Carry Forward the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance – From Great Victory to Great Rejuvenation

On September 3, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War: “Carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, forge ahead with vigor and courage, and unite and strive to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization!”[1]1 “Chinese-path modernization” is the standard translation of 中国式现代化, as specified in the glossary. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech is profound in meaning and deep in thought, representing the aspirations of the people, pointing out the direction forward, and greatly boosting the spirit of the Chinese nation. History is eternal because it is remembered. For the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression 80 years ago, if we fail to see the growth of the great spirit within it, we cannot deeply understand the significance and value of this war, nor can we make this history an inexhaustible source of strength; if we fail to see the root of the great victory, we cannot clearly perceive the general trend and direction of the world and history, nor can we gain the due enlightenment from this history. We must deeply grasp the rich connotation and spiritual essence of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, draw the mighty strength for national rejuvenation from the history of suffering and glory, and traverse stormy seas to realize the great dream.

9月3日，习近平总书记在纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年大会上指出：“传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业而团结奋斗！”习近平总书记的重要讲话意蕴深远、思想深刻，代表了人民的心声，指明了前进的方向，极大提振了中华民族的精气神。历史因铭记而永恒。对于80年前的中国人民抗日战争，如果看不到其间伟大精神的生长，就无法深刻认识这场战争的意义和价值，无法让这段历史成为不竭的力量之源；如果看不到伟大胜利的根由，就看不清世界和历史的大势与走向，无法从这段历史中得到应有的启示。我们要深刻领会习近平总书记重要讲话的丰富内涵和精神实质，传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，从苦难辉煌的历史中汲取民族复兴的强大力量，穿越惊涛骇浪实现伟大梦想。

The Magnificent Process of the War of Resistance Gave Birth to the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance

抗日战争的壮阔进程孕育出伟大抗战精神

To understand the essence of a thing or a spiritual phenomenon, we cannot seek explanations solely from the thing itself, but must also seek them from the historical events and practical activities that produced this thing and spiritual phenomenon. The great spirit of the War of Resistance, born in the magnificent process of the War of Resistance, is rooted in the great spirit of the Chinese nation. It is the “root and soul” that the Chinese nation upheld during the War of Resistance, containing the genes of “where we come from,” and even more so marking the signpost of “where we are going.”

认识一个事物、一种精神现象的本质，不能仅仅从事物本身寻找解释，还要到产生这一事物和精神现象的历史事件和实践活动中去寻找。在抗日战争壮阔进程中孕育出的伟大抗战精神，根植于中华民族伟大精神，是中华民族在抗战中坚守的“根和魂”，蕴藏着我们“从哪里来”的基因，更标定我们“走向何方”的路标。

Rooted in the fertile soil of the great spirit of the Chinese nation. All things have their origin, yet they know to guard their roots.[2]2 A classical allusion to the idea that all things have their roots, which must be guarded, often cited in discussions of cultural heritage. Since ancient times, the Chinese nation, with its indomitable will, profound wisdom, and inclusive and open mind, has nurtured a unique great spirit, deeply forged into the bloodline of the Chinese people. It is this great spirit that has allowed this ancient nation to stand firm in the long river of history, growing stronger through twists and turns, making Chinese civilization the only long-standing civilization in the world that has continued uninterrupted for over 5,000 years. Although it suffered hardship and humiliation in modern times, once the “sleeping lion” of China was awakened, it transformed the original spiritual genes of the Chinese nation from latent to manifest, giving rise to the spirit of resistance that repelled foreign aggression and rewrote history. Among them, the Chinese nation’s sense of family and country burst forth into the patriotic sentiment of “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation”;[3]3 A traditional Chinese idiom expressing the idea that every individual bears responsibility for the fate of their country. the Chinese nation’s value orientation transformed into the national integrity of “looking death calmly in the face and preferring death to surrender”; the Chinese nation’s backbone and fortitude crystallized into the heroic spirit of “fearing no brute force and fighting to the bitter end”; the Chinese nation’s strong resilience sublimated into the unshakable belief in victory of “never giving up despite repeated setbacks.” At the same time, the Yan’an spirit, the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army spirit, the Taihang spirit, the Yimeng spirit, and others, nurtured in different environments of the War of Resistance, are concrete manifestations of the great spirit of the War of Resistance, inspiring the Chinese people to unite in hatred of the enemy and rise up in resistance, fighting for national survival, for national rejuvenation, and for human justice.

根植于中华民族伟大精神的丰厚沃土。万物有所生，而独知守其根。自古以来，中华民族以坚忍不拔的意志、博大深邃的智慧和包容开放的胸襟，孕育了独特的伟大精神，并深深熔铸于中华儿女的血脉之中。正是这种伟大精神，让这个古老的民族在历史长河中屹立不倒，历经波折而愈发坚强，造就了中华文明作为世界上唯一延绵5000多年而从未中断的悠久文明。虽在近代饱受苦难与屈辱，然而中国这头“睡狮”一旦被唤醒，就将中华民族原有的精神基因由隐性化为显性，催生出抵御外侮、改写历史的抗战精神。其中，中华民族的家国情怀，迸发出天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀；中华民族的价值取向，转化为视死如归、宁死不屈的民族气节；中华民族的血性风骨，凝练了不畏强暴、血战到底的英雄气概；中华民族的强大韧性，升华为百折不挠、坚忍不拔的必胜信念。同时，在不同抗战环境中孕育出的延安精神、东北抗联精神、太行精神、沂蒙精神等，都是伟大抗战精神的具体体现，激励中国人民同仇敌忾、奋起反抗，为国家生存而战，为民族复兴而战，为人类正义而战。

Accumulated in the historical process of modern China’s great struggles. The formation of any spirit has profound historical roots. In modern China, the process of rejuvenation was repeatedly interrupted by wars of aggression. The Treaty of Shimonoseki shattered the dream of the Westernization Movement,[4]4 The Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) ended the First Sino-Japanese War; the Westernization Movement (1861-1895) was a self-strengthening reform effort that collapsed after the war. the Boxer Protocol left modern China staggering forward…[5]5 The Boxer Protocol (1901) was a punitive treaty imposed after the Boxer Rebellion, requiring huge indemnities and severely weakening the Qing dynasty. The nation was humiliated, the people suffered, and civilization was covered in dust. From the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 to Japan’s full-scale invasion of China, Japanese militarism “continuously moved from war to war,” ultimately attempting to “annihilate China and exterminate our race.” The seemingly hopeless conditions of the era instead became the “whetstone” that honed the great spirit. Since modern times, the series of struggles waged by the Chinese people for national independence and liberation constitute the historical process of the Chinese nation’s awakening and the historical process of the sublimation of the Chinese national spirit. This national awakening and sublimation of the national spirit reached a new height during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The dialectics of history is most profound: the most destructive war instead awakened the most creative unity; the deepest national crisis precisely forged the strongest national identity. For this reason, the great spirit of the War of Resistance is the great revival and explosion of the Chinese national spirit at a critical juncture, constituting the deepest spiritual foundation in modern history and precipitating as the most precious spiritual core of the Chinese nation.

积淀于近代中国伟大抗争的历史进程。任何一种精神的形成都有着深刻的历史根源。近代中国，复兴的进程屡被侵略战争打断，《马关条约》让洋务运动梦碎，《辛丑条约》让近代中国步履蹒跚……国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘。从甲午战争到日本全面侵华，日本军国主义“不间断地从战争走向战争”，最后妄图“灭亡中国、绝我族类”。看似绝境的时代条件，却成为砥砺伟大精神的“磨刀石”。近代以来，中国人民为争取民族独立和解放进行的一系列抗争，就是中华民族觉醒的历史进程，就是中华民族精神升华的历史进程。这种民族觉醒和民族精神升华，在抗日战争时期达到了全新的高度。历史的辩证法最为深刻：最具毁灭性的战争，反而唤醒了最具创造性的团结；最深重的民族危机，恰恰熔铸了最强韧的民族认同。正因如此，伟大抗战精神是中华民族精神在紧要关头的大复苏、大爆发，构成了近代历史中最深厚的精神底蕴，沉淀为中华民族最珍贵的精神内核。

Sublimated through the responsibility and commitment of the Communist Party of China’s great mission. In modern times, an important reason for the failure of the Chinese people’s previous wars against foreign aggression was the corruption and incompetence of the ruling political clique and the weakness and disunity within the nation. Faced with fascism’s brutal trampling of justice and peace, some political forces either hesitated and were at a loss, or appeased to protect themselves, or lost heart halfway, and some even surrendered on their knees. From its founding, the Communist Party of China took the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its historical mission, defending national independence most resolutely, safeguarding national interests most firmly, and resisting foreign aggression most steadfastly. From issuing the anti-Japanese declaration after the September 18 Incident,[6]6 The September 18 Incident (1931) was a Japanese staged event used to justify the invasion of Manchuria. to formulating the Ten-Point Program for Resisting Japan and Saving the Nation,[7]7 The Ten-Point Program for Resisting Japan and Saving the Nation was a CPC policy document issued in 1937 outlining a united front strategy against Japan. to the gradual transformation of the rear battlefield behind enemy lines into the main battlefield of the national War of Resistance, the Communist Party of China, putting the greater national interest first, mobilized the entire people to resist foreign aggression through its political propositions, firm will, and exemplary actions, promoted domestic unity, activated patriotic fervor, and consolidated the Chinese nation from “a heap of loose sand” into a united force. The great struggle and practice of the Communist Party of China leading the entire nation to unite as one and fight valiantly injected soul into the victory of the War of Resistance, pointed the direction, and forged the great spirit of the War of Resistance.

升华于中国共产党伟大使命的责任担当。近代以后，中国人民历次反侵略战争失败的一个重要原因，是政治统治集团腐朽无能和民族内部软弱涣散。面对法西斯对正义与和平的野蛮践踏，一些政治力量或彷徨无措，或绥靖自保，或半途泄气，有的甚至屈膝投降。中国共产党自成立之日起就把实现中华民族伟大复兴作为自己的历史使命，捍卫民族独立最坚定，维护民族利益最坚决，反抗外来侵略最坚毅。从九一八事变爆发后发表抗日宣言，到制定抗日救国十大纲领，再到敌后战场逐步成为全国抗战主战场，以民族大义为先的中国共产党，通过自己的政治主张、坚定意志、模范行动，动员全民御侮，推动国内团结，激活爱国热情，把中华民族从“一盘散沙”凝聚为万众一心。中国共产党领导全民族众志成城、奋勇抗战的伟大斗争和实践，为抗战胜利注入灵魂、指明方向，铸就了伟大的抗战精神。

The Great Spirit of the War of Resistance Unleashed Earth-Shaking Spiritual Power

伟大抗战精神迸发出惊天动地的精神力量

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Eighty years ago, after 14 years of bloody struggle, the Chinese people completely defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors and proclaimed the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. This is the historical turning point for the Chinese nation from the deep crisis of modern times toward great rejuvenation, and also a major turning point in world development.” From what angle we write about spirit and with what historical outlook we interpret spirit determines what kind of spirit we will shape and what kind of future we will move toward. The great spirit of the War of Resistance is a symbol of the great unity of the Chinese nation. The breadth of social mobilization, the depth of national awakening, the tenacity of fighting will, and the firmness of belief in victory all reached unprecedented heights, playing the role of a powerful driving force and spiritual support for defeating Japanese fascism.

习近平总书记指出：“80年前，中国人民经过14年浴血奋战，彻底打败日本军国主义侵略者，宣告世界反法西斯战争的完全胜利。这是中华民族从近代以来陷入深重危机走向伟大复兴的历史转折点，也是世界发展的一个重大转折点。”从什么角度书写精神、以什么样的历史观解读精神，决定着我们会塑造什么样的精神、走向什么样的未来。伟大抗战精神是中华民族大团结的象征，社会动员之广泛，民族觉醒之深刻，战斗意志之顽强，必胜信念之坚定，都达到了空前的高度，为战胜日本法西斯发挥了强大动力源泉和精神支撑的作用。

This was a war of turning point, where the Chinese nation rose from the ashes and was reborn through fire. The period of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the most dangerous time for the Chinese nation, and also the time when national awakening was most thorough and profound. Looking back on this arduous and extraordinary great war, patriotic sentiment, national integrity, heroic spirit, and belief in victory carried heavy history and great power. “Four hundred million people all leaping into action”[8]8 A line from a wartime poem or slogan, evoking mass mobilization. became a vivid portrayal of jointly resisting foreign aggression. From the White Mountains and Black Waters[9]9 A poetic reference to the northeastern region of China (Manchuria), where the Anti-Japanese United Army fought. to the remotest corners of the land, from the banks of the Xiangjiang River[10]10 A reference to the Xiangjiang River in Hunan, a region associated with the War of Resistance. to the foot of Alishan,[11]11 A reference to the Alishan mountain range in Taiwan, indicating the scope of the war across Chinese territories. everywhere were sons and daughters of China “fighting for the nation, for the motherland, and for dignity.” “Swearing not to be a slave without a country” became the strongest voice resounding across China; countless people “vied to die, rushed to die,” in exchange for the nation’s survival. “Every inch of mountains and rivers, every inch of blood”[12]12 A wartime slogan emphasizing the immense sacrifice of Chinese soldiers. became the resolute action of fighting to the end; soldiers used their flesh and blood to make up for the huge gap in weaponry and equipment, and countless heroes used their blood to cast the national soul that shines through the ages. Guided and inspired by this great spirit, the Chinese people fought strong enemies with iron bones and built a Great Wall with their flesh and blood, creating “a wonder in the history of war, a feat of the Chinese nation, and an earth-shaking great undertaking,”[13]13 A quotation from Mao Zedong, describing the significance of the War of Resistance. achieving the first complete victory in resisting foreign invasion since modern times.

这是一场转折之战，中华民族凤凰涅槃、浴火重生。抗日战争时期是中华民族最危险的时候，也是民族觉醒最为彻底、最为深刻的时候。回溯这场艰苦卓绝的伟大战争，爱国情怀、民族气节、英雄气概、必胜信念承载着厚重历史与伟大力量。“四万万人齐蹈厉”成为共抵外侮的生动写照，从白山黑水到天涯海角，从香江之畔到阿里山下，到处都是“为民族而战，为祖国而战，为尊严而战”的中华儿女。“誓死不当亡国奴”成为响彻中华大地的最强音，无数人“争着死、抢着死”，换来了民族不死。“一寸山河一寸血”成为抗战到底的坚决行动，将士们用血肉之躯弥补武器装备上的巨大差距，无数英雄用鲜血浇铸光耀千秋的民族魂魄。在这一伟大精神的引领感召下，中国人民以铮铮铁骨战强敌、以血肉之躯筑长城，创造了“战争史上的奇观，中华民族的壮举，惊天动地的伟业”，取得近代以来反抗外敌入侵的第一次完全胜利。

This was a war of tempering, in which the Communist Party of China was forged into steel and became indestructible. Spirit is the sublimation of history; history is the unfolding of spirit. The Communist Party of China, which shouldered its responsibilities during the arduous years of the War of Resistance, tempered great resilience, strength, and spirit with blood and life, playing the role of the mainstay. The maturing Communist Party of China demonstrated powerful leadership. *On Protracted War*,[14]14 *On Protracted War*: A series of lectures delivered by Mao Zedong in Yan’an in May-June 1938, analyzing the stages and prospects of the war against Japan. with its highly forward-looking strategic vision, played an irreplaceable role in political guidance, social mobilization, strategic direction, and Party building, injecting overwhelming strength into the CPC’s leadership of hundreds of millions of people in taking control of their own destiny. The CPC, united in purpose, possessed an inexhaustible source of strength. It not only used its clear stance on resistance to build consensus and point the way, but also went deep among the masses and mobilized all sectors. It consistently upheld resistance and opposed capitulation, upheld unity and opposed splits, upheld progress and opposed regression, and worked together with all patriotic parties, groups, and the broad masses to jointly maintain the overall situation of united resistance. The CPC, firm in its faith, never compromised and never gave up. It met difficulties and challenges with a proactive and enterprising spirit, enabling the Chinese people to see the hope of national liberation and solidifying their confidence in winning national independence.

这是一场锻造之战，中国共产党淬火成钢、无坚不摧。精神是历史的升华，历史是精神的展开。在艰苦抗战岁月里挺膺担当的中国共产党，用鲜血和生命锤炼出强大韧性、力量和精神，发挥了中流砥柱的作用。走向成熟的中国共产党展现出强大的领导力，《论持久战》以极具前瞻性的战略眼光，在政治引领、社会动员、战略指导、党的建设等方面均发挥了不可替代的作用，为中国共产党带领亿万人民主宰自己的命运注入了排山倒海的力量。同心同向的中国共产党拥有不竭的力量源泉，既以鲜明的抗战主张凝聚共识、指明方向，又深入群众、动员各界，始终坚持抗战、反对投降，坚持团结、反对分裂，坚持进步、反对倒退，同各爱国党派团体和广大人民一起，共同维护团结抗战大局。信仰坚定的中国共产党决不妥协、决不放弃，以积极进取的精神应对困难挑战，让中国人民看到了民族解放的希望，筑牢了赢得民族独立的信心。

This was a war of life and death, in which the people’s army grew braver and stronger the more it fought. War is not only a contest of strength, like arm-wrestling, but also a contest of will and spirit. Under certain conditions, spirit can be transformed into matter, and the power of spirit can be transformed into material force. The War of Resistance was a nationwide anti-aggression war. The people’s army, tested by life and death, displayed extraordinary courage and an unyielding revolutionary spirit. Under the leadership of the Party, together with the Chinese people, it forged the great spirit of the War of Resistance. Born for the people and fighting for the people, tens of millions of ordinary people became supporters of the people’s army. The people and the army were bound by blood and shared life and death. From a force of tens of thousands with “millet plus rifles,” they fought their way to over a million strong. From then on, the roots of the people’s army were deeply planted in the fertile soil of the people. Always trusting the people and relying closely on them, the immense power of the people’s war was fully unleashed, creating a spectacle never before seen in world military history. The military and civilians jointly carried out extensive guerrilla tactics and methods, including ambushes, raids, mine warfare, tunnel warfare, and sparrow warfare, plunging the Japanese aggressors into a “vast ocean of people’s war.” Treading on the land of the motherland and bearing the hope of the nation, the people’s army possessed the heroic spirit and revolutionary spirit to overwhelm all enemies without being overwhelmed by any enemy, and to conquer all difficulties without being conquered by any difficulty. From the victory at Pingxingguan,[15]15 Pingxingguan: A pass in Shanxi Province where, in September 1937, the Eighth Route Army ambushed a Japanese transport column, winning its first major victory. which shattered the myth of the Japanese invading army’s “invincibility,” to the night raid on Yangmingbao Airfield,[16]16 Yangmingbao Airfield: An airfield in Shanxi Province raided by the Eighth Route Army in October 1937, destroying over 20 Japanese aircraft. which effectively supported the frontal battlefield operations of friendly forces; from multiple victories in battles such as at Jiangjiahekou and Weigang,[17]17 Jiangjiahekou and Weigang: Locations of early guerrilla victories by the New Fourth Army in the Jiangsu-Anhui border region in 1938. to the ambush at Huangtuling,[18]18 Huangtuling: A location in Hebei Province where, in November 1939, the Eighth Route Army ambushed and killed Japanese Lieutenant General Abe Norihide. which killed the Japanese “flower of famous generals,” Lieutenant General Abe Norihide,[19]19 Abe Norihide: A Japanese lieutenant general killed in action in China in 1939, the highest-ranking Japanese officer killed up to that point. they overcame the enemy’s “more steel, less spirit” with their own “less steel, more spirit,” staging one majestic and powerful war drama after another.

这是一场生死之战，人民军队愈战愈勇、越战越强。战争，不仅是用实力“掰手腕”，更是意志与精神的较量。在一定条件下，精神可以变物质，精神的力量可以转化为物质的力量。抗日战争是全民族的反侵略战争，人民军队在生与死的考验中展现出非凡的胆略和坚定无畏的革命精神，在党的领导下，与中国人民共同铸就了伟大抗战精神。因人民而生，为人民而战，千千万万的老百姓成为人民军队的支持者，人民与军队血脉相连、生死相依，由“小米加步枪”的几万人，“打”到100多万人，人民军队的根脉从此深扎在人民的深厚大地。始终相信人民，紧紧依靠人民，人民战争的伟力被充分激发出来，出现了世界战争史上从未有过的奇观，军民联合广泛开展伏击战、破袭战、地雷战、地道战、麻雀战等游击战的战术战法，令日本侵略者陷入“人民战争的汪洋大海”。脚踏着祖国的大地，背负着民族的希望，人民军队具有压倒一切敌人而不被任何敌人所压倒、征服一切困难而不被任何困难所征服的英雄气概和革命精神，从平型关大捷打破侵华日军“不可战胜”的神话，到夜袭阳明堡有力配合友军正面战场作战，从蒋家河口、韦岗等多次战斗取得胜利，到黄土岭伏击战击毙日军“名将之花”阿部规秀，以“钢少气多”力克“钢多气少”，上演了一幕幕威武雄壮的战争活剧。

The great spirit of the War of Resistance forged a spiritual monument that transcends time and space.

伟大抗战精神铸就了跨越时空的精神丰碑

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The Chinese People’s War of Resistance was an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese people, at tremendous national sacrifice, made a major contribution to saving human civilization and safeguarding world peace.”[20]20 Xi Jinping: Quotation from a speech at a symposium marking the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance, September 2020. No great historical disaster is ever compensated for without historical progress. The historical significance of the great spirit of the War of Resistance lies in its full demonstration that the Chinese nation possesses the mettle to fight the aggressor to the bitter end, the determination to recover lost territory on the basis of self-reliance, and the ability to stand proudly among the nations of the world. It gave a spiritual dimension to the great War of Resistance and gave a definite direction to an uncertain history.

习近平总书记指出：“中国人民抗日战争是世界反法西斯战争的重要组成部分，中国人民以巨大的民族牺牲，为拯救人类文明、保卫世界和平作出了重大贡献。”没有哪一次巨大的历史灾难不是以历史的进步为补偿的。伟大抗战精神的历史意义在于充分显示了中华民族有同侵略者血战到底的气概、有在自力更生基础上光复旧物的决心、有自立于世界民族之林的能力，让伟大的抗日战争有了精神的刻度，让不确定的历史有了确定的走向。

Taking the great victory 80 years ago as a starting point, the Chinese nation, once mired in deep crisis, enriched its life with spirit and created miracles with will, thereby enriching and developing the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists. The rise of a mountain peak is sustained by its backbone; the rejuvenation of a nation is inspired by its spirit. Looking back on Chinese history, every overcoming of disasters such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, plagues, and wars has been an inheritance and sublimation of the spiritual genes of the Chinese nation. The War of Resistance, with an unprecedented momentum, shook the hearts of all Chinese people, broke down the barriers of region, class, and political party, and unleashed the immense energy of the entire nation uniting against foreign aggression. At the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly stated: “Over the past hundred years, the Communist Party of China has carried forward the great founding spirit of the Party, built up the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists through its long struggle, and tempered its distinct political character.”[21]21 Xi Jinping: Quotation from the speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, July 1, 2021. The spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists is like a great tree, rooted in the great national spirit of the Chinese nation with patriotism at its core. It is a powerful driving force for a striving China, displaying even more dazzling brilliance of the times through continuous sublimation. The great spirit of the War of Resistance, originating from the great founding spirit of the Party and forming a continuous lineage with the Jinggangshan spirit, the Long March spirit, and others, is an extremely important component of the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists. It is integrated into the historical process of the Chinese nation moving from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong, and has become an important spiritual force inspiring us to overcome difficulties and achieve national rejuvenation in the New Era.

以80年前的伟大胜利为起点，一度陷入深重危机的中华民族以精神充实生命、以意志创造奇迹，丰富发展了中国共产党人的精神谱系。一座山峰的崛起，挺立的是脊梁；一个民族的复兴，昂扬的是精神。回望中国历史，每一次战胜洪水、干旱、地震、瘟疫、战争等灾难，都是对中华民族精神基因的传承和升华。抗日战争更是以前所未有的气势震撼着全体中华儿女的心灵，打破了地域、阶层、党派的界限，激发起全国人民团结御侮的巨大能量。在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上，习近平总书记深刻指出：“一百年来，中国共产党弘扬伟大建党精神，在长期奋斗中构建起中国共产党人的精神谱系，锤炼出鲜明的政治品格。”中国共产党人的精神谱系犹如一棵大树，根植于中华民族以爱国主义为核心的伟大民族精神，是奋进中国的强大动力，在不断升华中展现出更为夺目的时代光彩。伟大抗战精神以伟大建党精神为源头，与井冈山精神、长征精神等一脉相承，是中国共产党人的精神谱系中极为重要的组成部分，融入中华民族从站起来、富起来走向强起来的历史进程，成为激励我们在新时代攻坚克难、实现民族复兴的重要精神力量。

Taking the great victory 80 years ago as a starting point, the ancient and great Chinese nation washed away a century of humiliation and revealed the bright prospect of great rejuvenation. Suffering forges brilliance. From the Opium War to the War of Resistance, China was brutally oppressed by the world’s great powers. The great spirit of the War of Resistance, forged through the baptism of blood and fire, became the most fundamental and crucial factor for the Chinese nation to emerge from disaster, be reborn from the ashes, and move toward rejuvenation. This great spirit, like an undying torch of faith, illuminated the blood-soaked journey of the Chinese nation’s struggle for national salvation and survival. It completely changed the humiliating history of China’s repeated foreign invasions since modern times, defended the fruits of civilization accumulated over thousands of years of Chinese national development, and significantly raised China’s international status, making it one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. It was precisely the accumulation and strengthening of the national spirit that propelled the wheels of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation forward. Just a few years after the victory of the War of Resistance, the Chinese people completely overthrew the three great mountains,[22]22 The three great mountains: A standard Maoist term for imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, which the Chinese Communist Party claimed to have overthrown through revolution. won the victory of the New Democratic Revolution, established the People’s Republic of China, established the socialist system, and achieved great successes in socialist construction. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people completed the industrialization process that took developed countries several centuries in just a few decades, creating earth-shaking miracles, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is an unstoppable trend.

以80年前的伟大胜利为起点，古老而伟大的中华民族荡涤百年屈辱，展现出伟大复兴的光明前景。苦难铸就辉煌。从鸦片战争到抗日战争之前，中国饱受世界列强欺压。血与火洗礼锻造的伟大抗战精神，成为中华民族走出灾难、浴火重生、走向复兴的最根本最关键的因素。这一伟大精神犹如不灭的信仰火炬，照亮中华民族救亡图存的血泪征途，彻底改变了中国近代以后饱受外来侵略的屈辱历史，捍卫了中华民族数千年发展的文明成果，中国国际地位显著提高，成为联合国安理会5个常任理事国之一。正是民族精神的积厚成势，推动中华民族伟大复兴的车轮滚滚向前。抗战胜利后短短几年，中国人民彻底推翻了三座大山，取得了新民主主义革命的胜利，建立了中华人民共和国，确立了社会主义制度，取得了社会主义建设的巨大成就。在中国共产党的坚强领导下，中国人民用几十年时间走完发达国家几百年走过的工业化历程，创造了改天换地的人间奇迹，中华民族伟大复兴势不可挡。

Taking the great victory 80 years ago as a starting point, oppressed peoples around the world took China as their example, their confidence and courage multiplied, and the course of the world was completely changed. A great spirit belongs to one nation, but also to all humanity. Back then, in the life-and-death struggle between justice and evil, light and darkness, progress and reaction, the Chinese people created a brilliant record of a weak nation defeating a strong one. This inspired the confidence and courage of the people in colonized and semi-colonized countries suffering from aggression and oppression to fight for national independence and liberation, and had a tremendous impact on their eventual victory. Today, 80 years after the victory of the War of Resistance, we can see that the blood shed by the Chinese people and the people of the world has not flowed in vain. The era when a few countries dominated the fate of other nations, controlled international affairs, and monopolized development advantages is gone forever. More and more Global South countries are hosting BRICS, APEC, and G20 summits, raising a resounding “Southern voice” and leaving a profound “Southern imprint.” The Global South is no longer the silent majority or the backward “vast expanse,” but represents an awakened new force and new hope amidst changes unseen in a century, profoundly reshaping the world map.

以80年前的伟大胜利为起点，全世界被压迫的民族以中国为榜样，信心勇气倍增，彻底改变了世界的走向。伟大的精神属于一个民族，也属于整个人类。当年，面对正义与邪恶、光明与黑暗、进步与反动的生死较量，中国人民创造了弱国打败强国的光辉战绩，鼓舞了世界上遭受侵略和压迫的殖民地、半殖民地国家人民争取民族独立和解放的信心和勇气，对他们夺取胜利产生了巨大影响。抗战胜利80年后的今天，我们可以看到，中国人民和世界人民的鲜血没有白白流淌，曾经由少数国家主宰他国命运、把持国际事务、垄断发展优势的时代已经一去不复返。越来越多全球南方国家主办金砖国家、亚太经合组织、二十国集团峰会，发出响亮的“南方声音”，留下深刻的“南方印记”。全球南方不再是沉默的大多数、落后的“一大片”，而是代表了觉醒的新力量、百年变局的新希望，正在深刻改变着世界版图。

Inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, and continuously advance the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.

传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，把强国建设、民族复兴伟业不断推向前进

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “History tells us that the conviction of justice cannot be shaken, the hope for peace cannot be obstructed, and the power of the people cannot be defeated!” History bears the past and also enlightens the future. Engels once said that we never thought to doubt or belittle the “lessons of history”; history is everything to us. Although the smoke of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression has long since dissipated, the great spirit of the War of Resistance forged in that struggle has been internalized into the inner temperament and spiritual outlook of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, continuously illuminating the path forward for national rejuvenation.

习近平总书记指出：“历史告诫我们，正义的信念不可动摇，和平的期盼不可阻遏，人民的力量不可战胜！”历史承载过去，也启迪未来。恩格斯曾说过，我们根本没想到要怀疑或轻视“历史的启示”，历史就是我们的一切。抗日战争的硝烟虽已远去，但其锻造的伟大抗战精神，已经内化为中国人民和中华民族的内在气质和精神风貌，持续照亮民族复兴的前行之路。

Write a new chapter in the great cause of rejuvenation through united struggle. Strength is born from unity; great causes are accomplished through struggle. The national consciousness and patriotic spirit embodied in the great spirit of the War of Resistance “roused a million workers and peasants,” [23]23 A line from Mao Zedong’s poem “The Long March,” referring to mobilizing the masses. truly uniting the Chinese nation into a whole. It profoundly reveals the power of unity that is “harder than iron, stronger than steel,” deeply explains the human miracle that “when people are of one mind, they can move Mount Tai,” [24]24 A Chinese proverb meaning that unity makes the impossible possible. and directly points the way to “how we can continue to succeed in the future.” Today, we are closer to, more confident in, and more capable of achieving the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history. “The last leg of a journey just marks the halfway point.” [25]25 A classical Chinese saying from the “Warring States” period, meaning that the last part of a journey is the hardest. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can never be achieved easily, with beating drums and gongs. The closer we get to the goal, the more we must inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, prepare to make even more arduous and painstaking efforts, cultivate the profound sentiment of “pure love, only for China,” [26]26 A phrase popularized by a young Chinese soldier, Chen Xiangrong, who died in a border clash in 2020, expressing devotion to the nation. take the people’s heart as our heart and the world’s benefit as our benefit, rely closely on all the people to work together in unity and accomplish the great undertaking, gather the powerful positive energy of united struggle, and continuously advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

以团结奋斗书写复兴伟业的新篇章。力量生于团结，伟业成于奋斗。伟大抗战精神蕴含的民族意识和爱国主义精神，“唤起工农千百万”，使中华民族真正团结成一个整体，深刻揭示“比铁还硬，比钢还强”的团结之力，深入阐释“人心齐，泰山移”的人间奇迹，直接指明“未来我们怎样才能继续成功”。今天，我们比历史上任何时期都更接近、更有信心和能力实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标。行百里者半九十。中华民族伟大复兴，绝不是轻轻松松、敲锣打鼓就能实现的。越是接近目标，越要传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，准备付出更为艰巨、更为艰苦的努力，涵养“清澈的爱，只为中国”的深厚情怀，以人民之心为心、以天下之利为利，紧紧依靠全体人民和衷共济、共襄大业，汇聚起团结奋斗的强大正能量，把强国建设、民族复兴伟业不断推向前进。

Create new achievements worthy of the times with confidence and resolve. “Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail!” The conviction of victory embodied in the great spirit of the War of Resistance is the spiritual support for persevering to the end, the high degree of confidence that victory will surely be achieved. Whether in the past, present, or future, it is the spiritual pillar for our nation and country to stand proudly among the nations of the world. The period of the 15th Five-Year Plan [27]27 The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) is China’s upcoming national economic and social development plan. is a critical period for consolidating the foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically achieve socialist modernization. China’s development environment faces profound and complex changes, with strategic opportunities and risks and challenges coexisting, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors increasing. “Can we do it?” “Will it work?” “Will it be good?” are not only issues we face ourselves but also questions the world poses to us. Confronting problems and challenges head-on requires us to inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, maintain strategic resolve, strengthen our confidence in victory, unswervingly walk our own path, continuously enhance the ambition, backbone, and confidence of being Chinese, strive to respond to various uncertainties with the certainty of high-quality development, and firmly grasp the destiny of China’s development and progress in our own hands.

以信心底气创造无愧时代的新业绩。“正义必胜！和平必胜！人民必胜！”伟大抗战精神蕴含的必胜信念，是坚持到底的精神支撑，是胜利必达的高度自信，无论过去、现在还是将来，都是我们国家和民族自立于世界民族之林的精神支柱。“十五五”时期是基本实现社会主义现代化夯实基础、全面发力的关键时期，我国发展环境面临深刻复杂变化，战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多。“能不能”“行不行”“好不好”不仅是我们自己面临的课题，也是世界对我们提出的问题。直面问题和挑战，需要我们传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，保持战略定力，增强必胜信心，坚定不移走好自己的路，不断增强做中国人的志气、骨气、底气，努力以高质量发展的确定性应对各种不确定性，把我国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中。

Open up new horizons for the development of our cause through tenacious struggle. Great victories always require life-and-death tests; great causes often rely on arduous and extraordinary struggles to be accomplished. The history of the Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is not only a history of promoting the national spirit and resisting foreign invasion but also a heroic epic of cultivating the spirit of daring to struggle and being good at struggle. The great spirit of the War of Resistance is not a “past tense” but a “present continuous tense.” At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world, local conflicts and turmoil occur frequently, global problems intensify, external suppression and containment continue to escalate, and China’s development faces the severe test of “sailing against the current—if we do not advance, we fall back.” The more severe and complex the situation, the more we must inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, use correct strategic strategies to respond to changes, foster new opportunities, and open up new prospects, face contradictions and problems directly without evasion, eradicate deep-seated ills without hesitation, and confront risks and challenges without flinching. With indomitable courage and boldness, we must make every effort to overcome all difficulties and challenges on the path forward and continuously win greater victories in the great struggle of the New Era.

以顽强斗争打开事业发展的新天地。伟大的胜利，总要经过生死攸关的考验；伟大的事业，往往要依靠艰苦卓绝的斗争来成就。中国人民抗日战争史，既是一部弘扬民族精神、反抗外敌入侵史，也是一部培塑敢于斗争、善于斗争精神的英雄史诗。伟大抗战精神不是“过去式”，而是“进行时”。当前世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，局部冲突和动荡频发，全球性问题加剧，来自外部的打压遏制不断升级，我国发展面临逆水行舟、不进则退的严峻考验。越是形势严峻复杂，越要传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，以正确的战略策略应变局、育新机、开新局，直面矛盾问题不回避，铲除顽瘴痼疾不含糊，应对风险挑战不退缩，以一往无前的胆魄和勇气，全力战胜前进道路上各种困难和挑战，不断夺取新时代伟大斗争的更大胜利。

Create a new future for a better world through win-win cooperation. “Unity brings strength; isolation leads to weakness.” The victory of the Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was a great victory achieved through the joint struggle of the Chinese people together with the anti-fascist allied nations and the people of various countries. The great spirit of the War of Resistance manifests all humanity’s eternal yearning for peace and steadfast adherence to justice. It is the dazzling light of humanity and justice shining in the darkness, enabling the armed forces and people of the world’s anti-fascist allied nations, as well as various anti-fascist forces, to gather a powerful joint force that turned the tide when all seemed lost. Today, the dark clouds of Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism linger; new threats and new challenges increase rather than decrease; and humanity once again faces a choice between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, win-win and zero-sum. Looking to the future, the more difficult the times, the more we must inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, practice the common values of all humanity, uphold the original aspiration of peaceful coexistence, strengthen the confidence in win-win cooperation, promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system, jointly advance world modernization, and work hand in hand toward a community with a shared future for mankind.

以合作共赢开创美好世界的新未来。“合则强，孤则弱。”中国人民抗日战争的胜利，是中国人民同反法西斯同盟国以及各国人民并肩战斗取得的伟大胜利。伟大抗战精神，彰显全人类对和平的永恒向往、对正义的执着坚守，是人性之光、正义之光在黑暗中散发的耀眼光芒，让世界反法西斯同盟国军队和人民以及各种反法西斯力量汇聚起挽狂澜于既倒的强大合力。今天，冷战思维、霸权主义、保护主义阴霾不散，新威胁新挑战有增无减，人类又面临和平还是战争、对话还是对抗、共赢还是零和的抉择。展望未来，越是困难时刻，越要传承和弘扬伟大抗战精神，践行全人类共同价值，秉持和平共处的初心，坚定合作共赢的信心，推动构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系，共同推进世界现代化，携手迈向人类命运共同体。

(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army)

（作者为国防大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心研究员）