The construction of China's independent knowledge system is an indispensable means of developing philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics, and of advancing a Chinese path to modernization. This paper collates and organizes domestic and international literature on knowledge system research in order to elucidate the concept of independent knowledge system. It then presents an analytical framework for such a system, examines the historical development of China's independent knowledge system, and provides a summary of the environmental and developmental factors that have shaped this system. With the core topic of constructing China's independent knowledge system, an analytical framework is proposed for understanding China's independent knowledge system from three dimensions: practice, history and subject. Firstly, the practical dimension emphasizes that knowledge production is rooted in specific social practices. It is therefore evident that the existing Western knowledge system cannot be accepted or discarded in its entirety. Instead, it must be tested in practice to ascertain its suitability for the development needs of Chinese society. Secondly, the historical dimension reveals that the evolution of the knowledge system must be considered within the context of historical and cultural traditions. It is essential to respect these traditions while transforming the system into an independent Chinese knowledge system through the critical assimilation and localization of external knowledge. Thirdly, the subjective dimension considers the independence and distinctiveness of those engaged in the production and application of knowledge within a specific cultural, historical and social context. This should involve exploring localization pathways with Chinese characteristics, while seeking to balance the relationship between globalization and localization. This paper analyses the implications of knowledge system independence from the perspectives of knowledge production, knowledge evaluation and the construction of knowledge system. Furthermore, a model for the evolution of independence in the knowledge system is proposed and a historical account of the development of China's independent knowledge system in accordance with this model is offered. Finally, the paper argues that China's independent knowledge system is confronted with two significant challenges of globalization and path dependence. The core path for the development of China's independent knowledge system is based on local history and practice, breaking path dependence, fostering academic exchanges between China and the West, and accelerating the global dissemination of independent knowledge system.