Wang Yongjie: Deeply Understand the Philosophical Significance of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is rich in connotation, profound in discourse, rigorous in logic, and comprehensive in its system. It profoundly elucidates important content such as the guiding ideology, goals and tasks, responsibilities and missions, and functional values of cultural construction in the New Era. It reveals the mission, objectives, and implementation paths of cultural construction, shining with the light of truth from dialectical materialism and historical materialism. To comprehensively understand and profoundly grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, one must apply the method of dialectical analysis to deeply handle its inherent characteristics and fully recognize the profound philosophical implications contained within this theoretical system.
Adhering to the "root" and "soul" to form a new understanding of cultural work in the New Era. Marxist cultural theory is an important component of Marxist doctrine and constitutes the "soul" of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. In the process of studying philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism, the classical Marxist authors took historical materialism as their theoretical foundation to profoundly elucidate the foundations of human cultural generation, as well as the basic connotations, main characteristics, and functions of culture, thereby constructing a set of scientific theoretical systems. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture consciously applies Marxist cultural theory to the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, integrating the essence of Marxist thought with the cream of fine traditional Chinese culture [1]. It provides, for the first time, a comprehensive and systematic answer to major questions of the times—such as what kind of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics should be upheld and developed in the New Era, and how to uphold and develop it—thereby writing a new chapter of the times for Marxist cultural theory.
Fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization of wisdom and the spiritual hallmark accumulated over more than five thousand years of the Chinese nation's civilization. It is an important source for nurturing the Core Socialist Values [2] and the solid foundation upon which we stand firm amidst the turbulence of global cultures; it is the "root" of the Chinese nation’s continuous existence and the passing of the torch from generation to generation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture. Responding from the strategic height of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Party has continuously led and promoted the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture amidst magnificent practices. This has provided the practical soil and spiritual strength for the generation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
As the theoretical summation of the Party's practical experience in leading cultural construction in the New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has abandoned neither the "ancestors" of scientific theory nor the "ancestors" of national culture [3]. By promoting the mutual interaction and integration of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, it has "created a new cultural organic entity." It makes Marxism Chinese and fine traditional Chinese culture modern, allowing the new culture formed through this "combination" [4] to become the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. This vividly reflects the adherence to the "soul" of Marxism and the preservation of the "root" of fine traditional Chinese culture.
The dialectical unity of the "ancient" and the "modern" to form a new concept of cultural work in the New Era. Fine traditional Chinese culture is a splendid culture accumulated by the Chinese nation over five thousand years of history, reflecting the nation’s spiritual outlook and excellent qualities. Its inherent and prominent innovativeness fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation—upholding fundamentals without being archaic and respecting the past without returning to it [5]. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture insists on developing Marxist cultural theory rooted in the fertile soil of fine traditional Chinese culture. This is not a "mechanical" or simple revival of traditional culture, much less a replacement of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. Rather, it involves combining new era requirements and practical needs to carry out a treatment based on discernment and an inheritance based on sublation [6], ensuring it is integrated and interconnected with contemporary culture.
Marx and Engels pointed out: "The real content of all epoch-making systems is formed by the needs of the period in which these systems were produced." Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formed and developed on the basis of a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the history of Chinese civilization and through scientifically answering the practical problems of socialist cultural development in the New Era; it is the correct ideological guide for leading cultural prosperity in the New Era. By transforming those connotations and expressive forms of fine traditional Chinese culture that still hold reference value today, endowing them with new era connotations and modern forms of expression, and by supplementing, expanding, and perfecting the content of fine traditional Chinese culture, traditional culture is made to radiate vigorous vitality in responding to the propositions of the times. This ensures that the new culture formed through the "combination" possesses even deeper cultural foundations.
As a cultural theory that integrates traditional culture with modern life, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture draws nutrients from the accumulation of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization. It casts cultural spirits that span time and space, transcend national boundaries, and possess contemporary value into the practical exploration of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It continuously activates the vitality of traditional culture with a spirit of the times that advances with the times. By weeding through the old to bring forth the new, it enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory, demonstrating its dialectical thinking in conducting cultural work in the New Era through the mutual unity of the "ancient" and the "modern."
Persisting in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground to form a new approach to cultural work in the New Era. A river runs long if its source is deep; a tree thrives if its roots are firm. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has centered on cultural construction in the New Era. On one hand, while unswervingly adhering to Marxism as the guiding ideology, it has firmly held onto the roots of fine traditional Chinese culture, allowing Sinicized and modernized Marxism to take deep root in the soil of scientific socialism and Chinese history and culture. On the other hand, it has consistently adhered to the "Two Combinations" under new era conditions, continuously putting forward new ideas, new viewpoints, and new assertions regarding cultural construction. This has pushed propaganda, ideological, and cultural undertakings to achieve historical accomplishments, highlighting the political courage of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in bravely undertaking new cultural missions within the dialectical unity of upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground, thus forming a new approach to cultural work in the New Era.
Upholding the fundamentals (shǒuzhèng) consists not of sticking to old conventions or following the beaten path, but of holding onto the base and source, the root and soul. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is not a "flying peak" [7] that descended from the sky; rather, on the basis of upholding the fundamentals of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, and standing upon cultural subjectivity, it is a theoretical summation of the practical experience of the Party’s leadership in cultural construction in the New Era. "Innovation" is not empty fantasy or acting willfully, but refers to fully exerting human subjective initiative on the basis of grasping the laws of objective development. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is both a direct continuation of the basic principles of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, and is integrated with the Party’s consistent theoretical character of liberating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic. It enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory with brand-new ideological content, forming a systematic and scientific theoretical system and making original contributions to the development of Marxism.
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture neither talks of innovation in isolation from traditional experience nor remains trapped in tradition and old conventions. Using the essence of Marxist theory and inheriting the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture, it actively responds to major issues in the prosperity and development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. It innovates methods and means, achieving the unity of upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground in cultural work for the New Era through the integration of drawing from tradition and seeking change.
Clarifying the Substance and Reaching the Application, while Integrating Substance and Application, to form a new methodology for cultural work in the New Era. Marx once said: "The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Xi Jinping Thought on Culture features both innovations and breakthroughs in cultural theoretical viewpoints as well as deployments and requirements for the layout of cultural work. It has both deepened the understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and clarified the roadmap and task list for cultural construction in the New Era. This demonstrates this important thought's dialectical combination of "Substance" (tǐ) and "Application" (yòng) [8] and its masterly grasp of epistemology and methodology, contributing practical power to undertaking the new cultural mission.
The "Substance" of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture refers to the essential basis and fundamental principles regarding culture, civilization, and cultural construction. This thought has achieved innovation and breakthroughs in cultural theoretical viewpoints and deepened the regular understanding of cultural construction—this is "Clarifying the Substance" (míngtǐ). The series of new ideas, viewpoints, and assertions put forward by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has gradually formed a rich, systematic, and comprehensive scientific system, making original contributions to the perfection of the theory of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics. It has achieved the self-construction of "Substance," providing a powerful ideological weapon and scientific guide for action for propaganda, ideological, and cultural work on the new journey in the New Era. The "Application" of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture refers to the practical paths, methods, and means regarding cultural construction and cultural work in the New Era. This thought stipulates the deployment requirements for the layout of cultural work and clarifies the roadmap and task list for cultural construction in the New Era—this is "Reaching the Application" (dáyòng). "Clarifying the Substance" is not the end; true clarification is for the purpose of "Attaining Application." At a new historical starting point, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has proposed a series of comprehensive and feasible strategic paths, sketching the roadmap and task list for cultural construction in the New Era, thereby achieving the self-assertion of "Application."
"Clarifying the Substance and Reaching the Application, while Integrating Substance and Application" (míngtǐ dáyòng, tǐyòng guàntōng) is a vivid summary of the theoretical character and practical methods of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. It points out not only that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture contains the content of "Substance" and "Application," but also the inherent relationship of mutual integration between the two. "Substance" determines "Application," and "Application" reacts back upon "Substance." The "Substance" of cultural thought profoundly reveals the "Application" of cultural practice, while the "Application" of cultural practice promotes the perfection of the "Substance" of cultural thought. Within their dialectical unity, the two illuminate the future path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics.