Li Guoqiang: Strengthening Cultural Confidence and Striving to Build Modern Chinese Civilization and Human Civilization | China | The Chinese Nation
Editor's note: On July 18th, the 2023 China Network Civilization Conference Network Content Construction Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian Province. The theme of this forum is "Shining Ideology, Leading the Journey of Civilization in the Era", aiming to strengthen the guidance of cyberspace ideology, uphold integrity and innovation, and promote the online dissemination of the Party's innovative theories, solidly promoting the construction of network civilization.
The following is the speech made by Li Guoqiang, Vice President of the Chinese Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the keynote speech session of "Glory Journey and Tell a Good Story of Chinese path to modernization".
I was fortunate enough to listen to General Secretary's important speech on site, not only deeply feeling his passionate feelings for the history and culture of the motherland, but also deeply realizing General Secretary's great ideological power. Here, I would like to share some insights with everyone.
These five outstanding characteristics are not only the comprehensive grasp and profound revelation of the characteristics of Chinese culture and the spiritual character of Chinese civilization, but also the profound thinking and grand planning based on the innovative culture of Chinese path to modernization, laying a solid ideological, theoretical and practical foundation for the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
In the history of world civilization development, many excellent cultural forms have been interrupted or disappeared due to various reasons, such as the glorious Babylonian culture, which became dim due to the invasion of the Hittites, Galatians, and Assyrian Empire; The dazzling ancient Greek culture was dormant for thousands of years due to the invasions of Persians, Macedonians, and Germanic peoples; The Haraba culture, known as the "source of Indus civilization," was completely destroyed due to the invasion of the Aryans; The ancient Egyptian culture, known as the gift of the Nile, was completely unrecognizable due to the successive invasions of the Hiksos, Libyans, Nubians, Assyrians, Persians, and Romans. Chinese civilization is the only uninterrupted human civilization. In the thousands of years of historical process, under the mutual stirring and infiltration of agricultural civilization, nomadic civilization, and marine civilization, Chinese civilization has continuously opened up new ideas and continued to extend, maintaining strong vitality. Continuity fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation will inevitably follow its own path. If we do not understand China from its long-standing historical continuity, it is impossible to understand ancient China, modern China, and future China.
Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has been pursuing the spirit of "striving for daily renewal, daily renewal, and daily renewal", elucidating the ideological philosophy of "poverty leads to change, change leads to success, and continuity leads to longevity", and giving birth to the reform political theory of "governing the world differently, benefiting the country without following the ancient laws". Innovation fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation, which upholds integrity and respect the past without returning to it. It also determines the fearless character of the Chinese nation, which is not afraid of new challenges and dares to accept new things.
China has a vast territory and numerous ethnic groups. Since the unification of the six states by Qin, the Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties have maintained a "great unity" under a centralized political system. The concept of "Great Unity" nourishes the emotions of the Chinese nation, consolidates the hearts of the Chinese nation, strengthens the identity of the Chinese nation, and continuously injects spiritual strength into forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation. Unity fundamentally determines the integration of various ethnic cultures of the Chinese nation, and the firm cohesion even in the face of major setbacks. It also determines the common belief that national territory cannot be separated, the country cannot be chaotic, the nation cannot be separated, and civilization cannot be interrupted. It determines that national unity will always be the core interest of China, and that a strong and unified country is the fate of all ethnic groups.
The Chinese nation has always adhered to the concept of "selflessly covering the sky, selflessly carrying the earth, and selflessly shining the sun and moon", demonstrating a broad and inclusive mind that embraces all rivers, endowing Chinese civilization with significant characteristics of inclusiveness and diversity. Inclusion 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 mindedness of Chinese culture in embracing world civilization.
"Harmony but diversity" is the creed of the Chinese nation, "harmony among nations" is the aspiration of the Chinese nation, "universal harmony" is the ideal of the Chinese nation, and "harmony is precious" and "integration of all directions" is the distinctive character of the Chinese nation. Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions brought about friendly exchanges between the Central Plains and various ethnic groups in the Western Regions; Gan Ying's mission to ancient Rome brought about the interconnection of Eastern and Western civilizations; Zheng He set sail for 90000 miles on seven voyages to the West, covering more than 30 countries and regions in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the east coast of Africa, spreading Chinese civilization far and wide. Peace fundamentally determines that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a maintainer of international order. It also determines that China continuously pursues cultural exchange and mutual learning rather than cultural hegemony. It also determines that China will not impose its own values and political system on others. It also determines that China adheres to cooperation, does not engage in confrontation, and will never engage in a small circle of "same party and differences".
The five outstanding characteristics of the Chinese civilization profoundly indicate that the excellent traditional culture of China is the wisdom crystallization and essence of the Chinese civilization, the root and soul of the Chinese nation, the source of the construction of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the nation, and the foundation for us to stand firm in the turmoil of world culture.
The diversity of human civilization is a fundamental characteristic of the world and a source of human progress. The subjectivity of Chinese culture and the innovation of Chinese culture in keeping with the times have created a unique character and demeanor of the Chinese nation, marking what China is and what the Chinese nation is, so that Chinese civilization always stands tall in the forest of world civilization. At the same time, the Chinese nation is good at absorbing the essence of foreign cultures with the mind of embracing all rivers and seas, so that the Chinese civilization has always been full of vitality. It not only forged a more basic, broader and deeper cultural confidence of the Chinese nation, gathered into the most basic, deepest and lasting strength of the Chinese nation, but also made significant contributions to the cause of human civilization and progress.
"Working together to create a new culture that belongs to our era and building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation" is the clearest and loudest voice of the era that was spoken at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development. The great command of "building modern civilization of the Chinese nation" has been passed down through the ages and guides the future. To create a new form of human civilization with Chinese path to modernization, we must base ourselves on the great historical practice and contemporary practice of the Chinese nation, sum up Chinese experience with Chinese principles, upgrade Chinese experience to Chinese theory, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture, endow the ancient Chinese civilization with the characteristics of the times that are more lively and full of vitality, so as to provide Chinese solutions and contribute Chinese wisdom to the cause of human civilization.
The best inheritance of history is to create new history; the greatest respect for human civilization is to create new forms of human civilization. This important discourse responds to the continuous flow of the 5000 year history of Chinese civilization, and leads the great river of Chinese civilization forward with magnificent and heroic power. We must shoulder a new cultural mission, strive for success, and work together to create a new culture that belongs to our era.
[Topic] 2023 China Network Civilization Conference Network Content Construction Forum
