Chen Zhigang: Profoundly Grasping the Essence and Significant Meaning of the "Second Integration"
General Secretary Xi Jinping, while presiding over the sixth group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, emphasized: "The major proposition of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism itself determines that we must never discard the 'soul-vein' (hunmai) of Marxism, nor can we ever discard the 'root-vein' (genmai) of fine traditional Chinese culture. Upholding this soul and root is the foundation and prerequisite for theoretical innovation." In his important speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly summarized the Party’s valuable experience over the past hundred years and proposed the major thesis of the "Two Combinations," explicitly raising for the first time the issue of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture—that is, the "Second Combination" [1]. In his important speech at the Meeting on Cultural Inheritance and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound foundation of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization necessitates the path of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping provided an in-depth exposition of the essence and great significance of the "Second Combination," clearly proposing that the "Second Combination" constitutes another emancipation of the mind [2]. On the new journey, we must deeply study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, continuously deepen our understanding of the historical experience of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization, and unceasingly advance the "Second Combination." We must fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture within a broader cultural space to explore future-oriented innovations in theory and institutions.
I. Profoundly understanding the essence of the "Second Combination"
General Secretary Xi Jinping noted, "Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture have different sources, but they possess a high degree of compatibility." The combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture is a combination based on compatibility, rather than an undifferentiated identity; it is a reciprocal, two-way combination that achieves mutual success, rather than a one-way process or a mere "platter" of disparate parts.
The prerequisite for "combination" is mutual compatibility; only through mutual compatibility can an organic integration occur. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "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. This was by no means accidental; rather, it was because they resonated with our country’s fine historical culture inherited over thousands of years and with the values that the masses 'use daily without realizing' [3]." On one hand, fine traditional Chinese culture—in its outlooks on the universe, the world (tianxia), society, and morality—"possesses a high degree of compatibility with the value propositions of scientific socialism." Fine traditional Chinese culture advocates for the harmony between humanity and nature [4], the primacy of the public good (tianxia wei gong) and Great Unity (datong) [5], the principle that the people are the foundation of the state [6], and the ideas that "the benevolent person loves others" and "the person of noble character supports the world with virtuous conduct" [7]. These resonate at a deep level with Marxist thoughts on the relationship between man and nature, communism, the principal status of the people, and ethics. This compatibility has allowed Marxism to gain broad recognition and dissemination, making the combination possible. On the other hand, the two also possess a high degree of compatibility in their intellectual character, as both are open and inclusive. Marxism is an open theory, and Chinese civilization also possesses a striking inclusivity. "Chinese civilization is a civilization generated on the land of China, but it is also a civilization formed through continuous exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations." Viewed from the "Great History" perspective of several millennia, reform and openness have generally been the historical norm for China. Chinese Communists are both firm believers in and practitioners of Marxism, and also loyal inheritors and promoters of fine traditional Chinese culture. The internal unity of these two identities makes the "Second Combination" a reality.
Compatibility is not an undifferentiated identity but is instead based on difference. Marxism emerged from the Western industrial civilization of the 19th century, taking human emancipation and free and well-rounded development as its value goals, and using scientific theory to point the way toward the ultimate establishment of an ideal society without oppression, exploitation, where everyone is equal and free. Fine traditional Chinese culture, born in the era of agricultural civilization, has a long history and possesses rich and unique philosophical thoughts, humanistic spirit, educational ideas, and moral concepts, emphasizing the unity of benevolence and ritual (ren-li) in human relations and social stability. During the formation and development of traditional Chinese culture, it was constrained and influenced by the cognitive levels, era conditions, and social systems of the time; thus, some aspects inevitably contain certain limitations and need to be adapted to contemporary culture and coordinated with modern society. This determines that in the combination of the two, we must remain unshakable in our adherence to Marxism as the foundation for establishing and rejuvenating the Party and the country. We must also never stop developing Marxism by planting its roots in the fertile soil of our country’s and nation’s history and culture. We must remain firm in our historical and cultural confidence, uphold the principle of "making the past serve the present and bringing forth the new" [8], use Marxism as a guide to comprehensively mine the 5,000-year-old treasury of Chinese civilization, use Marxism to activate the vital and excellent elements within fine traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new connotations of the era, and inject the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation at a deeper level into Marxism.
Combination is not one-way, but a process of mutual accomplishment. The combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture is bidirectional. On one hand, through this combination, Marxism has received rich nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture, manifesting Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese spirit, thereby realizing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and making Marxism "Chinese." On the other hand, under the light of Marxist truth, Chinese civilization has been activated, realizing transformation and reconstruction. Built upon the foundation of modern civilization and possessing new characteristics, spirit, and connotations of the era, it has realized the modernization of traditional culture and formed the cultural state of Chinese-path modernization. The combination is not a "platter" or a simple physical reaction, but a profound chemical reaction. The Sinicization of Marxism and the modernization of fine traditional Chinese culture are not strictly separate, nor do they produce two different things; rather, they create a new, organically unified cultural lifeform. It is precisely because of the compatibility and the differences between the basic tenets of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture that the two complement and enhance each other, supplementing one another for common development.
II. Fortifying the foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics
Chinese civilization has continued uninterrupted for over 5,000 years, possessing a striking continuity. This continuity demonstrates that Chinese civilization has prominent advantages and that historical China and contemporary China are inseparable. It fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation must walk its own path. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "combination" fortifies the foundation of our path; the "Second Combination" gives the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and more profound historical depth and expands its cultural foundation. Chinese-path modernization endows Chinese civilization with modern power, while Chinese civilization endows Chinese-path modernization with profound substance.
Fine traditional Chinese culture is the "root-vein" of the Chinese nation and its unique spiritual hallmark; it has fortified the unique foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that China walks today is inseparable from the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization." "Without the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, where would 'Chinese characteristics' come from? And without 'Chinese characteristics,' how could we have the successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics we have today?" Strengthening the "Second Combination" helps to highlight this "5,000-year-old civilization" as a Chinese characteristic, making socialism with Chinese characteristics more "deeply rooted" (genshen digu). This greatly enhances the identification of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation with socialism with Chinese characteristics, strengthening the ambition, backbone, and confidence of being Chinese. Conversely, to discard tradition and lose one’s foundation is equivalent to severing one’s own spiritual "root-vein." Socialism with Chinese characteristics would then lose its "characteristics" and face a crisis of identity.
Fine traditional Chinese culture possesses unique cultural genes and has formed unique value pursuits that are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, profoundly influencing their way of thinking and their values. We have taken the millennial dream of "moderate prosperity" (xiaokang) [9] as a phased goal for Chinese-path modernization, and the five distinctive features of Chinese-path modernization are also rooted in the soil of fine traditional Chinese culture. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of Chinese social development. It continuously stimulates the vitality of fine traditional Chinese culture while drawing wisdom and strength from it, possessing deep historical origins and a broad realistic foundation. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that continues an ancient civilization rather than destroying it; it is a modernization grown from Chinese soil rather than a copy-paste of other countries; it is the result of cultural renewal, not a product of cultural rupture.
III. Opening up a broad space for innovation
Chinese civilization is long-standing and profound; its rich nourishment can open up a vast space for innovation in theory and practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "combination" has opened up a space for innovation; the "Second Combination" has allowed us to grasp the ideological and cultural initiative and effectively act upon our path, theory, and system. More importantly, the "Second Combination" is another emancipation of the mind.
Combining the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture expands the dimension of theoretical innovation for the Sinicization of Marxism from contemporary reality into profound history and culture. This helps us hold the ideological and cultural initiative, absorbing nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture in all aspects to open up a broad space for theoretical and practical innovation. The combination has a long history. During the periods of Revolution and Construction, Comrade Mao Zedong used terms with Chinese style and charm such as "seek truth from facts," "independence and self-reliance," "shoot the arrow at the target" (you di fang shi) [10], "opposites complement each other" (xiang fan xiang cheng), and "one divides into two" to interpret Marxist epistemology and dialectics. This both promoted the "Marxization" of fine traditional Chinese culture and enriched the development of Marxist theory. Since the start of Reform and Opening-up, our Party has further excavated the intellectual essence of fine traditional Chinese culture to advance theoretical innovation based on practice.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has based its actions on the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the global changes unseen in a century. It has advanced the "Second Combination" with unprecedented strength and breadth, endowing fine traditional Chinese culture with new significance for the era and applying it to all aspects of governance. The "Six Must-Upholds" [11], which are an important manifestation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, profoundly carry forward the concepts contained in fine traditional Chinese culture, such as the people as the foundation of the state, self-strengthening, discarding the old to establish the new, seeking truth from facts, the harmony between humanity and nature, Great Unity (datong), and harmony among all nations. Furthermore, classical phrases from ancient texts concerning respect for the people, governance, establishing virtue, self-cultivation, earnest practice, encouraging learning, appointing the virtuous, clean governance, and convictions are frequently utilized by General Secretary Xi Jinping and endowed with Marxist connotations, providing rich intellectual nourishment for Party members and cadres in the New Era to strengthen their Party spirit.
The proposal of the "Second Combination" has expanded the dimension and depth of theoretical innovation. It not only allows Marxism to continuously enrich its content and acquire new expressions in form—deeply imprinted with the charm of traditional Chinese culture, so that Marxism truly becomes Chinese and can be understood, remembered, and used by the masses—but also allows us to reposition the social status of traditional culture. We have grasped the right of interpretation and discourse over traditional Chinese culture, which is conducive to maintaining ideological and cultural initiative.
IV. Consolidating cultural subjectivity
Culture is the unique spiritual hallmark of a nation; cultural security and identity are related to the consolidation of cultural subjectivity and nationality. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "combination" has consolidated cultural subjectivity, and the creation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful manifestation of this cultural subjectivity. The "Second Combination" is our Party’s profound summary of the historical experience of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and its deep grasp of the laws of the development of Chinese civilization. it demonstrates that our Party’s understanding of the Chinese path, theory, and system has reached a new height; that our Party’s historical and cultural confidence has reached a new height; and that our Party’s self-awareness in advancing cultural innovation through the inheritance of fine traditional Chinese culture has reached a new height.
The guidance of Marxism has achieved a scientific evaluation of traditional Chinese culture and the consolidation of cultural subjectivity. During the Yan'an period [12], Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized that we must critically inherit everything from Confucius to Sun Yat-sen. New Democratic culture [13] is a culture of the masses against imperialism and feudalism; it is a culture based on respect for historical dialectics that guides the people to look forward rather than backward. This approach accords a certain scientific status to history and insists on the principle of "discarding the dross and selecting the essential, eliminating the false and retaining the true" [14] to organize ancient culture. This constitutes both the inheritance and the development of the Chinese nation's cultural lineage, fully reflecting the self-confidence and self-awareness of the Chinese nation. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "The same applies to the application of Marxism in China; Chinese communists must fully and properly unite the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution—that is, combine it with national characteristics and give it a certain national form before it can be useful; it must never be applied subjectively or formulaically."
The combination of the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture has transformed the historical existence of fine traditional Chinese culture, making it a current reality on the basis of creative transformation and innovative development. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed fine traditional Chinese culture in an unprecedentedly important position. He explicitly pointed out: "Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. Both history and reality show that a nation that has abandoned or betrayed its own history and culture not only cannot develop but is also likely to experience a series of historical tragedies," and "without the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." The "second combination" [15] not only makes Marxism more thorough on the path of "Sinicization and modernization," making it truly Chinese, but also achieves the modernization of fine traditional Chinese culture. This ensures that fine traditional Chinese culture is no longer merely historical, but vibrant and real, influencing our thinking and actions with powerful vitality and vigor. Through this combination, fine traditional Chinese culture, with its long history, has achieved creative transformation and innovative development, becoming an important component of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
Cultural subjectivity manifests as the self-awareness, initiative, and independence of cultural development; it is a vital sign of historical confidence and cultural confidence. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era adheres to the Marxist standpoint, viewpoints, and methods, and persists in the basic principles of scientific socialism. It profoundly summarizes and fully utilizes the historical experience of the Party’s century of struggle, inherits and promotes the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, and, in accordance with the developments and changes of the times and practice, enriches and develops Marxism with brand-new intellectual content, achieving a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a model of combining the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture; it has activated fine traditional Chinese culture with the light of Marxist truth and applied it to all aspects of governance. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit in our times. On the new journey of the New Era, we must persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, using the integrity and vigor of this approach to continue the historical cultural lineage and compose contemporary chapters of brilliance.
(Author: Director and Researcher, Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)