Constructing a Theoretical System for the Chinese National Community

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during the ninth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, it is necessary to construct a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community, which must be grounded in the long history of the Chinese nation and combine Marxist ethnic theory with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. The formation and development of the Chinese national community are based on the commonalities formed through long-term, close interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups in history, encompassing shared historical memories, common political, economic, and cultural life, and shared value orientations and psychological identification. The common historical evolution of the Chinese nation and its rich cultural resources are the foundation and source of the formation, development, and growth of the Chinese national community. Constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community must be based on the history of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, solidifying its historical and cultural foundations.

习近平总书记在中共中央政治局第九次集体学习时指出，铸牢中华民族共同体意识必须构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，必须立足中华民族悠久历史，把马克思主义民族理论同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合。中华民族共同体的形成和发展建立在各民族历史上长期密切交往交流交融而形成的共同性的基础上，包含共同的历史记忆、共同的政治经济文化生活、共同的价值取向和心理认同等诸多方面。中华民族共同的历史演进历程和丰富的文化资源，是中华民族共同体形成和发展壮大的根基与源泉。构建中华民族共同体理论体系，必须以五千多年中华文明史为基础，夯实历史文化根基。

Rooted in the Historical and Cultural Soil of the Chinese Nation

扎根中华民族历史文化土壤

The Chinese national community is rooted in the deep soil of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, forming a unique pattern of diversity in unity of the Chinese nation, embodying a powerful, resilient, and enduring vitality. Constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community must adhere to the “Two Integrations”[1]1 The Two Integrations refer to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. as the guiding ideology, be rooted in the deep soil of the long history of the Chinese nation and fine traditional Chinese culture, combine the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture, and place great emphasis on the research, interpretation, and application of the history and culture of the Chinese nation.

中华民族共同体根植于五千多年中华文明的深厚土壤，形成了独特的中华民族多元一体格局，蕴含强大、坚韧、绵长的生命力。构建中华民族共同体理论体系，必须坚持以“两个结合”为指导思想，扎根于中华民族悠久历史和中华优秀传统文化的深厚土壤，将马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际情况、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，高度重视对中华民族历史文化的研究阐释和运用。

The essence of the “Two Integrations” is adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. This is the basic principle for constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community and also the basic direction for constructing a philosophical and social science system with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner. The “Second Integration,”[2]2 The Second Integration refers specifically to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. namely the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, is particularly important. The Chinese national community is naturally formed through long-term, close interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups over the long historical process, and is the result of historical development. The long and splendid history and culture of the Chinese nation are rich in spiritual resources and ideological and cultural nutrients, serving as an important foundation and source for constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community. Constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community must place great emphasis on historical research of the Chinese national community, strengthen the excavation, organization, inheritance, and transformative utilization of the historical and cultural resources of the Chinese nation, deeply study the concept of “great unity”[3]3 “Great unity” (大一统, dayitong) is a traditional Chinese political concept emphasizing the ideal of a unified, centralized state under a single sovereign. and its modern value, attach importance to the continuous development of Chinese civilization, inherit and develop the spirit of the Chinese nation that advocates unity and peace, puts the people first, and governs with virtue,[4]4 “Governing with virtue” (为政以德, weizheng yide) is a Confucian principle advocating that rulers should lead by moral example. promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, form a theoretical system and discourse system for the Chinese national community with Chinese characteristics and in line with China’s actual conditions, and advance the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Only in this way can the theoretical system for the Chinese national community be endowed with a profound Chinese cultural heritage and a solid academic foundation be laid for constructing an independent Chinese theoretical system and discourse system for the Chinese national community.

“两个结合”的本质是马克思主义中国化。这是构建中华民族共同体理论体系的基本原则，也是构建中国特色、中国风格、中国气派的哲学社会科学体系的基本方向。“第二个结合”即马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合尤为重要。中华民族共同体是各民族在漫长的历史进程中，通过长期紧密的交往交流交融而自然形成的，是历史发展的结果。中华民族悠久灿烂的历史文化饱含丰富的精神资源和思想文化养分，是构建中华民族共同体理论体系的重要根基与源泉。构建中华民族共同体理论体系必须高度重视对中华民族共同体的历史研究，加强对中华民族历史文化资源的挖掘、整理、传承和转化利用，深入研究“大一统”思想及其现代价值，重视中华文明的赓续发展，传承和发展崇尚统一与和平、以民为本、“为政以德”的中华民族精神，推动中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展，形成具有中国特色、符合中国实际情况的中华民族共同体理论体系和话语体系，推动马克思主义中国化进程。唯其如此，才能为中华民族共同体理论体系赋予深厚的中华民族文化底蕴，为构建中国自主的中华民族共同体理论体系、话语体系夯实学术根基。

Following Historical Logic and Theoretical Logic

遵循历史逻辑与理论逻辑

Following the historical logic and theoretical logic of the development of the Chinese nation is an important foundation for constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community and ensuring its scientific and complete nature.

遵循中华民族发展的历史逻辑与理论逻辑，是构建中华民族共同体理论体系，确保其科学性、完备性的重要基础。

Historical logic is the underlying logic and foundational logic of the theoretical system for the Chinese national community. To understand and explain the inevitability of today’s development path of the Chinese nation, it is necessary to place great emphasis on the historical logic of the development of the Chinese nation, seek answers from history, summarize patterns, draw lessons, and gain insights. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “A history of China is a history of the integration and convergence of various ethnic groups into a unified Chinese nation of diversity in unity, a history of all ethnic groups jointly creating, developing, and consolidating a unified great motherland.”[5]5 This is a direct quotation from Xi Jinping, commonly cited in official discourse on ethnic unity. The Chinese national community is the product of long-term, close interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups in history, and is the inevitable result of historical development.

历史逻辑是中华民族共同体理论体系的底层逻辑、基础逻辑。要理解和阐释今天中华民族发展道路的必然性，必须高度重视中华民族发展的历史逻辑，从历史中寻找答案，总结规律，汲取经验，获取启示。习近平总书记指出：“一部中国史，就是一部各民族交融汇聚成多元一体中华民族的历史，就是各民族共同缔造、发展、巩固统一的伟大祖国的历史。”中华民族共同体是历史上各民族长期紧密交往交流交融的产物，是历史发展的必然结果。

Constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community must start from historical logic, proceed from the five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization,[6]6 The five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization are continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature, as articulated by Xi Jinping. adhere to a correct view of Chinese national history, firmly grasp the mainstream trend of the continuous enhancement of commonalities among all ethnic groups and the continuous development and growth of the Chinese national community in the historical process, systematically sort out the historical process of the Chinese nation from gestation and germination, initial formation, development and growth, basic finalization to achieving a leap, and clarify the formation context of the Chinese nation from diversity to unity. At the same time, it is necessary to deeply analyze and explore the historical fact that all ethnic groups gradually coalesced into a solid Chinese national entity through long-term common life and production, elucidate the important role of the concept of “great unity” and the orthodox view,[7]7 The orthodox view (正统观, zhengtong guan) refers to the traditional Chinese historiographical concept of legitimate dynastic succession. explore the endogenous driving force of the Chinese nation converging from diversity to unity from a historical perspective, form a comprehensive and scientific narrative of the historical evolution of the Chinese national community, and reveal the fundamental reasons for the endless vitality and continuous existence of the Chinese nation.

构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，必须从历史逻辑出发，从中华文明五个突出特性入手，坚持正确的中华民族历史观，牢牢抓住在历史进程中各民族共同性不断增强、中华民族共同体不断发展壮大的主流趋势，系统梳理中华民族从孕育萌芽、初步形成、发展壮大、基本定型到实现飞跃的历史过程，厘清中华民族从多元到一体的形成脉络。同时，深入分析探讨各民族在长期共同生活、生产中逐渐凝聚成牢固的中华民族实体这一历史事实，阐明“大一统”思想和正统观的重要作用，从历史视角探寻中华民族由多元汇聚为一体的内生动力，形成对中华民族共同体历史演进全面、科学的叙述，揭示中华民族生生不息、绵延不绝的根本原因。

Constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community must follow the theoretical logic of the development of the Chinese nation, further clarify the connotation and extension of the basic concepts of the Chinese national community, continuously enrich and improve the theoretical framework of the Chinese national community, construct a theoretical system combining macro and micro perspectives, scientifically reveal the principles, theories, and philosophies of the formation and development of the Chinese nation, and form a theoretical system for the Chinese national community that is well-founded, logically coherent, and widely disseminated.

构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，必须遵循中华民族发展的理论逻辑，进一步明确中华民族共同体基本概念的内涵与外延，不断充实和完善中华民族共同体理论框架，构建宏观与微观相结合的理论体系，科学揭示中华民族形成和发展的道理、学理、哲理，形成立得住、说得通、传得开的中华民族共同体理论体系。

Strengthening Discipline Construction and Talent Cultivation

加强学科建设与人才培养

Constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community must strengthen discipline construction, promote interdisciplinary integration, create a good disciplinary platform, and lay a solid disciplinary foundation for constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community.

构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，必须加强学科建设，推动多学科交叉融合，打造良好的学科平台，为构建中华民族共同体理论体系奠定坚实的学科基础。

Research on the Chinese national community involves multiple disciplines such as history, ethnology, political science, philosophy, archaeology, anthropology, and linguistics, and has prominent interdisciplinary attributes and comprehensive characteristics. Constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community must break down disciplinary barriers, align research directions, form a synergy in scientific research, and promote the cross-integration and development of various disciplines. Among them, history and ethnology play an irreplaceable role in research on the Chinese national community, and are of great significance for studying and revealing major theoretical and fundamental issues such as the historical process and evolutionary laws of the Chinese national community. At the same time, research on the Chinese national community is also a traditional research field of history and ethnology, with unique research advantages and profound academic accumulation. Constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community should focus on strengthening the construction of the disciplines of history and ethnology, enhancing the supporting role of history and ethnology in the disciplinary construction of the Chinese national community, rationally allocating relevant resources, ensuring the healthy development of history, ethnology, and related disciplines, and providing solid support for constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community. It is necessary to shake off the erroneous influence of Western academic discourse systems, actively cultivate and construct “Chinese National Community Studies,” build an independent Chinese knowledge system for the Chinese national community, produce original theoretical achievements grounded in Chinese history, interpreting Chinese practice, and answering Chinese questions, and have various disciplines collaborate to jointly promote research on the Chinese national community.

中华民族共同体研究涉及历史学、民族学、政治学、哲学、考古学、人类学、语言学等多门学科，具有突出的跨学科属性和综合性特点。构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，必须打通学科壁垒，把准研究方向，形成科研合力，推动各学科交叉融合发展。其中历史学、民族学在中华民族共同体研究中具有不可替代的作用，对研究揭示中华民族共同体的历史进程、演进规律等重大理论问题、基础问题意义重大。同时，中华民族共同体研究也是历史学、民族学的传统研究领域，具有得天独厚的研究优势和深厚的学术积淀。构建中华民族共同体理论体系，重点要加强历史学、民族学学科建设，加大历史学、民族学在中华民族共同体学科建设中的支撑作用，合理配置相关资源，确保历史学、民族学等相关学科的健康发展，为构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系提供坚实支撑。必须摆脱西方学术话语体系的错误影响，积极培育建设“中华民族共同体学”，构建中国自主的中华民族共同体知识体系，推出立足中国历史、解读中国实践、回答中国问题的原创性理论成果，各学科协同合作，共同推动中华民族共同体研究。

The talent team is the key to the success or failure of discipline construction. Constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system for the Chinese national community must strengthen talent cultivation in the field of research on the Chinese national community, stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the vast number of experts and scholars, build a research team that is politically reliable, academically first-class, broad-minded, rigorous in academic style, and possesses a strong sense of academic mission, responsibility, and feelings for the family and country, and provide a continuous pool of talent for research on the Chinese national community. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the cultivation of young experts and scholars, support talent in niche and endangered disciplines, provide them with good space for growth, set the right direction, build platforms, create opportunities, and lay the foundation for the long-term and sustainable development of the cause of research on the Chinese national community.

人才队伍是学科建设成败的关键。构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，必须加强中华民族共同体研究领域的人才培养，激发广大专家学者的积极性、主动性、创造性，打造一支政治可靠、学术一流、视野开阔、学风严谨、具有强烈的学术使命感、责任感和家国情怀的科研队伍，为中华民族共同体研究提供源源不断的人才储备。特别是要加强对青年专家学者的培养，扶持冷门绝学学科人才，为他们提供良好的成长空间，把好方向、搭建平台、创造机会，为中华民族共同体研究事业的长远可持续发展奠定基础。

History is the foundation of reality, and reality is the extension of history. Constructing the theoretical system of the Chinese national community is a systematic project, in which historical research is an indispensable and important link, serving as the foundation for building the theoretical system of the Chinese national community. Constructing the theoretical system of the Chinese national community must be based on the long history of the Chinese nation, take the Two Integrations [8]8 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the principle of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, as articulated by Xi Jinping. as the guiding ideology, take root in the fertile soil of Chinese national history and culture, follow the historical logic and theoretical logic of the formation and development of the Chinese national community, and strengthen disciplinary construction and talent cultivation. In particular, attention must be paid to the disciplinary construction of history and ethnology, concern must be given to the development of esoteric and endangered academic disciplines [9]9 “Esoteric and endangered academic disciplines” (冷门绝学) is a Chinese term for specialized, low-demand fields of study, such as ancient philology or paleography, that are at risk of disappearing., the cross-integration of various disciplines and the development and innovation of the study of the Chinese national community must be promoted, and research and interpretation of the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization must be strengthened from the perspective of historical research, so as to consolidate the academic foundation for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation [10]10 “Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation” (铸牢中华民族共同体意识) is a key political slogan under Xi Jinping, emphasizing national unity and ethnic solidarity.. This requires the academic community to work together and make concerted efforts, with sustained and persistent exertion over the long term.

历史是现实的基础，现实是历史的延伸。构建中华民族共同体理论体系是一个系统工程，历史研究是其中不可忽视的重要环节，是构建中华民族共同体理论系统的根基。构建中华民族共同体理论体系必须立足中华民族悠久历史，以“两个结合”为指导思想，扎根于中华民族历史文化的深厚土壤，遵循中华民族共同体形成发展的历史逻辑与理论逻辑，加强学科建设和人才培养。尤其是要重视历史学、民族学的学科建设，关注冷门绝学学科的发展，推动各学科交叉融合和中华民族共同体学的发展创新，在历史研究的视野中加强对中华文明突出特性的研究阐释，为铸牢中华民族共同体意识夯实学术根基。这需要学术界通力合作、共同努力，绵绵用力、久久为功。

(The author is a researcher at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Vice President and Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Ethnic History.)

（作者系中国社会科学院民族学与人类学研究所研究员、中国民族史学会副会长兼秘书长）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧