Gong Yun and Yang Binbin: Strengthening Historical Consciousness Through the Deepening of Research into the History of Chinese Civilization
Deepening the study of the history of Chinese civilization is an inevitable requirement for strengthening historical consciousness, mastering historical initiative, and fortifying historical confidence; it is also a programmatic need of the era to enhance cultural consciousness, promote cultural innovation, and solidify cultural confidence. In the article "Deepening the Study of the History of Chinese Civilization to Strengthen Historical Consciousness and Fortify Cultural Confidence," General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that Chinese civilization is long-standing and well-established, extensive and profound; it is the unique spiritual identification of the Chinese nation, the foundation of contemporary Chinese culture, the spiritual bond maintaining Chinese people worldwide, and a treasure trove for Chinese cultural innovation. This series of major assertions profoundly elucidates the important significance and unique value of Chinese civilization for the development of the Chinese nation, the innovation of Chinese culture, and the coexistence of world civilizations, centrally highlighting the necessity and importance of deepening the study of the history of Chinese civilization.
The long history of the evolution of Chinese civilization is the "source and living water" [1] for fortifying cultural confidence. Deepening the study of the history of Chinese civilization helps to profoundly grasp the historical and modern forms, the material and spiritual forms, and the traditional and innovative forms of Chinese civilization. It assists in strengthening the aspiration, backbone, and confidence of the Chinese people; it helps to elevate the self-esteem, self-confidence, and sense of pride of the Chinese nation; and it aids in solidifying the historical localized resolve for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the historical consciousness for the comprehensive building of a great modern socialist country.
The magnificent and brilliant Chinese civilization is a precious resource for strengthening Party confidence, national confidence, and ethnic confidence. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "In the world today, if one were to say which political party, which country, and which nation has the most reason to be confident, then the Communist Party of China, the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese nation are the ones." The Chinese nation possesses a history of civilization spanning over five thousand years; it has undergone the "vicissitudes of seas and mulberry fields" [2] in its ethnic changes, witnessed the exchange and integration of diverse cultures, created a dazzling Chinese civilization, and made indelible contributions to humanity. As the only brilliant civilization in human history that has continued for over five thousand years without interruption, Chinese civilization’s temporal transitions and innovative developments profoundly influence the progress of contemporary China and deeply shape the spiritual world of contemporary Chinese people.
"Emerging from history, one enters the Way. To know the Great Way, one must first engage with history" [3]. Comprehensively deepening the study of the history of Chinese civilization is the basic path to profoundly grasping the logic of the evolution of Chinese civilization, revealing the laws of the development of the Chinese nation, and manifesting the vista of the Chinese people’s spiritual creation. Grounded in the profound changes of the global, social, national, and Party situations in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and scientifically answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times in this era full of challenges and hope, we must examine and study Chinese civilization within the long river of history, the tide of the era, and the winds and clouds of the globe. We must possess a high sense of historical mission and responsibility of the times, establish a correct view of the history of civilization, persist in a "large-scale view of history" [4] and a global perspective, accurately grasp the general trend of the times, comprehensively recognize our historical position, improve our capacity for historical thinking, exert a spirit of historical initiative, and strengthen cultural confidence. Centering on what we are currently doing, we must persist in proceeding from China's reality, deeply advance research into major issues such as the basic vista, internal mechanisms, and regional evolutionary paths of the origin, formation, and development of Chinese civilization, and draw wisdom and strength from fine traditional Chinese culture.
We must always adhere to the spirit of upholding the fundamentals and break new ground, continuously promoting the innovative development of Chinese culture. "He who wishes for the tree to grow tall must solidify its roots; he who desires the stream to flow far must dredge its source" [5]. Every civilization continues the spiritual lifeblood of a country and a nation; it requires both the passing of the torch from generation to generation and the ability to advance with the times and have the courage to innovate. Vigorously promoting the "creative transformation and innovative development" [6] of fine traditional Chinese culture is an internal requirement for strengthening historical consciousness and fortifying cultural confidence in the New Era. Continuing development through inheritance and innovation, imbuing new qualities by following the trends of the time, and achieving continuous sublimation while responding to changes—these are the internal characteristics and significant advantages of Chinese civilization, as well as the important reasons and endogenous drivers for its continuity to this day. "Only by not forgetting the original can we open up the future; only by being good at inheritance can we better innovate." Rooted in the needs of the development of the era and the spiritual life of the people, we must persist in upholding the fundamentals and break new ground and the spirit of historical initiative, continually expand the horizons of civilizational development, and construct the modern form of Chinese civilization. We must persist in the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, persist in combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific reality and with fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit and carry forward revolutionary culture, develop advanced socialist culture, seek rich resources from fine traditional Chinese culture, fully excavate and manifest the contemporary value of Chinese civilization, vividly display the unique spiritual identification of the Chinese nation, and better construct Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength.
We must promote civilizational exchange and mutual learning to radiate the contemporary vitality of Chinese civilization. To manifest the unique value of Chinese civilization, we must both unequivocally oppose historical nihilism [7] and cultural nihilism, and fully absorb and learn from the essence of different civilizations. To this end, adhering to a view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness—fully displaying the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization and promoting dialogue and exchange between Chinese civilization and different world civilizations—will help transcend civilizational estrangement through exchange, transcend civilizational conflict through mutual learning, and transcend civilizational superiority through coexistence. More importantly, by deeply excavating the common values of all humanity within Chinese civilization, we provide value support for a new form of human civilization and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, thereby realizing the promotion of human progress by seeking common ground while reserving differences on the basis of respecting civilizational diversity and mutual autonomous choices.