The inherent knowledge attributes of humanities disciplines serve as the logical starting point and crucial foundation for their development. From the perspective of these attributes, the impartation of knowledge aims at value cultivation, while the knowledge evolution displays a nonlinear progression. The internal knowledge composition exhibits high holisticness and connectiveness, and its research methodology prioritizes on understanding and interpretation. Furthermore, the research mode is characterized by long cycles, slow output, and a preference for individual study. Currently, humanities in China face multiple tensions, including those between tradition and innovation, China and the West, epistemology and political theory, and humanities and technologies. To achieve high-quality and long-term development of humanities in China, it is necessary, based on their inherent knowledge attributes, to foster a diverse and favorable disciplinary ecosystem, promote the integration and mutual learning of humanities and sciences, adapt to the social needs and respond to challenges confronted by the society, and steadfastly uphold the “humanism” inherent in the humanities.