Li Xiaofen: Building a Cultural Powerhouse Must Adhere to the "Two Integrations"
The long-standing and well-streamed Chinese civilization has nurtured the precious spiritual character of the Chinese nation, providing a rich ideological treasure trove for further comprehensively deepening reform, better undertaking new cultural missions, and advancing the construction of a cultural power. The Chinese nation possesses a long history and profound cultural heritage. Building a socialist cultural power is rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, giving it incomparable depth; it is accumulated through China’s ancient and enduring history, giving it incomparable thickness; it is nourished by the theoretical innovations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the past century, giving it incomparable strength; and it takes the reality of the production and daily life of all Chinese people as its core, giving it emotional warmth. The "Two Combinations" [1] constitute the scientific guidance, fundamental requirements, and theoretical principles for building a socialist cultural power. They not only enhance the ideological self-awareness of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in fine traditional Chinese culture, ensuring the correct direction of building a socialist cultural power with Chinese characteristics and consolidating its path-based foundations, but also provide a broad developmental space for cultural innovation, injecting lasting impetus and vitality into the construction of a socialist cultural power. At a new historical starting point, the Chinese Communists proposed the proposition of the "Two Combinations" regarding the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, which can be described as standing on a long-term footing and planning with profound vision. The "Two Combinations" are our greatest magic weapon for achieving success and hold significant value and significance for building a socialist cultural power with Chinese characteristics.
1. The "First Combination" Created a New Form of Human Civilization
The "first combination" [2] answered and resolved major practical issues regarding China's path, theory, and practice. It achieved a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, laid the foundation for the construction of a socialist cultural power, and found a brand-new path for civilizational development. It injected the bright underlying color of Marxism into the construction of a socialist cultural power and identified Marxism as the "soul-conduit" (hunmai). The "first combination" determines that the most essential characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics is its socialist nature, which necessitates that the basic principles of scientific socialism be integrated throughout the entire process of building a cultural power. This is the essential feature of a socialist cultural power with Chinese characteristics, fundamentally differing in nature from capitalist modern civilization. This means we are exploring an entirely new path for cultural construction, a new journey for cultural development with no existing models to emulate. Starting from objective social reality and based on the specific circumstances of building a cultural power, the "first combination" provided the preliminary preparation, practical foundation, and important support for creating a new cultural lifeform.
First, it fortified the foundation of the path. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is, first and foremost, socialist, and this comes from Marxism." The culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics is, first and foremost, a socialist culture. The socialist elements within fine traditional Chinese culture provided the cultural foundation for Marxism to take root and sprout in China. To combine the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities—the "realities" here refer to "self-existing" (zizai) realities, those that transcend human will and exist naturally. The "first combination" reflects the Chinese Communists' correct understanding and objective grasp of reality, successfully finding a socialist cultural path consistent with our country's development and establishing the basic system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, thus opening a new path for the construction of a socialist cultural power. The leadership of the CPC is the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics; consistently upholding the leadership of the CPC is the political direction for advancing the construction of a cultural power. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics possesses numerous advantages—such as upholding Party leadership, adhering to a people-centered approach, democratic centralism, and the socialist economic system with Chinese characteristics—leading the Chinese people from victory to victory and creating the "China miracle" of long-term stability.
Second, it fortified the theoretical cornerstone. Over a hundred years ago, Marxism was introduced to China, illuminating the way forward for the Chinese people who were groping in the dark, creating a "China miracle" that completely renewed the nation's spirit. The Marxist historical materialist view profoundly revealed the essence of human civilizational development, providing a scientific theoretical cornerstone for the development of civilization and sketching a beautiful blueprint for the innovative development of human civilizational modernization. Marxism that has been Sinicized and modernized is a scientific theory proven by practice; the continuously enriched and innovatively developed theoretical achievements of Sinicized and modernized Marxism are the theoretical guarantee for promoting the construction of a cultural power. Therefore, when formulating policies for building a cultural power, we must uphold the Party's comprehensive leadership and combine the basic principles of Marxism with the current principal social contradiction [3]. Only then can we resolve the major issues in promoting the construction of a cultural power while also gathering strength to better shoulder the new cultural mission.
Third, it fortified the material foundation. Advancing the construction of a socialist cultural power requires sufficient material preparation. The CPC, having mastered advanced Marxist theory, combined our country's specific realities with the general laws of scientific socialism, always standing on the right side of history and adhering to a people-centered development philosophy, thereby creating the "China miracle" of economic takeoff. Over the more than 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, we have moved from closure and backwardness to openness and progress, from inadequate food and clothing to a moderately prosperous society in all respects, from a large agricultural country to an industrial power, from a single structure to the prosperity of all industries, and from bottleneck constraints to supportive advantages. We have turned the impossible into the possible, taking the lead in completing the poverty reduction goals of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. In just a few decades, we have completed the industrialization process that took developed countries several centuries, greatly reducing the time required for Chinese-path modernization and creating a solid material foundation for promoting the construction of a cultural power.
2. The "Second Combination" Created a New Cultural Lifeform
The "second combination" [4] is not a simple "platter" (of disparate parts) but a profound "chemical reaction," extending the historical scale and expanding the civilizational depth of the "first combination." To combine the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture—the "culture" here is "self-aware" (zijue) reality, centrally reflecting the political self-awareness of Chinese Communists in their profound insight into the times, their grasp of historical initiative, and their courage to take responsibility. The "second combination" has made fine traditional Chinese culture modern, promoting its life renewal and modern transformation, creating a new cultural lifeform with Chinese characteristics. Only by standing upon the magnificent 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization can one truly understand the historical necessity, unique connotations, and unique advantages of this new cultural lifeform, and continuously promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. Therefore, we must never abandon this root and vein that is fine traditional Chinese culture.
First, it profoundly fortified the cultural foundation. The "second combination" integrates and develops the essence of Marxist thought with elements of fine traditional Chinese culture, giving the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a more far-reaching historical depth and cultural confidence a more far-reaching historical origin and foundation. "Fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization of the wisdom and the essence of Chinese civilization, the root and soul of the Chinese nation, and the foundation upon which we stand firm amidst the turbulence of world cultures." The "second combination" has identified the source and origin for building a socialist cultural power with Chinese characteristics, established the primordial significance of fine traditional Chinese culture for the construction of a socialist cultural power, opened the treasure house of fine traditional Chinese culture for the development of new theories and systems, expanded the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and broadened the cultural space for building a cultural power. Cultural independence is the genetic root of a nation's independence; fine traditional Chinese culture has injected a Chinese underlying color into the construction of a socialist cultural power.
Second, it profoundly grasped cultural initiative. The "second combination" has allowed us to master ideological and cultural initiative, which powerfully acts upon our path, theory, and system, enriching the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, providing ideas for exploring future-oriented institutional innovation, and fortifying the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. Fine traditional Chinese culture is the subjective marker of the "characteristics" in socialism with Chinese characteristics. With cultural subjectivity comes a firm "self" in the cultural sense; the socialist cultural power thus possesses a distinct cultural marker for exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations in the world. Cultural confidence then has a fundamental reliance, and Chinese culture gains stronger powers of leadership, cohesion, molding, and radiation. Cultural subjectivity is the foundation for defining oneself and engaging in dialogue; it is the hallmark symbol of Chinese civilization and the foundation of cultural confidence. Only with spiritual independence and autonomy can one stand upright, stand firm, and go far.
Third, it profoundly grasped the development laws of Chinese civilization. The "second combination"—combining the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture—is a new liberation of thought and the modern power bestowed upon Chinese civilization by Marxism. The "second combination" is a profound summary of the historical experience of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and a profound grasp of the developmental laws of Chinese civilization, indicating that our Party's historical and cultural confidence has reached new heights. Marxism has activated the genes of Chinese civilization with the light of truth, achieving the transformation from tradition to modernity; fine traditional Chinese culture has enriched the cultural life of Marxism, bestowing it with Chinese style and characteristics. The organic combination of the two has created a new cultural lifeform, providing the prerequisite for promoting the construction of a cultural power within the "Two Combinations."
3. Promoting the Construction of a Cultural Power within the "Two Combinations"
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The strength of a country or a nation is always supported by cultural prosperity; the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requires the development and prosperity of Chinese culture as a condition." Cultural construction concerns the national foundation and destiny, as well as the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The "Two Combinations" demonstrate a clear problem-oriented approach and are the greatest magic weapon for the Chinese Communists' victories. They are both theoretical and practical achievements, capable of addressing reality while guiding the future. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to cultural work, profoundly recognizing and grasping the trends in China’s changing cultural concepts, continuously deepening the understanding of the laws governing cultural construction, and forming a series of new judgments, viewpoints, strategies, and requirements. These provide the action guide and fundamental compliance for undertaking new cultural missions and building a socialist cultural power in the New Era.
First, deeply grasp the history of Chinese civilization. "Only by comprehensively and deeply understanding the history of Chinese civilization can we more effectively promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and more powerfully advance the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics." Only by fully understanding ancient China and recognizing modern China can we grasp the "golden key" to the future development of Chinese civilization. Comprehensively understanding and grasping the history of Chinese civilization is the foundation for promoting the construction of a socialist cultural power. Building a socialist cultural power requires a profound recognition and understanding of contemporary China's development and construction from the perspective of long-standing historical continuity and the profound fine traditional Chinese culture.
Second, firm up cultural confidence. Fine traditional Chinese culture possesses an incomparably deep historical accumulation. By persisting in walking our own road and firming up cultural confidence, we will possess an incomparably powerful strategic resolve to move forward. We must stand upon the great cultural construction practices of the Chinese nation, adhere to the path of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, use Chinese cultural concepts to summarize the experience of Chinese cultural construction, achieve spiritual independence and autonomy, highlight cultural subjectivity, and establish the roots and cast the soul for national rejuvenation. We must persist in "not forgetting our beginnings while absorbing outside influences," transforming through inheritance and surpassing through reference, absorbing all the fine achievements of human civilization, and continuing to promote cultural prosperity, confidence, and self-improvement from a new starting point.
Third, persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground. Chinese civilization, where "still waters run deep" [5] and "magnificent surges" intersect, possesses prominent innovativeness, supporting cultural progress through innovation and demonstrating vigorous vitality. Building a cultural power must involve the continuous advancement of the "Two Combinations" and the achievement of "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground." Only by upholding the fundamentals can we avoid losing our direction or our original color; only by breaking new ground can we adapt to the development of the times and respond to the questions of the era. To uphold the fundamentals, we must hold fast to the underlying color of Marxism and the heritage of fine traditional Chinese culture; this constitutes the fundamental requirement for persisting in the "Two Combinations." To break new ground, we must create new ideas, new discourses, new mechanisms, and new forms within the modern transformation of Chinese civilization. With the integrity and vigor of being open and inclusive while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, we shall continue the historical cultural lineage and promote the construction of a socialist cultural power.
Standing at a new theoretical height, the "Two Combinations" use a broader theoretical vision to elevate the proposition of the "Sinicization and modernization of Marxism" from practice to theoretical understanding, serving as the ideological weapon for promoting the construction of a socialist cultural power. Persisting in the "Two Combinations" is the inevitable path to building a socialist cultural power and provides a new path choice for the development and progress of human civilization. To consciously shoulder the new cultural mission of building a cultural power, we must take the "Two Combinations" as the benchmark: taking historical inheritance as the foundation to create a new form of human civilization; taking innovative thinking as the lead to open a new situation in cultural construction; and taking the shared values of humanity as the pursuit to paint a new picture of human civilization.