The Foundation and Nurturing of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is the spiritual symbol and core essence of Chinese-path modernization. Its generation and evolution are deeply rooted in specific cultural genes and historical contexts, and the fine traditional Chinese culture constitutes its most profound foundational resource. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “The Second Integration makes Marxism Chinese, makes the fine traditional Chinese culture modern, and makes the new culture formed through ‘integration’ the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.” This important thesis clarifies the core generative logic of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

中国式现代化文化形态是中国式现代化的精神标识与核心要义，其生成演进深度植根于特定的文化基因与历史语境之中，而中华优秀传统文化构成其最深厚的根基性资源。习近平总书记指出，“‘第二个结合’让马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，让经由‘结合’而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态”，这一重要论断明确了中国式现代化文化形态的核心生成逻辑。

As the spiritual lifeline of the Chinese nation, the fine traditional Chinese culture has accumulated philosophical thought, humanistic spirit, and moral norms that contain the core of the national spirit. It provides unique spiritual genes, value cores, and practical wisdom for the construction of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “We must never abandon the soul of Marxism, and we must never abandon the root of the fine traditional Chinese culture.” Continuously deepening the nurturing of the foundation of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization by the fine traditional Chinese culture is not only an inevitable requirement for tracing back to cultural origins and consolidating cultural confidence, but also a key path for resolving dilemmas such as the alienation of cultural identity and the rupture between tradition and modernity in the process of modernization, and thereby constructing a new form of human civilization.

作为中华民族的精神命脉，中华优秀传统文化积淀着蕴含民族精神内核的哲学思想、人文精神与道德规范，为中国式现代化文化形态的建构提供了独特的精神基因、价值内核与实践智慧。习近平总书记强调，“我们决不能抛弃马克思主义这个魂脉，决不能抛弃中华优秀传统文化这个根脉”。不断深化中华优秀传统文化对中国式现代化文化形态根基的涵养，既是回溯文化本源、筑牢文化自信的必然要求，亦是破解现代化进程中文化认同的异化、传统与现代的断裂等困境，进而构建人类文明新形态的关键路径。

As a paradigm of modernization distinct from the Western model, Chinese-path modernization not only requires a solid material production system as its support, but is also inseparable from the guidance and empowerment of a spiritual and cultural system. From the perspective of cultural philosophy, culture, as the spiritual symbol and collective memory of a nation, is a core element for凝聚 social consensus, integrating social forces, and promoting social progress. The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, as the spiritual condensation and conceptual projection of the practice of Chinese-path modernization, is a new type of cultural system formed under the guidance of Marxism, actively integrating the genes of fine traditional Chinese culture and the outstanding achievements of human civilization, and adapting to the development needs of Chinese-path modernization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has insisted on placing cultural development in a prominent position in state governance, promoting cultural development to achieve historic achievements through clarifying the source and upholding integrity and innovation. The fine traditional Chinese culture, after more than 5,000 years of historical accumulation and intergenerational inheritance, is an organic collection of ideological concepts, humanistic spirit, and moral norms formed by the Chinese nation in long-term production and living practices, constituting the spiritual genealogy and cultural code of the Chinese nation. From the perspective of the ideological genealogy, the fine traditional Chinese culture contains rich philosophical wisdom and value concepts, from the people-oriented thought of “the people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is stable, the state is peaceful” to the striving spirit of “as Heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-reliance.” These ideological concepts not only shape the spiritual character of the Chinese nation but are also inherently compatible with the value pursuit of Chinese-path modernization. From the construction logic of the cultural foundation, its core essence is mainly reflected in three aspects:

中国式现代化作为一种区别于西方模式的现代化范式，不仅需要坚实的物质生产体系作为支撑，更离不开精神文化体系的引领与赋能。从文化哲学的视角来看，文化作为民族的精神标识与集体记忆，是凝聚社会共识、整合社会力量、推动社会进步的核心要素。中国式现代化文化形态作为中国式现代化实践的精神凝练与观念投射，是在马克思主义指导下，积极融合中华优秀传统文化基因与人类文明优秀成果，并适应中国式现代化发展需求的新型文化体系。党的十八大以来，我们党坚持把文化建设摆在治国理政的突出位置，推动文化建设在正本清源、守正创新中取得历史性成就。中华优秀传统文化历经5000多年的历史积淀与代际传承，是中华民族在长期生产生活实践中形成的思想观念、人文精神与道德规范的有机集合体，构成了中华民族的精神谱系与文化密码。从思想谱系来看，中华优秀传统文化蕴含着丰富的哲学智慧与价值理念，从“民惟邦本，本固邦宁”的民本思想到“天行健，君子以自强不息”的奋斗精神，这些思想理念不仅塑造了中华民族的精神品格，更与中国式现代化的价值追求内在契合。从文化根基的建构逻辑来看，其核心要义主要体现在三个层面：

Shaping the National Temperament of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

塑造中国式现代化文化形态的民族气质

The fine traditional Chinese culture is the foundational resource of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. It is not a static historical relic, but a dynamic spiritual system with both profound heritage and vibrant contemporary vitality. We should recognize the inherent connection between traditional culture and modern culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “The fine traditional Chinese culture is the cultural root of the Chinese nation,” and “use Marxism to activate the excellent factors in traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new contemporary connotations.” The national temperament of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is the spiritual condensation of the continuous inheritance and creative transformation of the genes of fine traditional Chinese culture in the process of modernization. Its generation follows the laws of cultural inheritance, manifesting distinct subjectivity and uniqueness. National temperament is not an abstract spiritual symbol, but a spiritual trait rooted in the national cultural system, precipitated into a stable cultural psychological structure. Through intergenerational transmission and adaptation to the times, it completes meaning construction, becoming the core marker that distinguishes the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization from other cultural forms, and solidifying the subjective foundation for the development of modern culture.

中华优秀传统文化是中国式现代化文化形态的根基性资源，它并非静态的历史遗存，而是兼具深厚底蕴与鲜活时代生命力的动态精神体系。我们应看到传统文化与现代文化的内在联结。习近平总书记强调，“中华优秀传统文化是中华民族的文化根脉”，“用马克思主义激活中华传统文化中的优秀因子并赋予其新的时代内涵”。中国式现代化文化形态的民族气质，是中华优秀传统文化基因在现代化进程中持续传承与创造性转化的精神凝练，其生成遵循着文化传承的规律，彰显出鲜明的主体性与独特性。民族气质并非抽象的精神符号，而是植根于民族文化体系、沉淀为稳定文化心理结构的精神特质，经代际传递与时代适配完成意义建构，成为中国式现代化文化形态区别于其他文化形态的核心标识，为现代文化发展筑牢了主体性根基。

First, the continuous inheritance of cultural genes and the accumulation of cultural psychological structure constitute an important basis for the generation of the Chinese national temperament. National cultural genes are a cultural system that carries the core of the national spirit, encompassing core elements such as spiritual concepts, ethical norms, and collective memory. Their continuity is not only reflected in the transmission of cultural symbols but also precipitated into a common national cultural psychological structure. After more than 5,000 years of accumulation, the fine traditional Chinese culture has condensed core ideological concepts such as the spiritual trait of “constant self-reliance and virtue in carrying all things,” the ethical framework of “the state and the family as one,” and the value pursuit of “the world is for all.” These have gradually been internalized into the cultural psychological structure of the Chinese nation, which values collectivity, esteems the state and family, and pursues harmony. This structure is transmitted intergenerationally through multiple paths such as written records, folk rituals, and spiritual education. Concrete cultural symbols such as traditional festivals, classic texts, and national costumes provide the spiritual source and foundation for the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

首先，文化基因的延续性传承与文化心理结构的积淀，构成中华民族气质生成的重要基础。民族文化基因是承载民族精神内核的文化体系，涵盖精神理念、伦理规范、集体记忆等核心要素，其延续性不仅体现于文化符号的传递，更沉淀为民族共通的文化心理结构。中华优秀传统文化历经5000多年积淀，凝练出“自强不息、厚德载物”的精神特质、“家国同构”的伦理架构、“天下为公”的价值追求等核心思想理念，逐步内化为中华民族重视集体、崇尚家国、追求和谐的文化心理结构。这一结构通过文字记载、民俗仪式、精神教化等多元路径代际传递，传统节日、经典文本、民族服饰等具象文化符号为中国式现代化文化形态提供了精神本源与基底。

Second, the creative transformation of cultural genes endows the Chinese national temperament with contemporary vitality. The Chinese national temperament is not a simple replica of traditional Chinese culture, but a creative transformation of cultural genes realized in the context of the Two Integrations. The light of Marxist truth provides a scientific interpretive framework for this transformation, enabling it to break through the limitations of the traditional context and precisely adapt to the needs of modernization development. For example, “constant self-reliance” is transformed into the striving spirit in socialist modernization, becoming the spiritual driving force for overcoming difficulties and promoting high-quality development; “the state and the family as one” is sublimated into a collective consciousness of the shared destiny of the individual and the nation,凝聚 the mighty force for national rejuvenation. This transformation is a value construction based on the adherence to the original source, ensuring that the national temperament is both rooted in traditional roots and aligned with the needs of the times.

其次，文化基因的创造性转化赋予中华民族气质以时代活力。中华民族气质并非中国传统文化的简单复刻，而是在“两个结合”语境下实现的文化基因的创造性转化。马克思主义的真理之光为这一转化提供了科学诠释框架，使其突破传统语境局限，精准适配现代化发展需求。例如，“自强不息”转化为社会主义现代化建设中的奋斗精神，成为攻坚克难、推进高质量发展的精神动力；“家国同构”升华为个体与国家命运与共的集体意识，凝聚起民族复兴的磅礴力量。这种转化是坚守本源基础上的价值建构，确保民族气质既扎根传统根脉，又契合时代发展的需求。

Finally, the adherence to the cultural system and the consolidation of the cultural psychological structure forge a unique Chinese national temperament. In the context of economic globalization, cultural integration is essentially an interactive game between different cultural systems. Adhering to the cultural system and stabilizing the psychological structure is key to the survival of the national temperament. The national temperament of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is the external manifestation of the Chinese national cultural system and its deep cultural psychological structure. Relying on the strong cohesive force of the fine traditional Chinese cultural system and the stable cultural psychological structure, the Chinese cultural form can adhere to its own position and discourse power amidst the turbulence of diverse cultures, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural alienation or wholesale Westernization. This adherence to subjectivity can strengthen the entire nation’s cultural identity and sense of belonging, enabling the national temperament to maintain a stable spiritual core, and providing a solid psychological foundation for the development of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

最后，文化体系的坚守与文化心理结构的巩固，铸牢独特的中华民族气质。在经济全球化语境下，文化交融本质上是不同文化体系的互动博弈，坚守文化体系与稳定心理结构是民族气质存续的关键。中国式现代化文化形态的民族气质，是中华民族文化体系与深层文化心理结构的外在彰显。依托中华优秀传统文化体系的强大凝聚力与稳定的文化心理结构，中国文化形态得以在多元文化激荡中坚守自身立场与话语权，规避文化异化或全盘西化的误区。这种主体性坚守能够强化全民族的文化认同感与归属感，使民族气质保持稳定的精神内核，为中国式现代化文化形态发展提供坚实心理基础。

Cultivating the Cultural Subjectivity of the Practice of Chinese-Path Modernization

培育中国式现代化实践的文化主体性

Cultural subjectivity refers to a nation’s autonomous position and core capability to adhere to its own cultural stance, control the direction of cultural development, and lead the process of cultural innovation in cultural inheritance, innovation, and exchange. Its fundamental guarantee lies in the nourishment and support of national spiritual traits. National spiritual traits are the spiritual symbols formed by a nation in long-term historical practice,凝聚 the value pursuits, modes of thinking, and spiritual character of a specific nation, and are the spiritual core that distinguishes it from other nations. In the context of economic globalization, cultural integration and collision are increasingly intense, and adhering to cultural subjectivity faces many challenges. The spiritual traits of the Chinese nation can anchor the cultural source, guide the direction of development,凝聚 cultural identity, and thus lay a solid foundation for cultural subjectivity.

文化主体性是指一个民族在文化传承、创新与交流中，坚守自身文化立场、掌控文化发展方向、主导文化创新进程的自主地位与核心能力，其根本保障在于民族精神特质的滋养与支撑。民族精神特质是一个民族在长期历史实践中积淀形成的精神标识，凝聚着特定民族的价值追求、思维方式与精神品格，是区别于其他民族的精神内核。在经济全球化语境下，文化交融与碰撞日趋激烈，坚守文化主体性面临诸多挑战，而中华民族精神特质能够锚定文化本源、引领发展方向、凝聚文化认同，为文化主体性筑牢根基。

National spiritual traits anchor the cultural source, laying a solid foundation for cultural subjectivity. Cultural subjectivity originates from adherence to one’s own cultural source, and national spiritual traits are the spiritual condensation of the cultural source, carrying the national cultural memory and spiritual genes. For example, the spiritual trait of the Chinese nation, “constant self-reliance and virtue in carrying all things,” accumulated over thousands of years of agricultural civilization, has become the spiritual background of Chinese culture. In the development of modern culture, it guides us to draw nourishment from excellent traditional culture, avoid the pitfall of “historical nihilism,” ensure that cultural development is rooted in the fertile soil of our own civilization, and provide strong support for subjectivity.

民族精神特质锚定文化本源，为文化主体性奠定坚实基础。文化主体性源于对自身文化本源的坚守，而民族精神特质是文化本源的精神凝练，承载民族文化记忆与精神基因。如中华民族“自强不息、厚德载物”的精神特质，积淀于数千年农耕文明，成为中华文化精神底色。在现代文化发展中，它指引我们从优秀传统文化中汲取养分，规避“历史虚无主义”误区，确保文化发展扎根自身文明沃土，为主体性提供有力支撑。

The characteristics of the national spirit guide the direction of development and calibrate the value coordinates for cultural subjectivity. Consolidating cultural subjectivity is not only expressed in adhering to the original source, but also in autonomously controlling the direction of development; the core value concepts contained in the characteristics of the national spirit provide fundamental guidance. This consensus-based value judgment determines the orientation of cultural development. For example, the Chinese nation’s concept of “the people are the foundation of the state” [8]8 “The people are the foundation of the state” (民为邦本) is a classical Chinese political maxim from the *Book of Documents* (《尚书》), meaning the people are the root of the state. has been transformed in the New Era into the people-centered development thought, guiding cultural creation and services to revolve around the people’s needs, ensuring that cultural development does not deviate from the fundamental direction of serving the nation and benefiting the people, and enabling culture to adhere to the correct orientation in a complex context.

民族精神特质引领发展方向，为文化主体性校准价值坐标。巩固文化主体性不仅体现为坚守本源，更在于自主掌控发展方向，民族精神特质蕴含的核心价值理念则提供根本指引。这种共识性价值判断决定文化发展取向，如中华民族“民为邦本”理念，在新时代转化为“以人民为中心”的发展思想，指引文化创作与服务围绕人民需求展开，确保文化发展不偏离服务民族、造福人民的根本方向，使文化在复杂语境中坚守正确导向。

The characteristics of the national spirit consolidate cultural identity and gather practical strength for cultural subjectivity. Consolidating cultural subjectivity requires the participation of the entire nation; the characteristics of the national spirit are the spiritual bond that consolidates cultural identity. The core of cultural identity is identification with the characteristics of the national spirit. When these characteristics penetrate the spiritual level of the nation’s members, they can form a powerful joint force, promoting the entire people to actively participate in cultural inheritance and innovation. For example, the spirit of responsibility expressed in “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world” [9]9 “Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world” (天下兴亡、匹夫有责) is a famous saying from the late Ming-early Qing scholar Gu Yanwu (顾炎武), emphasizing individual responsibility for the fate of the nation. has been transformed in the New Era into a sense of responsibility among the entire people to devote themselves to building a strong cultural nation, guiding people to excavate the contemporary value of excellent traditional culture and innovate forms of expression, forming a pattern of universal participation, providing a solid mass foundation and practical strength for consolidating cultural subjectivity, and ensuring that cultural development is led by the nation itself.

民族精神特质凝聚文化认同，为文化主体性汇聚实践力量。巩固文化主体性需全民族共同参与，民族精神特质是凝聚文化认同的精神纽带。文化认同的核心是对民族精神特质的认同，当其深入民族成员精神层面时，便能形成强大合力，推动全民主动参与文化传承创新。如“天下兴亡、匹夫有责”的担当精神，在新时代转化为全民投身文化强国建设的责任意识，引导人们挖掘优秀传统文化时代价值、创新表达形式，形成全民参与格局，为巩固文化主体性提供坚实群众基础与实践力量，保障文化发展由民族自身主导。

Opening up new horizons for the cultural development of Chinese-path modernization

开拓中国式现代化文化发展新境界

Promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture is the key path to achieving deep integration of tradition and modernity. The generation of new horizons for the cultural development of Chinese-path modernization is rooted in the deep integration of fine traditional Chinese culture and modern culture. The core logic is to follow the Two Integrations to achieve a dialectical transcendence of the relationship between traditional and modern culture. From an academic perspective, this process follows a progressive logic of “fundamental premise — path support — value orientation”: consolidating the foundation through the adherence to cultural subjectivity, building the path through methodological innovation, and manifesting value through the construction of a new form of civilization. These three elements are organically unified, resolving the binary opposition between tradition and modernity, and injecting developmental momentum into Chinese civilization.

推动中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化与创新性发展，是实现传统与现代深度融合的关键路径。中国式现代化文化发展新境界的生成，植根于中华优秀传统文化与现代文化的深度融合，核心逻辑是遵循“两个结合”实现对传统与现代文化关系的辩证超越。从学理维度看，这一进程遵循“根本前提—路径支撑—价值导向”的递进逻辑：以文化主体性坚守筑牢根基，以方法论创新搭建路径，以文明新形态构建彰显价值，三者有机统一，破解传统与现代的二元对立，为中华文明注入发展动力。

First, the adherence to cultural subjectivity is the fundamental premise for the integration of tradition and modernity. The essence of cultural integration is the reshaping of the spiritual core on the basis of adhering to subjectivity. The key lies in avoiding the pitfalls of “wholesale Westernization” and “cultural revivalism.” Fine traditional Chinese culture, as the spiritual root, has its core elements precipitated through living inheritance into a common cultural-psychological structure of the nation, providing a solid ontological support for cultural integration and ensuring that cultural development is rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization.

第一，文化主体性坚守是传统与现代融合的根本前提。文化融合的本质是坚守主体性基础上的精神内核重塑，关键在于规避“全盘西化”与“文化复古”误区。中华优秀传统文化作为精神根脉，其核心要素通过活态传承沉淀为民族共通的文化心理结构，为文化融合提供坚实本体支撑，确保文化发展扎根中华文明的沃土。

Second, to achieve the leap from “foundation” to “new horizons,” it is necessary to rely on methodological innovation to build the path. “Creative transformation and innovative development,” as the core methodology, requires taking Marxism as the guide to provide a scientific framework for the renewal of traditional culture’s vitality. In practice, this is expressed in a dual innovation: first, the innovation of forms of expression empowered by technology, promoting the integration of traditional culture with digital technology and modern media to achieve modernized dissemination; second, the sublimation of value concepts guided by practice, that is, constructing traditional core concepts into governance concepts and value pursuits that meet contemporary needs, ensuring that cultural integration does not deviate from the nation’s roots.

第二，实现从“根基”到“新境界”的跨越，需依托方法论创新搭建路径。“创造性转化、创新性发展”作为核心方法论，需要以马克思主义为引领，为传统文化的生命更新提供科学框架。在实践中体现为双重创新：一是技术赋能下的表达形式革新，推动传统文化与数字技术、现代传媒融合，实现现代化传播；二是实践导向下的价值理念升华，即将传统核心理念建构为契合当代需求的治理理念与价值追求，确保文化融合不偏离民族根脉。

Third, the construction of a new form of civilization is the value orientation and ultimate implication of cultural integration. The opening up of new horizons for the cultural development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era ultimately points to the construction of a new form of human civilization placed in the dual context of national rejuvenation and global civilizational dialogue. Domestically, the new cultural form strengthens the spiritual unity of the nation and provides spiritual support; internationally, it uses traditional civilizational concepts to build a platform for exchange among diverse civilizations, breaking through Western discursive hegemony. This new horizon should achieve a dialectical unity of national character and global character, and manifest the theoretical consciousness and historical initiative of constructing a new form of civilization. With the continuous deepening of exchanges between different cultures, the cultural development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era will continue to open up new horizons, making new contributions to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and to promoting the progress of human civilization.

第三，文明新形态构建是文化融合的价值导向与终极意蕴。新时代中国特色社会主义文化发展新境界的开拓，其最终指向是置于民族复兴与全球文明对话双重语境中的人类文明新形态的建构。在国内，新型文化形态强化民族精神合力，提供精神支撑；在国际，以传统文明理念构建多元文明交流平台，突破西方话语霸权。这种新境界应实现民族性与世界性的辩证统一，并彰显构建文明新形态的理论自觉与历史主动。随着不同文化交流的持续深入，新时代中国特色社会主义文化发展将不断开拓新的境界，为实现中华民族伟大复兴、为推动人类文明进步作出新的贡献。

In summary, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization takes fine traditional Chinese culture as its deep foundation, and its generation follows the core logic of the Two Integrations. Fine traditional Chinese culture, by shaping the national temperament, relying on the continuation and inheritance of cultural genes, creative transformation, and the adherence to the cultural system, has consolidated the foundation of cultural subjectivity; by cultivating cultural subjectivity, relying on the characteristics of the Chinese national spirit to anchor the cultural source, guide the direction of development, and consolidate cultural identity; by assisting the deep integration of traditional and modern culture, taking cultural subjectivity as the premise, “creative transformation and innovative development” as the method, and constructing a new form of human civilization as the orientation, it has opened up new horizons for the cultural development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.

总之，中国式现代化文化形态以中华优秀传统文化为深厚根基，其生成遵循“两个结合”的核心逻辑。中华优秀传统文化通过塑造民族气质，依托文化基因的延续传承、创造性转化及文化体系坚守，筑牢了文化主体性根基；通过培育文化主体性，凭借中华民族精神特质锚定文化本源、引领发展方向、凝聚文化认同；通过助力传统文化与现代文化的深度融合，以文化主体性为前提、“创造性转化、创新性发展”为方法、构建人类文明新形态为导向，开拓了新时代中国特色社会主义文化发展的新境界。

(Author: Zou Guangwen, Researcher at the Research Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Tsinghua University, and Professor at the School of Marxism)

（作者：邹广文，系清华大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院研究员、马克思主义学院教授）