Abstract: The modern transformation of traditional Chinese economic thought is an important path for building China's independent economic knowledge system.Since the beginning of the modern era,the academic community has made outstanding contributions from the perspective of refining iconic concepts,yet existing studies lack a comprehensive review and analysis of this process.This paper,based on research methods such as the history of Chinese economic thought,hermeneutics,and the history of concepts,builds a theoretical framework and provides a systematic summary according to a chronological clue.The findings show that: (1) The modern transformation of traditional Chinese economic thought can be identified and analyzed from three dimensions: the purpose of modern transformation,the connection before and after the modern transformation,and the adaptability of new concepts.(2) In the evolution,three stages were shown: preliminary exploration (1840—1949),gradual development (1949—2012),and conscious construction (from 2012 to the present).These stages have nurtured a series of iconic concepts such as “Economics”,“People's Livelihood Economics”,“Establishing the Country through Industry”,“the Three Great Doctrines”,“Major Diversion”,“Moderate Prosperity”,and “Chinese Economics”.(3) The three stages reflect the transition from introducing,choosing,and reflecting on the Western economic knowledge system to building China's independent economic knowledge system.This transition mainly involves extrapolating and imbuing new meanings,moving to a parallel approach where this process coexists with logically explaining,summarizing,and evaluating old concepts.It has had a wide and profound impact,and has accumulated valuable experiences in grasping the needs of the times,excavating modern values,expanding research methods,and enhancing social support.(4) We should continue to follow the guiding principles of the “Two Combinations” and the “Second Combination”,promote the theorization and systematization of iconic concepts,fully play the supporting role of the social subject,enhance the effectiveness of external communication,and thereby promote the innovation of traditional thought facing the future and the dissemination of Chinese discourse.