Qu Yuanyuan: Grasping Style Construction Requires Returning to the Source [1] and Strengthening Middle-Management Foundations [2]
Returning to the Source and Strengthening the Foundation: Grasping Conduct Construction
By Qu Yuanyuan
Conviction is the root; conduct is the form. When the root is upright, the form is gathered; when the root is not upright, the form will inevitably dissipate. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Problems of conduct are, in their essence, problems of Party spirit." Party spirit is the internal foundation of conduct, while conduct is the external manifestation of Party spirit. To improve conduct, one cannot simply discuss matters in isolation; rather, one must infer the general from the particular [1], see Party spirit through the lens of conduct, and solve Party spirit issues on the basis of resolving conduct problems—returning to the source and strengthening the foundation [2].
Conduct reflects image and character; it embodies Party spirit, and it is Party spirit that plays the decisive role. From the proposal of the "Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" [3] during the Agrarian Revolutionary War, to the rectification of subjectivism and sectarianism during the Yan’an Rectification Movement [4], and to the opening of a new chapter in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party through conduct construction in the New Era, the fundamental goal has always been to strengthen Party spirit, temper the original aspiration, and maintain the political character of Communists. As the saying goes, "He who seeks the growth of a tree must fortify its roots; he who desires the long flow of a stream must dredge its source" [5]. If Party spirit is pure, conduct will be upright; if Party spirit is impure, conduct will be crooked.
"Returning to the source"—where are we returning? "Strengthening the foundation"—what are the "root" and "foundation"? In the final analysis, it is steadfastness in Party spirit. It must be recognized that the root cause of conduct problems lies in weak Party spirit, a lack of ideals and convictions, and a thin awareness of the Party’s purpose. Only by working hard on establishing the root and fortifying the foundation can we prevent "evil winds and noxious influences" [6] from attaching themselves to us.
"If one cannot conquer the minor thoughts in one's heart, how can one conquer the firmament?" Party spirit education is a compulsory course for Communists in cultivating their character; it is also the "Learning of the Mind" [7] for Communists. For a Party member, cultivation in Party spirit does not naturally improve with age or promotion. A room must be cleaned frequently, and a mirror must be wiped often. We must educate and guide Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and cadres to regularly conduct "ideological and political physicals." They should "align" with the requirements of the Party Central Committee, "scan" themselves against the Party Constitution and regulations, "X-ray" themselves with the new expectations of the masses, and "compare" themselves against predecessors, martyrs, and advanced models. They must constantly interrogate and guard their original aspiration, steadfastly uphold and shoulder their mission, and ensure that their original aspiration is as solid as a rock and their mission is always on their shoulders. With internal purification and high aspirations, power will be limitless, and fine conduct will be maintained consciously.
The fundamental yardstick for measuring the strength of Party spirit is the distinction between "public" and "private." Many conduct problems arise because the relationship between the public and private spheres has not been properly balanced. A few meals, a few glasses of wine, or a few gift cards are all linked to the issue of public versus private, and all concern public funds and public power. Public funds are "surnamed Public" [8]; not a single penny may be spent recklessly. Public power is for the people; it must not be used for private gain in the slightest degree. Throughout his life, Gu Wenchang [9] maintained a clear distinction between the public and private; his five children never received any special treatment in work or life. Jiao Yulu [10] always stood in line to buy his own tickets for the theater and never allowed his children to "watch for free." Yang Shanzhou [11] always bought his own bus tickets when returning home from work, never taking advantage of the state... As Party cadres, we must emphasize being selfless, distinguishing the public from the private, putting the public before the private, and forgetting the private for the sake of the public. Only by being devoted to the public interest and acting out of public concern can one live with integrity, exercise power with caution, and be open and upright.
Small matters and minor details are a mirror. Within these small matters reside Party spirit, principles, and character. Many cadres commit errors starting from minor ideological flaws or small economic embezzlements. They relax their vigilance amidst "the clinking of glasses" [12], abandon their principles in the face of small favors, and lose their character in "light music and graceful dances" [13]. The vast number of Party members and cadres should keep in mind the ancient warning that "a dyke collapses from ant-holes; air leaks through the eye of a needle" [14]. They must persist in strengthening their cultivation in small matters, perfecting themselves bit by bit, practicing strict self-cultivation, rectifying the mind to understand the Way, and nipping problems in the bud to maintain their character as servants of the people. They must manage their social circles, life circles, and entertainment circles. In private, when alone, and in subtle moments, they must act as if "treading on thin ice or standing on the edge of an abyss" [15], ensuring that "minor details" do not deviate from the norm and "small matters" do not cross the line. They must achieve a state where "the heart is not moved by the temptation of small gains, and eyes are not dazzled by the confusion of the five colors" [16]. By using strong Party spirit to guard small matters and minor details, they can enhance their immunity against corruption and degeneration.
At present, study and education to deeply implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations of the Central Committee are being carried out throughout the Party. Party members and cadres must closely integrate Party spirit cultivation with conduct construction, using the yardstick of Party spirit to measure gains and losses in work and to grasp the scale of their behavior. Let Party spirit be continuously sublimated in practice and promote the sustained improvement of conduct.
Source: China Discipline Inspection and Supervision Daily, June 17, 2025, Page 3. Web Editor: Tongxin