Zhang Hao: A Guide to Action for Building a Leading Socialist Cultural Power
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping, standing at the strategic height of national building and ethnic rejuvenation, has engaged in profound reflection and provided scientific answers to fundamental questions regarding which flag to raise, which path to follow, which principles to uphold, and which goals to achieve in cultural construction during the New Era. This has culminated in the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. As a theoretical summation of the Party leading cultural construction in the New Era and an innovative development of New Era New Thought, the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture signifies that the Party’s theoretical understanding and practical development of socialist cultural construction have entered a new realm, providing an action guide for building a leading socialist cultural power. To study Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in depth, one must clarify its theoretical origins, core tenets, and value implications.
I. The Theoretical Origins of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture
Viewed from its theoretical origins, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has achieved a succession and development of the basic principles and methods of Marxism while adhering to the "soul-vein" [1] of Marxism. It has achieved a legacy and innovation of material, spiritual, and institutional civilizations while continuing the "root-vein" [2] of fine traditional Chinese culture. It has achieved the referencing and absorption of the outstanding civilizational achievements of human society through exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations. Finally, it has realized theoretical innovation and creation by sublimating the practical experiences of cultural construction in the New Era.
(1) The Basic Theoretical Compliance: Marxist Cultural Theory
Marxism is the guiding ideology upon which the Communist Party of China was founded and the country is established. As an important component thereof, Marxist cultural theory is rich in content. Starting from dialectical materialism and historical materialism, classical Marxist writers such as Marx, Engels, and Lenin conducted in-depth reflections on key issues such as the generation, nature, and role of culture, cultural exchange and mutual learning, and cultural leadership (hegemony). This formed a scientific and systematic Marxist cultural thought, providing the basic theoretical compliance for the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Regarding the generation of culture, Marxism holds that culture, as part of the superstructure, is ultimately determined by the mode of production: "The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life." Regarding the nature of culture, Marxism holds that culture possesses class attributes: "The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e., the class which is the ruling material force of society, is at the same time its ruling intellectual force." Regarding the role of culture, Marxism adheres to the historical materialist view that "social existence determines social consciousness," while emphasizing that culture possesses relative independence and a dynamic counter-reaction. Marx pointed out: "If we consider it from a conceptual perspective, then the dissolution of a certain form of consciousness is sufficient to cause an entire era to perish." Regarding cultural exchange and mutual learning, Marxism indicates that as history transforms into world history, exchanges between different cultures become increasingly frequent, and the global characteristics of culture become more pronounced. In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, Marx and Engels pointed out: "The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country... As in material, so also in intellectual production." Regarding cultural leadership, Marxism holds that through strengthening theoretical infusion and the governing party's own cultural construction, the political and ideological identification of the masses with socialism must be enhanced, and the Party's cultural leadership must be continuously consolidated and elevated. Lenin explicitly proposed that after obtaining political leadership, the proletarian party must further master cultural leadership. The founders of Marxism revealed the essence of culture and the general laws of cultural development, putting forward constructive conceptions for the development of socialist culture, laying a profound theoretical foundation for the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
(2) Solid Theoretical Support: Sinicized Marxist Cultural Theory
The Sinicized Marxist cultural theory, generated and developed in combination with China’s specific practices of cultural construction, is the solid theoretical foundation upon which Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formed. As early as the New Democratic Revolution period, Mao Zedong emphasized that the new society and new country the Communists were to build "will have not only a new politics and a new economy, but also a new culture." He further pointed out that the new culture refers to New Democratic culture, characterized as "the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal culture of the masses of the people led by the proletariat," and a "national, scientific, and mass culture." Regarding how to build a new culture for the Chinese nation, Mao Zedong enriched Sinicized Marxist cultural theory by answering questions concerning the fundamental nature, leading forces, construction methods, and goals of the new culture. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, based on the economic levels and cultural conditions of the people at that time, Mao Zedong proposed to "lead the people of the whole country to overcome all difficulties and carry out large-scale economic and cultural construction." Following the Reform and Opening-up, Deng Xiaoping proposed to "build a high level of socialist spiritual civilization," placing greater emphasis on the prominent role of socialist cultural construction. Jiang Zemin expounded on the requirements and goals of "building a culture with Chinese characteristics," promoting cultural construction in coordination with modernization. Hu Jintao, grounded in the specific realities of socialist cultural construction in the new stage of the new century, proposed strategic requirements and conceptions such as "building a system of socialist core values," "improving the country's cultural soft power," and "building a leading socialist cultural power," lifting cultural construction to a new height of development. Entering the New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has inherited and developed the aforementioned theories, manifesting the prominent characteristic of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in the process of integrating with new cultural practices.
(3) Profound Cultural Heritage: The Essence of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture
Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has not only focused on developing advanced socialist culture in combination with social reality but also on inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture. In its thousands of years of development and evolution, Chinese civilization has formed a broad and rich crystallization of wisdom covering social ideals, governance ideas, economic ethics, ecological concepts, philosophical thoughts, moral concepts, humanistic spirit, and modes of thinking. The long-standing and well-established fine traditional Chinese culture is the unique spiritual hallmark of the Chinese nation and the profound cultural heritage of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Specifically, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture adheres to self-confidence and self-reliance in ideology and culture, embodying the spirit of "ceaseless self-improvement" (ziqiang buxi) [3]. The assertion that "in promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, we must properly handle the relationship between inheritance and creative development" contains the wisdom of "discarding the stale and bringing forth the fresh" (gegu xinxin) [4]. The effort to nurture and practice socialist core values and use them to lead socialist cultural construction manifests the idea of "governing with virtue" (wei zheng yi de) [5], and so on. These thoughts contain deep historical and cultural heritage, manifest the excellent qualities of the Chinese nation, and are an important support for the prosperity of the Chinese nation. It can be said that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is itself a theoretical paradigm for the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture.
(4) Beneficial Intellectual Reference: Absorbing the Outstanding Civilizational Achievements of Human Society
Human society has given birth to different civilizations, each with its unique charm and profound heritage. These distinctive and outstanding civilizational achievements are the shared spiritual wealth of humanity and the spiritual cornerstone for the continuous development of human civilization. Lenin once said: "You can become a Communist only when you enrich your mind with a knowledge of all the treasures created by mankind." Standing at the forefront of the times and grasping the pulse of the era, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture insists on using Marxism to observe, interpret, and lead the times. It learns from the strengths of others in an open manner and absorbs all outstanding civilizational achievements created by humanity with a broad vision, manifesting its distinct global outlook. At the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized "remaining true to our foundation, absorbing external influences, and facing the future," stressing that "emphasizing nationality does not mean excluding the academic research results of other countries." At the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that "upholding openness and inclusiveness means being more proactive in learning from and borrowing all outstanding civilizational achievements created by humanity." It can be said that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is itself a vivid and powerful expression of this "Great View of History" and "Great View of Culture" in the New Era. It extensively draws upon and absorbs the essence of various civilizational achievements of human society, promotes a new view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, and drives world humanistic exchanges, cooperation, and the development of human civilization toward a new stage.
(5) Abundant Practical Basis: Theoretical Summation of cultural construction led by the Party in the New Era
Scientific thought arises from specific practices under certain socio-historical conditions and is the summation and elevation of human practical behavior and intellectual experience. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, facing profound changes in the social environment, realistic conditions, and task requirements, the Party has placed publicity, ideological, and cultural work in an important position, insisting on establishing a "heart" for the country and a "soul" for the nation, illuminating the road to rejuvenation with the light of truth. The Party Central Committee adheres to the people's standpoint, anchors its construction goals, and—by establishing and improving institutional norms and mechanisms—has encouraged the whole Party to take action in publicity and ideological work, ensuring that responsibilities are recognized, embraced, and fulfilled. It has elevated cultural construction to the height of the country's overall layout, proposing and emphasizing the need to strengthen cultural confidence, which has greatly enhanced the cultural awareness and confidence of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups nationwide. This series of measures has effectively promoted the continuous consolidation and strengthening of the Party's comprehensive leadership over publicity, ideological, and cultural work, significantly enhanced the cultural confidence of the Chinese people, and provided ideological assistance and spiritual impetus for the flourishing development of the cause of the Party and the country. In short, the practice of cultural construction carried out by the Party leading the people of all ethnic groups since the dawn of the New Era has laid a solid foundation for the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. It is precisely upon the cornerstone of these vivid practices and great achievements that the scientific nature, practicality, and truth of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture have been formed and manifested.
II. The Core Tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture possesses a broad and comprehensive connotation; it is a scientifically systematic, logically rigorous, and internally unified system. Its core tenets can be summarized in the following ten aspects.
(1) Theory of Cultural Value: Viewing the status and role of culture from a strategic height
Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. Culture carries the Way (dao), and culture transforms the person. As a concept at the spiritual level, culture is of great significance to individuals, the country, and society. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture views the status and role of culture from a strategic height and expounds on the value implications of culture from multiple dimensions. First, it is expounded from the dimension of the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization in which material and spiritual civilizations develop in coordination. The development of material civilization places higher demands on the development of spiritual civilization, while the development of spiritual civilization, in turn, becomes the driving force for material construction. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a socialism with the comprehensive development of both material and spiritual civilizations." Second, it is expounded from the dimension of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The pursuit of the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation must focus not only on material pursuits but also on spiritual pursuits. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Without the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture, there will be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." Third, it is expounded from the dimension of enhancing the country's cultural soft power. Improving the country's cultural soft power is related not only to China’s positioning in the global cultural landscape but also to the enhancement of China’s international status and influence, as well as the realization of the Party and the country's goals. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The development process of any major power is not only a process of increasing hard power such as economic volume and military strength but also a process of increasing soft power such as values, ideology, and culture." Fourth, it is expounded from the dimension of enriching the people's spiritual life. The ultimate goal of modernization is to achieve the free and comprehensive development of human beings, allowing people to be both materially wealthy and spiritually rich. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Culture is an important factor in meeting the people's growing needs for a better life."
(2) Theory of Cultural Leadership: Constantly upholding the Party’s cultural leadership
In cultural construction, the Party's leadership plays a pivotal role in charting the course and consolidating strength. In expounding upon how to strengthen the leadership over culture, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has not only proposed the concept of "the Party's cultural leadership" [6] at the level of propositional definitions, but has also delved into issues related to the Party's cultural leadership from the perspectives of value significance and concrete measures, forming a systematic theoretical system and a complete conceptual framework.
First, regarding why the Party's cultural leadership must be upheld, General Secretary Xi Jinping has provided an answer from the height of the "Great Cause" [7], emphasizing that upholding the Party's cultural leadership is a strategic consideration proceeding from the overall situation of the undertakings of the Party and the state. This can be seen in his discussions on the specific orientation of cultural construction. When expounding on upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in cultural construction, he clearly stated that what must be upheld are "the cultural leadership of the Communist Party of China and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation."
Second, regarding what the Party's cultural leadership is, the Party's ideological leadership determines and ensures the forward direction of cultural construction. Upholding the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field consolidates the ideological consensus of the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country. As General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "The leadership, management, and discourse power of ideological work must be held firmly in hand."
Third, regarding how to uphold the Party's cultural leadership, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture explicitly proposes that the principle of Party spirit [8] must be upheld with a clear-cut stand. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership over publicity and ideological work, and uphold the principle of the Party managing publicity and the Party managing ideology with a clear-cut stand." Upholding the principle of Party spirit in cultural leadership means adhering to the correct political direction to ensure that cultural construction serves the political goals of the Party and the state; it means grasping the people-centered orientation for creation and development; it means extending the Party's leadership over cultural undertakings to every aspect of the cultural field; and it means attaching great importance to ideological guidance and value shaping within cultural leadership, committing to truly implementing the Party's comprehensive leadership over cultural construction work.
(3) Cultural Mission Theory: Promoting Cultural Prosperity and Building a Culturally Strong Country
Socialist cultural construction shoulders a major and profound mission. Its vigorous development plays an irreplaceable role in national prosperity, ethnic unity and progress, and the well-being of the people. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee has repeatedly proposed the advancement of building a socialist cultural power, demonstrating the Party's consciousness in leading the people of all ethnic groups to actively fulfill their cultural mission. At the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development [9], General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the explicit requirement to continue promoting cultural prosperity and building a culturally strong country from a new starting point, fully demonstrating the CPC's sense of historical mission.
At the same time, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has clarified the strategic path for realizing this cultural mission. First, "uphold the banner" (举旗帜) by maintaining the correct course. This involves firmly grasping the socialist essential attributes of contemporary Chinese culture, holding high the banner of Marxism and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and taking the depth of study and education on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the core link in "upholding the banner," consciously using it to arm the mind, guide practice, and advance work. Second, "gather the people's hearts" (聚民心) through unity and encouragement. This involves firmly grasping the correct orientation of public opinion, making mainstream ideological public opinion bigger and stronger, and converging a majestic force of one heart, one mind, and united struggle. Third, "cultivate new people" (育新人) through value guidance. This means promoting the normalization and institutionalization of education in ideals and convictions, integrating socialist core values into all aspects of social life, and striving to cultivate "people of the era" who can shoulder the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation. Fourth, "thrive culture" (兴文化) through confidence and self-reliance. This involves strengthening cultural confidence, promoting cultural self-improvement, stimulating the cultural innovation and creativity of the whole nation, continuously opening up new prospects for publicity, ideological, and cultural work, and promoting China's transition from a large cultural nation to a cultural power. Fifth, "showcase the image" (展形象) by telling stories well. This involves taking the enhancement of national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture as the core grip for "showcasing the image," focusing on telling China's story well, and striving to improve the influence of international communication. The strategic path for realizing the historical mission of the New Era pointed out by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture signifies that the Party's exploration of the ideological laws and behavioral logic of socialist cultural construction has reached a new realm.
(4) Cultural Standpoint Theory: Adhering to a People-Centered Work Orientation
The question of "for whom and on whom to rely" is a fundamental and principled issue concerning the value teleology, standpoint, and attitude of cultural construction. Always adhering to a people-centered work orientation fully demonstrates the people's standpoint of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
From the perspective of cultural construction, the goal is to meet the people's growing spiritual and cultural needs. The creative subjects of culture are the people, and their creative achievements must be respected; the force relied upon for cultural development is the people—their wisdom and strength must be gathered to build a cultural power, and the masses must be relied upon to inherit and innovate culture; the criteria for judging culture are determined by the people, whose satisfaction and feedback are the yardsticks for measuring the results of cultural construction.
From the perspective of cultural publicity, a people-centered work orientation must be established. Literary and artistic creation, as well as philosophical and social science research, must adhere to a people-centered creative orientation. In developing cultural undertakings and cultural industries, social benefits must be placed first. "The people's standpoint is the fundamental political standpoint of the Communist Party of China." Specifically, regarding literary and artistic work, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly emphasized that "serving the people should be taken as the heaven-sent duty (天职) of literary and artistic workers." They must go deep into life and take root among the people, keenly capturing the ideological trends, focal points of concern, and urgent needs of the masses in different historical periods and living conditions, and reflecting these elements in literary and artistic works to provide rich, diverse, and high-quality "spiritual food" (精神食粮) for the masses. Regarding philosophical and social science work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "a people-centered research orientation must be maintained." Research should focus on major public concerns, respond to the people's realistic needs, and conduct investigations at the grassroots level so that research results serve the needs of the masses and social development. In short, since the 18th National Congress, the CPC has consistently adhered to a people-centered value orientation, respected the people's principal status, guaranteed the people's cultural rights, and combined publicity, education, and guidance with serving the masses, thereby stimulating the creativity of the people and unifying the fulfillment of cultural needs with the enhancement of spiritual strength.
(5) Cultural Path Theory: Unswervingly Following Our Own Path of Cultural Construction
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture explicitly proposes that to shoulder the cultural mission of the New Era, promote cultural prosperity, and build a culturally strong country, we must unswervingly follow the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and especially since the reform and opening up, the CPC has persistently promoted cultural construction and carved out a path of cultural development that conforms to China's national conditions and possesses Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC has continuously deepened its understanding of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, providing it with new positioning and connotations, and comprehensively expanding this developmental path.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress that "to build a modern socialist country in all respects, we must adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics." From historical and practical experience, it can be concluded that: this path is a development path under the guidance of Marxism with strong cohesive and leadership powers; it is a path of promoting the common development of socialist material and spiritual civilizations and promoting socialist cultural prosperity by adhering to the principle of "staying close to reality, life, and the masses"; it is a path of meeting the people's growing spiritual and cultural needs by emphasizing the guidance of socialist core values; it is a path of inheriting tradition while "weeding through the old to bring forth the new" (推陈出新) [10], continuously stimulating the excellent genes of traditional culture under new historical conditions; and it is a path of deepening mutual learning between civilizations, continuously improving national cultural soft power, and enhancing the communication and influence of Chinese civilization. In short, the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics possesses both historical depth and contemporary relevance; it is the only path (必由之路) to building a socialist cultural power.
(6) Cultural Confidence Theory: Adhering to Cultural Subjectivity and Achieving Spiritual Independence
Since the 18th National Congress, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has creatively proposed "cultural confidence" alongside confidence in our path, theory, and system, marking a major original contribution to Marxist cultural theory. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the strategic position, great significance, and connotative orientation of cultural confidence, raising it to an unprecedented height. In June 2016, he mentioned cultural confidence alongside confidence in the path, theory, and system. In July of the same year, he pointed out that cultural confidence is "a more fundamental, broader, and deeper confidence." Furthermore, proceeding from the mutual relationship between the "Four Confidences," he discussed the foundational role of cultural confidence in the formation of the other three.
Cultural confidence is the high degree of confidence a nation, state, or political party has in its own cultural ideals and values, and in its own cultural vitality and creativity. It is not only the spiritual driving force for national development but also a crucial guide for shaping individual values in society. With cultural confidence, one can break free from the influence of Eurocentrism, hold high cultural subjectivity, and independently establish cultural development goals and choose cultural development paths. Cultural subjectivity enables a nation or group to clarify the core values and unique connotations of its own culture, thereby more consciously inheriting its cultural genes. With cultural subjectivity, the understanding, identification, inheritance, and innovation of one's own culture among social members are further deepened, showing the unique charm of Chinese culture in international exchanges. Simultaneously, cultural subjectivity allows people to fully recognize the unique charm and value of Chinese culture, reflecting its inheritance and development through the long river of history and its innovation and transformation in different eras. This proves that Chinese culture is not stagnant or immutable, but possesses strong vitality, capable of advancing with the times and developing continuously—this undoubtedly provides strong support for our cultural confidence. It can be said that with cultural confidence, the spiritual independence and autonomy of the Chinese nation are established, forming the spiritual impetus to promote cultural construction and innovation. In short, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture profoundly elaborates on cultural confidence, pointing out its significance, connotations, and specific paths, contributing a formidable force for demonstrating the vigorous vitality and unique developmental power of Chinese culture, while safeguarding its independence and autonomy.
(7) Cultural Innovation Theory: Stimulating the Cultural Innovation and Creativity of the Whole Nation
The vitality of culture stems from innovation and creativity, which also serve as precursors to the changes of the times and social transformation. As the latest achievement of the Party's cultural construction theory, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has meticulously planned and laid out a series of issues such as the significance, subjects, goals, and measures of cultural construction in the New Era, putting forward a series of innovative viewpoints, thoughts, and judgments. Innovation is not only an important spiritual characteristic of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture but also a methodology. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress the need to "stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity of the whole nation."
Stimulating this vitality is a systematic and long-term process. It is manifested not only in conducting systematic and in-depth research into the developmental lineage, core values, ideological concepts, and humanistic spirit of fine traditional Chinese culture but also in analyzing contemporary social trends and people's lifestyles and spiritual needs to find the convergence points between traditional culture and modern society. Furthermore, it involves using Marxism to stimulate the "excellent factors" (优秀因子) of traditional Chinese culture in terms of values, ethical norms, and governance ideas, and presenting them through new forms such as modern technology and cultural creative industries, thereby allowing them to play a powerful role in the practice of socialist modernization. Specifically, regarding literary and artistic work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "innovation is the lifeblood of literature and art" and that "the spirit of innovation must be integrated into the entire process of literary and artistic creation and production." Regarding external publicity, he emphasized the need to "innovate methods of external publicity and strive to create new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that bridge China and the outside world." In short, studying Xi Jinping Thought on Culture requires a profound grasp of its innovative character, utilizing new ideas, mechanisms, and forms to fully stimulate the nation's cultural creativity and comprehensively promote the flourishing of Chinese culture.
(8) Cultural Construction Theory: Promoting Cultural Prosperity through the "Two Combinations" [11]
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has a profound internal connection with the "Two Combinations," [12] particularly the "Second Combination." On one hand, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a major achievement of the "Two Combinations." It proposes a series of clear requirements and specific tasks for cultural construction, highlighting the temporal demands and practical paths of the "Two Combinations," emphasizing their importance in cultural construction, and continuously enriching and expanding their connotation and extension. On the other hand, the "Two Combinations" serve as the vital cornerstone and the organizing theme running through Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Key assertions regarding the status and role of culture, cultural confidence, and the goals and tasks of cultural construction are all deeply rooted in the "Two Combinations." General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly elucidated the profound connotation and practical direction of the "Two Combinations," pointing out the methodology, path, and goals for building Chinese-style socialist culture in the New Era. First, the "Two Combinations" provide theoretical support for the developmental path of Chinese-style socialist culture. In the process of advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has unified the principles of upholding and developing Marxism. It attaches great importance to excavating, inheriting, and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously demonstrating the openness, inclusiveness, and time-advancing qualities of Marxism. It has activated Chinese civilization with the power of Marxist truth, while causing the tree of Marxist truth to strike deeper roots and grow more luxuriant leaves on Chinese soil. Second, the "Two Combinations" represent the only path to creating new glories for socialist culture. In essence, this combination is the union of a theoretical doctrine with a cultural form; it activates the genes of Chinese civilization and promotes its life renewal and modern transformation. Third, the "Two Combinations" provide a scientific method for promoting cultural prosperity and development. On one hand, the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method provide us with a screening standard for critically inheriting traditional culture, enabling fine traditional culture to undergo profound change and modern transformation through "creative transformation" and "innovative development." [13] This allows the new cultural lifeform—shaped via the "combination"—to shoulder the historical mission of promoting the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture. On the other hand, Marxism endows traditional culture with a scientific and rational spirit and activates its vitality, enabling fine traditional culture to further achieve synthesized innovation on the basis of the integration of Chinese and Western civilizations, thereby forming a body of cultural achievements that fuse the ancient and modern while bridging China and the West.
(9) The Theory of Cultural Layout: Work deployments for advancing cultural construction across all fields Cultural layout refers to the systematic planning, rational allocation, and strategic arrangement of cultural resources, cultural activities, and cultural industries within a certain geographical area, field, or organizational scope to achieve specific cultural goals and exert the comprehensive functions of culture. Taking the rich content of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as the basic guide, the work layout for cultural construction in the New Era covers the following multiple fields. First, in the field of theoretical work, it emphasizes the use of various forms and channels to ensure that the broad registers of Party members, cadres, and the masses master the Party’s innovative theories and implement them in practical actions. Second, in the ideological field, it emphasizes the comprehensive implementation of the responsibility system for ideological work to firmly grasp the leadership, management, and discourse power over ideological work. Third, in the field of education on ideals and convictions, it emphasizes promoting the normalization and institutionalization of such education to consolidate the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups nationwide. Fourth, in the field of cultivating and practicing Core Socialist Values, it emphasizes integrating these values into all levels of social development. Through education, guidance, public opinion propaganda, cultural immersion, practical cultivation, and institutional guarantees, the Core Socialist Values are to take root throughout society. Fifth, in the field of research in philosophy and social sciences, it emphasizes standing on Chinese reality, reflecting Chinese characteristics, and accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Sixth, in the field of network construction and management, it emphasizes improving the capacity and level of comprehensive internet governance. By strengthening network content construction, perfecting network laws and regulations, and boosting network supervision and law enforcement, a healthy and upward-tending network culture is to be cultivated, creating a clean and righteous [14] cyberspace. Seventh, in the field of literary and artistic creation and production, it emphasizes going deep into life and taking root among the people to create excellent works that meet the spiritual and cultural needs of the people. Eighth, in the field of communication system construction, it emphasizes promoting the integrated development of traditional and emerging media and strengthening the construction of an all-media communication system. Ninth, in the field of cultural systemic reform, it emphasizes improving the cultural management system and the mechanism for production and operation, while advancing supply-side structural reform in the cultural field. Tenth, in the field of cultural heritage protection and inheritance, it emphasizes strengthening the protection, restoration, and archaeological work of cultural relics, and promoting the utilization of relics and the inheritance of cultural heritage. Eleventh, in the field of international communication capacity building, it emphasizes building an all-dimensional, multi-layered, and wide-ranging international communication pattern to present a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China to the international community, promoting mutual learning and exchange among civilizations. Twelfth, in the field of building teams for propaganda, ideological, and cultural work, it emphasizes strengthening the training, selection, and management of cadres and talents to improve the team's political quality, professional ability, and level of professional ethics. In short, the layout of cultural work in Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is both grounded in reality and oriented toward the future, sketching a blueprint for the practice of socialist cultural construction.
(10) The Theory of Cultural Openness: Presenting the image of a major civilized country through mutual learning and exchange among civilizations Only a civilization full of confidence will respect the different civilizations of the world and promote mutual learning and exchange. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is both rooted in one's own country and mindful of the world; it consistently emphasizes treating different civilizations with an open attitude. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "The exchange and mutual learning between civilizations is an important driving force for the progress of human civilization and world peace and development." To present the image of a major civilized country through such exchanges, and to effectively enhance national soft power and the influence of Chinese culture, we must strive to construct a Chinese discourse system and a Chinese narrative system to tell the China story well to the world. The key to constructing these systems is to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the core, and to take the effective dissemination and promotion of this Thought as the primary task. We must refine and deepen the external promotion of this Thought, guiding the international community to better understand China's development philosophy, path, and achievements. Furthermore, we must innovate original and forward-looking theoretical viewpoints and academic discourse; implement the creation of discourse platforms including official media, new media, academic journals, and international conferences; and train professional talent teams who are proficient in Chinese culture, familiar with the laws of international communication, and possess cross-cultural communication skills. By innovating vivid, iconic, and easy-to-understand narrative methods, we will continuously improve the international influence of Chinese discourse and the reach of Chinese narratives. In short, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture always emphasizes treating the cultures of all countries with a spirit as vast as the sea [15] and an open, inclusive posture, forging new glories for Chinese culture through equal dialogue, exchange, integration, and even the "confrontation" (jiāofēng) of ideas.
The aforementioned ten propositions systematically elucidate the status and role, leadership, goals and tasks, value orientation, path and direction, spiritual foundation, source of power, practical guidance, work layout, and international responsibility of socialist cultural construction in the New Era. These major innovative theoretical viewpoints are interlinked and progressive, constituting an internally unified and clearly layered organic whole. They fully demonstrate the rich content and profound thinking of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, centrally reflecting its innovations in concepts, guidance in values, and breakthroughs in thinking, which have greatly expanded the breadth and depth of the CPC's understanding of propaganda, ideological, and cultural work in the New Era.
III. The Value Significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture Xi Jinping Thought on Culture not only provides a theoretical guide and practical plan for socialist cultural construction but also contributes new wisdom to the development of a New Form of Human Civilization. [16]
(1) A New Theoretical Leap: The inheritance and innovative development of the Marxist view of culture Tracing the theoretical sources, the classical Marxist authors all attached special importance to cultural issues. In the Chinese edition of the Collected Works of Marx and Engels, the word "culture" is used directly by Marx and Engels 58 times. Marx and Engels affirmed the reality of culture, believing that culture is the product of human social practical activities and is closely linked to human practice and material living conditions. In the "Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy," Marx pointed out: "It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness." Engels emphasized the role of culture, noting: "Every step forward in culture was a step towards freedom." Lenin pointed out the generative mechanism of proletarian culture: "Proletarian culture must be the logical development of the store of knowledge mankind has accumulated under the yoke of capitalist, landowner and bureaucratic society."
The CPC has inherited and developed key Marxist thoughts on culture, explored the laws of socialist cultural construction in different historical periods, and deepened its understanding of these laws. Particularly since the 18th National Congress, the Party has kept close to the overall layout of national development, implemented a series of new cultural construction measures, and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. This Thought upholds viewpoints such as the people-centered nature of culture, the essence and role of culture, the relationship between culture and practice, the national and world-oriented nature of culture, openness and mutual learning, and the historical and contemporary nature of culture. It follows the principle of the Party nature [17] of culture and the methods of materialist dialectics. It innovates fundamental requirements such as the "Two Combinations," the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, the new cultural mission of the New Era, the Party's cultural leadership, the important assertion of cultural confidence, and the advocacy for mutual learning among civilizations. It vividly demonstrates a new theoretical leap of the Marxist view of culture in contemporary China.
(2) A New Practical Guide: The fundamental compliance for building Chinese-style socialist culture After the start of Reform and Opening-up, the Party insisted on "grasping with both hands" and "being firm with both hands" regarding material and spiritual civilization, [18] promoting the prosperity and development of socialist culture. At the same time, however, current cultural construction faces a severe and complex domestic and international situation. Erroneous trends of thought such as money worship, hedonism, extreme individualism, and historical nihilism [19] are surging as undercurrents. Some leading cadres lack firm political stances and a spirit of struggle. There have been signs of weakening in the Party's ideology and cultural leadership, and the spiritual home of Chinese culture faces new challenges. Phenomena such as split ideological and cultural orientations, value conflicts, moral decline, and spiritual laxity have appeared across different social strata. These erroneous trends and unhealthy phenomena in the fields of propaganda, ideology, and culture seriously affect people's thinking and the social public opinion environment, as well as the Party's long-term governance, the country's long-term stability, and the people's happiness.
Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee has elevated propaganda, ideological, and cultural work to an extremely important strategic position, focusing on strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership over ideological work and vigorously promoting the construction of Chinese-style socialist culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping has actively responded to the earnest expectations of the masses. Always upholding a strong sense of problem-awareness, clear historical self-awareness, and firm cultural confidence, he has thought deeply about major issues in the cultural field. He proposed a series of new ideas, viewpoints, and assertions on cultural construction, which constitute a systematic, complete, and logically rigorous scientific system, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Taking Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as the fundamental compliance, propaganda, ideological, and cultural work in the New Era has achieved historical successes and undergone historical changes. The path for building a culturally powerful country has become increasingly clear, and the upward trend in the ideological and cultural fields continues to develop. The fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological field has been firmly established. The Party's innovative theories have reached deep into people's hearts. The reach, guidance, influence, and credibility of news and public opinion have continuously improved. Cultural undertakings and industries have developed comprehensively. A new generation of "Era-beating youths" [20] capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation has emerged, and national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture have significantly increased. All of the above fully demonstrates the major practical significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in contemporary China.
(3) A New Global Scheme: Chinese solutions and wisdom for creating a New Form of Human Civilization The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century; changes in the world, the times, and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways. The developmental pattern and evolutionary trend of world culture and human civilization are undergoing adjustment and reshaping. The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change, with trends such as protectionism, isolationism, and populism on the rise, and arguments like the "clash of civilizations" and "civilizational superiority" resurfacing. Human society faces the common threat of ideological fragmentation and cultural disputes, and human civilization stands at a crossroads. A series of choices and questions—whether there should be exchange and dialogue or closure and estrangement, common prosperity or conflict and confrontation—haunt the countries of the world.
Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has adhered to a global vision [21], creatively proposing the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity from the high vantage point of the development of human civilization. He emphasizes adherence to openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, as well as fairness and justice. He advocates for the establishment of a view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, while resolutely opposing arrogance, prejudice, closed-off exclusivism, and the estrangement of civilizations. Through the "Chinese Answer," he has profoundly addressed the "Questions of the World," resolving the problems and doubts that have long troubled the peoples of all nations. He has contributed ideological wisdom to the exchange, mutual learning, development, and progress of human civilization, fully manifesting the global sentiment and sense of mission inherent in Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Simultaneously, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture profoundly grasps the laws governing the development of human civilization and provides deep insight into the historic changes in the relationship between China and the world. It actively promotes the practical development of inheriting and innovating fine traditional Chinese culture, allowing this ancient culture to radiate new vitality and vigor in modern society, and enabling Chinese culture to demonstrate its unique charm on the world stage.
(Author’s affiliation: Institute of CPC History and Party Building, Sun Yat-sen University) Source: World Socialism Studies, Issue 4, 2025 Web Editor: Jing Mu