Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] This paper re-examines the disciplinary orientation and contemporary mission of philology, expounds its fundamental role in building philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and responds to the new requirements imposed on philology by the digital era and the strategy for building a culturally strong country. [Design/Methodology] From a historical perspective, this paper reviews the academic tradition of "continuity and innovation" in Chinese philology. From a realistic perspective, it analyzes the practical significance of philology in serving the national cultural strategy, preserving local documents, and promoting the revitalization and utilization of documentary heritage. From a future perspective, it explores the development approach of philology in constructing its independent knowledge system. [Findings/Conclusion] Philology not only fulfills its fundamental role of "discerning scholarly traditions and tracing intellectual origins" in sustaining the cultural lineage, but also achieves the creative transformation of documents from"dusty archives" to "dynamic resources" through systematic collation of national and local documentary heritage and integration with digital technologies. Going forward, on the basis of consolidating its disciplinary foundation and advancing methodological innovations, philology will develop an academic paradigm with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese spirit, rooted in its native context while oriented toward the world. [Originality/Value] This paper proposes an academic path for philology to advance from "a discipline of instrumental utility" to "a discipline of ideological profundity", thereby providing theoretical support for constructing China's independent knowledge system and accelerating the building of a great socialist culture in China.

Keywords: Philology, Philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, Digital humanities, Independent knowledge system, Cultural heritage