Shouldering the New Era and New Cultural Mission, Building the Modern Civilization Era of the Chinese Nation | Culture | The Chinese Nation
Author: Tang Zhouyan
General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development highly summarized the five outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization, profoundly clarified the significance of the "two combinations", and clearly proposed to continue to promote cultural prosperity at a new historical starting point. The task of building a cultural power and building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation is for us to continuously deepen our understanding of the regularity of cultural construction, and always strengthen cultural self-confidence and self-improvement, it is of great practical significance to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way.
1. Deeply understand and grasp the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization
Chinese culture has a long and rich history, and Chinese civilization is vast and profound.A profound understanding and grasp of these prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization will help us inherit the long and colorful history of Chinese civilization, and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
Chinese civilization has outstanding continuity. Chinese civilization is the only civilization in the world that has not been cut off, and can be regarded as a miracle in the history of human civilization. Chinese civilization has a long and rich history. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, a hundred schools of thought and unprecedented prosperity emerged in ancient Chinese culture, laying the foundation and direction of Chinese culture. The Qin Dynasty achieved great unification, with the Han Dynasty, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties, Song and Yuan Dynasties, Ming and Qing Dynasties, and a continuous and prosperous cultural development. Since modern times, cultural exchanges between China and the West have continued to deepen, enriching Chinese civilization and promoting the integration and development of world civilization. The Chinese civilization has outstanding continuity, which fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation will inevitably follow its own path. We can only deeply understand ancient China, modern China, and future China by understanding China from the continuity of its long history and culture.
Chinese civilization has outstanding innovation. In the long history of over 5000 years, the Chinese nation has demonstrated a strong spirit of innovation and creativity. From art to technology, from ideas to objects, from culture to institutions, all have created brilliant history and brilliant achievements. In terms of ideology, renowned intellectual giants such as Laozi, Confucius, and Zhuangzi emerged; In science and technology, the the Four Great Inventions have profoundly affected the process of human civilization; In the history of architecture, great projects such as the Great Wall, Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, and the Forbidden City have emerged; In terms of culture and art, he has created great works such as the Book of Songs, Han Fu, Tang poetry, Song Ci, Yuan Qu, and Ming and Qing novels. Famous reforms in the history of our country, such as the Shang Yang Reform, Wang Anshi Reform, and the Wuxu Reform, all reflect the innovative consciousness of the Chinese nation to reform and forge ahead. The outstanding innovation of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation, which upholds the principles of integrity and respect for 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.
Chinese civilization has outstanding unity. The long and splendid Chinese civilization has become the spiritual bond that unites the Chinese nation. Both Mencius's "fixed unity" and Dong Zhongshu's "Spring and Autumn unification" regard unity as the most important and continuous content in Chinese political tradition. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the idea of unification has gradually occupied the core position of Chinese culture, rooted in the depths of people's hearts. All ethnic groups in China believe that division leads to the downfall of the country and the loss of life, while unity leads to shared peace and prosperity. Driven by this ideology and belief, although China has suffered from frequent wars and divisions in history, it still regards the pursuit and realization of unity as the normal development. The interweaving and mutual assistance of various ethnic groups have gradually formed a harmonious relationship. The prominent unity of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the common belief that the land cannot be separated, the country cannot be chaotic, the nation cannot be separated, and the civilization cannot be interrupted. It determines that national unity will always be the core of China's core interests, and that a strong and unified country is bound by the fate of all ethnic groups.
Chinese civilization has outstanding inclusiveness. Chinese civilization embraces all rivers, is vast and profound, advocates mutual respect, tolerance, and learning among different cultural forms, and never rejects any foreign culture. It can be said that diversity and inclusiveness are one of the core values of Chinese civilization. During the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, various schools of thought such as Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, and Mohism competed and created a brilliant pre Qin culture. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced to China and quickly became an integral part of Chinese culture. In history, the northern nomadic ethnic groups entered the mainland several times, and the cultures of various ethnic minorities later integrated into the Chinese national family. The ancient Silk Road has built a bridge for cultural exchange between China and countries and regions along the route, and the cultural achievements created by each country have gradually become an integral element of Chinese culture. After Marxism was introduced to China, it was organically combined with excellent traditional Chinese culture as a foreign culture, achieving the sinicization of Marxism. The prominent inclusiveness of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the historical orientation of communication, exchange, and integration of the Chinese nation, the harmonious pattern of diverse coexistence of various religious beliefs in China, and the open mind of Chinese culture to embrace world civilization.
Chinese civilization has outstanding peacefulness. The Chinese nation is a nation that loves peace, and Chinese culture advocates harmony. Peace, harmony, and harmony have always been pursued and passed down by the Chinese nation. The principle of being kind to neighbors and having one family under heaven has always been upheld by the Chinese nation. Throughout Chinese dynasties, "peace and prosperity" was the highest goal of governance, and "harmony among nations" was used to handle the relationships between different ethnic groups and countries. There is no gene in the blood of the Chinese nation to invade others and dominate. Chinese civilization advocates for having a broad mind for the world, standing up for oneself, upholding justice, and upholding justice. The prominent peacefulness of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a maintainer of international order.
2. Deeply understanding and grasping the "two combinations" is the "greatest magic weapon for us to achieve success"
General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out, "To open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, it is the only way to combine the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality and with China's excellent traditional culture. This is the understanding of regularity that we have drawn in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the greatest magic weapon for our success." A profound understanding and grasp of this important conclusion will help us to continuously cultivate and create socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the new era and promote the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
The combination of the two has made Marxism a part of China. Marxism is an irrefutable truth with universal applicability. But as Engels said, "Marx's entire worldview is not a doctrine, but a method." Marxism must be combined with the specific realities and historical and cultural traditions of various countries in order to demonstrate vitality and vigor. During the various historical periods of China's revolution, construction and reform, the CPC insisted on combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality, continued to promote the modernization of Marxism in China, and created one human miracle after another that has made history. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with the spirit of great historical initiative, our party has continuously deepened its understanding of the laws of the Communist Party's governance, socialist construction, and human social development. We have become more conscious of the need to further integrate Marxism with the excellent traditional Chinese culture in the new era.
In the process of promoting the "second combination", our party has activated the long-standing Chinese civilization with the power of Marxist truth, and promoted the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture with a scientific perspective and method, so that Chinese civilization can once again flourish. At the same time, the excellent traditional Chinese culture also provides rich cultural nourishment to Marxism, giving Chinese Marxism a "certain national form" and "Chinese characteristics", endowing it with a distinct Chinese style, Chinese atmosphere, and contemporary connotation. The combination of the two has created a new cultural life form, making Marxism not only Chinese, but also contemporary. It has enabled us to grasp the initiative of thought and culture, better use the "arrow" of Marxism to shoot at contemporary China, timely answer major theoretical and practical problems faced by the new era, and better use Marxism to lead the prosperity and development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, promoting the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
The combination of the two makes "excellent traditional Chinese culture modern". The Chinese civilization has lasted for over 5000 years and has developed to this day. In order to better adapt to modernization construction, exchange and learn from civilizations around the world on the international stage, and demonstrate its permanent charm on a global scale, the excellent traditional Chinese culture should not only be ancient and Chinese, but also modern and global. It needs to be further combined with Marxism. Only through the combination of the two, especially the application of Marxist perspective and methods, can we strengthen the excavation and elucidation of excellent traditional Chinese culture, and promote the Chinese civilization that transcends time and space, borders, and is full of eternal charm, so as to enable it to transcend time and space, showcase global value, and demonstrate the world significance of excellent traditional Chinese culture.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in the historical process of promoting the "two combinations", excellent traditional Chinese culture has been endowed with new era connotations through creative transformation and innovative development, adapted to contemporary culture and coordinated with modern society, demonstrating distinct contemporary values. In the new era, our party has successfully promoted and expanded Chinese path to modernization, provided a Chinese plan and Chinese wisdom for human modernization, in which the rich ideas, humanistic spirit and moral norms contained in the excellent traditional Chinese culture are condensed, making the excellent traditional Chinese culture go to the world imperceptibly. At the same time, our party has also integrated the values of China's excellent traditional culture, such as the Great Harmony and Harmony of Nations, into the diplomacy of major countries, promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and promoting the transformation of China's excellent traditional culture into a global and modern one. This has laid a solid foundation for us to build a new form of human civilization and a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
The combination of the two forms and sublimates the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Our party has always adhered to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality, which undoubtedly includes the reality of Chinese culture in different periods. After the basic completion of socialist transformation, Comrade Mao Zedong proposed the "second combination" when he began to explore the path of "Chinese style" socialist construction. At the beginning of the reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly proposed: "Combine the universal truth of Marxism with the specific realities of our country, follow our own path, and build socialism with Chinese characteristics." Our party led the people to continuously deepen the reform and opening up, forming the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
It is the essence of the times of Chinese culture, contains distinctive Chinese cultural characteristics and eternal Chinese cultural values, and provides spiritual impetus and fundamental compliance for the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture and the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
The "two combinations" not only consolidate the foundation of the road and make the socialist road with Chinese characteristics have a broader and deeper historical depth, but also expand the cultural foundation of the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, giving Chinese path to modernization a profound cultural support. "The combination of the two" allows us to fully utilize the precious resources of excellent traditional Chinese culture in a broader cultural space, explore future oriented theoretical and institutional innovation. It is a profound summary of our party's historical experience in the sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and a profound grasp of the development laws of Chinese civilization. It indicates that our party's understanding of the Chinese path, theory, and system has reached a new height, indicating that our party's historical and cultural confidence has reached a new height, and that our party's consciousness in promoting cultural innovation in inheriting excellent traditional Chinese culture has reached a new height.
3. Building modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new historical starting point
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has continuously deepened his understanding of the laws of socialist cultural construction, and put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints and new judgments. This is a scientific summary of the practical experience of the party's leadership in cultural construction in the new era. An important part of the socialist ideology with Chinese characteristics provides a fundamental basis for continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a cultural power, and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new historical starting point.
Adhere to the "two combinations". In the process of two-way interaction and empowerment, the combination of the two has promoted the sinicization and modernization of Marxism, as well as the globalization and modernization of excellent traditional Chinese culture. Therefore, in order to build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must resolutely continue to adhere to the "two combinations". Under the guidance of the basic principles of Marxism, we should inherit and promote the reasonable core of Chinese excellent traditional culture that transcends time and space and has eternal value, and continuously enrich the connotation of Marxism with the values and concepts of Chinese excellent traditional culture. Continuously exploring and elucidating the contemporary value of excellent traditional Chinese culture, promoting its adaptation to modern society, truly realizing its creative transformation and innovative development, and consolidating the foundation of cultural confidence. Identify the intersection and connection between the basic principles of Marxism and excellent traditional Chinese culture, build a solid foundation of cultural confidence, and enable Chinese culture to better enter the world, becoming an important force leading the trend of world civilization.
Follow the objective laws of cultural construction. The development of anything has its own laws. To build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must meet the needs of Chinese path to modernization and follow the objective laws of cultural construction.To build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must, on the basis of advancing Chinese path to modernization, adhere to the law of socialist cultural construction, adhere to the Party's overall leadership over cultural work, adhere to the guidance of the Party's innovative theory in the new era, adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, and adhere to the work orientation of taking the people as the center. Strengthen education on ideals and beliefs, promote the great spirit of building the Party, cultivate and practice socialist core values, promote the prosperous development of cultural undertakings and industries, strengthen the sense of community of the Chinese nation, and continuously enrich the spiritual world of the people.
Strengthen cultural confidence. Only when a nation is full of confidence in its cultural traditions, cultural concepts, and value system, as well as in the innovative vitality, creative potential, and development resilience of its own culture, can it consciously adhere to its national cultural stance, adhere to its national cultural traditions, and continue its national cultural bloodline. To better shoulder the new cultural mission and build modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new historical starting point, we must always maintain cultural confidence. To accurately grasp the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, deeply understand that this is the source of the never-ending power of Chinese civilization, and the fundamental reason why Chinese civilization has become the only uninterrupted civilization in the world; A profound understanding of the revolutionary culture and socialist advanced culture formed by the Party's leadership in the long-term struggle of the people is a precious spiritual wealth and strong spiritual driving force for the Party and the people to continue advancing; We will implement firm cultural confidence into specific practices and missions, promote the construction of a cultural power and a new era of civilization, and continuously elevate the cultural cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics to new heights.
Adhere to openness and inclusiveness. The sea embraces all rivers, and the capacity is great. Openness and inclusiveness provide vast space for human civilization and symbiosis, shoulder new cultural missions, and build modern civilization of the Chinese nation. It is necessary to treat all human civilizations with an open and inclusive attitude. Respect the diversity of world civilizations, understand the value connotations of different civilizations with a broad mind, advocate for the coexistence of civilizations, and oppose cultural hegemony; Promote exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, transcend cultural barriers through cultural exchanges, and transcend cultural conflicts through cultural mutual learning, making human civilization more diverse and colorful; With an open and inclusive attitude towards world civilization, we absorb and draw on all the excellent achievements of human civilization, promote the localization of foreign cultures, continuously cultivate and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and continuously enhance the soft power and international influence of Chinese culture.
Adhere to integrity and innovation. Adhering to integrity and innovation is the natural gene of excellent traditional Chinese culture, and it is the successful code passed down by the Chinese civilization. To uphold righteousness, we must adhere to the position of Marxism and its guiding position in the field of ideology, so as to promote the prosperity and development of Chinese culture in the right direction; We must also adhere to the position of Chinese culture, uphold its timeless and timeless philosophical ideas, humanistic spirit, and moral concepts, and consistently inherit the bloodline of Chinese national civilization. Innovation is to be based on the reality of contemporary China, combined with the conditions of the current era, handle the relationship between inheritance and development, and do a good job in the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional culture, endowing Chinese civilization with new era connotations. We must innovate and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics while coordinating the two overall situations, scientifically answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, and continuously forge new brilliance in Chinese culture.
Guangming Daily
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