Dong Hui: Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to the Historical Materialism

Historical materialism, also known as the materialist conception of history, is the science concerning human society and the laws of its evolution and development; it is a brand-new historical outlook and methodology for grasping the world and history. General Secretary Xi Jinping has explicitly pointed out: "Both history and reality show that only by adhering to historical materialism can we continuously raise our understanding of the laws of socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new level and continuously open up new horizons for the development of contemporary Chinese Marxism." This important judgment profoundly reveals the fundamental ideological method by which our Party has always been able to maintain historical initiative ^[1] and lead the times. It is precisely based on the consistent adherence to this principle that "our Party has always viewed the history of the Chinese nation using the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism," drawing wisdom and strength for continued advancement through the profound summation of historical experience and the exploration of historical laws. Centering on historical laws, historical trends, historical dynamics, historical direction, historical experience, and historical confidence, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of new viewpoints, judgments, and ideas. These demonstrate his scientific attitude of adhering to the guidance of historical materialism, standing at the heights of the development of human civilization, accurately grasping the laws of human social development, and comprehensively understanding the forward direction of Chinese-path modernization. The publication of important works such as the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has further deepened and expanded these original viewpoints, systematically presenting the profound connotations of historical materialism within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Facing contemporary society and penetrating into the total social structure and its deep operational logic, this thought highlights the contemporary vitality of historical materialism, achieving innovative development in terms of systematization and adaptation to the times, and making original contributions to historical materialism.

I. Research Origin, Problem Domain, and Major Significance

Historical materialism is not only a scientific outlook on history but also a scientific worldview, and furthermore, a body of thought and method regarding human social science. As the core theory of Marxism, historical materialism reveals the general laws of human social development; in essence, it is Marxist philosophy rather than a philosophy of history or an empirical science, and it should not be treated as a simple application of dialectical materialism to the field of human social history. As world history enters the 21st century, the contradictions of capitalist society have undergone profound changes, the technological revolution is reshaping human modes of production, and human civilization is facing profound transformations. Historical materialism needs to undergo innovative development in integration with new changes of the era and historical conditions. Standing upon Chinese practice and responding to the themes of the times, General Secretary Xi Jinping adheres to historical materialism, scientifically, comprehensively, and dialectically recognizes and grasps the laws of development in human social history and epochal change, and applies historical materialism to the governance of socialism with Chinese characteristics, making valuable innovations to historical materialism. Deeply researching the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism can profoundly reveal its leading significance for the development of Marxism. At the same time, it highlights the contemporary vitality of historical materialism across the dual dimensions of theory and practice, promoting the transformation of the power of Marxist truth into a realistic driving force for achieving national rejuvenation and human progress.

At the level of the problem domain, the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism focus on core issues such as social-historical development and trends, the drivers and laws of social development, and the status and role of historical subjects. It has achieved a categorical expansion, theoretical extension, practical innovation, and value deepening of historical materialism, causing historical materialism to present an all-around expansion from its theoretical core to the field of practice. This expansion did not arise out of thin air; its foundation lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s grounding in practice, his adherence to the deep thinking and global vision of historical materialism to grasp the laws of human social development, and his conscious use of dialectics to link the outlook on history with the outlook on civilization, organically unifying the objective laws of historical development with the internal logic of the evolution of civilization. As a systematic exposition of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Volume V of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China provides a vivid text for our understanding of the aforementioned expansions. For example, regarding the issue of social-historical development and trends, the theory of Chinese-path modernization breaks through the single narrative of the Western modernization model, utilizes and develops the core principles of historical materialism, and establishes the principle of diversity in modernization paths. Regarding the issue of the drivers and laws of social development, further comprehensively deepening reform and developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions reveal the innovative momentum within the movement of the basic social contradictions, deepening the understanding of the mechanisms driving historical development. Regarding the issue of the consciousness and agency of historical subjects, the important discourse that "promoting the Party's self-revolution is an important magic weapon ^[2] for escaping the historical cycle of rise and fall" profoundly reflects the conscious shaping of a political party’s own practice based on grasping laws, deepening the understanding of the mechanism of the role of historical subjects. These major concepts and practices together constitute the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism in dimensions such as modernization paths, developmental drivers, forms of civilization, and party building. This not only expands the theoretical boundaries of historical materialism but also injects it with new epochal connotations and practical value.

The innovations of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regarding historical materialism possess a multi-layered and systematic significance. They are both a profound explanation of the laws of social-historical development and future prospects based on the practice of the New Era—revealing the dialectical movement of the history of the New Era itself and reflecting the logic of historical progress—and they provide a theory and method of universal significance for us to observe and understand the relationship between people and society, China and the world, and the process of human social development in the New Era. From a theoretical perspective, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rooted in Chinese soil, taking Chinese reality as its research starting point. it systematically deepens "the understanding of the laws of the Communist Party's governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development." In the process of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, it has constructed a contemporary interpretive system of historical materialism, serving as a proactive attempt and beneficial result of the theoretical construction of China’s independent knowledge system. From a practical perspective, the reason why China’s economic and social development has achieved major accomplishments lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s creative application of historical materialism. Standing upon Chinese practice and grasping the general trend of the times, he "clarified that the principal contradiction in Chinese society is the contradiction between the people's ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, and has pushed forward all work by focusing closely on this principal contradiction." Relying on the people to advance reform and development profoundly demonstrates the power of truth in historical materialism as it faces practice and leads the era. From a spiritual perspective, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "our Party, with a great spirit of historical initiative, continuously transforms the aspects of the relations of production and productive forces, and the superstructure and economic base, that are not adapted to each other," advocating for "respecting the people's pioneering spirit" and "making new contributions to the development of Marxism with a more proactive historical responsibility and creative spirit." This fully demonstrates that historical development requires both a profound recognition and respect for the objective laws of the movement of basic social contradictions, and, even more so, a high degree of the spirit of historical initiative to seize historical opportunities, act in accordance with the trends, and steadfastly advance the great process of Chinese-path modernization and national rejuvenation.

II. Historical Materialism is a Major Manifestation of the Marxist Worldview and Methodology

If one wishes to sort out the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism, one cannot do so without researching the basic viewpoints and methods of historical materialism, including the basic process of historical materialist thinking.

Historical materialism is a major manifestation of the Marxist worldview and methodology. Its creation was both a great transformation in the history of human thought and cognition and a great transformation in Marxist philosophy. It was both the process by which Marx critiqued capitalist society and revealed its secrets to seek the path of total liberation, and the scientific demonstration of the proletariat fulfilling its historical mission of establishing its own theory. The creation of this scientific historical outlook indicated that Marx focused on social existence based on the foundation of natural existence, on human practice, and on the reality created thereby. It explained that if humanity wishes to achieve a deep and internal cognition of its own social history, it requires a broad historical vision. History chose Marx precisely because he possessed such a historical vision, truly reading and grasping the questions posed by the era, penetrating into the interior of human society and the depths of history, revealing the secrets contained within objective historical facts, and finding the general laws of historical development.

Looking at the texts, Marx and Engels provided many concentrated explanations of the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism. For example, in the Preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, Marx clearly explained why he examined the capitalist economic system, what theory he used to guide his research, and why he turned to the study of political economy; this is the basic thread for our understanding of historical materialism. In Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, Engels discussed the basic principles of historical materialism and its significance as a worldview and methodology for the scientific understanding of socialism. In The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, through research into the history of primitive society, he provided an authoritative explanation of the origins of classes, the state, and human civilization, further enriching the theoretical connotations of historical materialism.

In terms of fundamental content, historical materialism mainly includes six aspects: First, social existence and historical laws. The fundamental question of historical materialism is that social existence determines social consciousness. This most basic principle asserts that one must start from human practice when analyzing problems, penetrating the depths of human history to discern the laws of historical development. Second, basic social contradictions and social dynamics. The contradictions between the productive forces and the relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, constitute the basic contradictions of human society; the movement of these contradictions is the driving force of human social development. Third, social structure and the social organism. Society is based on human practical activities; its holistic existence and operation constitute the content of social-historical development. Fourth, the class viewpoint and class analysis. In class societies, class struggle drives social development; classes are a social-historical phenomenon, possessing a temporary and historical nature, and the essence of class can only be explained by looking at changes in socio-economic relations. Fifth, the masses and historical subjects. Historical materialism clarifies the subjects of history, providing an objective analysis and evaluation of the masses and heroic figures. The masses, who engage in material productive labor, are the subjects of social practice, the decisive force in creating history and transforming society, and the bearers of the historical mission. Sixth, world history and human civilization. World history is an objective, material historical process in which various nations break through their respective states of isolation, achieving increasingly close social interaction and connection; world history shapes human civilization, and human civilization tends toward more universal and normalized interactive connections.

III. The Innovative Development of Historical Materialism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to historical materialism, repeatedly emphasizing the need to adhere to it, and has made a series of important discourses: "Adhere to using historical materialism to understand and record history, establishing historical conclusions on the basis of detailed and accurate historical materials and in-depth, meticulous research and analysis"; "The whole Party must adhere to historical materialism and a correct outlook on Party history ^[3]"; "Vigorously promoting investigation and research is intended to push leading cadres at all levels to firmly establish a historical materialist outlook"; "The historical materialist viewpoint that the masses are the true heroes cannot be lost"; "We must adhere to the basic historical materialist viewpoint that the people are the fundamental driving force for creating history"; "There is no end to the development of practice, no end to the liberation of the mind, and no end to reform and opening up; reform and opening up is always 'in progress' and never 'finished.' This is the attitude of historical materialism"; "Only by insisting on the use of dialectical materialism and historical materialism can we correctly answer the major questions posed by the era and by practice." These important discourses profoundly show that General Secretary Xi Jinping regards historical materialism—this scientific worldview and methodology—as the intellectual key to discerning the laws of historical development and grasping the pulse of the times, and as a powerful ideological weapon for advancing various undertakings. The scientific nature of historical materialism lies in the fact that its people-centered practical character is always intrinsically unified with historical development, providing guidance on laws and spiritual impetus for social transformation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of new ideas and judgments regarding methodology for historical research, historical subjects, social development, and the progress of civilization, achieving the innovative development of historical materialism. Specifically, this is reflected in the following aspects:

1. Continuously deepening the understanding of the laws regarding the methodological principles of historical research

General Secretary Xi Jinping upholds historical materialism, consciously applying it to the concrete realities of contemporary China to conduct a scientific analysis of the issues arising in the construction of contemporary Chinese-path modernization. He considers the specific historical, cultural, and social backgrounds in which historical events occur while remaining attentive to the progression of the contemporary world landscape. Deeply recognizing that history is a process of inheritance and continuity while also focusing on historical transformation, he has formulated rules and methods for investigating social and historical phenomena that possess the innovative characteristics of the New Era.

First is the innovative proposition to "firmly establish a Big Picture View of History." This is an innovative concept proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and a summation of the historical experience of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) struggle over more than a century. It reflects the methodological prerequisite for the New Era CPC to apply historical materialism in a scientific, concrete, and innovative manner. This innovative viewpoint emphasizes "grasping the pulse of development and the correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective," advocating for "analyzing the mechanisms of evolution and exploring historical laws amidst the long river of history, the great tides of the times, and global fluctuations." This methodology breaks through the limitations of viewing historical events in relative isolation, forming a more holistic cognitive framework for history. Its core lies in placing the CPC’s century-long struggle within the grand coordinate system of the history of the development of the Chinese nation, the history of the development of world socialism, and the history of the progress of human civilization. On the basis of clearly recognizing the macro-logic and macro-trends of our society’s development and the development of human society, it systematically grasps the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese-path modernization. Firmly establishing a Big Picture View of History requires us to "deepen our regular understanding of promoting high-quality development and constructing a new development pattern ^[4] amidst the new round of technological revolution, the macro-landscape of global economic development, and the staged characteristics of our country’s development; and to deepen our regular understanding of the strategic thought on the Party’s self-revolution amidst the comparison of the fates of Marxist parties worldwide and the realistic tests our Party faces in its long-term governance." The innovation of the Big Picture View of History lies in establishing new principles for historical research centered on macro-vision, systemic thinking, and law-orientation. It emphasizes starting from a holistic perspective of the long river of history, the evolution of civilizations, and global interactions to transcend the cognitive limitations of specific stages or localities, thereby demonstrating the methodological vitality of historical materialism as a historical science.

Second is the application of the analytical method of social basic contradictions to analyze major issues in China’s development in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed: "Only by observing the contradictory movement between the productive forces and the relations of production in conjunction with the contradictory movement between the economic base and the superstructure, and by observing social basic contradictions as a whole, can we comprehensively grasp the basic features and direction of development of the entire society." Logically, the phrase "only... can..." expresses a relationship of necessity, profoundly revealing the need to view the movement of social basic contradictions from a holistic and totalizing perspective, providing the methodological foundation for our scientific understanding of comprehensively deepening reform. First, this methodological innovation is fully reflected in the analysis of major New Era issues. It points to the historical necessity and continuity of comprehensively deepening reform. The essence of reform is the conscious adjustment of the relations of production and the superstructure based on social basic contradictions. Since the movement of social basic contradictions is a constantly changing whole, reform is a process of continuous deepening and dynamic change: we "must further comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, and continuously liberate and develop social productive forces and liberate and strengthen social vitality." Second, this methodological innovation provides scientific guidance for identifying the focal points of reform. The holism of social basic contradictions requires that reform be promoted systematically, but also necessitates "identifying the primary contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction ^[5] one faces, and formulating realistic and concrete reform measures." This reflects the dialectical thinking of grasping particularity within universal contradictions and seizing key links within holistic reform. Third, this methodological innovation profoundly reveals the internal consistency between comprehensively deepening reform, adapting to changes in the principal contradiction in society, and promoting high-quality development. High-quality development is a profound response to the characteristics of the movement of social basic contradictions in the new historical stage; it is an "urgent need to better adapt to the changes in the principal contradiction in our society." Problems arising in development are a "reflection of the changes in the principal contradiction in society" and must be resolved through comprehensively deepening reform at the level of systems and mechanisms. This means high-quality development is a systemic transformation encompassing the leap of productive forces, the optimization of the relations of production, and the perfection of the superstructure, profoundly embodying the internal requirement of the mutual promotion and holistic advancement of all links in the movement of social basic contradictions.

2. Continuously deepening the regular understanding of historical subjects and social development

Historical materialism scientifically reveals the subjective and objective categories of the development of human social history. From the dimension of the unity of epistemology and methodology, it provides a theoretical paradigm for us to understand the laws of human social evolution through the combination of theory and practice. The question of the subject of historical development is the question of how to treat the people. In this regard, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the principle of putting the people first. This is both an important development concept and the value foundation of Chinese-path modernization, fully embodied in the institutional arrangements of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The basic laws of historical evolution are, in essence, practical issues based on the laws of the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal of the new development philosophy ^[6] and new quality productive forces stems precisely from the philosophical height of social existence determining social consciousness, fundamentally identifying the key forces driving contemporary China’s development.

First is the innovative proposition that "we must persist in putting the people first." This is an important theoretical innovation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and a contemporary development of the fundamental viewpoint in historical materialism that the people are the creators of history. This concept sublimates the Marxist materialist conception of history regarding the masses into the Party’s ideal, belief, and spiritual banner, clearly stating that "only the people are the force driving the creation of world history." Building on this, it emphasizes "upholding the concept of putting the people first and highlighting the people-centered nature of the direction of modernization," manifesting the subjective status of the people as the creators of history and the fundamental driving force of modernization. At the theoretical level, it creatively applies the mass line to state governance from the perspective of the unity of epistemology, axiology, and the conception of history, deepening and expanding the Party's mass line. "We must persist in the basic historical materialist viewpoint that the people are the fundamental driving force for creating history, and persist in the principal status of the people." This involves both internalizing the people’s aspiration for a better life into the strategic planning of national development and taking the service of the people’s interests and the promotion of well-rounded human development as the highest value orientation. At the level of practice, putting the people first is not only a consistent fundamental stance but is also continuously transformed into operational institutional practices within forms such as "developing whole-process people’s democracy and ensuring the people are masters of the country." This ensures that the people as masters of the country is translated from a value concept into governance efficacy, vividly embodying the principle that "the people are the creators of history and the most solid foundation and deepest strength for advancing modernization." These innovative viewpoints mark a systemic leap for the idea of the people as the subject from a philosophical concept to a strategy for governing the country.

Second is the innovative proposal of the new development philosophy and new quality productive forces. The innovation of the new development philosophy and the theory of new quality productive forces in terms of historical materialism is mainly manifested in the profound grasp of the characteristics and requirements of the movement of social basic contradictions in the New Era. It systematically answers the major epochal question of "how to achieve high-quality development," realizing an important expansion of Marxist theories of productive forces and social development. "Implementing the new development philosophy is the path we must take for China’s development and growth in the New Era." The "new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing" not only provides the fundamental guide for economic and social development but also manifests the deepening of the Party's understanding of the laws of modernization. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, "we have fully implemented the new development philosophy, continuously deepened our understanding of the staged characteristics and laws of China's economic development, and placed greater emphasis on the high quality of development." "Implementing the new development philosophy, constructing a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, comprehensively advancing reform and opening up, continuously improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity" are precisely systemic strategies proposed based on profound insights into the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production and between the economic base and the superstructure. The new development philosophy did not emerge out of thin air but is rooted in the great practice of reform and opening up. "The new development philosophy was formed during reform, and the ideological concepts and institutional or mechanistic defects that influenced and restricted high-quality development were broken down during reform." The new development philosophy provides scientific guidance for the new stage of development from various dimensions, including value orientation, development modes, and institutional construction. "Developing new quality productive forces is an internal requirement and an important focal point for promoting high-quality development." New quality productive forces represent "an advanced state of productive forces that accords with the new development philosophy." Their essence is driven by scientific and technological innovation as the core, achieving a qualitative leap in productive forces through the innovative configuration of factors of production and deep industrial transformation and upgrading. The proposal of this concept originates from the Party's theoretical summation of China’s innovative development practice, realizing a contemporary development of Marxist theory of productive forces. The theory of new quality productive forces explicitly requires placing innovation in the leading position, pushing the development model from being "factor-driven" to "innovation-driven," highlighting the critical role of science and technology in modern social production. In practice, "fully implementing the new development philosophy, continuously deepening reform and opening up, vigorously developing characteristic advantageous industries, and developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions" is a vivid manifestation of stimulating the potential of productive forces by adjusting the relations of production and promoting high-quality development through advanced states of productive forces. Developing new quality productive forces requires breaking down institutional and mechanistic obstacles that restrict innovation and establishing new relations of production adapted to the development of new quality productive forces, thereby forging a solid material and technical foundation for Chinese-path modernization and "uninterruptedly opening up new fields and tracks for development and shaping new drivers and advantages for development."

3. Continuously deepening the regular understanding of the progress of civilization

Historical materialism holds that the transformation of the mode of production is the fundamental driving force of social development, driving profound changes in social structures and human relations. In a civilizational sense, this transformation constitutes the practical basis for the progress of civilization and impels the continuous evolution of civilizational forms. Human civilizations display rich and diverse characteristics in modes of production, social organization, and value systems, reflecting the unique wisdom of different civilizations in responding to nature and society. Therefore, historical development can be seen as a process of forming different paths of civilizational development and value systems shaped by civilizational difference and diversity. Relevant assertions proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping have enriched and deepened the connotations of historical materialism, revealed the diversity of civilizations in the process of modernization, and provided a new theoretical paradigm for the progress of human civilization.

First is the innovative proposal of the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress explicitly stated that one of the great changes in the ten years of the New Era was the formation of a "scientifically complete strategic deployment," overseeing the "Four Greats" ^[7] and "defining the 'Five-Sphere Integrated Plan' and the 'Four Comprehensives' strategic layout," which continuously enriches and develops the new form of human civilization. This strategic deployment is a major strategic innovation made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, based on historical materialism and a profound grasp of the basic laws and new starting point of China’s economic and social development, with an eye toward the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It realizes an innovation in the theories of social structure and social organism within historical materialism.

"Promoting the 'Five-Sphere Integrated Plan' in a coordinated manner and promoting the 'Four Comprehensives' strategic layout in a coordinated manner" is the fundamental basis for "planning further comprehensive deepening of reform." Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of all-around development. "Further comprehensively deepening reform must also be all-encompassing," "highlighting the content of economic structural reform while also comprehensively covering institutional and mechanistic innovations in democracy, the rule of law, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, national defense, and the military, as well as the reform of the system of Party building." Its goal is systemic optimization and collaborative efficiency; that is, "forming holistic efficacy, neither acting in isolation nor attending to one thing while losing sight of another." The "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" views the economy, politics, culture, society, and ecology as an organic whole, expanding the dimensions of the connotation of civilizational progress and constructing a new modernization paradigm with coordinated elements. The "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, through institutional arrangements such as comprehensively governing the country according to law and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, strengthens the active role of the superstructure relative to the economic base, providing a solid institutional guarantee for development. The two are promoted in coordination, innovating the driving mechanism for civilizational development and profoundly embodying the institutional advantages and governance wisdom of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Second, the innovative proposal of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Building upon the inheritance of historical materialism, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is grounded in the new trends of contemporary development and civilized evolution. It has creatively expanded the theory regarding the relationship between culture and social development, providing a brand-new perspective and theoretical support for understanding the process of human civilization. This body of thought emphasizes the Party’s leadership over culture, deepening the principles of historical materialism concerning the leading role played by a political party in the realm of ideology. It proposes "upholding the fundamental system for the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field" ^[8] to consolidate the foundations in the realms of thought, spirit, and the soul. It advocates for the "extensive practice of the core socialist values," ^[9] innovating and developing the active counter-reaction (fanzuoyong) of culture upon the economic base within historical dialectics. The innovative nature of this thought is centrally embodied in its deepening of the theory regarding the counter-reaction of social consciousness and its systematic exposition of cultural self-confidence and its fundamental source. Cultural self-confidence is the more foundational, broader, and deeper confidence among the "Four Confidences." General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that "cultural self-confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity," emphasizing that "the creation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful manifestation of this cultural subjectivity." He further noted, "With cultural subjectivity, we possess a firm sense of self in a cultural sense, and cultural self-confidence has a fundamental reliance." Cultural subjectivity not only constitutes the bedrock of cultural self-confidence but also manifests the "Five Prominent Characteristics" inherent in Chinese civilization, fully verifying that "Chinese civilization possesses a cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality that allows it to develop itself, respond to challenges, and open new horizons." General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the new concept of "upholding exchange and mutual learning among civilizations," requiring the Communist Party of China to "commit to promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations and advancing the progress of human civilization." By grasping the laws of civilizational interaction from the height of world history, this concept breaks through the traditional shackles of the "clash of civilizations" theory, reshapes the theoretical framework and practical logic for deepening the diversity of civilizations in historical materialism, and innovatively develops the Marxist view of civilization. Treatises such as those on the "coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations" and the idea that "the 'Second Combination' ^[10] provides the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics with a more expansive and profound historical depth and expands the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics" have perfected the dialectical relationship between culture and social development. They demonstrate that culture and social development do not exist in a relationship of unidirectional determination; rather, they have inaugurated a New Form of Human Civilization characterized by subjectivity and vitality.

IV. The Theoretical Basis and Practical Logic of the Innovative Development of Historical Materialism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

The aforementioned discussions demonstrate the rich and important innovative developments that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has contributed to historical materialism. To explore why it has been able to make such contributions—that is, how these contents constitute original contributions—one must approach the issue from the dual dimensions of theory and practice. We must deeply excavate its inheritance and development of the basic principles of historical materialism, exploring how it achieves theoretical breakthroughs based on the questions of the times. Simultaneously, we must attend to the practical dimension, examining the unique logic formed in the process of solving the actual problems of contemporary China.

1. The theoretical basis and practical logic for continuously deepening the systematic understanding of the methodological principles and laws of historical research

The reason Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved original development in the methodological principles of historical research lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound grasp of the dialectical laws of historical development and the practical requirements of the New Era.

The firm establishment of a Great View of History ^[11] is a major theoretical innovation proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, guided by Marxist historical dialectics and based on a profound grasp of historical laws. Its essence lies in breaking through the spatial and temporal limitations of traditional historical research, situating historical events within broad historical periods and long historical cycles for investigation. It scientifically recognizes the dialectical unity of historical necessity and contingency. In evaluating historical events, it both fully considers the constraints of specific historical conditions and profoundly reveals the objective laws of historical development, demonstrating an expansive historical vision and a high degree of historical consciousness. This innovative method analyzes the mechanisms of historical evolution through the unification of multidimensional perspectives—the long river of history, the tides of the times, and global fluctuations. Through a dialectical way of thinking that traces the past to connect with the future, it constructs a scientific and systematic system of historical cognition that links antiquity to the present. From a practical dimension, the formation of the Great View of History is based on the practical needs of governance in the New Era. Facing the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s profound changes unseen in a century, the Great View of History provides scientific guidance for grasping historical trends and planning development strategies. Firmly establishing a Great View of History both upholds the basic principles of historical materialism and embodies new contemporary connotations and practical requirements.

"Chinese Communists are not historical nihilists or cultural nihilists," ^[12] but are historical materialists who always uphold the high unity of Party spirit, scientific rigor, and the people-centered nature. This position is centrally manifested in the resistance against historical nihilism, providing a fundamental compliance for us to strengthen our historical confidence and enhance our theoretical armor. This inspires us to realize that to discern historical laws, we must clear the source (zhengben qingyuan), use history as a mirror for the present, and grasp the truth through the continuous strengthening of ideological leadership and the promotion of our capacity for theoretical discernment.

The innovative development in the method of analyzing basic social contradictions stems from a profound understanding of historical materialism. On the one hand, it accurately understands the core essence of the Marxist law governing the movement of basic social contradictions, recognizing the internal unity between the two sets of contradictions: the productive forces and the relations of production, and the economic base and the superstructure. On the other hand, based on the needs of reform in the New Era, it reveals the profound law that "reform is always on the road." This innovation provides a systematic method for understanding the transformation of relations of production and the adjustment of the superstructure triggered by the development of productive forces, guiding the comprehensive deepening of reform to continuously promote institutional perfection. The problems faced by development in the New Era are characterized by greater complexity and uncertainty, necessitating a breakthrough from the cognitive limitations of viewing contradictions in isolation. Meanwhile, achieving high-quality development also requires the establishment of a more coordinated institutional system, which necessitates grasping the interactive relationship of basic social contradictions from a holistic perspective. This innovation provides a scientific basis for understanding the systemic and continuous nature of reform.

2. The theoretical basis and practical logic for continuously deepening the systematic understanding of historical subjects and the laws of social development

The formation of the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regarding historical subjects and social development possesses a profound theoretical basis and practical logic. It originates from the creative application of the basic principles of historical materialism and is rooted in the vivid practice of China’s development in the New Era.

From the perspective of theoretical foundations, the originality of these innovative achievements is manifested in the historical expansion and paradigmatic innovation of historical materialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping has not only profoundly grasped the essence of such basic principles as "the people are the creators of history" and "the productive forces determine the relations of production," but has also achieved major breakthroughs in theory and practice. He has creatively transformed the classical thought on the subjectivity of the people into a system of governance with Chinese characteristics and revolutionarily developed traditional theory of productive forces into a future-oriented theory of new quality productive forces. This theoretical character of achieving breakthroughs through inheritance and upholding the fundamentals while breaking new ground allows historical materialism to demonstrate new theoretical heights and practical depths.

From the perspective of practical sources, these innovative achievements originate from the systematic understanding, essential insight, and systemic extraction of the practice of China's development in the New Era. Based on the rich practice of Chinese-path modernization, General Secretary Xi Jinping has sublimated the fundamental position of upholding the supremacy of the people from the modernization process in which the Party led the people through revolution, construction, and reform. He extracted the New Development Philosophy from the practical exploration of solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, and condensed the theory of new quality productive forces from the developmental practice of achieving holistic breakthroughs and historical leaps in social productive forces. This theoretical innovation—originating from Chinese practice, solving Chinese problems, and guiding Chinese development—both embodies the practical character of Marxism and highlights the original value of the theory.

From the perspective of contemporary value, these innovative achievements stem from an accurate grasp of the historical coordinates and strategic leadership for future development. The concept of "people centeredness" (renmin zhishang) is a core governing philosophy that General Secretary Xi Jinping condensed by drawing wisdom from the creative practices of the masses, based on China's national conditions and contemporary characteristics, and sublimating the Marxist mass view of history. The New Development Philosophy is a strategic guide for responding to development challenges, while new quality productive forces serve as an important focal point for achieving high-quality development based on the historical opportunities of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. These theoretical innovations have both accurately grasped the historical orientation of the New Era and prospectively led the future development path, highlighting General Secretary Xi Jinping’s historical insight and strategic foresight.

3. The theoretical basis and practical logic for continuously deepening the systematic understanding of the laws of civilizational progress

There are three main reasons why the theoretical innovations of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regarding civilizational progress constitute original contributions.

First is the creative development at the level of social structure and social organism theory. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives are based on the fundamental principle of historical materialism that social structure is the necessary product of the modes of production and exchange; they profoundly grasp the dynamic laws of the interaction between internal elements of the social organism. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan innovatively develops the Marxist theory of the social organism, particularly by incorporating ecological civilization construction as an important dimension of social development, thereby expanding the connotation of traditional social structure theory and forming a more complete and systematic theoretical framework for modern social development. The Four Comprehensives construct a systematic plan for promoting the healthy development of the social organism from four key dimensions: the staged goals of the social organism's development, the internal mechanism for the social organism's self-perfection, the institutional guarantee for the social organism's operation, and the ensuring of the correct direction for the social organism's development. This expands and innovates the theory of the social organism in the practical dimension. The Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives both construct a theoretical paradigm for social development with Chinese characteristics and advance it from a theoretical analytical framework into an operational practical system, answering the contemporary question of how a socialist country can promote the coordinated development of the social organism.

Second is the paradigmatic transcendence at the level of civilizational development theory. To begin with, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved an important breakthrough in cultural oncology, making innovative assertions regarding "cultural self-confidence" and "cultural subjectivity." It elucidates that cultural subjectivity is the bedrock of cultural self-confidence, emphasizing the persistence and consciousness regarding one’s own cultural roots and core values against the backdrop of an era of diverse cultural exchanges and collisions. It points out that only by establishing cultural subjectivity can one profoundly recognize the value and vitality of one’s own culture and form a spiritual composure (dingli) based on the laws of cultural development. This new understanding of the status and role of culture innovatively develops the theoretical connotation of Marxism regarding the counter-reaction of culture. Furthermore, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved a paradigm shift in the view of civilizational development. The concept of "exchange and mutual learning among civilizations" fundamentally breaks through the limitations of thinking such as the "clash of civilizations" theory. It profoundly clarifies that civilizational diversity is the driving force of human progress, and that equal dialogue and mutual learning between different civilizations are necessary requirements for the historical development of human society. This innovation both upholds the basic position of historical materialism and expands the scope and content of civilizational interaction within the Marxist vision. Additionally, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved theoretical innovation in the driving mechanism of cultural development, systematically revealing the composite role of culture as a developmental kinetic energy at the spiritual, practical, and innovative levels, thereby adding new contemporary content to the principle of cultural counter-reaction in historical materialism. Finally, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved major innovation in cultural development strategies. "General Secretary Xi Jinping excavates the points of value convergence between different civilizations" and proposed the important thesis of the "Two Combinations," which "established the subjective status and intersubjective relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, achieving an organic link between the traditional and the modern." This has formed a scientific methodology for the innovative development of culture, providing a fundamental compliance for our formulation of cultural development strategies. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has pushed historical materialism to demonstrate new explanatory power and practical vitality in the cultural field, representing an original contribution of Marxist cultural theory in the 21st century.

Third is the leading innovation at the practical level of the New Form of Human Civilization. This is mainly manifested in the establishment of a new paradigm for the path of modernization, using the practice of Chinese-path modernization to break the...

The myth that "modernization equals Westernization" has been shattered, initiating a new development model characterized by the coordination of material and spiritual civilizations and the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. This model has produced the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, successfully avoiding dilemmas such as polarization and ecological crises inherent in the process of Western modernization. Regarding the development of civilizations, it has blazed a new path; through concrete practices such as the "Belt and Road" Initiative ^[13], it promotes the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, forming a new paradigm of civilizational interaction based on win-win cooperation. It has reshaped the pattern of civilizational exchange through equal dialogue and mutual learning. In terms of global governance, it contributes new solutions, promoting the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction through a global governance outlook based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, demonstrating the robust vitality of a new type of international relations. These original new explorations have expanded the frontiers of socialist practice, reshaped the coordinate system of human civilizational development, and injected powerful vitality into the development of 21st-century Marxism.

Conclusion

Historical materialism is a scientific theoretical system abstracted and refined from the observation and study of human history; it is a grasp of the general laws of human social development. The original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism possess significant epochal meaning for our understanding of the general trend of China's development, our comprehension of the laws of historical development, and the writing of a new chapter of contemporary Chinese historical materialism. It inspires us to further focus on the human world and the existence of "real individuals" ^[14], to deeply understand that social life is essentially practical, to bring the historical perspective back to the perspective of real individuals, and to continuously deepen humanity's historical cognition of its own development and social development. Moreover, it encourages us to take China's reality as the starting point for research, deepening our understanding, grasping laws, and actively applying them within social practice. We must cultivate a sharp problem-oriented consciousness ^[15] and a high degree of focus on reality, continuously strengthening historical thinking, enhancing historical initiative ^[16], maintaining historical patience ^[17], firming up historical confidence, and drawing from historical experience and wisdom. In practical exploration, we must continuously verify and expand the significant value of historical materialism, actively promoting new developments in all undertakings of the Party and the state.