Xu Bin: The Philosophical Implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture
From a philosophical perspective, culture constitutes the process and non-material achievements of all conscious, purposeful human activity. Within the horizon of Marxist philosophy, culture originates from the practices of human production and life. As the objective world undergoes constant change alongside the development of practice, culture must necessarily evolve in tandem with practice and the zeitgeist. Culture is essentially the embodiment of social consciousness and exerts a counter-action upon social existence. Humans are the subjects of culture, serving as the cause and driving force of its creation and development. Only progressive and advanced culture can exert a propelling effect on social and historical development, thereby being inherited and expanded; broad social interaction aids in the inheritance and development of such advanced culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Grounded in Marxist philosophy, it possesses rich philosophical significance.
The People’s Position and a People-Centered Cultural Orientation
The fundamental position of Marxism is the position of the people. Marxist philosophy provides the worldview foundation and methodological basis for Marxism; the starting point of its shift toward "New Materialism" and its revolutionary transformation was the concern for and protection of the material interests of the masses [1]. Adhering to the fundamental governing philosophy of being people-centered reflects the distinct position of our Party in leading and promoting cultural construction; it is the prominent theme and thread running through the history of reform and development in publicity, ideological, and cultural work in the New Era.
Cultural construction in the New Era takes satisfying the spiritual and cultural needs of the masses as its fundamental starting point and ultimate goal. The Communist Party of China (CPC) is a party that serves the people wholeheartedly. The starting point and ultimate goal of all Party and state work is to realize, maintain, and develop the fundamental interests of the broadest possible masses. In cultural work, this means satisfying the spiritual and cultural needs and fundamental interests of the masses. Following the comprehensive completion of a moderately prosperous society [2], the spiritual and cultural needs within the hierarchy of the people's needs have become exceptionally strong. Within the life-world of the masses, the shaping of the spiritual world has become exceptionally urgent; in elevating the realm of human life, the problem of resolving the poverty of the spiritual world has become exceptionally prominent. Meeting these spiritual and cultural needs in the New Era is a fundamental requirement of our Party's firm adherence to the Marxist people’s position. General Secretary Xi Jinping has particularly emphasized that to promote cultural prosperity, we must adhere to a people-centered work orientation. We must take satisfying the people's spiritual and cultural needs as the starting point and ultimate goal, ensuring that cultural development is for the people, relies on the people, and that its fruits are shared by the people. Adhering to the people-centered orientation in cultural work requires that "all fields of culture must keep pace with the development of the times, grasp the needs of the people, and create excellent works loved by the people with abundant passion, vivid brushstrokes, beautiful melodies, and moving images, dedicating the best spiritual food to the people."
The masses are the creators of history—both of material wealth and spiritual wealth—and are the subject force in building a socialistic cultural power. To adhere to a people-centered approach, we must fully affirm the pioneering spirit of the masses and their subjective status in cultural construction. We must guarantee the people’s cultural rights and interests, combine publicity, education, and guidance with serving the masses, stimulate the vitality and creativity of the masses, and promote the unification of satisfying cultural needs with strengthening the people’s spiritual power, thereby providing an inexhaustible source of power for cultural development.
Materialist Dialectics and the "Two Combinations"
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture adheres to Marxist dialectics, utilizing dialectical thinking to analyze cultural phenomena in the New Era, seeking the driving forces of cultural development, and promoting effective results in building a cultural power.
Adhering to the organic unity of the "root-vein" and the "soul-vein." General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must never abandon the soul-vein of Marxism, and we must never abandon the root-vein of fine traditional Chinese culture." The process of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture is also a process of combining and unifying the "soul-vein" and the "root-vein." The "Two Combinations" demonstrate the unified relationship between theory and practice, and between universal principles and specific cultural achievements. Among these, the basic tenets of Marxism are general theories and fundamental principles that reflect the universal laws of human social development. However, they cannot be applied directly to solve China’s specific problems. They must be combined with China's specific realities and fine traditional Chinese culture to form results of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism that are more realistic and possess greater practical significance, before they can directly guide the Chinese revolution, construction, and reform. In particular, as we comprehensively advance Chinese-path modernization and build a socialist cultural power, we must pay greater attention to combining the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. The former possesses universality, while the latter possesses particularity; the former is a guide for thought to change reality, while the latter is the spiritual foundation for tracing history; the former is based on reality and points to the future, while the latter reflects history and influences the present; the former is the spiritual power for realizing common and lofty ideals, while the latter is the historical code for the Chinese nation to maintain its unique spiritual outlook. The two are unified in the practice of China's reform and development in the New Era. We must use the scientific theory of Marxism to activate the genes of Chinese civilization, endow them with contemporary connotations, and enable them to generate modern power; we must use fine traditional Chinese culture to enrich the cultural life of Marxism, making it more vivid and vigorous. Only by achieving the organic combination of the two can we form the spiritual strength and powerful impetus to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The "Two Combinations" are both possible and necessary. First, why they can be combined: the prerequisite for "combination" is mutual compatibility. Although Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture have different origins, they harbor a high degree of compatibility. Second, how they are combined: the result of "combination" is mutual achievement. "Combination" is a profound "chemical reaction" that creates an organically unified new cultural life-form. Third, the "Two Combinations" have achieved excellent results: First, they have fortified the foundation of our path. Why is socialism with Chinese characteristics so vibrant and full of vitality? The key lies in its Chinese characteristics, which in turn lie in the "Two Combinations." Second, they have opened up a vast space for theoretical and practical innovation. The "Two Combinations" have allowed us to master ideological and cultural initiative and have powerfully acted upon our path, theory, and system. Third, they have consolidated the cultural subjectivity of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Through the "Two Combinations," our Party has profoundly grasped the laws of cultural development, enhancing our consciousness and initiative in cultural construction. New achievements in cultural and civilizational development demonstrate the autonomy and self-directedness of cultural construction. In the process of world history, and in comparison with modern Western civilization, our cultural confidence has been elevated.
Independence of Social Consciousness and Adhering to the Party’s Cultural Leadership
Culture belongs to the category of social consciousness and is a spiritual element of the social structure. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture contains the spirit of historical initiative of the Chinese Communists and embodies cultural subjectivity.
Marxist philosophy affirms that social existence determines social consciousness, but it emphasizes even more that social consciousness possesses relative independence, prominently manifested in its active counter-action. Through the practical activities of the masses, it changes social existence and promotes social progress. This is an important expression of human historical subjectivity. In the New Era and on the new journey, to overcome various risks and challenges in the cultural field and achieve cultural development and security while giving full play to the active role of social consciousness, we must adhere to and strengthen the Party’s comprehensive leadership over publicity, ideological, and cultural work, and firmly hold cultural leadership in our own hands.
Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics originates from the fine traditional Chinese culture nurtured by over 5,000 years of the Chinese nation's civilizational history. It is forged in the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the people under the Party's leadership during revolution, construction, and reform, becoming the spiritual impetus for achieving the Party’s Centenary Goal. On the new journey of the New Era, as we build a great modern socialist country, we must give full play to the initiative and propelling role of culture. Currently, we are at the critical juncture of starting the Second Centenary Goal [3]. Facing a complex situation where various ideologies, social trends, and cultural phenomena are intertwined, adhering to the Party's comprehensive leadership is the fundamental principle and the guarantee of victory. Ideology is the core and soul of culture. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [4], the situation in China's ideological field has undergone a global and fundamental shift, yet the situation remains complex and grave. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Facing the complex situation of reform, development, and stability, the diversity of social thoughts and consciousness, and the profound changes in the media landscape, we must not relax or weaken ideological work for a single moment while concentrating on economic construction. We must firmly hold the leadership, management, and discourse power of ideological work in our hands... otherwise, we will make irreparable historical mistakes." Only by adhering to the Party's cultural leadership can we grasp the laws of cultural development, develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, and inherit fine traditional Chinese culture. Only then can we firm up the people's position, clarify the direction of ideological development, stimulate the momentum for progress, and consolidate the forces of history.
World History and Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations
Marxist philosophy posits that the expansion of the world market broke down the narrow boundaries of nations and regions, turning history into world history. Under the vision of world history, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture explains the exchange and mutual learning between various national civilizations, proposing China’s propositions for the future development of human civilization.
World history provided the prerequisite for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, while such exchanges provide the impetus for world history. Closure and ossification only interrupt civilizational contact; exchange and mutual learning promote development and the continuity of civilization. History tells us that only through exchange can a civilization be full of vitality. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should promote mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations, making civilizational exchange and mutual learning a bridge to enhance friendship between peoples of all countries, a driving force for the progress of human society, and a bond to maintain world peace. We should seek wisdom and draw nutrition from different civilizations to provide spiritual support and solace for people, and work together to solve various challenges facing humanity."
Constructing a Chinese discourse and narrative system. China's reform and development have made great contributions to the progress of human civilization. We must not only achieve results but also be able to explain them. We must construct a Chinese discourse and narrative system, spread China’s voice, and enhance the communication and influence of Chinese civilization. "We must clearly explain what kind of civilization and what kind of country China is." Discourse embodies thoughts, positions, and values. In civilizational contact and cultural exchange, we must construct a Chinese discourse and narrative system to uphold China's position and spread China’s voice. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated that we must tell the stories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese Dream, the Chinese people, our fine traditional culture, and China’s peaceful development. Only in this way can we make a greater contribution to the development of human civilization.