平、和睦、和谐理念的文明。

Civilization is a holistic category reflecting the state of human progress. Viewed longitudinally, there are civilizations of different social formations; viewed horizontally, there are civilizations of different countries and nations; viewed from the internal structure of a civilizational entity, there are different aspects such as material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization. Each civilization is situated at a certain stage within the socio-historical process, possessing historical and epochal characteristics of a social formation; it also belongs to a specific country or nation, bearing the nature and features of that nation or country; at the same time, it contains internally multiple aspects of civilizational achievements, possessing an internal structure. Each constitutes a unique “this” civilization in the unity of qualitative diversity. For every civilization, one can analyze and study it from different perspectives—longitudinal, horizontal, and internal composition—and from the unity of multiple individualities and commonalities, so as to achieve a holistic grasp.

文明是反映人类进步状态的整体性范畴。从纵向看，有不同社会形态的文明；从横向看，有不同国家、民族的文明；从文明体的内部结构看，有物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明等不同方面的文明。每一种文明既处于社会历史进程中的一定阶段，具有历史性、阶段性的社会形态特征；又属于一定的国家、民族，具有本民族、国家的性质和特征；同时其内部包含了多方面的文明成果，具有内在结构。它们各自在质的多样性的统一中构成了独一无二的“这一个”文明。对于每种文明，都可以从纵向、横向以及内部构成等不同角度，从多方面的个性与共性的统一中去分析、研究，达到整体性的把握。

At the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping pointed out that we have “created a new form of human civilization.”[16] At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, Xi Jinping stated: “The greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. I hope everyone will shoulder their mission, work with vigor and promise, and jointly strive to create a new culture that belongs to our era and to build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation!”[17] This indicates that, in Xi Jinping’s exposition, “building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation” and “creating a new form of human civilization” are the same thing. The “new form of human civilization” we have created is precisely the “modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” It is created by “upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization.”[16] According to the spirit of Xi Jinping’s series of important expositions, the concept of “modern civilization of the Chinese nation” refers to the new form of human civilization created by the Communist Party of China, guided by Marxism, leading the Chinese people through more than a hundred years of continuous struggle—that is, the civilization of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is the civilization of the Chinese nation, and it is also a modern socialist civilization; it is the unity of socialism and Chinese civilization in the modern era. In the garden of world civilizations, it is the civilization of the Chinese nation; in the development of human social formations, it is a socialist civilization; in the long-standing Chinese civilization, it is a modern civilization. It has brought Chinese civilization into the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, making it a socialist civilization and rendering Chinese civilization modern; it has enabled scientific socialism to develop from a theoretical form into a civilizational form in China,[8]8 The author refers to the transformation of scientific socialism from a theoretical doctrine into a concrete civilizational form through its practice in China. making Marxism and socialism Chinese.

习近平在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上指出，我们“创造了人类文明新形态”。[16]在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平指出：“对人类文明最大的礼敬就是创造人类文明新形态。希望大家担当使命、奋发有为，共同努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化，建设中华民族现代文明！”[17]这表明，在习近平的论述中，“建设中华民族现代文明”同“创造人类文明新形态” 是同一件事情。我们创造的“人类文明新形态”就是“中华民族现代文明”。它是“我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展”[16]而创造的。根据习近平一系列重要论述的精神，“中华民族现代文明”这一概念，指的是中国共产党以马克思主义为指导，领导中国人民在一百多年的接续奋斗中创造的人类文明新形态，也就是中国特色社会主义文明。它是中华民族的文明，又是现代的社会主义的文明，是社会主义和中华文明在现代的统一体。在世界文明百花园中，它是中华民族的文明；在人类社会形态的发展中，它是社会主义的文明；在历史悠久的中华文明中，它是现代的文明。它使中华文明进入了中国特色社会主义新时代，成为社会主义文明，使中华文明成为现代的；它使科学社会主义从理论形态在中国发展成为一种文明形态，[1]使马克思主义、社会主义成为中国的。

IV. Scientific Socialism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

四、科学社会主义和中国特色社会主义

Both Chinese-path modernization and the new form of human civilization are great achievements created by the Communist Party of China through upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Exploring modernization and Chinese-path modernization, Chinese civilization and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and their interrelations, necessarily requires in-depth study of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its relationship with scientific socialism.

中国式现代化和人类文明新形态都是中国共产党坚持和发展中国特色社会主义而创造的伟大成果。探讨现代化和中国式现代化、中华文明和中华民族现代文明及其相互关系，必然要求深入研究中国特色社会主义及其同科学社会主义的关系。

Engels pointed out that “since socialism has become a science, it demands that people treat it as a science.”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P219) The Chinese Communists have treated scientific socialism with a scientific attitude, and through the exploratory efforts of several generations, they have blazed the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and established the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

恩格斯指出，“社会主义自从成为科学以来，就要求人们把它当做科学来对待”。[7](P219)中国共产党人以科学的态度对待科学社会主义，经过几代人接力探索，开辟了中国特色社会主义道路，形成了中国特色社会主义理论体系，建立了中国特色社会主义制度。

Since Deng Xiaoping proposed “building socialism with Chinese characteristics”[10]10 The “Two Integrations” (两个结合) refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, a formulation formally established under(P3) in his opening speech at the 12th National Congress of the CPC in 1982, from the 13th National Congress in 1987 to the 20th National Congress in 2022, the titles of the reports of all successive national congresses of the Party have, without exception, taken “socialism with Chinese characteristics” (expressed as “socialism with Chinese characteristics” before the 16th National Congress in 2002) as the key term, demonstrating that the Party has always held high the banner of “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Since the 18th National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered the New Era. The name “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” clearly proclaims the important position of “socialism with Chinese characteristics” within this thought.

自1982年邓小平在党的十二大开幕词中提出“建设有中国特色的社会主义”[10](P3)以来，从1987年党的十三大到2022年党的二十大，党的历次全国代表大会报告的标题，无一例外地都以“中国特色社会主义”（在2002年党的十六大之前表述为“有中国特色的社会主义”）为关键词，彰显了党始终高举“中国特色社会主义”的旗帜。党的十八大以来，中国特色社会主义进入了新时代。“习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想”这个名称，鲜明地宣示了“中国特色社会主义”在这一思想中的重要地位。

Xi Jinping pointed out: “Socialism with Chinese characteristics not only adheres to the basic principles of scientific socialism but also endows them with distinct Chinese characteristics in light of the conditions of the times.”[18](P109) He elaborated on what socialism with Chinese characteristics is from two aspects: adhering to the basic principles of scientific socialism and endowing them with distinct Chinese characteristics.

习近平指出：“中国特色社会主义，既坚持了科学社会主义基本原则，又根据时代条件赋予其鲜明的中国特色。”[18](P109)他从坚持科学社会主义基本原则和赋予其鲜明的中国特色两方面阐述了什么是中国特色社会主义。

First, Xi Jinping pointed out: “Socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism, not some other ism. The basic principles of scientific socialism cannot be discarded; if they are discarded, it is no longer socialism.”[18](P109)

其一，习近平指出：“中国特色社会主义是社会主义而不是其他什么主义，科学社会主义基本原则不能丢，丢了就不是社会主义。”[18](P109)

Scientific socialism is the core of the Marxist scientific system of thought. In the theory of Marx and Engels, scientific socialism and scientific communism are synonymous. In the preface to the 1890 German edition of the Manifesto, Engels said: “In 1847, socialism meant a bourgeois movement, communism meant a workers’ movement.” “When the Manifesto was published, we could not have called it a socialist manifesto.”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P21) Later, in Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, Engels pointed out that, thanks to Marx’s “two great discoveries—the materialist conception of history and the revelation of the secret of capitalist production through surplus value,”[19](P545-546) “socialism became a science.”[19](P546) Marx and Engels deeply elaborated the history and theory of scientific socialism and established the basic principles of scientific socialism. After the 18th National Congress, Xi Jinping emphasized: “Say a thousand or ten thousand things, but in the final analysis, it comes down to one point: upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.”[20](P22) Xi Jinping elaborated on the basic requirements of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, pointing out that “these are the contents that embody the basic principles of scientific socialism under new historical conditions; if these are discarded, it would no longer be socialism.”[18](P110)

科学社会主义是马克思主义科学思想体系的核心。在马克思、恩格斯的理论中，科学社会主义和科学共产主义是同义语。恩格斯在《宣言》1890年德文版序言中说：“在1847年，社会主义意味着资产阶级的运动，共产主义则意味着工人的运动。”“当《宣言》出版的时候，我们不能把它叫做社会主义宣言。”[7](P21)后来，恩格斯在《社会主义从空想到科学的发展》中指出，由于马克思的“两个伟大的发现——唯物主义历史观和通过剩余价值揭开资本主义生产的秘密”，[19](P545-546)“社会主义变成了科学”。[19](P546)马克思、恩格斯深入阐述了科学社会主义的历史和理论，确立了科学社会主义的基本原则。党的十八大后，习近平强调：“说一千道一万，归结为一点，就是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义。”[20](P22)习近平阐述了中国特色社会主义理论体系和中国特色社会主义制度的基本要求，指出 “这些都是在新的历史条件下体现科学社会主义基本原则的内容，如果丢掉了这些，那就不成其为社会主义了”。[18](P110)

Adhering to the basic principles of scientific socialism is centrally embodied in adhering to the lofty ideal of communism. In *Critique of the Gotha Programme*, Marx divided communist society into the “first phase of communist society” and the “higher phase of communist society.”[19](P435) Deng Xiaoping pointed out that “socialism itself is the primary stage of communism.”[10]10 The “Two Integrations” (两个结合) refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, a formulation formally established under(P252) The “socialism” in socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism as the “first phase of communist society,” and is therefore inseparably linked with the Party’s highest ideal and ultimate goal of realizing communism. Taking the realization of communism as the highest ideal and ultimate goal determines the historical status and fundamental nature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping closely integrates upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics with upholding the lofty ideal of communism, emphasizing that “we must be steadfast believers and loyal practitioners of the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”[20](P23) “We must not only strengthen our conviction in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also cherish the lofty ideal of communism in our hearts.”[20](P23) Xi Jinping recalled, “When I presided over the drafting of the report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC, I specifically requested that the following passage be included: ‘Faith in Marxism, and belief in socialism and communism, are the political soul of Communists and the spiritual pillar that enables them to withstand any test.’”[21] Xi Jinping deeply criticized the erroneous view that communism is illus

坚持科学社会主义基本原则集中体现在坚持共产主义远大理想。马克思在《哥达纲领批判》中把共产主义社会分为“共产主义社会第一阶段”和“共产主义社会高级阶段”。[19](P435)邓小平指出，“社会主义本身是共产主义的初级阶段”。[10](P252)中国特色社会主义中的“社会主义”是作为“共产主义社会第一阶段”的社会主义，因而始终同党实现共产主义的最高理想和最终目标不可分割地联系在一起。以实现共产主义为最高理想和最终目标决定了中国特色社会主义的历史地位和根本性质。习近平把坚持和发展中国特色社会主义同坚持共产主义远大理想紧紧地结合在一起，强调“要做共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想的坚定信仰者和忠实践行者”。[20](P23)“我们既要坚定走中国特色社会主义道路的信念，也要胸怀共产主义的崇高理想”。[20](P23)习近平曾回顾说，“我主持起草党的十八大报告时，专门要求写了这样一段话：‘对马克思主义的信仰，对社会主义和共产主义的信念，是共产党人的政治灵魂，是共产党人经受住任何考验的精神支柱。’”[21]习近平深入批判了认为共产主义虚无缥缈的错误观点，他指出：“共产主义决不是‘土豆烧牛肉’那么简单，不可能唾手可得、一蹴而就，但我们不能因为实现共产主义理想是一个漫长的过程，就认为那是虚无缥缈的海市蜃楼，就不去做一个忠诚的共产党员。革命理想高于天。实现共产主义是我们共产党人的最高理想，而这个最高理想是需要一代又一代人接力奋斗的。”[22](P5)

Second, while upholding the fundamental principles of scientific socialism, Xi Jinping has placed particular emphasis on the Chinese characteristics of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

其二，在坚持科学社会主义基本原则的同时，习近平着重论述了中国特色社会主义的中国特色。

Xi Jinping stresses that scientific socialism “is a scientific socialism rooted in China’s soil, reflecting the will of the Chinese people, and adapting to the requirements of China’s development and the progress of the times.”[18](P118) He points out: “Scientific socialism is by no means an immutable dogma.”[23](P26) Socialism with Chinese characteristics is neither a simple application of the templates envisioned by the classical Marxist writers, nor a reprint of socialist practices in other countries. “Socialism has no fixed or unalterable model. Only by closely integrating the fundamental principles of scientific socialism with a country’s specific realities, historical and cultural traditions, and the demands of the times, and by continuously exploring and summing up in practice, can the blueprint be turned into a beautiful reality.”[23](P27) The report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC summarized and elaborated on the “path of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” the “theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” and the “system of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” answering the question of what socialism with Chinese characteristics is from the unity of these three aspects. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era takes as its main content the “ten clarifications,”[9]9 The quotation is from Marx and Engels, *The Holy Family*, Chapter 6, Section 3. The English translation follows the standard edition. the “fourteen upholdings,”[10]10 The “Two Integrations” (两个结合) refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, a formulation formally established under and the “achievements in thirteen areas”[11]11 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in November 2021; it adopted the third historical resolution of the Party, which summarizes the Party’s major achievements and historical experience over the past century. summarized in the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, forming a scientific, systematic, logically rigorous, and organically unified theoretical system. It answers the major questions of the era, such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it, thereby deepening the understanding of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

习近平强调，科学社会主义“是根植于中国大地、反映中国人民意愿、适应中国和时代发展进步要求的科学社会主义”。[18](P118)他指出：“科学社会主义也绝不是一成不变的教条。”[23](P26)中国特色社会主义不是简单套用马克思主义经典作家设想的模板，也不是其他国家社会主义实践的再版。“社会主义并没有定于一尊、一成不变的套路，只有把科学社会主义基本原则同本国具体实际、历史文化传统、时代要求紧密结合起来，在实践中不断探索总结，才能把蓝图变为美好现实。”[23](P27)党的十八大报告概括阐述了“中国特色社会主义道路”“中国特色社会主义理论体系”和“中国特色社会主义制度”，从这三者的统一回答了什么是中国特色社会主义的问题。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想以党的十九届六中全会审议通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》概括的“十个明确”“十四个坚持”“十三个方面成就”为主要内容，构成了科学系统、逻辑严密、有机统一的理论体系，回答了新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义等重大时代课题，进一步深化了对中国特色社会主义的认识。

V. Marxism and Marxism Adapted to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

五、马克思主义和中国化时代化马克思主义

In his report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping stated: “Why the Communist

习近平在党的二十大报告中指出：“中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行。”[5](P16)深入探讨中国式现代化、中华民族现代文明、中国特色社会主义等重要范畴及其相互关系，必然要追溯到马克思主义和中国化时代化的马克思主义。

Chinese history since the 20th century has shown a clear trajectory: the salvo of the October Revolution in 1917 brought Marxism-Leninism to China; Marxism-Leninism merged with the Chinese workers' movement, and in 1921 the Communist Party of China was born; the Party led the Chinese people to take up the ideological weapon of Marxism, shifting from passivity to initiative in thought, establishing the People's Republic of China, inaugurating socialism with Chinese characteristics, realizing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, creating a new path of Chinese-path modernization, creating a new form of human civilization, and promoting the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Without Marxism, there would be no Communist Party of China; without the Communist Party of China, there would be no New China, no socialism with Chinese characteristics, no Chinese-path modernization, and no new form of human civilization that we have created. The intrinsic logical relationships among this series of basic categories—Marxism, the Communist Party of China, Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, socialism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese-path modernization, the new form of human civilization, and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation—are the reflection of China's modern historical logic in theoretical thinking and the theoretical logic within the Party's scientific theoretical system. Both the logic of history and the logic of theory tell us that "in the final analysis, it is Marxism that works, and it is Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times that works."

20世纪以来的中国历史显示出一条清晰的轨迹：1917年十月革命一声炮响，给中国送来了马克思列宁主义；马克思列宁主义同中国工人运动相结合，1921年诞生了中国共产党；党领导中国人民拿起马克思主义这个思想武器，在思想上从被动转为主动，建立了中华人民共和国，开创了中国特色社会主义，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态，推动了中华民族现代文明建设。没有马克思主义就没有中国共产党，没有中国共产党就没有新中国，就没有中国特色社会主义，就没有中国式现代化和我们创造的人类文明新形态。马克思主义、中国共产党、中国化时代化的马克思主义、中国特色社会主义、中国式现代化、人类文明新形态、中华民族现代文明，这一系列基本范畴之间内在的逻辑关系，是中国近代以来的历史逻辑在理论思维中的反映，是党的科学理论体系中的理论逻辑。历史的逻辑和理论的逻辑都告诉我们，“归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行”。

"Marxism works" is determined by the fundamental nature of Marxism. Marxism is the scientific worldview of the working class, the quintessence of the spirit of the times, and also the quintessence of the entire human spirit. In his speech at the ceremony marking the bicentenary of Marx's birth, Xi Jinping summarized and expounded the fundamental nature of Marxism. Marxism is a scientific theory that creatively revealed the laws of human social development; Marxism is a theory for the people that first created an ideological system for the people to achieve their own liberation; Marxism is a practical theory that guides the people's actions in transforming the world; Marxism is an open theory that constantly develops and always stands at the forefront of the times. Scientificity, people-centeredness, practicality, and openness are fundamental qualities unique to Marxism that other ideological theories do not possess. The unity of these fundamental qualities determines that Marxism possesses incomparable great power. The emergence of Marxism was like a magnificent sunrise, illuminating the path for humanity to explore the laws of history and seek its own liberation, profoundly changing the world and also profoundly changing China. Marxism has withstood repeated tests in social practice and still occupies the commanding heights of truth and morality.

“马克思主义行”是由马克思主义的根本性质决定的。马克思主义是工人阶级的科学世界观，是时代精神的精华，也是整个人类精神的精华。习近平在纪念马克思诞辰200周年大会上的讲话中概括并阐述了马克思主义的根本性质。马克思主义是科学的理论，创造性地揭示了人类社会发展规律；马克思主义是人民的理论，第一次创立了人民实现自身解放的思想体系；马克思主义是实践的理论，指引着人民改造世界的行动；马克思主义是不断发展的开放的理论，始终站在时代前沿。科学性、人民性、实践性和开放性，是其他思想理论所不具备而为马克思主义所特有的根本性质。这些根本性质的统一决定了马克思主义具有无可比拟的伟大力量。马克思主义的产生犹如壮丽的日出，照亮了人类探索历史规律和寻求自身解放的道路，深刻改变了世界，也深刻改变了中国。马克思主义经受住了社会实践的反复检验，至今占据着真理和道义的制高点。

However, Marxism has not brought triumphant socialist progress or historic transformations like those in China everywhere it has reached in the world. History tells us that "Marxism works" is not unconditional. This is because theory does not possess direct actuality. "Ideas can never lead beyond an old world order but only beyond the ideas of the old world order. Ideas cannot carry out anything at all. In order to carry out ideas men are needed who can exert practical force." [6]6 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for Marx and Engels’ works.)(P320) Even the best ideas, even Marxism, are ineffective if they are not grasped by the masses of the people. Whether a political party leading the working class and the masses of the people can treat Marxism with a scientific attitude determines whether scientific theory can be transformed into a material force for transforming the world through "men who can exert practical force," and thus becomes the decisive factor in whether "Marxism works" can be realized.

但是，马克思主义并非在世界所到之处都带来了社会主义的凯歌行进和像中国这样的历史性变革。历史告诉我们，“马克思主义行”不是无条件的。这是因为，理论不具有直接现实性。“思想本身根本不能实现什么东西。思想要得到实现，就要有使用实践力量的人。”[6](P320)即使是最好的思想，即使是马克思主义，如果不为人民群众所掌握，也是不起作用的。领导工人阶级和人民群众的政党能不能以科学的态度对待马克思主义，决定着科学理论能不能通过“使用实践力量的人”转变成改造世界的物质力量，因而成为“马克思主义行”能否实现的决定性因素。

The Chinese Communists have combined the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and thereby founding an adapted Marxism. Only through this did they achieve the great transformation of Chinese society. Therefore, to explore the historical and theoretical logic of China’s development since the 20th century and to sort out the interrelations among basic categories, one must trace back not only to “it is Marxism that works” but further to “it is the adapted Marxism that works.”

中国共产党人把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，推进马克思主义中国化时代化，创立了中国化时代化的马克思主义，才实现了中国社会的伟大变革。因此，探求20世纪以来中国发展的历史逻辑和理论逻辑，梳理基本范畴之间的关系，不仅要追溯到“是马克思主义行”，还必须进一步追溯到“是中国化时代化的马克思主义行”。

The “Two Integrations” are the concentrated embodiment of the Chinese Communists’ scientific attitude toward Marxism. The Communist Party of China itself is the product of the “integration” of Marxism with the Chinese workers’ movement. From the very day of its founding, the Party has unremittingly explored “integration.” The establishment of the “Two Integrations” is the distillation of the Party’s long-term practical exploration and theoretical summation. The “Two Integrations” are the fundamental path for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times; the adapted Marxism is the brilliant achievement of the “Two Integrations.”

“两个结合”是中国共产党人以科学态度对待马克思主义的集中体现。中国共产党自身就是马克思主义同中国工人运动“结合”的产物。党从成立之始，就坚持不懈地进行“结合”的探索。“两个结合”的确立，是党长期以来实践探索和理论总结的升华。“两个结合”是推进马克思主义中国化时代化的根本途径；中国化时代化的马克思主义是“两个结合”的辉煌成果。

Why does the adapted Marxism work? The relationship between Marxism and China includes multiple dimensions: its relationship with Chinese practice, the Chinese people, Chinese society, Chinese history, and Chinese culture. The “Two Integrations” both uphold the universal truth of Marxism and proceed from China’s actual conditions, combining Marxism with Chinese practice, with the Chinese people as the subject of practice, with China’s basic national conditions, and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. The adapted Marxism that results from this unifies the understanding of universal truth with the understanding of China’s social realities and the features of the times, becoming a comprehensive and scientific understanding that profoundly reflects the unity of the universality and particularity of contradictions in things; it integrates Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture, becoming a Marxism rooted in the deep soil of Chinese history and culture; it combines scientific theory with Chinese practice, both guiding practical development and developing along with practice, achieving a positive interaction between theory and practice; it combines scientific theory with the Chinese people as the subject of practice, turning into a spiritual weapon in the hands of hundreds of millions of people. It realizes the mutual integration and mutual achievement of Marxism with Chinese practice, China’s national conditions, the best of traditional Chinese culture, and the Chinese masses. Hence, it possesses all the fundamental qualities of Marxism—scientific, people-centered, practical, and open—while also being greatly enriched and developed by the nourishment of the Chinese people’s practical experience and the best of traditional Chinese culture. It is entirely Marxist and entirely Chinese, becoming the essence of the Chinese spirit rooted in Chinese soil, transformed into a material force for the Chinese people to remake the world. The creation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the creation of Chinese-path modernization, the creation of a new form of human civilization, and the building of a modern Chinese civilization—all these achievements have been attained, in the final analysis, “because the adapted Marxism works.”

中国化时代化的马克思主义为什么行？马克思主义同中国的关系，包括同中国实践、中国人民、中国社会、中国历史、中国文化等多重关系。“两个结合”既坚持马克思主义普遍真理，又坚持从中国实际出发，把马克思主义同中国实践相结合、同作为实践主体的中国人民相结合、同中国基本国情相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合。由此而产生的中国化时代化的马克思主义，把对普遍真理的认识和对中国社会实际与时代特征的认识统一起来，成为深刻反映事物矛盾普遍性和特殊性相统一的全面的、科学的认识；把马克思主义同中华优秀传统文化结合起来，成为扎根在历史深厚的中国文化土壤中的马克思主义；把科学理论同中国实践结合起来，既指导实践发展又随着实践发展，实现了理论与实践的良性互动；把科学理论同作为实践主体的中国人民结合起来，变成了亿万人民手中的精神武器。它实现了马克思主义同中国实践、中国国情、中华优秀传统文化、中国人民群众的相互结合、相互成就，因而既具备了马克思主义的科学性、人民性、实践性、开放性等一切根本性质，又获得了中国人民实践经验和中华优秀传统文化的滋养而得到极大丰富和发展，完全是马克思主义的，又完全是中国的，成为植根中国大地的中国精神的时代精华，转化成了中国人民改造世界的物质力量。开创中国特色社会主义，创造中国式现代化，创造人类文明新形态、建设中华民族现代文明，所有这些成就的取得，归根到底“是因为中国化时代化的马克思主义行”。

VI. The Chinese People and the Communist Party of China

六、中国人民和中国共产党

History is created by the people. The subject that creates all of this—the adapted Marxism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the new form of human civilization, modern Chinese civilization, and Chinese-path modernization—is the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people led by the Party. To sort out the interrelations among these basic categories, one must inevitably trace back to the Chinese people and the Communist Party of China as the creative subject, that is, the subject of practice and cognition.

历史是人民创造的。中国化时代化的马克思主义、中国特色社会主义、人类文明新形态、中华民族现代文明、中国式现代化，创造这一切的主体，是中国共产党和党领导的中国人民。梳理这些基本范畴之间的关系，必然要追溯到作为创造主体，即实践和认识主体的中国人民和中国共产党。

The masses of the people are the creators of history—this is a basic principle of historical materialism. Lenin pointed out: “Previous theories never paid attention to the activity of the masses of the population; only historical materialism enabled us for the first time to study with the accuracy of the natural sciences the social conditions of the life of the masses and the changes in these conditions.”[24](P425) The Chinese Communists have upheld and developed this basic principle. Mao Zedong once said, “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history,”[25](P1031) which is a highly generalized and precise expression of this basic principle. Mao also compared the people to “God.” He said: “We will also move God to our side. This God is none other than the masses of the Chinese people.”[25](P1102) “As long as we rely on the people, firmly believe that the people’s creative power is inexhaustible, and therefore trust the people and become one with them, then any difficulty can be overcome, and no enemy can overwhelm us; on the contrary, we will overwhelm them.”[25](P1096) Xi Jinping emphasizes: “History has repeatedly proven that the masses of the people are the main force in historical development and social progress.”[18](P697) Xi Jinping warmly eulogizes the great power and great contributions of the Chinese people in creating history. He says: “The people are the creators of history; the people are the true heroes. The magnificent history of the development of the Chinese nation was written by the Chinese people! The profound and extensive Chinese civilization was created by the Chinese people! The enduring Chinese national spirit was cultivated by the Chinese people! The great leap of the Chinese nation from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong was achieved through the struggle of the Chinese people!”[26](P386-387)

人民群众是历史的创造者，这是唯物史观的基本原理。列宁指出：“以往的理论从来忽视居民群众的活动，只有历史唯物主义才第一次使我们能以自然科学的精确性去研究群众生活的社会条件以及这些条件的变更。”[24](P425)中国共产党人坚持并发展了这一基本原理。毛泽东曾说，“人民，只有人民，才是创造世界历史的动力”，[25](P1031)这是对这一基本原理的高度概括和精确表述。毛泽东还把人民比作“上帝”。他说：“我们也会感动上帝的。这个上帝不是别人，就是全中国的人民大众。”[25](P1102)“只要我们依靠人民，坚决地相信人民群众的创造力是无穷无尽的，因而信任人民，和人民打成一片，那就任何困难也能克服，任何敌人也不能压倒我们，而只会被我们所压倒。”[25](P1096)习近平强调：“历史反复证明，人民群众是历史发展和社会进步的主体力量。”[18](P697)习近平热情讴歌中国人民创造历史的伟大力量和伟大贡献，他说：“人民是历史的创造者，人民是真正的英雄。波澜壮阔的中华民族发展史是中国人民书写的！博大精深的中华文明是中国人民创造的！历久弥新的中华民族精神是中国人民培育的！中华民族迎来了从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃是中国人民奋斗出来的！”[26](P386-387)

People engage in historical activities under certain premises and conditions, so the role of the masses in creating history differs significantly in different eras and under different social conditions. The working class is the greatest class in human history; its historical position determines that its fundamental interests are identical with those of the broadest masses and that it bears the historical mission of liberating all humanity. To fulfill its historical mission, the working class needs the leadership of a Marxist political party. Lenin pointed out: “The masses are divided into classes”; “classes are led by political parties; political parties are usually directed by more or less stable groups composed of the most authoritative, influential, and experienced members, who are elected to the most important positions and are called leaders.”[27](P151) Marxism armed the working class with scientific theory, enabling the working class to grow from a class-in-itself into a class-for-itself, and enabling “the proletarians to organize themselves as a class, and consequently as a political party.”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P40) The Communists “have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole”; “the Communists emphasize and uphold the common interests of the entire proletariat, regardless of nationality”; they “always represent the interests of the movement as a whole,” and therefore surpass the rest of the proletarian masses, becoming “the most resolute and always pushing forward part.”[7]7 *Selected Works of Marx and Engels*, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012. (Standard citation for the *Manifesto*.)(P44) The working class and the masses can liberate themselves and all humanity, and establish an ideal society without oppression, without exploitation, with equality for all and freedom for all, only under the leadership of a Marxist political party. Therefore, the birth of the Communist Party of China became an epoch-making event. The Party established its original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, led the Chinese people to profoundly change the direction and course of the Chinese nation’s development since modern times, profoundly changed the future and destiny of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and after more than one hundred years of arduous struggle, realized the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, opened up the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, created Chinese-path modernization, and created a new form of human civilization.

人们是在一定的前提和条件下从事历史活动的，所以在不同时代、不同社会条件下人民群众创造历史的作用有重大区别。工人阶级是人类历史上最伟大的阶级，工人阶级的历史地位决定了它同最广大人民的根本利益一致，决定了它肩负着解放全人类的历史使命。工人阶级完成自己的历史使命需要马克思主义政党的领导。列宁指出，“群众是划分为阶级的”，“阶级是由政党来领导的；政党通常是由最有威信、最有影响、最有经验、被选出担任最重要职务而称为领袖的人们所组成的比较稳定的集团来主持的”。[27](P151)马克思主义用科学理论武装了工人阶级，使工人阶级从自在的阶级成长为自为的阶级，使“无产者组织成为阶级，从而组织成为政党”。[7](P40)共产党人“没有任何同整个无产阶级的利益不同的利益”，“共产党人强调和坚持整个无产阶级共同的不分民族的利益”，“始终代表整个运动的利益”，因而胜过其余无产阶级群众，成为“最坚决的、始终起推动作用的部分”。[7](P44)工人阶级和人民群众只有在马克思主义政党领导下，才能解放自己，解放全人类，建立没有压迫、没有剥削、人人平等、人人自由的理想社会。因此，中国共产党的诞生成为开天辟地的大事变。党确立为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴的初心使命，领导中国人民深刻改变了近代以后中华民族发展的方向和进程，深刻改变了中国人民和中华民族的前途和命运，经过一百多年艰苦卓绝的奋斗，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化，开辟了中国特色社会主义道路，创造了中国式现代化，创造了人类文明新形态。

That the Communist Party of China has been able to lead the Chinese people to achieve such brilliant accomplishments is determined by what the CPC is and what it wants to do. The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, deliberated and adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, states: “The whole Party must bear in mind this fundamental question of what the CPC is and what it wants to do.” [28](P72) The question of what the CPC is is the question of the nature of the Party. The nature of a political party is concentratedly embodied in its class foundation and theoretical foundation. “The Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, and at the same time the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.” [29](P1) This is the clear stipulation of the class nature of the Party in the Constitution of the Communist Party of China. The Party Constitution also stipulates the guiding ideology of the Party: “The Communist Party of China takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide to action.” [29](P1-2) The unity of the Party’s class foundation and guiding ideology determines what the CPC is. The question of what it wants to do is the question of for what goal it strives and for whom it serves. The Party Constitution’s stipulations on the Party’s ultimate goal and fundamental purpose answer the question of what the Party wants to do. The Party Constitution stipulates: “The Party’s highest ideal and ultimate goal is to realize communism.” [29](P1) The Party Constitution also stipulates: “Persist in serving the people wholeheartedly. The Party has no special interests of its own apart from the interests of the working class and the broadest masses of the people.” [29](P21) Everything the Party does is ultimately aimed at realizing the highest ideal of communism and at realizing the interests of the working class and the broadest masses of the people. What the CPC is and what it wants to do determines that the Party is always together with the masses of the people; under the guidance of scientific theory, it follows the objective laws of social development, gives play to the historical initiative spirit, unifies the realization of the goals of struggle in different periods with the realization of the Party’s ultimate goal, and adheres to the unity of the Party’s highest program and stage-by-stage programs, thereby creating great historical achievements. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates: “The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” [30](P7) The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPC and the Chinese people led by the CPC are the subjects that have created all the great achievements in China since the founding of the Party.

中国共产党之所以能领导中国人民取得如此辉煌的成就，是由中国共产党“是什么、要干什么”决定的。党的十九届六中全会审议通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》提出， “全党要牢记中国共产党是什么、要干什么这个根本问题”。[28](P72)中国共产党“是什么”的问题，就是党的性质问题。政党的性质集中体现在它的阶级基础和理论基础。“中国共产党是中国工人阶级的先锋队，同时是中国人民和中华民族的先锋队”。[29](P1)这是《中国共产党章程》对党的阶级性质的明确规定。党章还规定了党的指导思想：“中国共产党以马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、‘三个代表’重要思想、科学发展观、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为自己的行动指南。”[29](P1-2)党的阶级基础和指导思想的统一，决定了中国共产党“是什么”。“要干什么”的问题，就是为什么目标奋斗和为什么人服务的问题。党章关于党的最终目标和根本宗旨的规定，回答了党“要干什么”的问题。党章规定：“党的最高理想和最终目标是实现共产主义。”[29](P1)党章又规定：“坚持全心全意为人民服务。党除了工人阶级和最广大人民群众的利益，没有自己特殊的利益。”[29](P21)党所做的一切，最终都是为了实现共产主义这个最高理想，都是为了实现工人阶级和最广大人民的利益。中国共产党是什么、要干什么决定了党始终同人民群众在一起，在科学理论指引下，遵循社会发展客观规律，发挥历史主动精神，把实现不同时期的奋斗目标同实现党的最终目标、坚持党的最高纲领和阶段性纲领统一起来，创造了历史伟业。《中华人民共和国宪法》规定：“中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征。”[30](P7)中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势。中国共产党和党领导的中国人民是建党以来中国一切伟大成就的创造主体。

The process of thought is the active reflection of the historical process, and the system of thought is the theoretical crystallization of the results of thinking developed in social practice. Engels pointed out: “Where history begins, the process of thought must also begin, and the further development of the process of thought is nothing but the reflection of the historical process in an abstract and theoretically consistent form.” [31](P14) “Broadly speaking, the order in which economic categories appear is also the same as the order in which they appear in logical development.” [31](P13) The Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times founded by the CPC, whether it is the development process of the theoretical system or the logical composition of the theoretical system, is the reflection of the historical process in an abstract and theoretically consistent form; “this reflection is modified, but modified in accordance with the laws of the actual historical process itself.” [31](P14) The important categories such as “new-democratic revolution,” “socialist revolution,” “socialist construction,” “reform and opening up,” “socialist modernization,” and “the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” which appear successively in the titles of the various parts of the preamble of the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, are all reflections in theoretical thinking of the glorious course of the CPC’s century-long struggle. The Chinese people and the CPC, Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the new form of human civilization, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and Chinese-path modernization, discussed above in this article, are also important categories reflecting this glorious course. To promote the systematization and theorization of the Party’s innovative theory, it is necessary to follow the basic principles of the Marxist scientific methodology of the unity of logic and history, to sort out and elucidate the basic categories constituting the theoretical system and their interrelations, to use a scientific, systematic, and logically rigorous theoretical system to reflect the consistent revolutionary process led by the CPC and its theoretical achievements, and to guide practice toward the goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

思想进程是历史过程的能动反映，思想体系是在社会实践中发展着的思维成果的理论结晶。恩格斯指出，“历史从哪里开始，思想进程也应当从哪里开始，而思想进程的进一步发展不过是历史过程在抽象的、理论上前后一贯的形式上的反映”。[31](P14)“大体说来，经济范畴出现的顺序同它们在逻辑发展中的顺序也是一样的。”[31](P13)中国共产党创立的中国化时代化的马克思主义，无论是理论体系的发展进程还是理论体系的逻辑构成，都是历史过程在抽象的、理论上前后一贯的形式上的反映，“这种反映是经过修正的，然而是按照现实的历史过程本身的规律修正的”。[31](P14)《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》序言各部分标题中依次出现的“新民主主义革命”“社会主义革命”“社会主义建设”“改革开放”“社会主义现代化建设”“中国特色社会主义新时代”等重要范畴，都是中国共产党百年奋斗的光辉历程在理论思维中的反映。本文以上讨论的中国人民和中国共产党、中国化时代化的马克思主义、中国特色社会主义、人类文明新形态、中华民族现代文明和中国式现代化，也是反映这一光辉历程的重要范畴。推进党的创新理论体系化学理化，要遵循逻辑和历史相统一的马克思主义科学方法论的基本原则，梳理并阐明构成理论体系的基本范畴及其相互关系，用科学系统、逻辑严密的理论体系反映中国共产党领导的一以贯之的革命进程及其理论成果，并指引实践向着实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标前进。

(Author’s brief introduction: Tian Xinming, Researcher at the Research and Development Center for Higher Education Sciences, Ministry of Education)

（作者简介：田心铭，教育部高等学校科学研究发展中心研究员）

Online editor: Tong Xin

网络编辑：同心