Gao Fujin and Mu Pengcheng: Building a Cultural Powerhouse Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture: Conceptual Interpretation, Content System, and Advancement Path
A cultural power is a socialist cultural power under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has elevated its theoretical height, driving the great practice of the Party’s leadership in building a cultural power into a brand-new stage. Building a cultural power signifies the prescriptive content of the cultural mission of the New Era at the national level, and plays a pivotal role in constructing the great development and prosperity of culture at the social level. On the New Journey, advancing the construction of a cultural power is an important agenda for studying, researching, interpreting, and deeply implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
Conceptual Interpretation: The Connotation and Denotation of "Cultural Power"
(1) A "Cultural" Scrutiny: The Scope of Culture in a Cultural Power
Marx’s understanding of culture is inseparable from man and his practical activities. He believed that human practical activity creates culture, that culture is the product of the objectified activity of man’s essence, and that culture possesses a fundamental human attribute. Marxist explanations and applications of culture are quite rich; according to an order from broad to narrow scope, culture can be defined as: first, the social civilization constructed by humanity; second, the social relations of people at a specific stage of social development; third, the conceptual product of social material production practice, which is possessed by real people and their communities in the practice of social communication; and fourth, ideology—Marx once regarded political content such as laws and institutions as special forms of culture.
By combing through the Party’s relevant discourses on cultural power, it can be found that expressions concerning a "cultural power" mostly appear in the sphere of social life and are used alongside education, science, health, and sports, constituting the familiar "science, education, culture, health, and sports" [1] undertakings. In this sense, the content related to cultural power in the Party’s policy documents is mostly related to economic and social development. Culture is an important yardstick for measuring social progress and, together with education, science and technology, and sports, constitutes the multiple facets of a great modernized power. "Culture" here transcends the human practical creations at the level of general theoretical narrative; its defined scope is more explicit and specific, centering on the sphere of people’s social life.
Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, defining the "culture" of a cultural power must avoid two erroneous tendencies: first, the breadth of "macro-culture" at the level of theoretical logic, which regards culture as a generalized reference to the sum of material and spiritual wealth created by human practice; second, the confinement of "micro-culture" within the realm of civil society, which regards culture as specifically referring to "knowledge and facilities in education, science, literature, art, health, sports, etc.," resulting in a limited field and scope of research. We believe that the correct way of understanding should avoid both tendencies and "hold the two ends to use the middle" [2], interpreting the culture of a cultural power as "meso-culture." That is, a category situated between the total products of human practice and the limited field of cultural life, mainly including systems of thought, ideology, and values.
(2) Interpreting "Strength": The Overall Image of a Cultural Power
The Cihai [3] provides two explanations for "strong" (强, qiáng): first, as an adjective used to describe something robust and powerful, or possessing superior influence, reflecting a higher degree; second, as a verb meaning to make something great or strong. Therefore, the "strength" in "cultural power" can be analyzed around these two dimensions. On one hand, as an adjective, it refers to being "firm and having superior influence." A cultural power is a descriptive summary of the overall prosperity of China’s national cultural soft power, as well as a summary of the future visionary goals for China’s current cultural construction and development. On the other hand, as a verb, it means "to make great and strong." By exerting the potential energy accumulated and inherent in culture, it uses intangible power to boost the multifaceted development of the state and society, achieving a significant enhancement and substantive leap in comprehensive national strength. In comparison, "strong" as an adjective focuses on the static level of a cultural power, providing a forward-looking gaze and future aspiration for the visionary goal of a great power, reflecting the value rationality and overall schema inherent in the construction of a cultural power. "Strong" as a verb emphasizes the dynamic level, serving as a true portrayal of the CPC’s historical practice of using culture to save, establish, rejuvenate, enrich, and strengthen the nation, exerting the role of instrumental rationality that culture possesses to transform and shape the national political community.
(3) The Connotation and Denotation of a Cultural Power
The connotation of a cultural power centrally reflects our understanding of it. This includes its guiding ideology, leadership force, practical subjects, cultural resources, and critical borrowing. Specifically, it means adhering to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as scientific guidance, consolidating the CPC’s leadership over the construction of a cultural power, and guiding the masses to correctly understand and apply fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture. It involves creating realistic cultural content that reflects the "strengthening" [4] keynote of the New Era in combination with new practices, continuously enhancing China’s national cultural soft power, and ensuring that the international image of a "Cultural China" and "Civilized China" is gradually recognized by people of all countries.
The denotation of a cultural power refers to the essential attributes and internal/external objects reflected by the concept. On one hand, as a descriptive concept, a cultural power is the strategic goal of cultural construction at the national level, a concentrated summary in the field of cultural life for the 2035 visionary goal of basically achieving socialist modernization. On the other hand, regarding external objects, our cultural power provides Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions for the diverse development of world cultures and the pluralistic construction of human civilization.
The Content System: Structural Dimensions of a Cultural Power
(1) The Dimension of Civil Society: Multi-level Synergistic Efforts to Improve Social Civilization
First, using Xi Jinping衔New Era Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics to mold the soul and educate people. In advancing the construction of a cultural power and forming ideological concepts that meet the requirements of the New Era, the most important task is to form a scientific cognition of Marxist theory, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. We must uphold and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through it, grasp its worldview and methodology, cultivate and consolidate correct ideological understandings and values, and arm the mind and guide practice with scientific theory.
Second, shaping the spiritual world with the Chinese spirit. The spiritual content required for building a cultural power is the era-appropriate expression of the Chinese spirit, including the national spirit centered on patriotism—characterized by unity, peace-loving, industry, bravery, and self-reliance—the spirit of the times centered on reform and innovation, and the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists with the Great Founding Spirit of the CPC as its source.
Third, leading social trends with civilized words and deeds. The state of social civilization is an important component of a cultural power at the social level. Efforts must be made to "be meticulous, focus on the small, and ensure implementation" [5], shaping civilized trends through civilized behavior. We must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, valuing customs and traditions passed down through history by giving them contemporary vitality, while also cultivating new civilized trends based on current economic and social development.
Finally, regulating daily behavior through morality, law, and institutions. Moral norms point to the level of ethics and are maintained through social public opinion, others’ evaluations, and internal self-adherence. Legal norms are a coercive force, serving as a deterrent beforehand and a punishment afterward for illegal acts, with everyone being equal before the law. Institutional norms, in the form of regulations and articles, target specific subjects to provide practical references and standards for words and deeds. These normative forces constitute the basic content of a cultural power in people’s social life practices.
(2) The Dimension of National Culture: Multi-dimensional Three-dimensional Construction to Enhance National Cultural Soft Power
First, the critical and creative power of Chinese culture facing history reflects the requirement of "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground" in building a cultural power within Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. On one hand, cultural critical power is determined by the subject’s criteria and analytical ability in treating a certain culture, influenced by the subject’s cultural literacy and thinking capacity. On the other hand, cultural creative power is the follow-up force of critical power; it involves exercising the subject’s initiative and creativity to carry out the creative transformation and innovative development of a culture—especially the traditional culture of one’s own nation passed down through history—enhancing its vitality and momentum so that it remains fresh over time.
Second, the guiding and normative power of Chinese culture facing the contemporary era reflects the "problem-oriented" requirement in building a cultural power within Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. On one hand, this guiding power manifests as political guidance and value navigation for other various cultures, ensuring they follow and conform to the thoughts and values advocated by the mainstream culture, while also appropriately expanding the space needed for the development of the cultural "living organism" and deepening the cultural development pattern of "one core orientation with many diversities." On the other hand, this normative power manifests as the struggle against and regulation of erroneous cultures, such as those that are negative or decadent under the influence of capital.
第三, the attractive and aggregate power of Chinese culture facing the nation reflects the "self-confidence and self-reliance" requirement in building a cultural power within Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. On one hand, this attraction manifests as the "siphon effect" that the mainstream culture exerts on other cultures. On the other hand, cultural aggregate power is an important force for condensing and integrating the ideological concepts of community members. The extension trajectory of cultural aggregate power manifests as a reverse "differential mode of association" [6].
Fourth, the communicative and absorptive power of Chinese culture facing the world reflects the "maintaining a global perspective" requirement in building a cultural power within Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. On one hand, cultural communicative power manifests as the outward dissemination and radiant influence of culture—the energy generated by a culture in the process of influencing other heterogeneous cultures, primarily through horizontal expansion and vertical deepening. On the other hand, cultural absorptive power is the cultural subject’s ability to consciously assimilate, discern, and digest foreign cultures. "Attraction" focuses on the effectiveness of a culture's influence on the "other," while "absorption" emphasizes the culture's active attitude toward foreign influences.
(3) The Dimension of Overseas Audiences: Multi-level Progressive Deepening for Extensive Influence
First, Chinese culture at the material level. This refers to various cultural products with physical entities as carriers, which reflect intangible cultural content. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the material carrier level of Chinese culture must accelerate the production of more cultural products accepted by people worldwide, showcasing the image of a "Cultural Power China" through them. In short, efforts should be focused on the market layout, brand building, and creation/production of overseas cultural products.
Second, Chinese culture at the practical level. This reflects the words and deeds of the subjects who disseminate culture. As a product of human practice, the external communication of culture is inseparable from human activities. In short, it primarily includes three groups: first, overseas Chinese and the diaspora; second, cultural and artistic workers dedicated to promoting cultural exchange; and third, scholars researching philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.
Finally, Chinese culture at the conceptual level. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To improve national cultural soft power, we must ensure that contemporary Chinese values go global." In the process of communication, we must base our efforts on the customs and traditions of different countries, take into account the thinking modes and cognitive habits of different audiences, flexibly use cross-cultural communication methods, disseminate according to the time, situation, and place, and actively push Chinese culture and its latest contemporary innovations to the world.
The Path of Advancement: Practical Routes for Building a Cultural Power
(1) Taking Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as Guidance
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture serves as the "powerful ideological weapon and scientific guide for action" in directing the construction of a cultural powerhouse. Most fundamental to this task is adhering to and mastering the worldview and methodology of the "Six Must-Heads" [7]. First, we must persist in the supremacy of the people. By remaining people-centered, we can stimulate the creative vitality of the masses in cultural innovation and pool the great strength of the people's cultural practice. Second, we must persist in self-confidence and self-reliance. We must integrate closely with our own realities and, on the basis of correctly handling the relationship between universality and particularity, rely on the strength of the Chinese people themselves to build a cultural powerhouse. Third, we must persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground. We must "uphold the fundamentals" of the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture contained within culture with Chinese characteristics. We must "break new ground" in the theoretical achievements of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, in China's independent knowledge system, and in the new form of human civilization. Fourth, we must persist in a problem-oriented approach. Building a cultural powerhouse must focus on the targets and tasks of "upholding the banner, gathering the people’s hearts, nurturing new generations, flourishing culture, and presenting a positive image" [8], resolving various contradictions and problems encountered in practice through the combination of problem-orientation and goal-orientation. Fifth, we must persist in a systems-oriented concept. We must properly handle the relations between the whole and the parts, the present and the long term, domestic and international, and theory and practice, maintaining the unity of overall planning and coordinated advancement. Sixth, we must persist in maintaining a global vision. By upholding a world-class perspective, broadening our thinking, and opening up our vision, we must not only promote the "going out" of the cultural powerhouse to enhance the understanding and concern of foreign friends regarding Chinese culture, but also critically absorb and learn from the experiences of other global cultural powers, keeping ourselves as the core and making external things serve our interests.
(2) Persisting in the Leadership of the Communist Party of China The key to managing China’s affairs well lies with the Party. On the new journey, the key to advancing the construction of a cultural powerhouse lies in persisting in the leadership of the Communist Party of China, continuing and consolidating the Party's cultural leadership [9], and enhancing the Party's capacity and level in leading the construction of a cultural powerhouse. First, the entire Party must better shoulder the cultural mission of the New Era and strengthen the sense of responsibility for building a cultural powerhouse. Second, the entire Party must fully tap into and utilize the three categories of cultural resources—fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture—to promote the construction of a cultural powerhouse. Finally, the entire Party must explore the practical laws of building a cultural powerhouse on the new journey in the New Era. This is an essential normative requirement for the Party’s leadership in building a cultural powerhouse.
(3) Stimulating the Cultural Innovation and Creative Vitality of the Entire Nation Advancing the construction of a cultural powerhouse under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture requires emphasizing the active role of the subjects of practice, stimulating and releasing the cultural innovation and creative vitality of the masses. On one hand, we must stimulate the people's cultural creative vitality. First, we must respect the cultural creations of the masses, guarantee their cultural rights, and carry forward the people's spirit of cultural initiative. Second, we must vigorously provide supporting resources, carry out mass-based spiritual civilization creation activities in an orderly manner, and encourage people’s cultural creation. Third, we must address the cultural development gaps existing between urban and rural areas and between regions, and systematically resolve the problem of imbalanced supply of cultural products and services. On the other hand, we must release the innovative momentum of cultural and artistic talent. First, we must guide cultural and artistic talent to adhere to a people-centered creative orientation, reflecting the production and life practices of the masses through their works. Second, we must guide cultural and artistic talent to persist in the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, using excellent works to enhance the aesthetic capabilities of the masses. Third, we must guide cultural and artistic talent to create iconic achievements that reflect the accomplishments of the cultural powerhouse, launching a batch of cultural masterpieces that exert extensive global influence.
(4) Promoting the Prosperity and Development of Cultural Programs and Cultural Industries Non-profit cultural programs [10] and commercial cultural industries represent two different types of cultural driving forces, both of which are of great significance for building a cultural powerhouse. On one hand, building a cultural powerhouse must always uphold the social benefits of culture and vigorously promote the prosperity of socialist cultural programs. First, we must strengthen the government's leading role in the development of cultural programs. Second, we must leverage the advantages of state-owned cultural enterprises and institutions, highlighting their role in industry leadership. Third, we must deepen the Party’s leadership and cultivation mechanisms for talent in cultural programs. Fourth, we must persist in shifting the focus, resources, and services of cultural programs downward to the grassroots level. Fifth, we must rely on various policy documents from the Party and the state regarding the promotion of cultural programs to drive their implementation and execution. On the other hand, building a cultural powerhouse must continuously enhance the economic benefits of the cultural industry and actively develop socialist cultural industries. First, we must promote the refined development of cultural industry categories to enhance the differentiation and recognition of China's cultural products in the world. Second, we must clarify the various operating entities of the cultural industry, ensuring clear rights and responsibilities, proper management, and attentive service. Third, we must actively utilize means such as digital technology and artificial intelligence to explore and promote the digital-intelligent transformation of cultural industries. Fourth, we must promote the large-scale operation of cultural industries, following a path of scale development to secure more market share.
Conclusion The emergence of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture marks a new realm of ideological awareness and autonomy of action in the Party's leadership over the construction of a cultural powerhouse on the new journey. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, this article—by defining the internal and external connotations of the cultural powerhouse, analyzing its content system, and constructing a path for advancement—aims to respond to and answer the questions of "what it is" and "how to do it" regarding the construction of a cultural powerhouse. It seeks to make a due academic contribution to shouldering the cultural mission of the New Era and accelerating the construction of a cultural powerhouse to ensure its completion on schedule.