The Formative Conditions, Rich Connotations and Contemporary Value of Deng Xiaoping’s Thought on Historical Confidence

Historical confidence is a historical concept formed by a country or a nation in the course of its own historical development. It is based on people’s deep feelings of reverence and praise for their own country’s and nation’s history, and manifests as the heartfelt joy and consciously displayed spiritual outlook arising from people’s sense of trust, belonging and honour towards their own country’s and nation’s history. Every country and every nation has its own historical confidence. It is not only an important component of that country’s or nation’s historical culture, but also the historical foundation for the formation and development of the national spirit. In human society, no country or nation can be without historical confidence; without historical confidence, it cannot exist, let alone open up the future, move towards the future, and win the future. The leader of a country or a nation not only inevitably possesses historical confidence based on national sentiment and the founding spirit of the state, but the historical confidence he possesses and displays is both a clear marker of his country’s and nation’s historical confidence and embodies the historical depth, cultural thickness and contemporary height of that country’s and nation’s historical confidence. The historical confidence possessed by the leader of a nation or a country is both an important marker of his leadership charisma and a crucial manifestation of his view of history; it is an important basis for him to lead the people in shouldering historical missions and using historical wisdom to open up the future. For an ancient civilisation and major world power like China, the historical confidence of the leader is especially so. People’s evaluation of his historical achievements, praise for his lofty demeanour, appreciation of his ideological wisdom, and inheritance of his spiritual legacy all originate from and are based on this.

历史自信是一个国家、一个民族在自己历史发展过程中形成的一种历史观念，它以人们对自己国家、民族历史崇敬与礼赞的深厚情感为基础，表现为人们因对自己国家、民族历史的信赖感、归属感和荣誉感而发自内心的喜悦之情和自觉展示的精神面貌。每个国家、每个民族都有自己的历史自信。它既是该国家、该民族历史文化的重要内容，又是民族精神形成和发展的历史底蕴。在人类社会中，任何国家、任何民族都不能没有历史自信；没有历史自信，它就不能存在，更不可能开辟未来、走向未来、赢得未来。一个国家、一个民族的领袖，不仅必有其基于民族情感、立国精神的历史自信，而且他所具有的和表现的历史自信，既是其国家、民族历史自信的鲜明标识，又体现该国家、该民族具有历史自信的历史深度、文化厚度和时代高度。一个民族、一个国家的领袖所具有的历史自信，既是其领袖魅力的重要标识，也是其历史观的重要体现，是他带领人民群众肩负历史使命、运用历史智慧开辟未来的重要依据。对于像中国这样的文明古国和世界大国来说，领袖的历史自信尤其如此。人们评价其历史功勋，赞誉其崇高风范，领略其思想智慧，继承其精神遗产，也来源于此、依据于此。

Deng Xiaoping is another great historical figure, born on Chinese soil after Mao Zedong, deeply loved by the people and possessing the demeanour of a world leader. This is precisely as General Secretary Xi Jinping

邓小平是继毛泽东之后，在中国大地上诞生的又一位深受人民爱戴、具有世界领袖风范的伟大历史人物。这正如习近平总书记所评价的：“邓小平同志对党和人民的贡献，是历史性的，也是世界性的”，“邓小平同志的贡献，不仅改变了中国人民的历史命运，而且改变了世界的历史进程”。邓小平深刻推进马克思主义中国化时代化，创立邓小平理论，引领中国人民开创中国特色社会主义伟大事业，实现中国社会翻天覆地新的变革，赢得国际社会高度赞誉：“邓小平是当代最重要的领导人之一”，“从现在起再过一个世纪，当大学生研究20世纪历史时，他们的教授们可能要求他们记住这个世纪最后25年中的唯一一个响亮的名字：邓小平”。邓小平博大的胸怀格局、宽广的理论视野、高远的理想目标、坚定的意志毅力、崇高的品格魅力、执着的追求定力、非凡的胆略魄力，是与邓小平独有的历史自信思想和精神情操紧密联系在一起的。在长期的革命生涯中，邓小平形成了内涵丰富、影响深远的历史自信思想。研究邓小平、学习邓小平、怀念邓小平，坚持邓小平理论，从邓小平历史自信思想的形成条件、科学内涵及其时代价值入手，不仅具有重要的学术意义，而且还具有重大的理论意义和实践价值。

I. The Deep Foundation and Important Basis for the Formation of Deng Xiaoping’s Thought on Historical Confidence

一、邓小平历史自信思想形成的深厚基础和重要依据

Thought is both the slogan of a problem and the voice of the times. The propositions of politicians, the ideas of theorists, and the reflections of strategists are never water without a source or a tree without roots, nor are they generated out of thin air; rather, they are based on the nourishment of existing history and culture, the inheritance of thought and theory, the demands of the general trend of the times’ development, and the thinking subject’s profound grasp of the deepening of practice. The formation of any thinker’s thought is both historical, deeply rooted in the deepest part of the historical development of its own nation and country, obtaining theoretical basis and spiritual nourishment, and standing at the highest point of the times’ development, looking down upon the surging new currents of human social development, manifesting as a complete process of the unity of developmental stages and continuity, and the integration of unity and diversity, embodying the inherent laws and characteristic features of theoretical innovation. As Engels pointed out: “The theoretical thinking of each age, including our own, is a historical product, which takes completely different forms and at the same time completely different content in different ages.” The formation of Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence not only conforms to the general laws and characteristics of human society’s pursuit of truth in understanding but also possesses the prominent theoretical quality and unique cultural character of the Chinese Communists in adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, openness and inclusiveness, and firm cultural confidence. The formation and development of Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence directly originate from the scientific theory of Marxist historical materialism and the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, directly rely on the rich cultural nourishment of China’s 5,000-year history of civilization, are firmly grounded in the historical juncture and nodal point of thought where Deng Xiaoping’s China intersected with the world, and directly come from Deng Xiaoping’s unique experience and life experience tempered through decades of revolutionary career. It is not only the main content with ideological vitality and theoretical penetrating power within Deng Xiaoping’s view of history but also the theoretical foundation and an important component of the establishment of Deng Xiaoping Theory.

思想既是问题的口号，也是时代的声音。政治家的主张、理论家的思想、战略家的思考，从来都不是无源之水、无本之木，也不是凭空产生的，而是基于既有历史文化滋养、思想理论传承、时代发展大势的要求和思想主体对实践深化的深刻把握。任何思想家的思想形成既是历史的，深深植根于自己民族、国家历史发展的最深处，获得理论依据和精神养料，又站在时代发展的最高点，俯视人类社会发展的滚滚新潮，表现为发展的阶段性与连续性相统一、一元性与多样性相结合的完整过程，体现了思想理论创新的内在规律和特征特点。正如恩格斯所指出的：“每一个时代的理论思维，包括我们这个时代的理论思维，都是一种历史的产物，它在不同的时代具有完全不同的形式，同时具有完全不同的内容。”邓小平历史自信思想的形成，既符合人类社会认识求真的一般规律和特点，又具有中国共产党人坚持守正创新、开放包容，坚定文化自信的突出理论品质和独有文化品格。邓小平历史自信思想的形成和发展，直接来源于马克思主义唯物史观科学理论和马克思主义中国化时代化发展的理论成果，直接依据于中华5000年文明史丰厚的文化养料，牢牢立足于邓小平所处的中国与世界交汇的历史方位和思想结点，直接来自邓小平几十年革命生涯千锤百炼的独特经历和人生阅历，它既是邓小平历史观中具有思想活力、理论穿透力的主要内容，也是邓小平理论创立的理论基础和重要组成部分。

Scientific theory guides people, scientific theory educates people, and scientific theory arms people. Historical materialism is both the Marxist view of history and the theoretical cornerstone of Marxism. Historical materialism is the scientific historical view revealed by the founders of Marxism based on the study of Western European history, penetrating deeply into the interior of the society where capitalism emerged and developed, scientifically revealing the objective law that capitalism is inevitably doomed and socialism is inevitably victorious, profoundly understanding the fundamental law that human society inevitably begins with primitive public ownership, undergoes a long historical development process, and finally enters communist society, precisely pointing out the path and direction for the complete liberation of the proletariat worldwide, and providing an “irrefutable” scientific historical view foundation for the rise and development of the practice of scientific socialism in various countries. Historical materialism is the scientific historical view revealed by the founders of Marxism since human society entered modern times, the highest achievement and ideological essence of research on the view of history in human society, and a scientific thought that still possesses strong ideological guidance and methodological adherence to this day. Engels highly evaluated Marx’s historical contribution in founding historical materialism and the great significance of his scientific explanation of the laws of human social development, stating that Marx’s research enabled the history of human society to be scientifically explained “for the first time”; Lenin highly evaluated it, saying, “Marx’s historical materialism is the greatest achievement of scientific thought”; Li Dazhao, the pioneer of China’s proletarian revolutionary movement, praised historical materialism as a progressive view of history in human history, which “truly opens a new epoch in the field of historiography.” Since the founding of the CPC, the Party has written Marxist theory on its own banner, taken it as its ideological armament and guide to action, adhered to using the theory and method of historical materialism to observe the fundamental problems of Chinese society, and promoted the development of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Mao Zedong pointed out, “The theoretical basis guiding our thought is Marxism-Leninism.” Historical materialism, contained within Marxist theory and promoting the development of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, not only attracts people with its scientific stance and method but also, because it contains confidence in the progressive development of human society, inspires the proletariat worldwide and all those who pursue truth and progress; of course, it also, by providing scientific theoretical guidance for the cause of China’s people’s liberation, enhances the historical confidence of the Chinese people in pursuing progress. Throughout his life, Deng Xiaoping firmly believed in Marxism and was convinced of historical materialism. In particular, when Deng Xiaoping, at the advanced age of 88, inspected the South, he said with deep feeling in his conversation: “I firmly believe that there will be more and more people in the world who approve of Marxism, because Marxism is science. It uses historical materialism to reveal the laws of human social development.” In short, historical materialism and the development of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are the direct origins of Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence.

科学理论指引人，科学理论教育人，科学理论武装人。唯物史观既是马克思主义历史观，也是马克思主义的理论基石。唯物史观是马克思主义创始人基于西欧历史研究，深入资本主义产生、发展的社会内部，科学揭示了资本主义必然灭亡、社会主义必然胜利的客观规律，深刻认识了人类社会必然从原始公有制开始，在经历漫长的历史发展过程之后，最后进入共产主义社会的根本规律，精准指明了全世界无产阶级实现彻底解放的道路和方向，为科学社会主义在世界各国实践的兴起和发展，提供了“无可辩驳”的科学历史观基础。唯物史观是人类社会进入近代社会以来，由马克思主义创始人揭示的科学历史观，是人类社会关于历史观研究的最高成果和思想精华，是迄今为止依然具有强大思想指导性和方法论遵循的科学思想。恩格斯高度评价马克思创立唯物史观的历史贡献和对人类社会发展规律科学阐释的重大意义，说马克思的研究使人类社会的历史“破天荒第一次”得到科学说明；列宁高度评价道，“马克思的历史唯物主义是科学思想中的最大成果”；中国无产阶级革命运动的先驱李大钊称赞唯物史观是人类历史上进步的历史观，它“实为史学界开一新纪元”。自中国共产党成立以来，党就把马克思主义理论写在自己的旗帜上，把它作为自己的思想武装和行动指南，坚持运用唯物史观理论和方法观察中国社会的根本问题，推动马克思主义中国化时代化发展。毛泽东指出，“指导我们思想的理论基础是马克思列宁主义”。蕴含在马克思主义理论之中并推进马克思主义中国化时代化发展的唯物史观，既以其科学的立场和方法吸引人，又因其内含对人类社会进步发展的自信而感召全世界无产阶级以及一切追求真理、追求进步的人们，当然也因其为中国人民的解放事业提供科学理论指导而增强了中国人追求进步的历史自信。邓小平毕其一生都坚信马克思主义，信服唯物史观。特别是邓小平在他88岁高龄之际视察南方，在谈话中饱含深情地说：“我坚信，世界上赞成马克思主义的人会多起来的，因为马克思主义是科学。它运用历史唯物主义揭示了人类社会发展的规律。”总之，唯物史观以及马克思主义中国化时代化发展，是邓小平历史自信思想的直接渊源。

History is a textbook, history is a nutrient, history is the coordinate that guides people’s growth and progress. Every nation and every country has its own history, and has the historical spirit and fine culture deeply embedded within it. On the land of China, there have been hundreds of thousands of years of human activity, accumulating tens of thousands of years of Chinese cultural history, and especially forming 5,000 years of Chinese civilization history. China has become a civilized country unique in the world for

历史是教科书，历史是营养剂，历史是指引人们成长进步的坐标。每一个民族、每一个国家都有自己的历史，都有深蕴其中的历史精神和优秀文化。在中华大地上，已经有上百万年的人类活动史，积累了上万年的中华文化史，特别是形成了5000年中华文明史，中国成为世界上独一无二的历史延续发展、文化源远流长、精神世代相续、伟大人物风流尽显的文明国度，向丰富多彩的人类文明贡献了独具文化魅力的中华风度和中国气度。“中华民族不但以刻苦耐劳著称于世，同时又是酷爱自由、富于革命传统的民族”，“在中华民族的开化史上，有素称发达的农业和手工业，有许多伟大的思想家、科学家、发明家、政治家、军事家、文学家和艺术家，有丰富的文化典籍”。特别是奠定中国人世代相传、生生不息的中国精神、传统价值、思维方式基础的中华优秀传统文化，更是激起世代中国人民族自豪感、国家自尊感和历史文化自信感的活力因子。党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史既是中华民族开拓奋进史的接续发展，又是其十分重要的有机构成。近代以来，救亡图存、启蒙觉醒，爱国奋进、民族复兴的时代主题既是一切先进中国人担负的历史责任，更是中国共产党人初心使命的历史依据。革命者只有具备坚定超迈的历史自信，才能自觉投身于中国新民主主义革命开启的中国社会伟大变革的时代潮流之中，才能激发出推动时代进步、社会发展的极大勇气和巨大力量。邓小平曾经饱含感情地说道：“我深情地爱着我的祖国和人民。”祖国既是历史的产物，又是一个历史的概念。邓小平深情地热爱祖国，最真实地表达了他心中的爱、眼里的泪和肩上的责，建构了历史与现代、个人与国家、领袖与人民的互动关系，是爱国主义精神与共产党人高尚情怀的有机结合；邓小平对祖国和人民无限热爱，最鲜明、最本质地体现了邓小平的历史自信心和民族自尊心，最深刻、最集中地体现了中国历史发展内含的民族精神、家国情怀与邓小平历史自信思想的密切联系。

The times summon people, practice elevates people, and revolution tempers people. Revolutionaries are both the product forged by revolutionary struggle and the main force that conforms to the development of the times, places themselves in the current of the times, participates in and advances revolutionary practice. The times create heroes, and heroes create the times — this is an important viewpoint of the Marxist conception of history. Marx pointed out: “As Helvétius said, every social epoch needs its great men, and if it does not find them, it creates them.” The growth experience of the great man Deng Xiaoping contains his profound experience in various historical periods of Chinese history and culture, of the practice of the Chinese revolution, construction, reform and opening up, and of the profound changes in world historical development. He internalized the spiritual character of Chinese historical confidence in his heart, externalized the theoretical quality of the historical confidence of Chinese Communists in his actions, persisted consistently and unswervingly throughout his life, always achieved an organic combination of historical spirit and the character of the times, and formed his thought on historical confidence, which possesses historical subject spirit, historical self-consciousness, embodies historical initiative, and promotes the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. From childhood, Deng Xiaoping studied in a traditional private school and received a good education in traditional Chinese culture, so much so that in every subsequent historical stage, he also liked to read “ancient books.” As his daughter Deng Rong recorded: “Father especially loved to read, reading all kinds of books — Chinese and foreign classical masterpieces, biographies of historical figures, special collections of commentaries on current affairs, and even entire volumes of the Twenty-Four Histories; he liked to read them all. Among historical ancient texts, what he most liked to read was still the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government.” Even during the days when he was sent down to Jiangxi, Deng Xiaoping “diligently studied” and “read until late every night.” When his children visited him in Jiangxi, Deng Xiaoping often told them some historical allusions, “and sometimes set questions to test us.” Chinese historical confidence deeply permeated Deng Xiaoping’s life sentiments and spiritual qualities; conversely, it also strengthened Deng Xiaoping’s life confidence and revolutionary confidence, elevating the personality height and ideological thickness of Deng Xiaoping’s historical confidence. In short, the education in Chinese historical confidence that Deng Xiaoping received from childhood converged with his unique experience tempered through a thousand trials and his rich, weathered experience in more than 70 years of revolutionary career thereafter, forming the unique connotation, style and characteristics of Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence. This was vividly, profoundly and powerfully embodied in his subsequent governance of the Party, the state and the military, in domestic affairs, foreign relations and national defense, in every field and every aspect. It not only displayed to the world the fine Chinese cultural image of a leader of a great power, but also left an extremely precious spiritual legacy for the Party and the people.

时代召唤人，实践提升人，革命锤炼人。革命者既是革命斗争锻造的产物，也是顺应时代发展、置身时代潮流、参与并推进革命实践的主体力量。时势造英雄，英雄造时势，这是马克思主义历史观的重要观点。马克思指出：“如爱尔维修所说的，每一个社会时代都需要有自己的大人物，如果没有这样的人物，它就要把他们创造出来。”一代伟人邓小平的成长经历，蕴含着他在各个历史时期对中国历史文化，对中国革命、建设和改革开放实践，对世界历史发展深刻变化的深入体验，他将中华历史自信的精神品格内化于心，将中国共产党人历史自信的理论品质外化于行，一以贯之，终生不变，始终做到历史精神与时代品格有机结合，形成他具有历史主体精神、历史自觉意识，体现历史主动性、推动中华民族伟大复兴事业的历史自信思想。邓小平自幼读私塾，受到良好的中国传统文化教育，以至于在此后各个历史阶段，他也喜欢读“古书”。如他女儿邓榕的记叙：“父亲特别爱看书，什么书都看，中外古典名著、历史人物传记、时势评论专辑乃至整本整册的二十四史，他通通都喜欢读。在历史古籍中，他最喜欢读的，还是《资治通鉴》。”即使在下放江西的日子里，邓小平也“勤于攻读”，“每日都读至深夜”，子女到江西探亲时，邓小平经常给他们讲一些历史典故，“有时还出题考我们”。中华历史自信深深地渗入邓小平的人生情怀和精神品质之中；反过来，它又增强了邓小平的人生自信和革命自信，提升了邓小平历史自信的人格高度和思想厚度。总之，邓小平自幼接受的中华历史自信教育与他在此后70多年革命生涯中千锤百炼的独特经历和饱经风霜的丰富阅历相汇聚，形成了邓小平历史自信思想的独特内涵、风格和特征，生动形象、深沉有力地体现在他此后治党治国治军、内政外交国防的各个领域、各个方面，既在世界上展示了作为大国领袖良好的中国文化形象，也为党和人民留下了极其宝贵的精神遗产。

II. The Rich Connotation of Deng Xiaoping’s Thought on Historical Confidence

二、邓小平历史自信思想的丰富内涵

From the perspective of Marxist epistemology, in human history, any thought, especially one with rich connotation presented as an ideological system, does not arise in isolation, but is the product of the combination of ideological inheritance and the subject’s cognition. Deng Xiaoping’s formation of the thought on historical confidence in the field of historical thought is the result of adhering to the Marxist conception of history combined with his own powerful capacity for historical perception. Adhering to historical materialism means inheriting and developing Marxist scientific historical thought; forming and possessing a powerful sense of history is the fundamental manifestation of the subject’s cognitive literacy and ability. The conception of history and the sense of history are two closely linked ideological contents, the necessary prerequisites for nurturing a thinker’s historical thought. What is the sense of history? It is the social activity subject’s accurate grasp of the general trend of historical development, the correct summation of the experiences and lessons of historical development, and the scientific mastery of the laws of historical development, internalized into one’s own thought, consciousness and theory, and embodied in the subject’s social practical actions. Different senses of history endow cognitive subjects with different historical consciousnesses; different historical consciousnesses produce different cognitive results. The powerful sense of history that Deng Xiaoping possessed embodied the unity of the patriotic sentiment of the Chinese nation and the lofty ideal of communism, the unity of social development and the people’s interests, and the unity of China’s development and world progress. He represented and embodied the most representative sense of history of advanced Chinese people of that era. On this basis, Deng Xiaoping scientifically grasped the principled stance of firm historical confidence, accurately answered a series of major questions such as why to establish historical confidence, what to have confidence in regarding historical confidence, how to have historical confidence, and what value and significance historical confidence possesses. The profound understanding of these questions and the theoretical summaries derived from them form an organic, logically self-consistent overall structure, constituting a complete autonomous and independent knowledge system in the field of historical confidence, and constructing a treasure house of thought on historical confidence with distinct Chinese characteristics.

在马克思主义认识论看来，在人类历史上，任何思想，特别是具有丰富内涵、呈现为思想体系的，都不是孤立产生的，而是思想继承与主体认知相结合的产物。邓小平在历史思想领域形成历史自信思想，是坚持马克思主义历史观与自身强大的历史感知能力相结合的成果。坚持唯物史观，就是继承和发展马克思主义科学的历史思想；形成并具备强大的历史感，它是主体具有认知素养和能力的根本体现。历史观与历史感是两个紧密相连的思想内容，是孕育思想者历史思想的必备前提。何谓历史感？就是社会活动主体对历史发展大势的准确把握、对历史发展经验教训的正确总结、对历史发展规律的科学掌握，内化为自己的思想、意识和理论，并体现在主体的社会实践行动上。不同的历史感，赋予认识主体不同的历史意识；不同的历史意识，产生不同的认知结果。邓小平所具有的强大历史感，体现了中华爱国主义思想情感与共产主义崇高理想相统一、社会发展与人民利益相统一、中国发展与世界进步相统一，他代表和体现了那个时代先进中国人最具代表性的历史感。在此基础上，邓小平科学把握坚定历史自信的原则立场，准确回答为何确立历史自信、历史自信信什么、历史自信如何信、历史自信有何价值意义等一系列重大问题，对这些问题的深刻认识和得出的理论总结，形成一个有机联系、逻辑自洽的整体结构，在历史自信领域形成一个完整的自主性独立性知识体系，建构起一座具有鲜明中国特色的历史自信思想宝库。

Whether there is historical confidence, and whether historical confidence is firmly held, is by no means a trivial matter that can be taken or left, valued or ignored, for a major country like China, which holds a pivotal position in the world, and for a major party like the Chinese Communist Party, which has attained ruling status through bloody struggle. Rather, it is a major issue concerning the historical direction of the development of modern China and the Chinese nation, and concerning the historical and ideological foundation for the Chinese Communist Party’s continued long-term governance. Therefore, firm historical confidence is a matter of principle regarding the direction of national development, and a matter of principle regarding the spirit and path by which the ruling party unites and leads the people. It is not only a major matter of principle, but also a major political and ideological issue concerning the long-term stability of the Party and the state. Firm historical confidence means, first, highlighting confidence derived from the development of Chinese history, firming up the path of Chinese history moving into the future, and firming up confidence in self-development. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Our modernization drive must proceed from China’s actual conditions. Whether in revolution or construction, we must learn from and draw on the experience of foreign countries. But copying the experience and models of other countries mechanically has never succeeded. We have had many lessons in this regard. Integrating the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete realities of our country, taking our own path, and building socialism with Chinese characteristics – this is the basic conclusion we have drawn from summing up our long historical experience.” Second, it means thinking through one’s own problems based on China’s national conditions and Chinese characteristics, finding effective methods and means to resolve contradictions and problems, and firming up confidence in these characteristics. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “The modernization we are pursuing is Chinese-path modernization. The socialism we are building is socialism with Chinese characteristics. We rely mainly on our own actual conditions and our own resources, with self-reliance as the primary approach.” Third, it means adhering to independence and self-reliance, relying on one’s own strength to handle one’s own affairs well, and firming up confidence in one’s own capabilities. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “China’s affairs must be handled according to China’s conditions and by the Chinese people themselves. Independence and self-reliance have always been, and will always be, our foothold.” Chinese history, Chinese characteristics, the Chinese path, and socialism with Chinese characteristics – these three issues are major issues closely linked together. Firm historical confidence thus establishes the political and ideological foundation for the Chinese Communists’ confidence in the theory, confidence in the path, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture. For a ruling party, this is the most fundamental historical thought concerning the overall situation, and therefore also the most important political thought. Whether in the New Democratic Revolution, socialist revolution and construction, or reform and opening up and socialist modernization, we must all firmly hold historical confidence – this is the principled stance that Deng Xiaoping, summing up long-term revolutionary struggle practice, revealed and set forth as something Chinese Communists must uphold.

有没有历史自信，是否坚定历史自信，对于像中国这样一个在世界上具有举足轻重地位的大国来说，对于像中国共产党这样经历浴血奋战取得执政地位的大党来说，绝不是一个可有可无、可重视可不重视的小问题，而是一个关乎现代中国、中华民族发展的历史走向，关乎中国共产党继续长期执政的历史基础、思想基础的重大问题。因此，坚定历史自信，是国家发展的方向性原则问题，是执政党团结带领人民以什么精神面貌、走什么道路的原则性问题。它既是一个重大原则问题，而且还是一个关系党和国家长治久安的重大政治思想问题。坚定历史自信，一是要突出源于中国历史发展的自信，坚定中国历史走向未来的路，坚定自我发展的自信。邓小平指出：“我们的现代化建设，必须从中国的实际出发。无论是革命还是建设，都要注意学习和借鉴外国经验。但是，照抄照搬别国经验、别国模式，从来不能得到成功。这方面我们有过不少教训。把马克思主义的普遍真理同我国的具体实际结合起来，走自己的道路，建设有中国特色的社会主义，这就是我们总结长期历史经验得出的基本结论。”二是要立足于中国国情、中国特色思考自己的问题，寻找解决矛盾和问题的有效方法和办法，坚定特色自信。邓小平指出：“我们搞的现代化，是中国式的现代化。我们建设的社会主义，是有中国特色的社会主义。我们主要是根据自己的实际情况和自己的条件，以自力更生为主。”三是要坚持独立自主、自力更生，立足于自己的力量把自己的事情办好，坚定能力自信。邓小平指出：“中国的事情要按照中国的情况来办，要依靠中国人自己的力量来办。独立自主，自力更生，无论过去、现在和将来，都是我们的立足点。”中国历史与中国特色、中国道路、中国特色社会主义这三个问题是紧密相连的重大问题。坚定历史自信，这就确立了中国共产党人所具有理论自信、道路自信、制度自信和文化自信的政治基础和思想基础。这对于一个执政党来说，是关系全局、最为根本的历史思想，因而也是最为重大的政治思想。无论是新民主主义革命、社会主义革命和建设，还是改革开放和社会主义现代化建设，我们都必须坚定历史自信，这是邓小平从长期革命斗争实践中总结并揭示出来中国共产党人必须坚守的原则立场。

For theory to be able to convince people, the key is that it possesses the power of truth, making people submit and believe. Deng Xiaoping, with the thoroughness of Marxist theory, clearly, plainly, and penetratingly explained the major related issue of why people must possess historical confidence. In modern society, the world is composed of states, and each state has its own interests. No state should expect another state or another nation to handle its own affairs for it. Handling China’s own affairs well depends on the Chinese people themselves, and the key is building the Chinese Communist Party well. Foreigners cannot handle China’s affairs well, and other nations cannot cultivate Chinese national culture. Only by standing on our own soil and relying on ourselves can we fundamentally solve our own problems, prolong the nation’s fortunes and the people’s well-being, and pass on and carry forward Chinese national culture. Hu Jintao incisively summarized: “Handling China’s affairs well depends on the Party, and depends on people. This is a very important scientific thesis put forward by Comrade Deng Xiaoping, an objective truth proven by practice.” From the political standpoint and worldly sentiment of Communists, the Marxist materialist conception of history long ago revealed the independent spirit and historical initiative of the proletariat and its party: firm historical confidence, enhance historical consciousness, give play to historical initiative, and achieve social liberation and human liberation. The “Internationale” sings: “There has never been any savior, nor do we rely on gods or emperors. To create human happiness, we rely entirely on ourselves!” Deng Xiaoping pointed out that we must firmly hold historical confidence, independently explore the path of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and neither expect to find answers directly in existing Marxist expositions nor copy the experience of other countries. “There is no fixed model, nor can there be one,” and “we must build socialism according to our own conditions.” This, from the perspectives of common sense, philosophy, and truth, clearly explains the rationality and scientificity of firm historical confidence.

理论要能说服人，关键是要有真理的力量，使人折服、令人信服。邓小平在马克思主义理论的彻底性上，说清楚、说明白、说透彻了人们为何必须具备历史自信这个重大相关问题。在现代社会，世界是由国家构成的，各个国家都有各自的利益。任何国家都不要指望别的国家、别的民族可以替自己办好自己的事情。办好中国自己的事情，关键在中国人民自己，关键是把中国共产党建设好。外国人不可能办好中国的事情，别的民族不可能培育出中华民族文化。只有在中国的土地上立足于我们自己，才能从根本上解决自己的问题，延续国祚民福，传承弘扬中华民族文化。胡锦涛精辟地总结道：“办好中国的事情，关键在党，关键在人。这是邓小平同志提出的一个十分重要的科学论断，是被实践证明了的客观真理。”从共产党人的政治立场和现世情怀来说，马克思主义唯物史观早就揭示出无产阶级及其政党的独立精神和历史主动性，坚定历史自信，提升历史自觉，发挥历史主动性，实现社会解放和人的解放。《国际歌》唱道：“从来就没有什么救世主，也不靠神仙皇帝。要创造人类的幸福，全靠我们自己！”邓小平指出，必须坚定历史自信，独立探索中国特色的社会主义建设道路，既不能指望从马克思主义既有论述中直接找到答案，也不能照搬别国经验，“固定的模式是没有的，也不可能有”，“必须根据自己的条件建设社会主义”。这就从常理、哲理和真理的角度，讲清楚了坚定历史自信的合理性、科学性道理。

What does historical confidence have confidence in? How does one have confidence? In the process of strengthening historical confidence, this is a major question of overall importance. Marx pointed out: “The degree to which a theory is realized in a country always depends on the degree to which the theory satisfies the needs of that country.” To enable people to establish an awareness of historical confidence and to strengthen historical confidence, it is necessary to point out the genuine content of historical confidence, so that people have something to follow in thought and action. Deng Xiaoping organically integrated China’s historical development with the Party’s central task in the primary stage of socialism. Centering on the practical application of Marxism in China’s reform and opening up, the new development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the things we are doing now, he scientifically answered the very major theoretical and practical question of what historical confidence has confidence in. First, love Chinese history and promote the spirit of patriotism. Patriotism is the spiritual soul of a country and a nation. Chinese patriotism arises from the long historical development of China. Only by embracing Chinese history and loving Chinese history can the spirit of Chinese patriotism be carried forward. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “The Chinese people have their own national self-respect and pride. They regard loving the motherland and contributing all their strength to building a socialist motherland as the greatest glory, and regard harming the interests, dignity and honor of the socialist motherland as the greatest shame.” Second, deeply root socialist cultural construction and the construction of cultural-ethical progress in the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and persist in innovative development through inheritance, and in continued promotion through study. The excellent traditional culture of a nation and a country is the cultural root and spiritual lifeline of the nation’s prosperity and the country’s flourishing. Deng Xiaoping advocated that in China’s socialist modernization, the relationship between cultural construction and economic construction, and between material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, must be correctly handled. Toward national culture, one must adopt the attitude of “taking the essence and discarding the dross, making the past serve the present and foreign things serve China, weeding through the old to bring forth the new, and carrying forward the cause and forging ahead into the future,” and must achieve “study, absorption, integration and development.” Deng Xiaoping’s emphasis on and advocacy of excellent traditional Chinese culture, his call for inheritance and transformation in advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, is the cultural blood flowing through Deng Xiaoping Theory, and is a policy principle we must still cherish in handling the relationship between China’s modernization and traditional Chinese culture. Third, correctly handle relations with other countries in the world, establish an open and inclusive cultural attitude, be adept at learning from others’ strengths to make up for one’s own weaknesses, and achieve comprehensive mastery and integrated innovation. In modern times, human society has been moving along the path of world historical development, and human civilization has also been moving along the path of open and innovative development. The economic and cultural life of countries around the world increasingly reflects global characteristics. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “For any country to develop, isolation and closing the country to international intercourse are impossible. It is impossible without strengthening international exchanges, without introducing the advanced experience, advanced science and technology, and capital of developed countries.” “For socialism to gain an advantage over capitalism, it must boldly absorb and draw upon all the achievements of civilization created by human society, and absorb and draw upon the advanced modes of operation and management methods of all countries in the world today, including the developed capitalist countries, that reflect the laws of modern社会化 production.” Compared with the cultural closed-door attitude and method toward modern civilization, this has the great significance of ideological emancipation. Fourth, it is necessary to cherish the hard-won great achievements made by the Chinese people in modern times through bloody struggle and immense sacrifice for the goals of national independence, national liberation and people’s happiness, to correctly treat the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development, and to protect, inherit and develop the brand-new chapters written by the Party leading the Chinese nation in modern times — chapters of founding a new world, transforming heaven and earth, and overturning heaven and earth. In modern times, for the sake of winning liberation and becoming masters of their own destiny, the Chinese people correctly chose Marxist theory, the socialist road and the Chinese Communist Party, and opened up the broad road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is the greatest source of confidence for the Chinese Communist Party in strengthening historical confidence during the new period of reform and opening up. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “To achieve the four modernizations in China, we must adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles in ideology and politics. This is the fundamental prerequisite for realizing the four modernizations.” From the perspective of strengthening historical confidence, Deng Xiaoping clarified the fundamental truth that the “Four Cardinal Principles” are the “foundation for building the country” and reform and opening up is the “road to national strength.” Fifth, toward China’s historical development and the great figures in history, including revolutionary leaders, one must adopt the correct attitude of historicism and seeking truth from facts and the dialectical method of dividing one into two, so as to draw lessons from experience. Deng Xiaoping scientifically summarized the historical experience of the New Democratic Revolution and incisively pointed out that it is necessary to eliminate the poison of feudalism and establish a system and mechanism that “makes it impossible for bad people to run rampant and enables good people to fully do good deeds.” Deng Xiaoping correctly summarized the historical experience of socialist construction and profoundly pointed out that it is necessary to remember the profound lessons of the “Cultural Revolution”: “Poverty is not socialism; socialism must eliminate poverty.” It is necessary to maintain a sober mind, adhere to the correct attitude and scientific method of opposing “Left” when there is “Left” and opposing Right when there is Right, and not make major mistakes. Deng Xiaoping deeply summarized the historical lesson of modern China’s backwardness and vulnerability to beatings, suffering bullying from Western powers, and seriously pointed out that closing the country to international intercourse and sealing oneself off can only lead to falling behind the times and being passively beaten: “Historical experience and lessons show that not opening up is impossible.” Deng Xiaoping adhered to the correct principles and

历史自信信什么？如何信？在坚定历史自信中，这是一个带有全局性的重大问题。马克思指出：“理论在一个国家实现的程度，总是取决于理论满足这个国家的需要的程度。”要使人们树立历史自信意识，坚定历史自信，必须指出历史自信的真切内容，让人们在思想上、行动上有所遵循。邓小平将中国历史发展与党在社会主义初级阶段的中心任务有机结合起来，围绕着马克思主义在中国改革开放中的实际运用、中国特色社会主义的新发展和我们正在做的事情，科学回答了历史自信信什么这个十分重大的理论与实际问题。第一，热爱中国历史，弘扬爱国主义精神。爱国主义是一个国家、一个民族的精神灵魂。中华爱国主义产生于悠久的中国历史发展之中，只有胸怀中国历史，热爱中国历史，才能发扬中华爱国主义精神。邓小平指出：“中国人民有自己的民族自尊心和自豪感，以热爱祖国、贡献全部力量建设社会主义祖国为最大光荣，以损害社会主义祖国利益、尊严和荣誉为最大耻辱。”第二，将社会主义文化建设、精神文明建设深深植根于中华优秀传统文化之中，坚持在继承中创新发展，在钻研中赓续弘扬。一个民族、一个国家的优秀传统文化，是民族兴旺发达、国家繁荣昌盛的文化之根和精神血脉。邓小平主张，在中国社会主义现代化建设中，要正确处理文化建设与经济建设的关系、物质文明与精神文明的关系，对于民族文化必须采取“取其精华，去其糟粕，古为今用，洋为中用，推陈出新，继往开来”的态度，必须做到“钻研、吸收、融化和发展”。邓小平对中华优秀传统文化的重视和主张，倡导在推进中国特色社会主义事业中继承和变革，是流淌在邓小平理论中的文化血液，是我们处理中国现代化与中华传统文化关系仍需珍视的方针原则。第三，正确处理同世界各国的关系，树立开放包容的文化态度，善于取人之长，补己之短，做到融会贯通、兼容创新。近代以来，人类社会走在世界历史发展的道路上，人类文明也走在开放式创新发展道路上，世界各国的经济文化生活日益体现世界性特点。邓小平指出：“任何一个国家要发展，孤立起来，闭关自守是不可能的，不加强国际交往，不引进发达国家的先进经验、先进科学技术和资金，是不可能的。”“社会主义要赢得与资本主义相比较的优势，就必须大胆吸收和借鉴人类社会创造的一切文明成果，吸收和借鉴当今世界各国包括资本主义发达国家的一切反映现代社会化生产规律的先进经营方式、管理方法。”相较于对待近代文明的文化封闭主义态度与方法而言，这就具有思想解放的重大意义。第四，必须珍视近代以来中国人民为实现国家独立、民族解放和人民幸福的目标，通过浴血奋战，付出极大牺牲而取得来之不易的伟大成果，正确对待党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史，把党领导中华民族在近代以来书写的开天辟地、改天换地、翻天覆地崭新篇章保护好、传承好、发展好。近代以来，中国人民为着翻身得解放、当家作主人，正确选择了马克思主义理论、社会主义道路和中国共产党，开辟了中国特色社会主义康庄大道。这是中国共产党在改革开放新时期坚定历史自信的最大底气。邓小平指出：“要在中国实现四个现代化，必须在思想政治上坚持四项基本原则。这是实现四个现代化的根本前提。”邓小平在坚定历史自信的角度，厘清了“四项基本原则”是“立国之本”、改革开放是“强国之路”的根本道理。第五，对待中国历史发展以及历史上的伟大人物包括革命领袖，要采取历史主义、实事求是的正确态度和一分为二的辩证方法，从中吸取经验教训。邓小平科学总结新民主主义革命的历史经验，精辟指出，必须肃清封建主义的遗毒，建立起“使坏人无法任意横行，使好人能够充分做好事”的制度体制。邓小平正确总结社会主义建设的历史经验，深刻指出，要牢记“文化大革命”的深刻教训，“贫穷不是社会主义，社会主义要消灭贫穷”；要保持清醒头脑，坚持有“左”反“左”，有右反右的正确态度和科学方法，不犯大错误。邓小平深刻总结近代中国落后挨打，饱受西方列强欺凌的历史教训，严肃指出，闭关锁国、封闭自己只能落后于时代，被动挨打，“历史经验教训说明，不开放不行”。邓小平坚持历史人物评价的正确原则和科学方法，指导全党全社会正确评价毛泽东的历史贡献和历史地位、正确认识毛泽东与毛泽东思想的关系，深邃指出，把毛泽东晚年所犯错误与毛泽东思想严格区分开来，“要举毛泽东思想的伟大旗帜”，不犯苏共全面否定斯大林那样严重的错误。正是因为邓小平具有历史自信，正确分析了改革开放新时期党和国家面临的一系列历史与现实相交织的重大问题，廓清了人们在思想上的误区和疑虑，中国特色社会主义道路才得以成功开辟并行稳致远。站在中国特色社会主义事业新的更高历史起点上，邓小平更是充满历史自信和未来自信，豪迈地说：“我们有信心把中国的事情做得更好。”

The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Party [1]1 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, held in December 1978, marked the beginning of the reform and opening-up era and the shift from class struggle to economic construction as the Party’s central task. determined the shift in the focus of the work of the Party and the state, the implementation of reform and opening up, the centering of work on economic construction, and the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This was another major turning point in the historical development of the Party and the state since the founding of New China. Taking a new road, embarking on a new journey, and opening a new chapter, the major question we first faced was: How should we view the yesterday we had experienced? How should we view the past of our predecessors? This was not only a major ideological question of how to understand history, but also a major political and practical question of “how to view it, what to do?” and “with what kind of state, what kind of mental outlook” to bid farewell to the past and move toward the future. We come from the past; to negate the past is to negate ourselves. Only by respecting history, correctly viewing history, drawing lessons and experience from history, and continuously accumulating historical wisdom can we carry forward the cause and forge ahead into the future in a good state. This is precisely what Engels long ago admonished us: “History is everything to us.” [2]2 A paraphrase of Engels’s statement in his 1844 article “The Condition of England. Past and Present by Thomas Carlyle,” emphasizing that history is the sole source of human knowledge and identity. To strengthen historical confidence and to walk steadily and well on our own path — this is the meaning contained therein. Deng Xiaoping guided the Party in formulating the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” [3]3 Adopted in June 1981, this resolution systematically evaluated Mao Zedong’s role and the history of the PRC since 1949, affirming Mao’s contributions while acknowledging his errors, and consolidating Party unity around reform and opening up., which embodied the Party’s consistently emphasized principle of adhering to and applying a correct view of history in evaluating history and the requirement of strengthening historical confidence to open up the future, greatly unifying the thinking of the entire Party. Adhering to the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism, unswervingly upholding the political line of building Chinese-path modernization and the ideological line of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and integrating theory with practice, organically combining the past, present and future, and strengthening historical confidence greatly lifted people’s mental outlook. This is the scientific solution to the problem of “believing”; correspondingly, it was also necessary to solve the problem of “not believing” through powerful and effective methods. The greatest manifestation of “not believing” is the reactionary trend of historical nihilism, which comprehensively negates Chinese history, portraying the development of Chinese history as a complete mess, pitch black, and especially totally negating the history of the CPC, the history of New China, and the history of Chinese socialism, holding a skeptical or even negative attitude toward reform and opening up and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advocating “wholesale Westernization, taking the Western path.” In response, Deng Xiaoping emphasized the need to tit for tat and resolutely oppose it. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Instill patriotic national thought, enhance their national self-confidence and self-respect, and at any time deliver effective blows to the enemy’s policy of enslavement”; [4]4 From a 1941 article by Deng Xiaoping, “The United Front Work of the Party and the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government in the Base Areas,” stressing patriotic education against Japanese cultural aggression. “We must promote the spirit of patriotism and enhance national self-respect and national self-confidence. Otherwise, we will not be able to build socialism and will be corroded and corrupted by various capitalist forces.” [5]5 From Deng Xiaoping’s speech at the National Conference on Political and Legal Work, July 1980. On the one hand, this relied on the Party’s leadership and the Party’s line, principles and policies to guarantee it; on the other hand, it required using a correct view of history and Chinese history to educate our people, especially the youth. Deng Xiaoping, with great foresight, pointed out, “It is very important to understand one’s own history,” “We must use history to educate the youth and educate the people”; “We must understand some Chinese history; this is a spiritual driving force for China’s development.” [6]6 From Deng Xiaoping’s speech at a meeting with the drafting group of the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China,” March 1981. Historical confidence is the spiritual pillar of a nation’s and a country’s development. Only when people believe, especially when the youth believe, will our cause be full of hope and our cause endure forever. Deng Xiaoping scientifically revealed for us the subject of historical confidence; it is the entire people, especially the broad masses of youth.

党的十一届三中全会确定实现党和国家工作重心的转移，实行改革开放，以经济建设为中心，建设中国特色社会主义。这是新中国成立以来，党和国家历史发展的又一次重大转折。走新路，启新程，开新篇，我们首先面临的重大问题是：如何看待我们曾经经历的昨天？如何看待我们前人的过去？这不仅是如何认识历史的重大思想问题，也是一个“如何看，怎么办？”“以什么样的状态，什么样的精神面貌”告别过去、走向未来的重大政治现实问题。我们从过去走来，否定过去就意味着否定我们自己；尊重历史，正确看待历史，从历史中吸取经验教训、不断积累历史智慧，才能以良好的状态继往开来。这诚如恩格斯早就告诫我们的，“历史就是我们的一切”。坚定历史自信，走稳、走好我们自己的路。这是其中之意。邓小平指导党制定《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》，体现了党一贯强调的坚持并运用正确的历史观评价历史的原则和坚定历史自信开创未来的要求，极大地统一了全党的思想。坚持党在社会主义初级阶段的基本路线，毫不动摇地坚持建设中国式现代化的政治路线和解放思想、实事求是、理论联系实际的思想路线，把过去、现在和未来有机结合起来，坚定历史自信，极大提振人们的精神面貌。这就是科学解决了“信”的问题；与此相对应的是，还要通过有力有效的方式方法解决“不信”的问题。“不信”的最大表现，就是历史虚无主义反动思潮，它全面否定中国历史，把中国历史发展说得一团糟、漆黑一团，特别是全盘否定中共党史、新中国史、中国社会主义史，对改革开放和中国特色社会主义持怀疑甚至是否定的态度，主张搞“全盘西化，走西方人的路”。对此，邓小平强调必须针锋相对，坚决反对。邓小平指出：“灌输以民族的爱国的思想，提高其民族自信心与自尊心，随时给敌人的奴化政策以有效的打击”；“必须发扬爱国主义精神，提高民族自尊心和民族自信心。否则我们就不可能建设社会主义，就会被种种资本主义势力所侵蚀腐化”。这一方面是要靠党的领导，靠党的路线方针来保证；另一方面，是要用正确的历史观、用中国历史教育我们的人民，特别是青年。邓小平高瞻远瞩地指出，“了解自己的历史很重要”，“我们要用历史教育青年，教育人民”；“要懂得些中国历史，这是中国发展的一个精神动力”。历史自信是一个民族、一个国家发展的精神支柱。只有人们信了，特别是青年信了，我们的事业才大有希望，我们的事业才能长盛不衰。邓小平为我们科学揭示了历史自信的主体，它就是全体人民，特别是广大青年。

Strengthening historical confidence and adhering to the attitude of historical confidence means, on the one hand, correctly treating history and scientifically handling the relationship between the past, present and future; on the other hand, and more importantly, by strengthening historical confidence, enhancing historical consciousness, and increasing historical initiative, providing powerful spiritual strength for the cause of reform and opening up and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and transforming this powerful spiritual strength into the material strength for building Chinese-path modernization. Deng Xiaoping emphasized historical confidence, pointing out the powerful social function and important role of historical confidence. Deng Xiaoping emphatically pointed out that the spirit of Chinese patriotism, the fine traditions, fine styles and revolutionary spirit formed during the revolutionary war years are the magic weapons and strength support for overcoming all difficulties and obstacles on the path forward, and must never be discarded. Victory in the past relied on this, and success in the future will also rely on this, and it must be made “the main pillar of the cultural-ethical progress of the People’s Republic of China.” [7]7 From Deng Xiaoping’s speech at the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work, August 1980.

坚定历史自信，坚持历史自信的态度，一方面是正确对待历史，科学处理过去、现在与未来的关系问题；另一方面，更为重要的是，通过坚定历史自信，提升历史自觉，增强历史主动，为改革开放和中国特色社会主义事业提供强大的精神力量，把强大的精神力量转化为建设中国式现代化的物质力量。邓小平强调历史自信，指出了历史自信的强大社会功能和重要作用。邓小平强调指出，中华爱国主义精神、在革命战争年代形成的好传统、好作风和革命精神，是我们战胜前进道路上一切艰难险阻的法宝和力量支撑，绝不能丢。过去取得胜利靠这个，今后取得成功还是靠这个，并要“使之成为中华人民共和国的精神文明的主要支柱”。

Taking “historical confidence” as the center, oriented toward the mental outlook and spiritual strength of the CPC, the Chinese nation, and the Chinese people, and taking striving to open up a new path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and building Chinese-path modernization as the new goal, Deng Xiaoping pursued successive inquiries, unfolded layer by layer, and profoundly expounded, forming a knowledge domain and logical system closely linked and mutually supporting, composed of the principled stance of historical confidence, the rationality and reasonableness of historical confidence, the content subject of historical confidence, the bearing subject of historical confidence, and the value function of historical confidence. This occupies an important position in Deng Xiaoping’s historical thought. Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence was not only generated in Deng Xiaoping’s long revolutionary career, but also formed the ideological foundation for Deng Xiaoping’s optimistic, upward, and enterprising outlook on life, his revolutionary heroism, his firm lofty ideals and sense of mission and responsibility, and his spirit of being a doer. Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence embodies the distinctive theoretical innovation characteristics of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and the Chinese cultural characteristics endowed by fine traditional Chinese culture. In terms of mode of understanding, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence is based on a practice-oriented and goal-oriented approach, centered on the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly grasping the core and key issues of history and the times, tradition and modernity, China and the world, and theory and practice; in terms of mode of thinking and method of thought, it possesses the traditional spirit of Chinese philosophy — not abstruse, only seeking truth, highlighting problem awareness, straightforward, simple and clear, seeing the essence through phenomena, and grasping it accurately; in terms of discourse expression, it is plain and clear, unadorned, fresh and bright, yet embodies wit and vitality, profound meaning, and is rich in wisdom, “in concise and essential expositions, always containing profound ideological content.” [8]8 An internal scholarly characterization of Deng Xiaoping’s style, cited by the author from Chinese academic literature on Deng Xiaoping’s thought. In short, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence has the distinctive character of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, is an important achievement in the field of historical understanding from the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture, and possesses outstanding Chinese style and Chinese characteristics.

邓小平以“历史自信”为中心，以中国共产党以及中华民族、中国人民的精神面貌、精神力量为指向，以奋力开创中国特色社会主义新道路，建设中国式现代化为新目标，接续追问，层层展开，深刻阐述，形成了一个由历史自信的原则立场、历史自信的理性合理、历史自信的内容主体、历史自信的承担主体、历史自信的价值功能等紧密联系、相互支撑的知识域和逻辑体，它在邓小平历史思想中占有重要地位。邓小平的历史自信思想既是在邓小平长期革命生涯中产生的，也是邓小平形成乐观向上、积极进取的人生观，具有革命英雄主义、坚定的远大理想和使命担当精神、实干家精神的思想基础。邓小平历史自信思想体现了鲜明的马克思主义中国化时代化的理论创新特征和中华优秀传统文化赋予的中国文化特性。在认识方式上，邓小平历史自信思想立足于实践导向、目标导向，以中国特色社会主义实践为中心，紧紧抓住历史与时代、传统与现代、中国与世界、理论与实践的核心问题、关键问题；在思维方式和思想方法上，它具有中国哲学的传统精神，不玄奥，只求实，突出问题意识，直截了当，简单明快，透过现象看本质，一抓就准；在话语表达上，它平白晓畅，朴实无华，清新爽朗，而又体现机智鲜活，意蕴深刻，富于智慧，“在简明扼要的论述中，总是蕴含着深刻的思想内容”。总之，邓小平历史自信思想具有马克思主义中国化时代化的鲜明品格，是马克思主义基本原理与中华优秀传统文化相结合在历史认识领域的重要成果，具有突出的中国风格和中国特征。

III. The Contemporary Value of Deng Xiaoping’s Thought on Historical Confidence

三、邓小平历史自信思想的时代价值

Profound historical summaries, correct historical thought, and scientific historical understanding provide people with wings of wisdom for successful practice, opening up the future, and moving toward the future, guiding people to continuously open up paths of victory and progress. Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence was generated in Deng Xiaoping’s extraordinary life experience. It is the concentrated reflection of the historical wisdom of a great proletarian revolutionary, politician, military strategist, strategist, and diplomat, a great Marxist, and the chief architect of China’s socialist reform, opening up, and modernization; it was generated in the historical process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and is the concentrated embodiment of the historical wisdom of Deng Xiaoping as the founder of Deng Xiaoping Theory; it was generated in the process of the Chinese people striving to win new victories in socialist reform, opening up, and modernization and to write a new chapter in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and is the essential reflection of the historical wisdom contained in the era. Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence contains the wisdom essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, harbors the truth power of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, nourishes the spiritual essence combining the Chinese patriotic national spirit with the contemporary spirit of reform and innovation, and possesses strong internal ideological tension and powerful spiritual strength. It is of very important value and far-reaching significance for our scientific understanding of the original contribution of Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence to historical materialism, for scientifically grasping its outstanding value in continuing to advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, for deeply understanding the historical development logic of the thought on historical confidence in the New Era, and for realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

深刻的历史总结、正确的历史思想、科学的历史认识，为人们成功实践、开辟未来、走向未来插上智慧的翅膀，指引人们不断开创胜利前进的道路。邓小平历史自信思想是在邓小平非凡的人生经历中产生的。它是作为一位伟大的无产阶级革命家、政治家、军事家、战略家、外交家，伟大的马克思主义者，中国社会主义改革开放和现代化建设的总设计师所具有历史智慧的集中反映；它是在马克思主义中国化时代化历史进程中产生的，是邓小平作为邓小平理论创立者所具有历史智慧的集中体现；它是在中国人民为奋力夺取社会主义改革开放和现代化建设新胜利、谱写实现中华民族伟大复兴大业新篇章中产生的，是时代所蕴藏历史智慧的本质映现。邓小平历史自信思想蕴含着中华优秀传统文化的智慧精华，蕴藏着马克思主义中国化时代化的真理力量，滋养着中华爱国主义民族精神与改革创新时代精神相结合的精神精华，具有强劲的思想内在张力和强大的精神力量，对于我们科学认识邓小平历史自信思想对唯物史观的原创性贡献、科学把握其在继续推进马克思主义中国化时代化中的突出价值、深入认识新时代历史自信思想的历史发展理路、实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦具有十分重要的价值和深远的意义。

In the New Era, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence provides empirical grounds for continuing to advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and for promoting the original theoretical development of historical materialism. Theoretical maturity is an important criterion for measuring and embodying the guiding power, leadership, innovative capacity, and developmental strength of a party, a country, and a nation; the same applies to evaluating the leaders of the Party and the people. Generally speaking, theoretical maturity determines political maturity, and the theoretical maturity of the Party’s leaders has a tremendous impact and effect on the Party’s ideological line and political line. Only by continuously carrying out theoretical innovation, deeply advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and realizing the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture can we make original contributions to the development of Marxist theory and continuously push Marxist theoretical innovation to new realms and achieve new results. Deng Xiaoping, basing himself on China’s historical development, on the realities of reform and opening up and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and facing the trends of world development and the currents of the times, took the lead in emancipating the mind, “boldly venturing forward and boldly experimenting,” and spoke new words that the ancestors had never spoken. In the domain of historical confidence, he made original and major contributions to historical materialism mainly in the following aspects: First, regarding the stage of social development, he proposed building socialism with Chinese characteristics based on the socialist historical stage in which China finds itself, thereby clarifying the historical orientation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This provides the realistic basis for historical confidence grounded in the historical orientation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Second, regarding the path of social development, he proposed independently exploring and “taking our own road” in accordance with the inherent laws of national and ethnic development and the basic national conditions, answering the major question of concern to Marxism: how each country’s independent development is “based on the entire previous development of that country itself.” This provides the historical basis and path basis for historical confidence grounded in China’s historical development. Third, he built confidence in development upon historical confidence, proposing that “China’s development cannot be separated from the world, and the world’s development needs China” and that “our greatest experience is not to detach ourselves from the world,” actively integrating China’s modernization construction into the world historical process, thereby contributing a Chinese model to the Marxist theory of world history. This provides the world basis for historical confidence grounded in a global perspective and deep integration into the world historical process. We are still in the primary stage of socialism, we are still walking on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and we are still building Chinese-path modernization within the world historical process. By firmly establishing historical confidence, basing ourselves on the new practices, new goals, new tasks, and new requirements of the New Era, and preserving and continuously strengthening the “essential skill” of Chinese Communists in applying the theory and method of Marxist historical materialism, we will continuously draw wisdom and inspiration from Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence and contribute more original achievements to advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

在新时代，邓小平历史自信思想为接续推进马克思主义中国化时代化发展、推进唯物史观理论原创性发展，提供了经验性依据。理论成熟是衡量和体现一个党、一个国家、一个民族所具有的引领力、领导力、创新力和发展力的重要依据；对于评价党和人民的领袖来说，也是如此。一般来说，理论成熟决定政治成熟，而党的领袖在理论上的成熟为党的思想路线、政治路线所带来的影响、产生的作用，也是巨大的。只有不断进行理论创新，深入推进马克思主义中国化时代化，实现马克思主义基本原理与中国具体实际、与中华优秀传统文化相结合，才能做出马克思主义理论发展的原创性贡献，不断推进马克思主义理论创新达到新境界，取得新成果。邓小平立足于中国历史发展，立足于改革开放和中国特色社会主义实际，面向世界发展潮流和时代趋势，率先解放思想，“大胆闯，大胆试”，讲了一些老祖宗没有讲过的新话。在历史自信领域，主要在以下几个方面对唯物史观作出了原创性的重大贡献：一是关于社会发展阶段，提出立足于中国所处的社会主义历史阶段建设中国特色社会主义，明确了中国特色社会主义的历史方位。这是立足于中国特色社会主义的历史方位提供历史自信的现实依据。二是关于社会发展道路，提出根据国家、民族发展的内在规律和基本国情，独立探索，“走自己的路”，回答了马克思主义所关心的在世界各国，各自的独立发展如何“以本国过去的整个发展……为基础的”这个重大问题。这是立足于中国历史发展提供历史自信的历史依据和道路依据。三是将发展自信建立在历史自信之上，提出“中国的发展离不开世界，世界的发展需要中国”，“我们最大的经验就是不要脱离世界”，将中国现代化建设积极融入世界历史进程之中，为马克思主义世界历史理论贡献了中国样本。这是立足于世界视野、深度对接世界历史进程提供历史自信的世界依据。我们现在还处于社会主义初级阶段，我们还走在中国特色社会主义道路上，我们还在世界历史进程中建设中国式现代化，坚定历史自信，立足于新时代的新实践、新目标、新任务和新要求，守住并不断增强中国共产党人运用马克思主义唯物史观理论与方法的“看家本领”，我们就会从邓小平历史自信思想中不断获得智慧启迪，为推进马克思主义中国化时代化发展贡献更多原创性成果。

In the New Era, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence provides ideological guidance and spiritual nourishment for firmly establishing historical confidence, enhancing historical consciousness, and strengthening historical initiative, continuously serving the construction of Chinese-path modernization and the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Every nation has its own national spirit, and every country has its own spiritual strength. In different eras, national spirit and spiritual strength take different forms; however, it is undeniable that historical confidence is the foundation and source from which national spirit and national spiritual strength arise. It can be said that without historical confidence, there is no national spirit or national spiritual strength. The stronger the historical confidence, the stronger the spiritual strength. In the new period of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence played an important guiding role in promoting the great national spirit and elevating the great spirit of the times, and the spiritual and cultural achievements it yielded possess timeless eternal value; its spiritual nourishment and cultural strength directly connect to the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The experience of predecessors is always the intellectual resource of later generations, and the understanding of predecessors is always the intellectual basis of later generations. The deeper, more extensive, and more detailed the understanding of predecessors, the more profound and useful the experience, reference, and inspiration obtained by later generations. In-depth study of Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence is of great significance for constructing its logical connection with the understanding of historical confidence in the New Era, for thoroughly studying, grasping, and mastering the fundamental requirements of historical confidence in the New Era, and for promoting the transformation of confidence, consciousness, and initiative into the spiritual strength of the times.

在新时代，邓小平历史自信思想对于坚定历史自信、提高历史自觉、增强历史主动，不断为中国式现代化建设、为实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦提供思想指导和精神滋养。每一个民族都有自己的民族精神，每一个国家都有自己的精神力量。在不同的时代，其民族精神和精神力量都有不同的表现形式；但是，不可否认，历史自信是民族精神和国家精神力量生发的基础和源头。可以这样说，没有历史自信，就没有民族精神和国家精神力量。历史自信越足，精神力量就越强。在改革开放新时期，邓小平历史自信思想为弘扬伟大民族精神和升华伟大时代精神发挥了重要指导作用，其取得的精神文化成果，具有超越时代的永恒价值；其精神滋养、文化力量，直接通向中国特色社会主义新时代。前人的经验总是后来者的思想资源，前人的认识总是后来者的思想依据。对前人了解得越深、越多、越细，后人获得的经验、借鉴、启发也就越精深、越有用。深入研究邓小平历史自信思想，对于建构其与新时代历史自信认识的逻辑联系，学深、弄懂、掌握新时代历史自信的根本要求，促进自信、自觉、主动转化为时代的精神力量，具有重要意义。

In the New Era, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence provides profound spiritual nourishment and powerful cultural strength for firmly establishing confidence in the theory, confidence in the path, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture, enabling the Party to lead the entire people in striving with vigor and courage, forging ahead bravely, and continuously achieving new victories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The historical thought of any era is both historical and contemporary; it is always a product of the needs of the times. Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence is a very important theoretical achievement of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new period of reform and opening up. In the New Era, as we advance courageously along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and “write a more splendid chapter of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the New Era,” we need firm historical confidence, deep historical consciousness, and active historical initiative more than at any time in history. The supporting strength of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics comes from confidence in the theory, confidence in the path, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture; the profound foundation of the “Four Confidences” [9]9 The “Four Confidences” (四个自信) refers to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a guiding principle formally articulated under Xi Jinping. comes from historical confidence. Only when historical confidence is stronger, firmer, and more enduring will the historical depth of the “Four Confidences” be deeper, and their ideological influence and practical deepening be more powerful. Although the historical stage we are in now differs from that of the new period, the elements such as the choice, conditions, leading force, and driving force for taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics have not changed. As we walk on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, striving to make this path ever broader and turn it into a broad road leading to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Deng Xiaoping’s thought on historical confidence possesses the value and significance of a living source and the driving force of an initiating impetus. This is because history enlightens us: only by standing on the profound foundation of history, looking far ahead, and firmly establishing historical confidence can people move toward the future with greater determination.

在新时代，邓小平历史自信思想为坚定理论自信、道路自信、制度自信、文化自信提供深厚的精神滋养和强大的文化力量，使党领导全国人民踔厉奋发、勇毅前行，不断夺取中国特色社会主义事业的新胜利。任何时代的历史思想既是历史的，又是现实的，它总是时代需要的产物。邓小平历史自信思想是改革开放新时期中国特色社会主义十分重要的理论成果。在新时代，沿着中国特色社会主义道路奋勇前进，“谱写新时代中国特色社会主义更加绚丽的华章”，我们比历史上任何时候都更加需要坚定的历史自信，更加需要深沉的历史自觉，更加需要积极的历史主动。中国特色社会主义道路的支撑力量是理论自信、道路自信、制度自信和文化自信，“四个自信”的深厚根基来自历史自信；只有历史自信越强大、越坚定、越久远，“四个自信”的历史底蕴才越深厚，思想影响和实践深化才越有力。现在，我们与新时期所处的历史阶段不同了，但是，走中国特色社会主义道路的选择、条件、领导力量、发展动力等要素，都没有发生变化。我们走在中国特色社会主义道路上，要使这条道路越走越宽广，成为一条通向中华民族伟大复兴的康庄大道，邓小平历史自信思想就具有源头活水的价值意义和开启性的动力意义。因为，历史启示我们：人们只有站在历史的深厚基础上，登高望远，坚定历史自信，才能更加坚定地走向未来。

(Author: Zhang Yanguo, Distinguished Professor of Boya Scholar at Central China Normal University, Director and Chief Expert of the Research Center for Chinese Political Culture and National Governance)

(作者：张艳国，华中师范大学博雅学者特聘教授，中国政治文化与国家治理研究中心主任、首席专家)

Online Editor: You Heng

网络编辑：有恒