Zhang Zhengwen: Deeply Grasping the Compatibility Between Fine Traditional Chinese Culture and Scientific Socialist Values and Propositions
Excellently preserved and profoundly profound, fine traditional Chinese culture is the concentrated expression of the Chinese people’s ideological concepts, customs, lifestyles, and emotional patterns; it is the "root" of our Party’s innovative theories. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "To uphold and develop Marxism, we must integrate it with fine traditional Chinese culture." This further expanded and deepened our Party’s regular understanding of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, providing a scientific guide for promoting the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture.
Providing the Preconditions for Integrating the Basic Tenets of Marxism with Fine Traditional Chinese Culture
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "It is by no means accidental that after Marxism was introduced to China, the propositions of scientific socialism were warmly welcomed by the Chinese people and eventually took root, blossomed, and bore fruit on Chinese soil. Rather, it is because they are compatible with the excellent historical culture passed down in our country for thousands of years and with the values that the masses of the people 'use daily without realizing' [1]." The values of fine traditional Chinese culture possess a high degree of compatibility with the value propositions of scientific socialism, which provides the preconditions for integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture.
The deep-seated reason why the value propositions of scientific socialism have been able to become the basic value guidance for the Chinese people in understanding and transforming the world lies in the fact that the values contained within fine traditional Chinese culture—such as "the world belongs to the public," "the people are the foundation of the state," "governing with virtue," "weeding out the old to bring forth the new," "appointing the virtuous and capable," "the unity of heaven and humanity," "self-strengthening without cease," "holding the world with great virtue," "valuing good faith and cultivating harmony," and "being kind to neighbors"—are highly compatible with the value propositions of scientific socialism. This compatibility primarily refers to the fact that fine traditional Chinese culture and the value propositions of scientific socialism, as two independent value systems, possess value commonality. At the same time, it is closely related to the open and inclusive qualities of both. Marxism possesses the characteristics of openness and timeliness; the history of the development of Marxism is a history of Marx, Engels, and their successors continuously evolving in accordance with the development of the times, practice, and cognition, and a history of continuously absorbing all the excellent ideological and cultural achievements in human history to enrich itself. As an important component of Marxism, the value propositions of scientific socialism likewise possess the characteristics of openness and timeliness. The inclusiveness of fine traditional Chinese culture provides the possibility and creates the conditions for its compatibility with the value propositions of scientific socialism.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: "Only by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture, and by persisting in the application of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, can we correctly answer the major questions raised by the times and practice, and can we always maintain the vigorous vitality and robust strength of Marxism." For over a hundred years, in the process of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, the compatibility between fine traditional Chinese culture and the value propositions of scientific socialism has been continuously highlighted. Sinicized and modernized Marxism has always maintained vigorous vitality, while fine traditional Chinese culture has continuously achieved "creative transformation and innovative development" [2]. This is the inevitable result of our Party continuously promoting the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, linking the essence of Marxist thought with the cream of fine traditional Chinese culture, and integrating them with the common values that the masses of the people "use daily without realizing." The high degree of compatibility between the values of fine traditional Chinese culture and the value propositions of scientific socialism provides the preconditions and an important foundation for the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. Simultaneously, by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, our Party has promoted the popularization, identification, and ownership of Marxism by the Chinese people, rendering the historical and mass foundations for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism more solid.
Profoundly Grasping the Basic Points of Compatibility Between Fine Traditional Chinese Culture and the Value Propositions of Scientific Socialism
The high degree of compatibility between the values of fine traditional Chinese culture and the value propositions of scientific socialism is vividly reflected in the traditional Chinese worldview, view of the world (Tianxia), social outlook, and moral outlook.
There is a high degree of compatibility in the worldview (cosmology). General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese civilization has always advocated for the unity of heaven and humanity and following the laws of nature, pursuing the harmonious coexistence of man and nature." Chinese civilization emphasizes grasping the entire universe and the relationship between humans and all things from a holistic perspective, advocating the concept of "the unity of heaven and humanity" [3]. Marxism holds that "we, with flesh, blood and brain, belong to nature, and exist in its midst," and that the relationships between man and nature, man and man, and man and society are mutually dependent and harmoniously coexistent. This contains a value concept of viewing the world from the perspective of the interconnection of all things rather than in isolation or one-sidedness. The worldview of fine traditional Chinese culture is highly compatible with these value propositions.
There is a high degree of compatibility in the "Tianxia" (all-under-heaven) view [4]. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Since ancient times, Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness, continuously radiating new vitality through exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations." In the history of Chinese civilization, the spirit of "inclusiveness," the value tradition of "being kind to neighbors," and the concept of "harmony among all nations" vividly reflect the temperament, breadth, and style of the Chinese people's view of the world. Scientific socialism posits that "the proletariat can thus only exist world-historically, just as communism, its activity, can only have a ‘world-historical’ existence," advocating the establishment of an "association of free individuals," the realization of the free and comprehensive development of man, and the liberation of all humanity. It possesses a broad and lofty global vision and deep humanistic concern. The "Tianxia" view of fine traditional Chinese culture is highly compatible with these value propositions.
There is a high degree of compatibility in the social outlook. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese culture advocates harmony; China’s ‘harmony’ culture has a long history." Peace, amity, and harmony are concepts that the Chinese nation has long pursued and passed down; "harmony without uniformity" [5] centrally manifests the social outlook contained within fine traditional Chinese culture. For thousands of years, value concepts such as "harmony is precious," "be kind to others," and "do not do to others what you would not have them do to you" have been passed down from generation to generation in China and are deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people. The values of scientific socialism formed on the basis of materialist dialectics emphasize that the two poles of a contradiction exist not only in opposition but also in unity; one should acknowledge, respect, and tolerate differences, grasping unity within diverse oppositions and seeking common ground while reserving differences in mutual interdependence, thereby achieving social harmony. The social outlook of fine traditional Chinese culture is highly compatible with these value propositions.
There is a high degree of compatibility in the moral outlook. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "A person cannot stand without virtue; character is the foundation of being human." The Chinese nation is a nation that values morality and advocates the cultivation of virtue, emphasizing that "when morality is manifested in one's person, one is not confused by material things." Through long-term practice, the Chinese nation has nurtured and formed a unique and systematic set of value concepts and moral norms. For instance, in adhering to moral bottom lines, it emphasizes "do not fail to do a good deed because it is small, and do not do an evil deed because it is small" and "exhaust the small to reach the great; be cautious of the subtle to make it manifest." In establishing moral ideals, it advocates "benefitting the whole world" and "aiding the common people." These value concepts and moral norms are inscribed in the depths of the Chinese people's souls, integrated into the blood of the Chinese nation, and have become an important force supporting the continuous life and heritage of the Chinese nation. They possess an internal commonality and high degree of compatibility with the Marxist moral outlook and the socialist moral outlook.
Persisting in the Guidance of a Scientific Worldview and Methodology to Continuously Impart Distinctive Chinese Characteristics to Scientific Theory
There is no end to practice, and there is no end to theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress: "To continue promoting theoretical innovation based on practice, we must first grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and persist in and apply the stances, viewpoints, and methods running through it." This provides scientific worldview and methodological guidance for scientifically grasping and continuously carrying forward the high degree of compatibility between the values of fine traditional Chinese culture and the value propositions of scientific socialism, and for continuously promoting theoretical innovation based on practice.
The tree of Marxist truth can only be deep-rooted and luxuriant if it is planted in the fertile soil of its own country’s and nation's history and culture. To let Marxism firmly take root in China, we must grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, persist in and apply its stances, viewpoints, and methods, deeply explore and carry forward the compatibility between the values of fine traditional Chinese culture and the value propositions of scientific socialism, continuously impart distinctive Chinese characteristics to scientific theory, and continuously consolidate the historical and mass foundations for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
We must persist in putting the people first, inheriting and carrying forward the value of "the people as the foundation of the state" from fine traditional Chinese culture. We must stand firmly on the people's side, grasp their aspirations, respect their creativity, and concentrate their wisdom to form theories that are loved, identified with, and owned by the people, making them a powerful ideological weapon for the people to understand and transform the world.
We must persist in self-confidence and self-reliance, inheriting and carrying forward the value of "self-strengthening without cease" from fine traditional Chinese culture. We must strengthen the "four confidences," neither "seeking a sword by marking the boat" [6] (being closed and rigid) nor copying blindly and being unable to digest foreign things. With more active historical responsibility and creative spirit, we should make new contributions to the development of Marxism.
We must persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, inheriting and carrying forward the value of "weeding out the old to bring forth the new" from fine traditional Chinese culture. We must treat science with a scientific attitude, pursue truth with the spirit of truth, treat all new things with great enthusiasm, continuously expand the breadth and depth of our understanding, dare to say new things that predecessors have not said, and dare to do things that predecessors have not done, guiding new practices with new theories.
We must persist in a problem-oriented approach, with the persistent spirit of "the road ahead is long and arduous, I will seek high and low" [7]. We should focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, the urgent anxieties and hopes of the masses, major problems in the international situation, and prominent problems facing Party building, continuously proposing new concepts, new ideas, and new methods that truly solve problems.
We must persist in a systems concept, inheriting and carrying forward the value of "all things grow together without harming one another, and roads run parallel without interfering with one another" from fine traditional Chinese culture. We must observe things from a perspective of universal connection, comprehensive systems, and developmental change, striving to grasp the laws of development to provide a scientific ideological method for forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and the holistic advancement of the various undertakings of the Party and the state.
We must persist in maintaining a global vision (having the world in mind), inheriting and carrying forward the value of "harmony among all nations" from fine traditional Chinese culture. We must profoundly insight the trends of human development and progress, actively respond to the universal concerns of people in all countries, surpass civilizational barriers with civilizational exchange, surpass civilizational conflict with mutual learning, and surpass civilizational superiority with civilizational coexistence. With a broad mind that "accepts all rivers into the sea," we should learn from and absorb all excellent civilizational achievements of humanity and promote the construction of a better world.