Lin Jinping: Leading the Innovation of Marxist Theory in the New Era with the "Two Combinations"

Lin Jinping, Executive Dean of the Cultural Power Research Institute at Sun Yat-sen University, argues that fine traditional Chinese culture takes "emotion" (qing) ^[1] as its core thread, accumulating rich humanistic wisdom across dimensions such as emotional resonance, ethical construction, moral cultivation, and the shaping of belief. This possesses a deep internal affinity with the teleological values of Marxism, which pursues human liberation and well-rounded development. Consequently, by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture—one of the "Two Combinations" ^[2]—we can depart from the unique perspective of "emotion" to re-interpret and expand the theoretical connotations of core Marxist propositions regarding human essence, value, belief, and morality. This drives the innovative development of Marxism through its deep integration with Chinese civilization.