Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

Ma Xiaomei: Cultivating the Lifelong Subject for Communists

CPC History & Party Building

The cultivation of Party spirit (dangxing), also known as Party spirit tempering, refers to the self-education, self-transformation, and self-perfection of Party members. It is the internalization of the essential attributes of the Communist Party. It is the process by which Party members consciously apply the principles of Party spirit to regulate their behavior while transforming the objective world, overcoming and resisting various erroneous ideas, continuously transforming their subjective worlds, and constantly opening up new frontiers of practice and cognition. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the issue of Party spirit cultivation, delivering a series of important discourses that profoundly elucidate major issues regarding the cultivation of Party spirit, providing a fundamental compliance for cultivating the "study of the heart" [1] for Communists in the New Era.

On November 16, 2012, in the article "Earnestly Study the Party Constitution and Strictly Abide by the Party Constitution," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that in all activities of Party organizations at all levels, we must persist in guiding the broad masses of Party members and cadres—especially leading cadres—to consciously study, abide by, implement, and uphold the Party Constitution. They must consciously strengthen their cultivation of Party spirit and enhance their awareness of the Party, their awareness of our purpose [2], their awareness of governance, their awareness of the overall situation, and their awareness of responsibility, so as to effectively share the Party's concerns, fulfill their responsibilities to the country, and dedicate themselves to the people. The Party Constitution is the fundamental law of the Party, the general rule that the entire Party must follow, and the fundamental standard for Communists to strengthen their cultivation of Party spirit. The level at which the Party Constitution is studied and implemented determines the level of a member's Party spirit cultivation. Particularly for leading cadres, no matter how high their position, how long their Party standing, or how great their contribution, they must lead by example and set the pace for those below them, taking the study of the Party Constitution as a compulsory course and manifesting its various provisions in their actions and work. Whatever the Party Constitution stipulates members must do, leading cadres must do first; whatever it stipulates members must not do, leading cadres must take the lead in resolutely avoiding. To perform well on the "new journey to face the exams" [3], Party members and cadres must strictly enforce Party discipline, resolutely uphold the authority of the Party Constitution, remain clear-headed in the face of major issues of right and wrong, remain unshaken in the face of various temptations, and not shrink back in the face of dangerous trials, achieving political loyalty, fairness, integrity, and the courage to take on responsibilities.

On June 28, 2013, at the National Conference on Organizational Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that a cadre's Party spirit cultivation, ideological awareness, and moral level will not automatically improve with the accumulation of years in the Party or with the promotion of official rank; rather, these require lifelong effort. Cultivation of Party spirit is not innate, nor is it achieved in a single stroke or once and for all. Strengthening Party spirit cultivation is a lifelong subject that Party members and cadres must resolve to establish themselves in life. If one relaxes one's thinking by an inch, one's actions will scatter by a foot. Just as a room must be cleaned frequently and a mirror must be wiped often, the Party spirit cultivation of members and cadres requires constant examination, tempering, and improvement through self-cultivation, self-restraint, and self-transformation. Practice has proven that regardless of how high a position is or how long a Party standing lasts, if one cannot strive for a lifetime to pursue, practice, and enhance Party spirit cultivation, then no matter how "reinforced with iron and steel" or "indestructible" [4] one was in the past, it is difficult to remain consistent and never change color. Joining the Party organizationally happens once in a lifetime; joining the Party ideologically is a lifelong endeavor. Strengthening Party spirit cultivation must be done unremittingly and by persisting over the long term, constantly cultivating, tempering, contemplating, and progressing, continuously internalizing Party spirit in the heart and externalizing it in action.

On January 12, 2016, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that in grasping the construction of work styles, we must "return to provinciality and simplicity" and "strengthen the foundation and nurture the source" [5]. While strengthening Party spirit cultivation, we should promote fine traditional Chinese culture. Fine traditional Chinese culture is the profound foundation for our firm confidence in our path, theory, system, and culture; it is an important resource for Communists to strengthen Party spirit cultivation. Studying and promoting its ideological essence plays a positive role in strengthening Party spirit and tempering personality. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has inherited and developed the ancient idea of "governing by virtue" (wei zheng yi de), incorporating fine traditional Chinese culture into the theoretical system of Party spirit cultivation, forming a New Era outlook on official morality centered on "clarifying great virtues, abiding by public virtues, and being strict with private virtues." For Party members in the New Era, it is necessary to profoundly understand the great significance of the "Two Combinations" [6], consciously draw nutrition from fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit the spirit of self-revolution from the Party's history, rectify the heart and cultivate the self, transform people through culture, solidify the foundation, and enhance Party spirit, continuously lifting one's own cultivation of Party spirit.

On July 23, 2021, during an inspection in Tibet, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that we must act vigorously in tempering Party spirit, educating and guiding the broad masses of Party members and cadres to carry forward the Party's glorious traditions, carry on the red lineage, and nourish Party spirit cultivation with the Great Founding Spirit of the Party. We must firm up our ideals and convictions, continuously improve our capacity for political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, keep the "top priorities of the nation" (guo zhi da zhe) [7] in mind, always use Party spirit principles to cultivate and discipline ourselves, and effectively win the trust of the people and lead the masses through strong Party spirit. Looking back at the century-long history of the Party, a very important reason why the Communist Party of China has stood firm despite many hardships and grown stronger through a thousand tempers is that our Party attaches great importance to Party spirit cultivation. The Great Founding Spirit of the Party encapsulates the magnificent character of Chinese Communists in their arduous struggle, sacrifice, dedication, and pioneering spirit, providing rich nourishment for establishing, developing, and strengthening the Party. On the new journey, to nourish Party spirit cultivation with the Great Founding Spirit of the Party, we must not forget our original aspiration and founding mission, we must remain humble, prudent, and hardworking, and we must have the courage and the ability to struggle. We must persist in "benchmarking" against the requirements of the CPC Central Committee, "scanning" ourselves with the Party Constitution and regulations, "examining" ourselves through the new expectations of the masses, and "comparing" ourselves with our predecessors, martyrs, and advanced models. We must constantly ask the questions of our original aspiration and founding mission—"who am I, for whom am I doing this, and on whom do I rely"—and use our heart, emotion, and strength to interpret the sublime sentiment of "I will put aside my self-interest for the sake of the people" [8].

On October 22, 2022, at the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that as delegates to the National Congress, the mission is glorious and the responsibility is heavy. We must keep the "top priorities of the nation" in mind, improve political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, and take the lead in three areas: maintaining the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee; abiding by political discipline and political rules; and improving Party spirit cultivation and enhancing qualities and capabilities. We must contribute all our wisdom and strength to the cause of the Party and the people, set an example for all Party members, and live up to the trust of the broad membership. These "three leads" are both a profound entrustment to the delegates and a solemn warning to all Party members and cadres. Party members and cadres must profoundly grasp the political significance and practical requirements of the "top priorities of the nation," persist in observing general trends, planning the overall situation, and grasping major affairs from a political perspective. They must consistently pay attention to what the CPC Central Committee is concerned about and what it emphasizes, profoundly understand what constitutes the most important interests of the Party and the state and what positions need to be most firmly upheld. They must consciously strengthen Party spirit cultivation, take the lead in strictly observing political discipline and political rules, profoundly understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, enhance the Four Consciousnesses, firm up the Four Confidences, and achieve the Two Upholds. They should take loyalty to the Party, sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling duties for the Party, and benefiting the people as their fundamental political responsibility, and take the implementation of the CPC Central Committee's decisions and deployments as a major political task, ensuring that all work advances along the direction determined by the CPC Central Committee without deviation.

From December 26 to 27, 2024, at the Democratic Life Meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that political cultivation must be placed at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation. We must draw nourishment for Party spirit from the Party's innovative theories and take the study, observance, and implementation of the Party Constitution, regulations, and discipline as important content of Party spirit cultivation. Speaking politics with a clear-cut stand is both a distinctive feature and fundamental requirement of a Marxist party, as well as a consistent fine tradition and political advantage of our Party. Political cultivation determines the direction and effect of Party spirit cultivation. We must always maintain a high degree of sensitivity toward political direction, political stance, political speech, and political behavior, and continue to strengthen the rigid constraints of political discipline and political rules, prompting the broad masses of Party members and cadres to always love the Party, speak for the Party, worry about the Party, and act for the Party. Political firmness and firmness in Party spirit are inseparable from theoretical clarity and firmness; for every step forward in theoretical innovation, Party spirit cultivation must follow suit. All Party members must consciously study, observe, and implement the Party Constitution, regulations, and discipline, draw nourishment for Party spirit from Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, always maintain the political character of Communists, and be model practitioners of strengthening Party spirit cultivation.