Author: Dong Zhenhua (Deputy Director and Professor, Department of Philosophy, Party School of the Cpc Central Committee of the Communist Party of China [National School of Administration])
General Secretary Xi Jinping for the first time clearly summarized the great founding spirit of the Communist Party of China in his speech at the meeting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China: "A hundred years ago, the pioneers of the Communist Party of China founded the Communist Party of China, forming the great spirit of adhering to the truth, adhering to ideals, practicing the original intention, undertaking the mission, not being afraid of sacrifice, heroic struggle, loyalty to the party, and living up to the people, which is the spiritual source of the Communist Party of China. "Over the past one hundred years, the cpc has been able to unite and lead the Chinese people to continuously create great historical causes, profoundly change the direction and process of the development of the Chinese nation after modern times, profoundly change the future and destiny of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and profoundly change the trend and pattern of world development, precisely because in the process of revolution, construction, and reform, it has formed and continuously carried forward the great spirit of party building, built up the spiritual genealogy of Chinese communists, and tempered a distinct political character. In the new era, when we inherit and carry forward the great spirit of party building, we must accurately grasp its scientific connotation and the value of the times, continue to carry forward the glorious tradition, continue the red blood, and constantly march toward new victories.
Adhere to the truth, adhere to the ideal, constantly promote the sinification of Marxism, and use the developing truth to guide the direction and strengthen the conviction
The truth that the Chinese Communists have always upheld for over the past hundred years is Marxism. It was under the guidance of Marxism that the Communist Party of China came into being and began a new journey of leading the Chinese people to achieve a better life. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed in his speech: "Why the Communist Party of China can, why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good, in the final analysis, is because of Marxism!" The reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to accomplish the arduous tasks that various political forces have been unable to accomplish in modern times is that it has always taken the scientific theory of Marxism as its guide to action and persisted in constantly enriching and developing Marxism in practice. To carry forward the great spirit of party building in the contemporary era and to uphold the truth and uphold ideals, the Chinese Communists must always uphold the guiding position of Marxism, constantly promote the sinification of Marxism, and continuously advance toward the highest ideal and ultimate goal of communism.
The reason why Marxism is the truth is that Marxism is a scientific theory that truly reveals the law of human social development. "Where will human society go?" is the ultimate proposition of all mankind, and many thinkers throughout the ages have tried to answer this question. Marxism also gave its own answer to this question, which was based on a profound grasp of the laws of social history, and pointed out for mankind the way to leap from the kingdom of necessity to the kingdom of freedom, and pointed out the road to freedom and liberation for all mankind. Marxism's scientific revelation of the laws governing the development of human society is based on thorough materialism. Marx himself created the materialist view of history and the theory of surplus value, starting from the field of material production of society, science revealed the law of historical development of human society, and further analyzed the historical fate of capitalism, and drew the historical conclusion of "two inevitabilities" on the basis of true historical science. In this way, Marxism has the most general, concrete, and realistic social and historical foundation, and thus truly grasps the law of social and historical development.
The ideal pointed out by Marxism is the realization of communism, which is also the highest ideal and ultimate goal of the Communist Party of China. Marx and Engels pointed out in the Communist Manifesto: "In place of the old bourgeois society, in which there are classes and class antagonisms, there will be such an association, where the free development of each person is the condition for the free development of all." Marxism believes that communism is the association of free people, and the realization of communism is the ultimate destination of human history, and communism is precisely the beautiful vision of the future of mankind given by Marxism. Ideals are made ideals because of their grandeur, but the ideals of communism are not illusory "utopias" for us, and communism is contained in the practical movement of reality. Marx and Engels pointed out in the German Ideology: "Communism is not for us a situation that should be established, nor an ideal with which reality should correspond. What we call communism is the kind of movement that eliminates the reality of the existing situation. It is precisely under the call of realizing communism that generation after generation of Chinese Communists, in the revolutionary movement to change reality, in the historical process of reaching one stage after another, they have constantly created new achievements and glory.
To inherit and carry forward the great spirit of party building, we must continue to promote the sinification of Marxism. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "On the new journey, we must adhere to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thinking of 'three represents' and the scientific concept of development, fully implement the thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, persist in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific reality and with China's excellent traditional culture, use Marxism to observe, grasp and lead the times, and continue to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century!" Marxism is an open theory, which has never been a rigid dogma, but a guide to action, and must be changed and developed at any time and at any time with different historical conditions and problems of the times. An important reason why the CPC has been able to lead the Chinese people to achieve great changes and create great achievements lies in its ability to realistically integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific reality, constantly enrich and develop Marxism, and unswervingly promote the sinification of Marxism. To promote the sinification of Marxism, it is necessary to adhere to the principle of scientific socialism and not to lose it, constantly integrate this principle with the reality of our country, the historical and cultural traditions, and the requirements of the times, pay attention to exploring practice, summing up experience, constantly absorbing the strengths of all, keeping the right and making new innovations, constantly promoting theoretical innovation, and continuing to develop Marxism in the benign interaction between theory and practice.
Practice the original intention, undertake the mission, always adhere to the people-centered value position, and make unremitting efforts to achieve the people's happiness and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "The original intention and mission of the Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese and the people, and to seek rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. This original intention and mission is the fundamental driving force that motivates the Chinese Communists to keep moving forward. "A century-old history of struggle of the Communist Party of China is a history of struggle for the happiness of the people and a history of struggle for the rejuvenation of the nation. The founding spirit of the Chinese Communists embodies the original intention and mission of the Chinese Communists. Only by accurately grasping the original intention and mission of the Chinese communists, the people-centered value position and the value goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can we accurately grasp the scientific connotation and contemporary values of "practicing the original intention and undertaking the mission" in the great founding spirit of the party.
Seeking happiness for the Chinese people is determined by the nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China. The Communist Party of China is a Marxist political party that wholeheartedly serves the people, is not only the vanguard of the Chinese working class, but also the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. In this world, only Communists can always think and work together with the masses of the people, and only Communists can always represent the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. Marxism reveals a profound truth that the masses of the people are the main body and creator of social history, and that "historical activities are the activities of the masses." Communists have also come out of the masses, are advanced elements and representatives of interests among the masses, and communists cannot do without the support of the masses of the people if they want to accomplish any historical task. Maintaining close ties with the masses is the fine tradition of the CPC, and persisting in serving the people wholeheartedly is the most distinctive political character of the CPC. The CPC's leadership of the people in making revolutions is for the sake of seeking happiness for the people, the CPC's leadership of the people in undertaking construction is for the sake of the people's happiness, and the CPC's leadership of the people in carrying out reforms is also for the sake of the people's happiness; at any historical stage since the founding of our party, our party has never had its own selfish interests, and some are only the interests of the broadest masses of the people.
Seeking rejuvenation for the Chinese nation is the theme of the CPC's century-long struggle and creation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Over the past hundred years, the Communist Party of China has united and led the people of the Chinese to carry out all the struggles, all the sacrifices, all the creations, which boil down to one theme: to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "The Chinese nation is a nation with a long civilization and splendid culture, but in modern times, the Chinese nation has fallen into unprecedented deep suffering, the mountains and rivers are broken, the lives are ruined, and the great powers are surrounded, and how to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become the goal of countless people with lofty ideals. As soon as the Communist Party of China was founded, it bravely undertook the historical mission of realizing national rejuvenation and grew into the backbone of the great cause of national rejuvenation in the course of protracted and arduous struggle. It is also under the leadership of the Communist Party of China that we overthrew the three great mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, realized national independence and the liberation of the people, established a new China, established the socialist system, accomplished the most extensive and profound social changes in the history of the Chinese nation, created great achievements in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, achieved the goal of the first centenary struggle, and clarified the strategic arrangements for achieving the goal of the second centenary struggle. It has created great achievements in socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up to getting rich and then becoming strong, and the great dream of national rejuvenation has ushered in a bright future.
Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, if the CPC wants to continue to practice its original intention and undertake its mission, it must adhere to the people-centered approach and make unremitting efforts to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We must adhere to the people-centered value stand, adhere to the people's dominant position and pioneering spirit, fully mobilize the people's enthusiasm, practice the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, protect the interests of the people, implement the mass line of coming from the masses and going to the masses, always maintain flesh-and-blood ties with the masses, always want to be with the masses and work together, and regard the people's support or disapproval, approval or disapproval, happiness or displeasure, and promise or disapproval as the fundamental criterion for judging the gains and losses of all work. Closely rely on the people to create the great cause of history, always maintain the pure heart of the people, take the people's yearning for a better life as our goal of struggle, and unite and lead the people of all nationalities throughout the country to make unremitting efforts to build a socialist modern power in an all-round way and realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
We are not afraid of sacrifice and heroic struggle, always adhere to and carry forward the spirit of struggle, and dare to struggle and win in the face of various risks and challenges
The Communist Party of China is a Marxist political party that grew up in the course of struggle. Dare to struggle and dare to win is the red gene of communists and the invincible and powerful spiritual force of the Communist Party of China. The history of the centenary of the founding of the party, the more than 70 years since the founding of New China, and the more than 40 years of reform and opening up is the history of unremitting struggle against all kinds of predictable and unpredictable risks and challenges, and the process of tempering the will of steel and sublimating the national spirit in the course of struggle.
Philosophically speaking, there are two main ways for human beings to grasp the world: one is a factual judgment, answering the question of "yes or no" or "whether there is one"; the other is a value judgment, answering the question of "should not" or "how it should be". Whether to sacrifice or not is essentially a matter of value judgment. When we think that what we hold on to has a high value, we choose to give up other things in order to uphold that value, and when this value can transcend life, we choose to sacrifice. The reason why Chinese communists have been able to form the great spirit of party building without fear of sacrifice and heroic struggle lies in the fact that Chinese communists have always adhered to the truth of Marxism, the belief in communism, and the original intention and mission of seeking happiness for the people. In the eyes of the Chinese Communists, these lofty beliefs are worth far more than their own lives, and "it doesn't matter if you behead your head, only the doctrine is true" is a vivid expression of this value choice, and "for the sake of sacrificing more ambitions, dare to teach the sun and the moon for a new day" is a lofty evaluation of this value choice.
Any true Marxist, a true Communist, should be a fighter who is not afraid of sacrifice and who dares to struggle. Marx wrote in his youth essay: "If we choose the profession that best works for mankind, then the burden cannot overwhelm us, for it is dedicated to all; then what we feel is not pitiful, limited, selfish pleasure, our happiness will belong to millions of people, our cause will exist silently but eternally, and in the face of our ashes, noble people will shed tears." "The cause of the Communists is the cause of striving for the happiness of all mankind, but in the face of this lofty and arduous cause, sacrifice is always inevitable, and it is precisely in the course of this cause that the Communists are the first and are not afraid of sacrifice, and the fruits of this cause are also realized on the basis of generation after generation of Communists who are not afraid of sacrifice and dare to sacrifice. In the course of one hundred years of extraordinary struggle, generation after generation of Chinese Communists have stubbornly struggled and made unremitting efforts, and a large number of revolutionary martyrs who regard death as their homecoming, a large number of heroic figures who have stubbornly struggled, and a large number of advanced models who have made selfless dedication have emerged, forming the spirit of Jinggangshan, the spirit of the Long March, the spirit of Zunyi Conference, the spirit of Yan'an, the spirit of Xibaipo, the spirit of Hongyan, the spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, the spirit of "two bombs and one satellite," the spirit of special zones, the spirit of fighting floods, the spirit of fighting earthquakes and disaster relief, and the spirit of fighting the epidemic. The spiritual genealogy of the Chinese Communists was constructed. The reason why our party has flourished and endured hardships over the past century is that it relies on such a strong spirit of revolution and hard work.
In the new era, we also need this spirit of "not being afraid of sacrifice and having the courage to struggle", and we need to carry forward the spirit of struggle and enhance our ability to struggle. Struggle has always been inevitable, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Society is advancing in the movement of contradictions, and there will be struggles when there are contradictions." Today's world is experiencing major changes unprecedented in a century, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is in a critical period, we must carry out a great struggle with many new historical characteristics, coordinate the overall situation of the great rejuvenation strategy of the Chinese nation and the great changes in the world that have not occurred in a hundred years, always bear in mind the "great power of the country", profoundly understand the new characteristics and new requirements brought about by the changes in the main contradictions in our society, profoundly understand the new contradictions and new challenges brought about by the complicated international environment, dare to show our swords in the face of major issues of right and wrong, and dare to face difficulties in the face of contradictions and conflicts. Dare to stand up in the face of crises and difficulties, dare to resolutely struggle in the face of unhealthy trends and evil tendencies, dare to struggle, be good at struggle, open roads in every mountain, build bridges in the face of water, and dare to overcome all risks and challenges.
Be loyal to the party and live up to the people, persist in administering the party in an all-round and strict manner with the courage of self-revolution, and ensure that the party will always become a strong core of leadership in the historical process of benefiting the people
History since modern times has fully proved that without the Communist Party of China, there would be no new China and no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. An important reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to stand out in such a complicated and difficult historical condition in modern China and become the backbone and navigator of the cause of people's liberation and national rejuvenation lies in the fact that it has constantly replenished calcium and strengthened its bones, carried out self-revolution, and continued to gain the recognition, support, and support of the broad masses of the people in the process of leading the people's revolution, construction, and reform. On the new journey, we must adhere to the party's overall leadership, constantly improve the party's leadership, comprehensively and strictly administer the party with the courage of daring to self-revolution, ensure that the party does not change its degeneration, color, and taste, and ensure that the party will always become a strong core of leadership in the historical process of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Loyalty to the Party is the basic requirement for Communist Party members. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Loyalty to the party is the primary political quality of communists. Along the way, our Party has experienced countless hardships and tribulations, but no difficulty has crushed us, and no enemy has been able to defeat us, relying on the loyalty of tens of millions of Party members. To be loyal to the party, we must be single-minded and consistent, we must be consistent in appearance, we must be consistent in our knowledge and deeds, and we must not change our hearts, do not change our minds, and do not destroy our integrity at any time and under any circumstances. Young cadres should take the martyrs of their predecessors as a mirror and the negative examples as a warning, constantly build a solid foundation of faith, replenish the calcium of the spirit, stabilize the rudder of the mind, and strengthen their absolute loyalty to the party with firm ideals and convictions. An important reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to stand out in comparison with various political forces in modern times is that the Communist Party of China has a strong organizational ability, which guarantees that our party can unite and unify in the face of difficulties and share the same hatred and hatred, that we can do what we order and prohibit, that all actions are subject to command, and that we can gather up magnificent strength to the greatest extent. This strong organizational ability of the Chinese Communist Party depends on the political quality of all party members who are loyal to the party. The line, principles and policies of any political party must ultimately be implemented and implemented by every party member of the whole party, and if the party members cannot be loyal to the party, then the party will be a chaotic situation of scattered sand and fragmentation, and it will be impossible to realize any program and policy of this party.
Living up to the people is the political essence and political commitment of the Communist Party of China. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Jiangshan is the people, the people are Jiangshan, fighting Jiangshan, guarding Jiangshan, guarding the people's heart." The foundation of the Communist Party of China lies in the people, the blood is in the people, and the strength is in the people. "The Communist Party of China comes from the people, is rooted in the people, and serves the people, and the fundamental purpose of any principles and measures of the Communist Party of China is to seek the interests of the people, and the Communist Party of China will never be separated from the people at any time." Our party profoundly understands that only by living up to the people can we win the people's heartfelt support and always maintain the party's ruling position; only by not failing the people can we closely rely on the people and continue to create a great cause in history.
Wrought iron must be its own. In the new era, if we inherit and carry forward the great spirit of party building, be loyal to the party and live up to the people, we must continue to push forward the new great project of party building. Strengthen the party's political construction, continuously enhance the "four consciousnesses" of all party members, strengthen the "four self-confidences", achieve "two safeguards", continuously improve political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, ensure that all party members are loyal to the party's program, loyal to the party's line, principles, and policies, loyal to the party's organization, loyal to the party's position and goals, and consciously maintain consistency with the party central committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core in ideological and political actions. It is necessary to strengthen the building of the party's work style, maintain the flesh-and-blood ties between the party and the masses, strengthen the concept of the masses and the feelings of the masses, constantly cultivate the mass foundation of the party's ruling power, and ensure that all problems that the masses have strong reactions to must be seriously dealt with seriously, and all acts that harm the interests of the masses must be resolutely corrected. We should have the courage to carry out self-revolution, strictly manage the party and administer the party, dare to struggle against all kinds of stubborn and chronic diseases that exist within the party, resolutely correct all kinds of unhealthy tendencies, punish corruption with a zero-tolerance attitude, constantly enhance the party's ability to purify itself, improve itself, renovate itself, and improve itself, and always maintain the party's vigor and vitality.
Spirit is the soul on which a nation depends for its long-term survival, and only when it reaches a certain height spiritually can this nation stand firm in the torrent of history and forge ahead courageously. In the new era and new journey, let us continue to carry forward the great spirit of party building, adhere to the truth, adhere to ideals, practice the original intention, undertake the mission, not be afraid of sacrifice, heroic struggle, be loyal to the party, live up to the people, and continue to write a new chapter in the great cause of the Communist Party of China.
Source: Red Flag Manuscripts 2021/14