Abstract:

The initial aspect of the Chinese people' s acceptance and identification of Marxist philosophy was its materialistic interpretation of history; however, the connection of this fact with the historical soil supplied by traditional Chinese philosophy was neglected in past studies. The traditional Chinese conception of history taking aim at "comprehensively grasping ancient and present changes" is quite similar with the materialistic interpretation of history in many respects; for example, affirming historical progress and changes, paying attention to the economic factor and mass strength, and exploring objectivity of the historical tendency and unity of the tendency and historical laws. All this provide an intellectual soil for accepting and identifying the materialistic interpretation of history.

Key words: traditional Chinese conception of history, materialistic interpretation of history