"Recalling the Extraordinary Years Through Paper-Cutting, Women Bloom in Full Splendor"
In this beautiful season of exuberant spring and the awakening of all things, we have welcomed the 115th International Women's Day. In order to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions regarding the "Two Combinations" [1], and to further strengthen our staff’s understanding of and confidence in fine traditional Chinese culture, the Labor Union and the Women’s Working Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) hosted a themed activity on the morning of March 6, 2025, titled "Recalling Extraordinary Years through Paper-Cutting: Women in Full Bloom." Forty-five female employees from across the Institute participated in the event. Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, attended and delivered a speech, while Yu Haiqing, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the proceedings.
Luo Wendong first represented the IMS leadership team in extending holiday greetings to all female comrades of the Institute, including retired cadres and current staff. He pointed out that in recent years, under the leadership and vigorous support of the IMS Party Committee and Labor Union, the IMS Women’s Working Committee has regarded struggle as beauty and practical work as an honor. It has earnestly fulfilled its responsibilities of guidance, service, and outreach, actively and initiatively organizing featured activities and various routine programs, achieving excellent results. In 2023, the committee was awarded the title of "March 8th Red Banner Collective of Central and State Organs"; in 2024, the IMS Women’s Working Committee was honored as an "Outstanding Women’s Organization for Meritorious Service" by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Luo Wendong read the "Decision on Commending Advanced Collectives (Individuals), Most Beautiful Families, and Outstanding Women's Organizations (Working Cadres) for Meritorious Female Service in Our Academy" issued by the General Office of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and on behalf of the Party Committee, expressed warm congratulations to the individuals and collectives from IMS who received awards.
Luo Wendong noted that 2025 marks many significant anniversaries, including the 90th anniversary of the successful convening of the Zunyi Conference [2], the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 80th anniversary of the successful convening of the Seventh National Congress of the CPC [3], and the 115th anniversary of International Women's Day. This paper-cutting activity carefully selected "Red Revolution" themes. By recreating multiple revolutionary scenes from the Zunyi Conference, the Long March, and the War of Resistance through paper-cutting, the activity revisited the extraordinary years [4] of the revolution, guiding female employees to remain true to their original aspiration and founding mission and to invigorate their feminine resolve. By exploring the mysteries of paper-cutting, participants collectively appreciated and practiced the profound heritage and aesthetic value of fine traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage, strengthening their cultural confidence and contributing female strength to the better inheritance of fine traditional Chinese culture.
Subsequently, Secretary Luo Wendong and Deputy Director Yu Haiqing congratulated two female employees, Liu Ying and Liu Sitong, who had just returned to work following maternity leave, and presented them with congratulatory grants. This gesture reflected the IMS Party organization’s care and concern for the lives of female comrades.
Following this, under the leadership of Deputy Director Yu Haiqing, the female employees of IMS began the captivating paper-cutting and engraving activity: "Recalling Extraordinary Years through Paper-Cutting: Women in Full Bloom."
The paper-cutting works featuring "Red Revolution" themes not only showcased the traditional beauty of the art form but also expressed the IMS female staff’s remembrance of the revolutionary forebears.
The Labor Union and the Women’s Working Committee of IMS organized this themed activity at an opportune time and with extraordinary significance. Participants expressed that as employees of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, they must strengthen their cultural confidence and contribute the wisdom and strength of IMS women to better inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture and continuously advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
(Reported by Liu Xiaoxin / Photography by Wang Yi)