BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Three volumes of the Revitalization Library, a major cultural project approved by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, were recently published.
The five-volume library is themed on the great revival of the Chinese nation and keeps track of the history of thought. It systemically recounts the Chinese nation's glorious journey from weakness and poverty to national rejuvenation.
The library selects significant documents related to the national revival since the Opium War in 1840 and arranges them chronologically into five volumes.
The works collected in the first three volumes, consisting of 195 books, were created from 1840 to 1921, from 1921 to 1949, from 1949 to 1978, respectively. The fourth volume consists of works between 1978 and 2012, while the fifth volume compiles works since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. The two volumes are currently being compiled.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, wrote the foreword to the library. He pointed out that "the publication of this classic is of great significance for us to boost confidence in our history, grasp the trend of the times, follow the Chinese path, and promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization."
In the historical process of realizing the great national rejuvenation, the explorations, struggles, sacrifices and creations by generations of progressives and outstanding descendants of the Chinese nation have left behind a large number of precious documents of historical value and epochal significance, the foreword wrote.
The preparation of the project started as early as 2017, while the compilation was formally launched in January 2019, according to Zhou Xuanlong, executive director and Party chief of Zhonghua Book Company, which undertakes the compilation and publication of the library.
The project reflects China's self-confidence in its culture and self-improvement by upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground in the new era, Zhou said, adding that it will encourage further progress on the journey to rejuvenation.
In terms of content, the library focuses on vital documents, including published anthologies, selected archives, personal writings, newspaper articles, reports, and others that reflect the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Once finished, the five-volume library will have more than 300 books containing more than 110 million Chinese characters.
Experts said the publication of the first three volumes has profound historical and practical significance at this time, as China has embarked on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is on an irreversible historical course.
"In the new era and on a new journey, we must draw wisdom and strength from history," said Jin Chongji, general editor-in-chief of the library.
The compilation of this library carries forward the country's fine tradition of learning from the past and will help further promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said deputy general editor-in-chief Zheng Shiqu, also a history professor at the Beijing Normal University. ■
