Do not only observe the unchanged and ignore its changes. [Continuation of Historical Context to Compose Contemporary Huazhang] Examine the Continuation of Civilization Culture | China | Huazhang

History is the capital and expansion of spirit, while thought is the condensation and sublimation of civilization. In the new era and on the new journey, we must build a new atmosphere of Chinese culture and stimulate new vitality of Chinese civilization through upholding integrity and innovation.

"Proactively recognize, explain, and define oneself"

The development of a country and the continuation of a nation cannot be separated from the tracing of existing history and the promotion of its own civilization.

Looking at the six primary forms of civilization in the world, only the Chinese civilization is in a continuous line. Apart from objective geographical and climatic factors, in terms of internal factors, the life genes and cultural genes of the Chinese nation continue to exist, and their inheritance and development are interdependent.

The Chinese nation has long emphasized the use of historical means and carriers to speak, inherit memories, and promote identity. The transmission of myths and legends such as "N ü wa mends the sky", "Jingwei fills the sea", and "Dayu controls the water" from generation to generation reflects the efforts of self construction.

Starting from this, creating Chinese wisdom, promoting Chinese spirit, consolidating Chinese strength, and adhering to the Chinese path require a deep understanding of Chinese civilization. The precious cultural resources contained in the more than 5000 years of Chinese civilization history have their own characteristics and are internally aggregated into a conceptual system, ensuring that Chinese civilization has withstood repeated impacts without losing its color, solidified its foundation, and kept pace with the times. It is open, inclusive, and advocates peace, nourishing the centenary Party and laying a solid foundation for the opening up and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has been thinking about a series of major issues such as the origin, formation, development, characteristics, form and innovation of Chinese civilization. At the opening ceremony of the Asian Civilization Dialogue Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping summarized the basic characteristics of Chinese civilization from four aspects, namely, "Kindness, benevolence, good neighbors, and harmony are the consistent way of Chinese civilization. The distinctive value orientation of Chinese civilization, innovation and advancement with the times are the eternal spiritual temperament of Chinese civilization, and the natural law and the unity of man and nature are the inherent survival concepts of Chinese civilization".

General Secretary Xi Jinping also summarized the contemporary value of Chinese civilization from four dimensions, namely, "the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation", "the foundation of contemporary Chinese culture", "maintaining the spiritual bond of Chinese people all over the world" and "the treasure of Chinese cultural innovation".

A few days ago, General Secretary Xi Jinping refined the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization from five levels, and emphasized that "to open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the basis of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization, and to integrate the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality and Chinese excellence. Combining traditional culture is the only way".

This demonstrates the high level of civilization and cultural consciousness of the centenary Party, reflects the ability of the Chinese nation to actively recognize, explain, and define itself, and demonstrates that our Party has reached a new level and realm in the innovation and construction of socialist cultural theory with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

"Never just observe the same and ignore its changes"

In the process of evolution, Chinese civilization has formed a unique spiritual world for the Chinese people, giving birth to vigorous vitality in the same lineage. Among them, the prominent continuity is inherent in the historical consciousness that the Chinese nation is accustomed to, and the prominent innovation is the driving force for the vitality of Chinese civilization.

Outstanding continuity shapes a unique spiritual identity——

Chinese ancestors throughout history were adept at touching the pulse of change through persistence and sketching enduring traces through change. Sima Qian, a historian of the Western Han Dynasty, wrote the monumental work "Records of the Grand Historian", which set the ultimate goal of "exploring the relationship between heaven and humanity, and understanding the changes of ancient and modern times". At the same time, the Chinese nation deeply understands the essence of "learning from the past and understanding the present". Sima Guang, a famous minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, devoted himself to the rise and fall of the country, the concerns of the people, and the virtues that can serve as laws and the vices that can serve as precepts. He compiled the imperial masterpiece "Zizhi Tongjian" with the aim of "considering the past, having the ability to govern".

The Chinese nation has endowed Chinese history with endless political and humanistic significance through the dual writing of values and ethics of benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and trustworthiness, as well as political ethics of practical application. This kind of meaning endows not only the recording of history, but also the interpretation and creation of history. As a result, the continuity of Chinese civilization is timeless, new and new day by day. Therefore, Chinese people value history, learn from it, and respect it. Chinese civilization has been advancing continuously for five thousand years.

A deep historical consciousness nurtures a firm historical consciousness, thereby demonstrating strong historical confidence.

Internalize outstanding innovation into fearless character——

When examining the continuation of civilization, it is important not to focus solely on its changes and neglect their changes. The dynamic changes are often the vitality of civilization, and the seemingly calm normalcy contains a qualitative change that emerged at the end of the Qingping era.

Throughout history, from ancient to modern times, both at home and abroad, it is impossible for the history of any country to move forward straight, and the civilization of any region is not always smooth sailing. The Chinese civilization, with its spirit of self-improvement and a strong spirit of innovation, constantly breaks through the challenges of mountains and rivers, and repeatedly welcomes the challenges of "hidden willows and bright flowers", thus possessing unparalleled creative ability and innovative consciousness.

The renewal of Chinese civilization includes both the backward and upward trend of returning to the original and opening up new styles, as Confucius said, "Yin gained and lost due to Xia Li, which is known; Zhou gained and lost due to Yin Li, which is known; or those who followed Zhou, which is known for centuries." There are also thunderous changes in the old and new styles, such as Shang Yang's advocacy of "governing the world in a different way, making the country not follow the ancient" and "legislating at that time, making rituals according to events", as well as great innovations that accompany the new style.

In particular, since the founding of the CPC, it has insisted on combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality and excellent traditional Chinese culture, observing the times, grasping the times and leading the times with Marxism. "This is the regular understanding we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and is the biggest magic weapon for our success.".

"Enrich oneself and also give to others"

Civilizations exchange due to diversity, learn from each other through exchange, and develop through mutual learning. The Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times. Through mutual exchange and learning with other civilizations, it has continuously radiated new vitality and contributed a profound ideological system, rich scientific and technological cultural and artistic achievements, and unique institutional creations to the world, profoundly influencing the process of human civilization.

Highlighting unity and strengthening community awareness——

Over time, the Chinese nation has developed a spirit of collectivism and formed a strong sense of community. In most cases, the larger the group, the higher the degree of social integration, the more developed the country, and the greater the living and development space for individuals and organizations. As a result, China became the earliest country in human history to achieve political unity. This is also a significant difference from the civilizations of West Asia, the two rivers, the Mediterranean, and the Americas.

A Chinese history is a history of various ethnic groups blending and converging into a diverse and integrated Chinese nation. It is a history of all ethnic groups working together to create, develop, and consolidate a unified great motherland. The reason why diversity is integrated stems from the inclusiveness of various ethnic cultures. The excellent traditional culture of each ethnic group is an integral part of Chinese culture, with Chinese culture as the backbone and various ethnic cultures as branches and leaves. Only when the roots are deep and strong can the branches and leaves flourish; Originating from economic interdependence, various ethnic groups rely on their unique ways of production and life, engage in deep communication with each other, and jointly develop the beautiful mountains and vast territories of the motherland. The magnificent style of the Qin and Han dynasties, the prosperous Tang dynasty, and the prosperous Kangxi and Qianlong periods are the brilliant achievements jointly created by all ethnic groups; Originating from emotional closeness, on the basis of jointly maintaining national security and social stability, resisting the infiltration and subversion of extreme separatist ideas, all ethnic groups have established a community concept of solidarity, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny.

Outstanding inclusivity shapes a grand pattern of civilization——

Civilization is like water, moistening things silently, flowing without dwelling, embracing all rivers in the sea, and enduring through inclusiveness. Chinese civilization is an open system that is willing and adept at constantly exchanging and learning from other civilizations. From ancient times to the present, Chinese civilization has adhered to the principles of learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses, selecting the right from the wrong, removing the wrong and preserving the true, enriching itself and also giving to others.

This kind of inclusiveness can be interpreted as a "double petal flower" pattern internally. "The Central Plains is the flower center, surrounded by the second layer of petals in the Ganqing, Liaohe, Shandong, and Yangtze River basins, and then outward is the third layer." From points to lines, it finally gathers into one. This growth trend of civilization determines that Chinese civilization has reached maturity through thousands of years of integration and evolution.

This inclusiveness is to fully absorb the fine works and essence of heterogeneous civilizations. For example, the Sanxingdui Site has many common characteristics of eastern and western civilizations, which can roughly infer that the ancestors of ancient Shu had contact with the civilizations of ancient India, Central Asia and even the two river basins. The significant value discovered at Sanxingdui should be understood from the perspective of world history.

This grand pattern fundamentally determines the historical orientation of communication, exchange, and integration of the Chinese nation, the harmonious pattern of diverse and coexisting religious beliefs in China, and the open mind of Chinese culture to embrace world civilization.

The prominent peacefulness is deeply melted in the bloodline——

Through the exchange of the ancient Silk Road, ancient Greek civilization, ancient Roman civilization, Mediterranean civilization, as well as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, etc., have successively entered China, integrating and coexisting with Chinese civilization, gradually achieving localization. It can be said that Chinese civilization is based on the worship of peace, which enables it to continuously derive and develop through inclusiveness and inclusiveness. This is also the confidence and root of our series of ideas and proposals in the new era, such as the "Community with a Shared Future for Humanity", "Civilization Exchange and Mutual Learning", "Common Values for All Humanity", "Global Development Initiative", "Global Security Initiative", "Global Civilization Initiative", etc.

For over five thousand years, Chinese civilization has nurtured a peaceful atmosphere of embracing the world and standing up for oneself. Contemporary China has an immensely broad stage of the times, a profound historical background, and an immensely powerful driving force for progress.