Lu Hang: Solidifying the Foundation of Academic Style Construction with the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations

2025-06-16 Eight-Point Regulations Campaign

The spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations is an important guide for strengthening work style construction ^[1] in the New Era. Carrying out study and education to deeply implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations is an inevitable requirement for fostering closer ties between the Party and the masses and between officials and the masses, and for consolidating the Party's foundation for governance; it is a powerful guarantee for advancing Chinese-path modernization.

Since March of this year, the philosophy and social sciences circles in Chongqing—through various forms such as 이론 study center groups ^[2] of Party committees, specialized expert reports, thematic team seminars, and visits to special exhibitions—have organized Party members, cadres, and faculty members to deeply study and implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Through profound study and thorough comprehension, they have guided all personnel to clear the source of their thoughts ^[3], enhance their awareness of discipline and rules, and build a solid ideological foundation for the unswerving implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations, continuously improving the effectiveness of study and education within Chongqing’s social science community.

Fortifying the Ideological Foundation Through Deep Study and Subtle Comprehension

On May 30, the theoretical study center group of the Chongqing University Party Committee held a study session to carry out education on the deep implementation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Shu Lichun, Secretary of the Chongqing University Party Committee, and Wang Shuxun, President of the University, along with other school leaders, participated in the session and delivered exchange speeches. The meeting collectively studied materials such as The Achievements and Experience of Deeply Implementing the Spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations Since the 18th Party Congress and How the Eight-Point Regulations Changed China. It emphasized the need to deeply study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, profoundly grasp the effective practices of the Central Committee taking the lead and the whole Party taking action to implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, and deeply learn and comprehend the significant achievements and precious experiences accumulated since the 18th Party Congress ^[4]. These experiences should be applied to the specific practice of improving the normalization and long-term institutional mechanisms of work style construction, pushing the school's work style construction toward new achievements. Shu Lichun stated that the construction of academic style is an important guarantee for universities to fulfill their mission of "educating people for the Party and cultivating talents for the country" ^[5], and it is also an inherent requirement for universities to promote "Double First-Class" construction ^[6].

On May 19, a reading class for newly promoted and young cadres of Chongqing University on the deep implementation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations opened, with more than 70 cadres participating. Li Chengxiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing University Party Committee and Director of the Organization Department, noted that the university is currently solidly carrying out study and education on the Eight-Point Regulations. This reading class is an important deployment to implement the Central Committee’s requirement to focus on the education of newly promoted, young, and key-position cadres. It is also a regularized measure to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions on strengthening the education and guidance of young cadres. Zhang Fengyun, Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee of Chongqing University, delivered the first specialized guidance report focusing on typical cases of violations of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations in the higher education sector and the work style construction of young cadres. Starting from the national investigation of violations reported by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision (CCDI-NSC) ^[7], he conducted deep analysis through horizontal and vertical data comparison. By classifying and reporting typical cases in the university sector, outlining the main circumstances, interpreting the disciplinary and legal basis, putting forward disciplinary requirements, and clarifying "bottom lines and red lines," ^[8] he educated and guided cadres to take cases as a mirror and engage in self-reflection. The goal is to make discipline and rules a "conditioned reflex" at the nerve endings, and to make "holding awe in one’s heart and a ruler in one’s hand" ^[9] a daily conscious habit. Young cadres must consciously temper their Party spirit during their growth, forge an ironclad work style, and develop "broad shoulders and true skills" ^[10] through trials to promote the development of various university undertakings with practical actions.

Strengthening Responsibility and Accountability Through Deepening Study

Since the Party Central Committee decided to carry out study and education on the deep implementation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations throughout the Party, Chongqing Jiaotong University has organized multiple collective study sessions for its theoretical study center group. Gong Hui, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chongqing Jiaotong University, proposed that one must profoundly recognize the great political and practical significance of this education. Thoughts and actions must be unified with the major decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee, supporting the "Two Establishments" and achieving the "Two Upholds" through practical actions. Party organizations at all levels across the university must shoulder their primary responsibility ^[11], refine work plans, clarify the division of labor, and organize both individual and collective study for Party members and cadres. It is necessary to focus on publicity and guidance, strengthen research and interpretation, and create a strong atmosphere for learning. Gong emphasized the need to persist with study in center groups at both the university and college levels, the "Three Meetings and One Lesson" ^[12], and political theory study for faculty. One must study the original texts ^[13], integrate understanding, and link study to reality to consolidate the ideological foundation and promote the transformation of learning into the cultivation of a "clean and upright style" and a "style of practical work." Problems must be identified against standards without compromise, persisting in "investigating the details," strengthening warning education, and promoting the integrated grasp of Party spirit, work style, and Party discipline. This will ensure that the rectification of "the Four Winds" ^[14] and anti-corruption are interconnected, creating a clean and upright political ecosystem and educational environment. Following the principle of "rectifying while investigating," the university should address the concerns of teachers and students and the needs of reform and development, ensuring that the four-level rectification (University Party Committee, secondary Party committees, Party branches, and individual Party members/cadres) is implemented. Measures should be refined with "real swords and spears" ^[15], typical experiences summarized and promoted, and a demonstration effect formed so that teachers and students can personally feel the new atmosphere and changes brought about by the transformation of work style.

The Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences held a reading class for this study and education, adopting a combination of individual self-study and collective discussion. They earnestly studied important content such as the Excerpt of Xi Jinping’s Expositions on Strengthening the Party’s Work Style Construction and the Implementation Rules for the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, providing powerful theoretical support for social science workers to consolidate the foundation of work style construction and push the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party toward greater depth.

Promoting the Excellent Marxist Academic Style

To promote the excellent Marxist academic style of integrating theory with practice, one must first persist in seeking truth from facts in academic exploration. One must proceed from reality in all things, use the Party's innovative theoretical tools to analyze practical problems, and creatively apply the Marxist worldview and methodology to solve major theoretical and practical problems in the process of Chinese-path modernization—by combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture.

Tang Wanghu, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Social Science Circles, stated that while the content of the Eight-Point Regulations primarily concerns "daily rules," from a broader perspective, they concern the Party’s style, the government’s style, and the subsequent improvement of the social atmosphere and the "spirit of entrepreneurship" ^[16] they inspire. Therefore, the social science community’s implementation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations cannot stop at a literal understanding or a mechanical interpretation at the level of Party and government style alone. One must grasp its spiritual essence and—from the height of the Party’s cause—immerse social science undertakings and research into it. Standing at the strategic height of serving the Party’s cause and focusing on the strategic goal of "constructing an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences," ^[17] scholars should maintain the strategic sentiment of "recounting learning, establishing theories, and offering advice for the Party and the people." They must always adhere to the guiding position of Marxism, remain rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture and the most extensive and profound social changes occurring in history on Chinese soil, rectify their academic style, work hard, innovate, and strive to produce high-quality masterpieces and academic monuments that serve the present and stand the test of history.

In the view of Wu Yandong, a professor at Southwest University’s School of Marxism, there is a close relationship between academic research and work style construction. The Party’s work style can be understood from multiple dimensions; at the level of the academic community, it should also include "academic style" ^[18] and "writing style" ^[19]. In other words, academic and writing styles are, in a certain sense, manifestations of the Party’s work style. He believes that for the academic community to implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and promote social science research, it must first persist in following the mass line, staying close to the masses, entering the fiery practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and constructing China’s autonomous knowledge system based on practice—truly "writing papers on the land of China." ^[20] Second, it must effectively improve its writing style, being more pragmatic and less prone to "empty talk," and possessing the courage to face reality.

Chongqing social science workers unanimously stated that the Party’s work style construction is related to the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness, and concerns the rise and fall of the cause of the Party and the state. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to work style construction. The introduction of the Eight-Point Regulations opened a new chapter in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era. After more than ten years of effort, the Party and government style has continuously improved, the relationship between the Party, cadres, and the masses has become closer, and the people have offered broad support. Currently, at this important stage of implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and deepening the study and education of Party discipline, philosophy and social science researchers should enhance their sense of social responsibility and mission. They should promote the excellent Marxist academic style of integrating theory with practice, turn their eyes toward the people, immerse themselves in the practice of Chinese-path modernization, listen to the voices of the masses, respond to the needs of the Party and the people, and actively recount learning and offer advice for the Party and the people.

Source: Chinese Social Sciences Today (China Social Sciences Network), June 11, 2025
Web Editor: Tongxin

Notes

↩ [1] 作风建设 (zuòfēng jiànshè): Work style construction. In the CPC context, "style" (zuòfēng) refers to the prevailing attitude and behavior of Party members, encompassing ideological, work, and life habits. It is fundamentally about the Party's relationship with the people.
↩ [2] 理论学习中心组 (lǐlùn xuéxí zhōngxīn zǔ): Theoretical study center groups. A formal mechanism in the CPC where leading cadres at various levels engage in collective study of Marxist theory and Party policies.
↩ [3] 正本清源 (zhèngběn qīngyuán): "To clear the source and settle the origin." An idiom meaning to go to the root of a problem to solve it, used here to mean aligning one's fundamental ideological stance with Party orthodoxy.
↩ [4] 十八大 (Shíbā Dà): The 18th National Congress of the CPC (2012), marking the beginning of the "New Era" and Xi Jinping's leadership.
↩ [5] 为党育人、为国育才 (wèi dǎng yùrén, wèi guó yùcái): "Educating people for the Party and cultivating talents for the country." A standard CPC formula defining the dual political and nationalistic goals of the Chinese education system.
↩ [6] “双一流” (Shuāngyīliú): "Double First-Class." A major government program launched in 2015 to develop elite Chinese universities and their individual faculties into world-class institutions by 2050.
↩ [7] 中央纪委国家监委 (Zhōngyāng Jìwěi Guójiā Jiānwěi): The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CPC) and the National Commission of Supervision (State). These two bodies share the same offices and staff, serving as China's highest anti-corruption and disciplinary authorities.
↩ [8] 底线红线 (dǐxiàn hóngxiàn): "Bottom lines and red lines." "Bottom lines" are the minimum acceptable standards; "red lines" are boundaries that must never be crossed.
↩ [9] 心存敬畏、手握戒尺 (xīn cún jìngwèi, shǒu wò jièchǐ): "Holding awe in one's heart and a ruler in one’s hand." A traditional metaphor used in Party rhetoric to emphasize that cadres must have an internal fear of violating discipline and an external standard (the ruler/discipline) to guide their behavior.
↩ [10] 宽肩膀真本领 (kuān jiǎnbǎng zhēn běnlǐng): "Broad shoulders and true skills." Xi Jinping's metaphor for cadres who are willing to take responsibility (shouldering the burden) and possess practical competence.
↩ [11] 主体责任 (zhǔtǐ zérèn): Primary responsibility. This refers to the principle that Party committees at all levels are directly responsible for Party building and anti-corruption efforts within their jurisdiction, rather than chỉ delegating it to discipline inspectors.
↩ [12] 三会一课 (sānhuì yīkè): "Three Meetings and One Lesson." The basic organizational life of the CPC branch: branch general membership meetings, branch committee meetings, Party group meetings, and Party lectures.
↩ [13] 原原本本学 (yuán yuán běn běn xué): "To study original texts." A directive emphasizing that cadres should study the actual words of Marx, Lenin, or Xi Jinping rather than just summaries or secondary interpretations.
↩ [14] 四风 (sìfēng): The Four Winds. Specifically formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance.
↩ [15] 真刀真枪 (zhēn dāo zhēn qiāng): "Real swords and real spears." An idiom meaning to do something for real, with total commitment, rather than performing it for show.
↩ [16] 干事创业 (gànshì chuàngyè): "To do things and start undertakings." A common phrase describing a proactive, entrepreneurial spirit in the context of administrative or public service work.
↩ [17] 中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系 (Zhōngguó zhéxué shèhuì kēxué zìzhǔ zhīshì tǐxì): An "autonomous knowledge system" for Chinese philosophy and social sciences. This reflects a recent push to break "Western academic hegemony" by developing social science theories rooted in Chinese history and contemporary CPC practice.
↩ [18] 学风 (xuéfēng): Academic style. In Marxist terms, this refers not just to research habits but to whether theory is being correctly applied to solve practical social problems.
↩ [19] 文风 (wénfēng): Writing style. The CPC often critiques "eight-legged essays" (stereotypical, empty writing) and promotes a style that is concise, direct, and grounded in reality.
↩ [20] 把论文写在中国大地上 (bǎ lùnwén xiě zài Zhōngguó dàdì shàng): "Writing papers on the land of China." A slogan attributed to Xi Jinping, urging scholars to focus on solving China's practical problems rather than focusing solely on publishing in international journals or following Western theoretical trends.