The Theoretical Implications and Institutional Advantages of the Communist Party of China’s Consolidation of Cultural Subjectivity in the New Era

From the perspective of historical materialism, culture, as an objectified product of human labor and life practice, is a concentrated expression of a given nation’s mode of existence in a given period, and possesses certain characteristics of subjectivity. In the process of civilizational continuity and cultural innovation, people always seek in the subjective characteristics of culture the answer to where they come from and where they are going, and through the adherence to subjectivity, they consolidate the spiritual strength of the nation and stimulate the people’s courage to move forward. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Chinese civilization possesses a cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality capable of self-development, responding to challenges, and creating new prospects.” Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, a profound grasp of the theoretical implications and institutional advantages of the Communist Party of China’s consolidation of cultural subjectivity in the New Era helps to deeply reveal the internal laws by which Chinese civilization can continuously achieve self-development and create new prospects amid cultural exchange, interaction, and confrontation, and, from a new starting point, further strengthen cultural confidence, promote cultural prosperity, and build a strong cultural country, thereby manifesting the world significance of a new form of human civilization.

唯物史观视域下，文化作为人劳动生产与生活实践的对象化产品，是一定时期一定民族生存方式的集中体现，具有一定的主体性特征。在文明延续与文化创新进程中，人们总是在文化的主体性特征中寻找自己从何而来、向何而去的答案，并且通过主体性的坚守，凝聚民族精神力量，激发人民勇敢向前的动力。习近平总书记指出，“中华文明具有自我发展、回应挑战、开创新局的文化主体性与旺盛生命力”。以习近平文化思想为指导，深刻把握新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性的理论蕴涵与制度优势，有助于深入揭示中华文明在文化交流交融交锋中能够持续实现自我发展、开创新局的内在规律，并在新的起点上进一步坚定文化自信、推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国，彰显人类文明新形态的世界意义。

I. The Communist Party of China Consolidates Cultural Subjectivity on the Theoretical Foundation of Historical Materialism

一、中国共产党以唯物史观为理论基石巩固文化主体性

Consolidating cultural subjectivity cannot be separated from the guidance of a scientific worldview and methodology. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “The ‘Integration’ has consolidated cultural subjectivity.” In the New Era, guided by historical materialism and in light of the realities of national reform and development, the Communist Party of China continuously solidifies the theoretical foundation for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

巩固文化主体性离不开科学世界观与方法论的指导。习近平总书记指出，“‘结合’巩固了文化主体性”。新时代，中国共产党以唯物史观为指导，结合国家改革发展实际，不断夯实巩固文化主体性的理论基石。

The objectifying practical activity unique to human beings is the objective basis for the generation and development of cultural subjectivity. Labor practice is the starting point of social history and the objective basis and realistic foundation for the generation of the cultural subjectivity of a given group or nation. Marx and Engels point out: “Men produce their means of subsistence, and thereby indirectly produce their actual material life itself.” As the essence of social life, labor practice becomes an important source of cultural generation for a given nation in a given period. Through labor, people create a rich and varied social life; at the same time, their labor practice is objectified into an important component of social life. The objectified products of labor become the material means and spiritual wealth of social life; the subjective attitudes formed in labor become the spiritual cohesion and group normative force in social life; and labor practice itself becomes the mode of behavior of social life. Marx and Engels point out: “What individuals are depends on the material conditions of their production.” Therefore, culture possesses the most general characteristics of human subjective practice, as well as the particular characteristics of subjective practice as group norms in a given period and group. In the New Era, on the basis of adhering to the Two Integrations [n1], the Communist Party of China has deepened the innovation of human subjective cultural practice, profoundly reflecting the practical viewpoint of historical materialism.

人所特有的对象化实践活动是文化主体性生成与发展的客观依据。劳动实践是社会历史的起点，是一定群体、一定民族文化主体性生成的客观依据与现实基础。马克思恩格斯指出：“人们生产自己的生活资料，同时间接地生产着自己的物质生活本身。”劳动实践作为社会生活的本质，成为一定时期一定民族文化生成的重要来源。人通过劳动创造丰富多彩的社会生活，同时人的劳动实践也对象化为社会生活的重要组成部分，劳动的对象化产品成为社会生活的物质资料和精神财富，劳动中形成的主观心态成为社会生活中的精神凝聚力和群体规范力，劳动实践本身也成了社会生活的行为方式。马克思恩格斯指出：“个人是什么样的，这取决于他们进行生产的物质条件。”因此，文化具有最为一般意义的人的主体性实践特点，同时也具有一定时期一定群体中作为群体性规范的特殊主体性实践特征。新时代中国共产党在坚持“两个结合”基础上，深化人的主体性文化实践创新，深刻反映了唯物史观的实践观点。

The modernization of social production and life practice is the historical prerequisite for consolidating cultural subjectivity. Understanding the historical basis for consolidating cultural subjectivity in the New Era from the perspective of Chinese-path modernization [n2] is an inheritance and adherence to historical materialism. Marx points out: “All social life is essentially practical.” The changes and development of modernized social production and life practice endow social life with new historical characteristics, providing an objective historical basis for consolidating cultural subjectivity. On the one hand, practice constitutes the historical basis of social culture; in the New Era, social culture develops within modernized social production and life practice. Practice inherently contains the relationship between humans and nature and the relationship between humans. In human subjective practice, humans take themselves as the measure and actively realize the humanization of nature, “definite individuals who are productively active in a definite way enter into these definite social and political relations.” Social and political relations are objectified in practice into group cultural norms among people. Modernized social production and life practice endow the humanization of nature and group culture with new characteristics, which not only become important content of subjective culture but also an important historical basis for consolidating cultural subjectivity in the New Era. On the other hand, practice enhances the historical driving force of social cultural development; the practice of Chinese-path modernization enhances the driving force for the innovative development of Chinese civilization. Engels points out, “The people who in the 17th and 18th centuries labored to create the steam engine did not know that they were creating an instrument which, more than any other, was to revolutionize the social conditions throughout the world.” Material production practice provides the historical driving force for social cultural development. As General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Chinese-path modernization endows Chinese civilization with modern power.” The practice of Chinese-path modernization has strengthened the developmental impetus for consolidating cultural subjectivity in the New Era.

社会生产与生活实践的现代化是巩固文化主体性的历史前提。在中国式现代化视域中理解新时代巩固文化主体性的历史依据，是对唯物史观的继承与坚守。马克思指出：“全部社会生活在本质上是实践的。”现代化社会生产与生活实践的变化与发展，使社会生活具有了新的历史特点，为巩固文化主体性提供了客观历史依据。一方面，实践构成了社会文化的历史依据，新时代社会文化发展于现代化社会生产与生活实践之中。实践内在包含着人与自然关系以及人与人之间的关系。在人类主体性实践中，人以自身为尺度，积极实现人化自然，“以一定的方式进行生产活动的一定的个人，发生一定的社会关系和政治关系”,社会关系和政治关系在实践中对象化为人与人之间的群体性文化规范。现代化社会生产与生活实践使人化自然与群体性文化呈现新的特征，既成为主体文化的重要内容，也成为新时代巩固文化主体性的重要历史依据。另一方面，实践增进了社会文化发展的历史动力，中国式现代化实践增进中华文明创新发展动力。恩格斯指出，“17世纪和18世纪从事制造蒸汽机的人们也没有料到，他们所制作的工具，比其他任何东西都更能使全世界的社会状态发生革命”。物质生产实践为社会文化发展提供了历史动力，正如习近平总书记指出的，“中国式现代化赋予中华文明以现代力量”,中国式现代化实践为新时代巩固文化主体性增强了发展动力。

The subjective understanding of culture originates from social production and life practice, and at the same time, this subjective understanding has an active counter-effect on the innovation of the mode of production. Marx and Engels point out: “Men are the producers of their conceptions, ideas, etc. – real, active men, as they are conditioned by a definite development of their productive forces.” The mode of production of a given group in a given period determines that its objectified products must reflect its social existence itself, and culture must also reflect the stable, realistic mode of existence and life form of a given nation in a given period, endowing culture with objective subjective characteristics. At the same time, social consciousness also possesses relative independence and has an active counter-effect on social existence. As Marx and Engels point out, “Productive forces, social conditions, and consciousness – these can and must come into contradiction with one another.” Culture not only converges into a group culture in the social production of each era but also exerts its effects in the social production of each period; it may become a positive factor that condenses and inspires people to engage in large-scale socialized production, or it may become a negative factor that, in class society, hinders the realization of people’s free and conscious species-essence labor. The “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Upholding and Improving the Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of the National Governance System and Governance Capacity” [n3] points out, “We must strengthen cultural confidence and firmly grasp the forward direction of advanced socialist culture.” Guided by scientific theory, grasping the development direction of advanced culture, and firmly consolidating cultural subjectivity have become the internal guideline for the innovative development of a new form of human civilization.

文化的主体性认识源于社会生产与生活实践，同时这种主体性认识对生产方式创新具有能动反作用。马克思恩格斯指出，“人们是自己的观念、思想等等的生产者，但这里所说的人们是现实的、从事活动的人们”。一定时期一定群体的生产方式决定了其对象化产品必然反映其社会存在本身，文化也必然反映一定时期内一定民族稳定的、现实的生存方式和生活样态，使文化具有客观的主体性特征。同时，社会意识也具有相对独立性，并对社会存在具有能动反作用，正如马克思恩格斯指出的，“生产力、社会状况和意识，彼此之间可能而且一定会发生矛盾”。文化不仅会在各个时代的社会生产中汇聚成一种群体文化，同时也会在各个时期的社会生产中发挥效用，可能成为凝聚、激励人进行社会化大生产的积极因素，也可能成为阶级社会阻碍人自由自觉类本质劳动实现的消极因素。《中共中央关于坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度 推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化若干重大问题的决定》指出，“必须坚定文化自信，牢牢把握社会主义先进文化前进方向”。以科学理论为指导，把握先进文化发展方向，牢牢巩固文化主体性，成为人类文明新形态创新发展的内在遵循。

The masses of the people are the subjects and creators of history and culture. In the historical practice of humanity’s understanding and transformation of the world, whether in material or spiritual production, the masses of the people display immense creativity and productive forces, becoming the pioneers of the mode of existence of different social groups in different historical periods. Marx and Engels point out, “History is the activity of the masses.” The labor production and life practice of the masses not only actively enrich their material world but also actively innovate their spiritual world; the people are the masters of civilizational innovation. Therefore, the cultural subjectivity of a given group in a given period is created by the masses in their own labor production and life practice. At the same time, cultural subjectivity also needs to be consolidated by the masses. The economic base determines the superstructure, and the superstructure also has an active counter-effect on the economic base. The cultural subjectivity generated from the labor production and life practice of the masses will inevitably produce differences from the cultures of other groups worldwide. Facing the challenges of heterogeneous cultures, only by relying on the masses, this main force of cultural subjectivity, can cultural subjectivity be consolidated and continuously innovated. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “We must adhere to a people-centered approach, focusing on meeting the diverse, multi-level, and multifaceted spiritual and cultural needs of the people.” Showing concern for the cultural needs of the masses and respecting their subjective position in cultural generation reflects the Communist Party of China’s adherence to the historical view of the masses in the New Era.

人民群众是历史与文化的主体和创造者。在人类认识世界和改造世界的历史实践中，不论是物质生产还是精神生产，人民群众都展现出极大的创造力和生产力，成为不同历史时期不同社会群体生存方式的开创者。马克思恩格斯指出，“历史活动是群众的 活动”。人民 群众的劳动生产与生活实践不仅积极丰富自己的物质世界，同样也在积极创新自己的精神世界，人民是文明创新的主人。因此，一定时期一定群体的文化主体性是由人民群众在自己的劳动生产与生活实践中创造的。同时，文化主体性也需要人民群众来巩固。经济基础决定上层建筑，同时上层建筑对经济基础也具有能动反作用。生成于人民群众劳动生产与生活实践的文化主体性必然会与世界范围内其他群体文化产生差异，面对异质文化的挑战，只有依靠人民群众这支文化主体力量，才能使文化主体性得以巩固和持续创新。习近平总书记指出，“要坚持以人民为中心，着眼满足人民群众多样化、多层次、多方面的精神文化 需求”。关切人民群众的文化需要，尊重人民群众在文化生成中的主体地位，体现了新时代中国共产党对群众史观的坚守。

In social interaction there exists inter-subjectivity of culture; therefore, consolidating cultural subjectivity does not mean closing oneself off, but rather requires mutual learning among civilizations in social interaction. Marx and Engels pointed out: “The production of ideas, of conceptions, of consciousness, is at first directly interwoven with the material activity and the material intercourse of men, the language of real life.”[1]1 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, *The German Ideology* (1845–1846). Hence, cultural production is inseparable from social interaction. The generation and transmission of culture can generally be divided into two categories, namely material cultural production and spiritual cultural production, and material cultural interaction and spiritual cultural interaction. Both production and interaction are subjective practical activities, but with regard to cultural subjectivity, production focuses on the relationship between subject and object, that is, the relationship between people and their objectified products of labor—culture; while interaction focuses on the relationship between subjects, that is, the relationship between the generating subjects of different cultures—people and people, which is the issue of inter-subjectivity of culture. Cultural subjectivity takes inter-subjectivity of culture as a necessary supplement, or internally contains inter-subjectivity of culture. Inter-subjectivity of culture indicates that people may face common cultural objects, thus coalescing into a common cultural subject, and thereby possessing a common cultural subjectivity, which provides a scientific theoretical premise for cultural exchange and mutual learning. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “We should more proactively learn from and draw on all the fine achievements of human civilization.”[2]2 Xi Jinping, speech at a symposium on cultural heritage and cultural development, 2023. Adhering to openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning among civilizations, the Chinese Communist Party in the New Era consolidates cultural subjectivity by following the laws of cultural generation and development in social interaction, fully demonstrating its theoretical adherence to historical materialism.

社会交往中存在文化的主体间性，因此巩固文化主体性不是故步自封，而是需要社会交往中的文明互鉴。马克思恩格斯指出：“思想、观念、意识的生产最初是直接与人们的物质活动，与人们的物质交往，与现实生活的语言交织在一起的。”因此，文化生产与社会交往密不可分。文化的生成与传承大体可以包括两类，即物质文化生产和精神文化生产、物质文化交往和精神文化交往。生产和交往都是主体性实践活动，但就文化主体性而言，生产聚焦的是主体与客体的关系，即人与其劳动对象化产品——文化的关系；而交往聚焦的是主体与主体的关系，即不同文化的生成主体——人与人的关系，也就是文化的主体间性问题。文化的主体性以文化主体间性为必要的补充，或者内在地包含着文化主体间性。文化的主体间性表明，人们可能面对共同的文化客体，因而凝结成共同的文化主体，进而具有共同的文化主体性，这为文化的交流互鉴提供了科学理论前提。习近平总书记指出，“要更加积极主动地学习借鉴人类创造的一切优秀文明成果”。坚持开放包容与文明互鉴，新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性遵循社会交往中文化生成与发展规律，充分彰显着对唯物史观的理论坚守。

II. The Chinese Communist Party Consolidates Cultural Subjectivity by Taking Fine Traditional Chinese Culture as Cultural Nourishment

二、中国共产党以中华优秀传统文化为文化滋养巩固文化主体性

“The Second Integration”[3]3 The Second Integration refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, proposed by Xi Jinping in 2023 as a deepening of the earlier “Two Integrations” (the first being the integration with China’s concrete realities). “is a profound grasp of the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization.”[4]4 Xi Jinping, speech at a symposium on cultural heritage and cultural development, 2023. The Chinese Communist Party in the New Era scientifically grasps the prominent characteristics and developmental laws of Chinese civilization, transforming the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture into cultural nourishment for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

“第二个结合”“是对中华文明发展规律的深刻把握”。新时代中国共产党科学把握中华文明的突出特性和发展规律，将中华优秀传统文化的精华转化为巩固文化主体性的文化滋养。

Following the inherent laws of cultural subjectivity within the civilizational principle of change and constancy. “The great virtue of heaven and earth lies in constant generation, hence it is called ‘life.’”[5]5 From the *Book of Changes* (Yijing), “Commentary on the Appended Phrases” (Xici zhuan). The generation, development, and consolidation of cultural subjectivity are closely related to the constant Way (常道) explored amidst change. “Therefore, constantly without desire, one observes its subtlety; constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations,”[6]6 Laozi, *Dao De Jing*, Chapter 1. and “Establish it on constant non-being and being, and take the Great One (太一) as its master.”[7]7 Zhuangzi, *Zhuangzi*, Chapter 33, “Tianxia” (All Under Heaven). The philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi emphasizes that change is the norm of all things in the world; therefore, by exploring and grasping the constant Way amidst change, one can seize the initiative amid the changes of being and non-being—that is, to consciously, actively, and purposefully grasp the “Great One.” The ontological generation and cognitive change of Chinese cultural subjectivity are closely related to this understanding of the eternal laws of change in the universe, as well as to the active spirit of the unity of heaven, earth, and humanity. It not only makes people aware of their own initiative but also requires them to maintain initiative amidst ever-changing circumstances, and to more actively transform nature and innovate culture while grasping the constant Way. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must strive to stimulate the entire nation’s cultural innovation and creativity. The vitality of culture lies in innovation and creation.”[8]8 Xi Jinping, speech at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, 2023. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC,[9]9 The 18th National Congress of the CPC, held in 2012, marked the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership. cultural creation has been vibrant, and the spiritual and cultural life of the people has become richer—this is a positive response to the law that people stimulate cultural innovation vitality while exploring and grasping the constant Way.

在变与常的文明原理中遵循文化主体性的内在规律。“天地之盛德在乎常生，故言曰生。”文化主体性的生成、发展与巩固，与在变化之中探索出的常道密切相关。“故常无，欲以观其妙；常有，欲以观其徼”,“建之以常无有，主之以太一”。老庄哲学强调变化是世间万物常态，故在变化中探索把握常道，就能够把握有无变化之际的主动权，也就是能够自觉地、主动地、有目的地把握“太一”。中华文化主体性的本体生成与认识变化，与这种对宇宙间永恒变化规律的认识，以及与天地人一体贯通的主动精神密切相关。它不仅让人认识到自身的主动性，同时也要让人在无常势无常形的变化中始终保持主动性，在把握常道中更加积极地改造自然、创新文化。习近平总书记指出：“着力激发全民族文化创新创造活力。文化的生命力在于创新创造。”党的十八大以来，文化创造生机勃勃，人民群众精神文化生活更加丰富，这正是对人在探索把握常道中激发文化创新活力这一规律的积极回应。

The thought of transforming people through culture (以文化人) provides Chinese wisdom for consolidating cultural subjectivity. “From Jiaozhi to Kuaiji, a distance of seven or eight thousand li, the Hundred Yue peoples live intermingled, each with their own clans and surnames; one cannot say they are all descendants of Shaokang.”[10]10 From the *Book of Han* (Hanshu), “Geography” (Dili zhi), citing an earlier text; Shaokang is a legendary Xia dynasty ruler. The Chinese nation is a pluralistic unity, which has also created a pluralistic and unified Chinese culture, inseparable from Xunzi’s thought of “unifying the many through the one” (以一统多). “Human strength is not as great as that of the ox, nor speed as that of the horse, yet the ox and horse are used by humans. Why? I say: because humans can form communities, while they cannot.”[11]11 Xunzi, *Xunzi*, Chapter 9, “Kingly Governance” (Wangzhi). Humans have a social way of life, and the culture generated from this also possesses group normativity. Once this stable group way of life is formed, it becomes the norms for the thoughts and behavior of individuals within the group, seeking the stable development of group society and enhancing the ability to withstand risks. How to achieve “unifying the many through the one” and harmonizing differences and similarities? Transforming people through culture demonstrates the cultural wisdom of the Chinese nation. “Observe the patterns of heaven to discern the changes of the seasons; observe the patterns of humanity to transform and complete the world.”[12]12 From the *Book of Changes* (Yijing), “Commentary on the Appended Phrases” (Xici zhuan). Adhering to transforming people through culture, educating and uniting people through harmonizing differences and seeking common ground while preserving differences, and promoting cultural integration and development, has become an important ideological innovation and methodological guide for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

以文化人思想为巩固文化主体性提供中华智慧。“自交趾至会稽七八千里，百越杂处，各有种姓，不得尽云少康之后也。”中华民族多元一体，因此也造就出多元一体的中华文化，这与荀子“以一统多”思想密不可分。“力不若牛，走不若马，而牛马为用，何也?曰：人能群，彼不能群也。”人具有群居的生活方式，由此而生成的文化也同样具有群体规范性。一旦这种稳定的群体生活方式生成，就会成为群体中个人的思想与行为规范，以求群体社会的稳定发展，增强抵御风险的能力。如何才能实现以一统多、同异相合，以文化人展现出中华民族的文化智慧。“关乎天文，以察时变；关乎人文，以化成天下。”坚持以文化人，在文化的合异生同、求同存异中教化人、凝聚人，促进文化融合与发展，成为巩固文化主体性的一个重要思想创新和方法指引。

The thought of great unity (大一统) provides important conditions for consolidating cultural subjectivity. Without the great transformation during the Zhou and Qin periods, it would have been difficult for the Chinese nation to become a cohesive whole, and for Chinese civilization to possess a highly unified cultural form. The political situation of great unity after the Qin and Han dynasties provided strong political and institutional guarantees for the generation of cultural subjectivity. “Now the teachers follow different Ways, people hold different theories, the hundred schools have different directions, and their intentions are not the same; therefore, the sovereign has no means to hold them in unity.”[13]13 Dong Zhongshu, *Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals* (Chunqiu fanlu), memorial to Emperor Wu of Han. One cannot deny its role in the great unity of Chinese culture; it provided policy conditions for Chinese cultural subjectivity. However, from the perspective of a grand view of history, the political system of great unity did not cause the subject culture to exclude other cultures, but rather continuously expanded the subject culture in an inclusive and integrative manner. “The victory of Confucianism over the hundred schools lay in its ability to absorb the strengths of the hundred schools.”[14]14 A modern scholarly assessment, often attributed to Feng Youlan or similar historians of Chinese philosophy. This inclusive and integrative thought of great unity enabled Chinese culture to continuously consolidate its subjectivity amidst enrichment and innovation. In the New Era, the Chinese Communist Party comprehensively implements Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and actively builds a socialist ideology with strong cohesive force, reflecting the inheritance and development of the thought of great unity.

大一统思想为巩固文化主体性提供了重要条件。没有周秦之际的伟大变革，中华民族很难成为凝聚的整体，中华文明很难具备高度统一的文化形态。秦汉后大一统的政治局面为文化主体性的生成提供了强大的政治制度保障。“今师异道，人异论，百家殊方，指意不同，是以上亡以持一统。”不能否定它在中华文化大一统中的作用，它为中华文化主体性提供了政策条件。但是，大历史观视域下大一统的政治制度并没有使主体文化排斥其他文化，而是以一种兼容并济的方式不断扩大主体文化。“儒家之战胜百家，就在于它汲取了百家之长”。这种兼容并济的大一统思想使中华文化在丰富与创新中不断巩固主体性。新时代中国共产党全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，积极建设具有强大凝聚力的社会主义意识形态，体现了对大一统思想的继承与发展。

The continuity of Chinese civilization provides an important guarantee for consolidating cultural subjectivity. Chinese civilization has been transmitted in an orderly manner. The cultural spirit, cultural psychology, cultural values, and cultural emotions within fine traditional Chinese culture have, through inheritance and development, coalesced into the spiritual driving force for generations of Chinese people to strive forward, demonstrating the Chinese nation’s consciousness and self-strengthening in inheriting and developing Chinese civilization. At the same time, Chinese culture emphasizes that “transmission has its basis” and “the heavenly principle and the people’s constant norms cannot be extinguished.”[15]15 Classical Confucian phrase, from the *Mencius* or later Neo-Confucian texts, emphasizing the indestructibility of moral principles. This not only points out the importance of transmitting the subject culture but also emphasizes the fact of the subject culture’s existence—that is, from an epistemological perspective, it answers that the subject culture has an objective basis for existence and can be understood and transmitted by people. Therefore, the continuity of Chinese civilization ensures the orderly transmission of the subject culture, providing an objective basis for consolidating cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The continuity of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation must take its own path.”[16]16 Xi Jinping, speech at a symposium on cultural heritage and cultural development, 2023. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture,[17]17 Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, formally articulated in 2023. clarifying the path and direction of cultural development fully demonstrates the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization, providing an important guarantee for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

中华文明的连续性为巩固文化主体性提供重要保障。中华文明传承有序，中华优秀传统文化中的文化精神、文化心理、文化价值、文化情感等内容在传承与发展中，凝聚成一代又一代中华儿女砥砺奋进的精神动力，展现出中华民族对传承与发展中华文明的自觉与自强。同时，中华文化强调“传之有在”“天理民彝不可泯灭”。这里不仅指出主体文化传承的重要意义，也强调主体文化的存在事实，也就是从认识论的视角回答了主体文化具有客观存在的基础，能够被人们认识和传承。因此，中华文明的连续性保障了主体文化传承有序，使巩固文化主体性具有客观基础。习近平总书记指出：“中华文明的连续性，从根本上决定了中华民族必然走自己的路。”以习近平文化思想为指导，明确文化发展道路与方向，充分展现了对中华文明的传承与发展，为巩固文化主体性提供了重要保障。

III. The Chinese Communist Party Consolidates Cultural Subjectivity with Cultural Innovation Theory as Its Internal Support

三、中国共产党以文化创新理论为内在支撑巩固文化主体性

In the deep integration of theory and practice, the Chinese Communist Party has continuously deepened its understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialist culture, forming rich cultural innovation theories in various historical periods, providing internal support for consolidating cultural subjectivity in the New Era.

在理论与实践的深度融合中，中国共产党不断深化社会主义文化建设的规律性认识，在各个历史时期形成了丰富的文化创新理论，为新时代巩固文化主体性提供了内在支撑。

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the Chinese Communist Party adhered to the national character of cultural construction to counter the penetration and encroachment of imperialist culture. On the one hand, it revealed the essential attributes and fundamental direction of subject cultural construction in the construction of New Democratic culture. Mao Zedong pointed out, “The so-called New Democratic culture, in one sentence, is the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal culture led by the proletariat and belonging to the broad masses of the people.”[18]18 Mao Zedong, “On New Democracy” (1940). This indicates the essential attributes and fundamental direction of subject cultural construction. The Chinese Communist Party deeply recognized that subject cultural construction must enhance the cultural consciousness of the Chinese nation, break free from the negative influence of imperialist culture through independence and self-strengthening, and explore the path of cultural self-reliance and self-strengthening. On the other hand, it pointed out that the main force of cultural innovation is the masses. The first issue that cultural subjectivity needs to address is who creates culture—that is, what is the relationship between culture and people. Mao Zedong pointed out, “The masses are the inexhaustible source of revolutionary culture.”[19]19 Mao Zedong, “Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art” (1942). New Democratic culture is the objectified product of the Chinese Communist Party leading the masses in revolutionary practice; the masses are the subject of culture. This profoundly reveals the question of who is the main force in the generation of culture within cultural subjectivity, providing theoretical guidance for the Chinese Communist Party in the New Era to deeply grasp cultural subjectivity.

新民主主义革命时期，中国共产党坚持文化建设的民族性，应对帝国主义文化的渗透和侵袭。一方面，在新民主主义文化建设中揭示主体文化建设的本质属性与根本方向。毛泽东指出，“所谓新民主主义的文化，一句话，就是无产阶级领导的人民大众的反帝反封建的文化”。这里指明了主体文化建设的本质属性与根本方向。中国共产党深刻认识到主体文化建设必须增进中华民族的文化自觉，在独立与自强中摆脱帝国主义文化的负面影响，探求文化的自立、自强之路。另一方面，指明文化创新的主体力量是人民群众。文化主体性需要解决的首个问题是文化由谁创造，即文化与人之间的关系是什么。毛泽东指出，“民众就是革命文化的无限丰富的源泉”。新民主主义文化是中国共产党带领人民群众在革命实践中的对象化产品，人民群众是文化的主体，这里深刻揭示了文化主体性中文化生成的主体力量是谁的问题，为新时代中国共产党深刻把握文化主体性提供了理论遵循。

During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Communist Party of China actively constructed a cultural environment with socialist culture as its main body, in order to eliminate the negative influence of decadent and backward cultures such as imperialist culture and feudalist culture. On the one hand, it broke down superstitions about Western culture and enhanced Chinese cultural consciousness. Mao Zedong emphasized, “Whether East or West, every nation must have its own things,” and “People often have many superstitions; superstition about imperialism is one of them; another is not believing in one’s own strength, feeling that one’s own strength is very small.” [20]20 Mao Zedong, “Talk with the Nepalese Delegation” (1964), in *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, vol. 8 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1999), p. 226; Mao Zedong, “Speech at the National Conference of the Communist Party of China on Propaganda Work” (1957), in *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, vol. 7 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1999), p. 195. Facing the “dispute between China and the West,” the CPC adhered to historical materialism, based itself on China’s actual conditions, and continuously enhanced Chinese cultural consciousness and confidence, laying an ideological foundation for the construction of a main-body culture. On the other hand, cultural construction needed to establish dominance amidst diversity. Mao Zedong pointed out, “There are 2.7 billion people on earth; it won’t do if they all sing the same tune,” but “Within the Party, and within the ideological and literary and artistic circles, what is primary and dominant must strive to be fragrant flowers, must be Marxism.” [21]21 Mao Zedong, “Speech at the Chinese Communist Party’s National Conference on Propaganda Work” (1957), in *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, vol. 7 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1999), p. 273; Mao Zedong, “On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People” (1957), in *Selected Works of Mao Zedong*, vol. 7 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1999), p. 233. Culture, because the practical basis of its generation is diverse, has the characteristic of diversity, but culture also possesses group normativity. Therefore, the construction of socialist culture means unifying the many through the one, continuously consolidating cultural subjectivity, which provided methodological guidance for the CPC in the New Era to deepen the construction of a main-body culture.

社会主义革命和建设时期，中国共产党积极构建以社会主义文化为主体的文化环境，以消除帝国主义文化、封建主义文化等腐朽落后文化的负面影响。一方面，破除西方文化迷信，增进中华文化自觉。毛泽东强调，“无论东方西方，各民族都要有自己的东 西”,“人常常是有很多迷信的，迷信帝国主义是其中的一种；再有一种，是不相信自己的力量，觉得自己力量很小”。面 对“中西之争”,中国共产党坚持唯物史观，立足中国实际，不断增进中华文化自觉和自信，为主体文化建设奠定了思想基础。另一方面，文化建设需要在多样当中立主导。毛泽东指出，“地球上有二十七亿人，如果唱一种曲子是不行 的”,但“无论在党内，还是在思想界、文艺界，主要的和占统治地位的，必须力争是香花，是马克思主义”。文化因生成的实践基础多元而具有多样性特点，但文化同时也具有群体规范性。因此，社会主义文化建设就是要以一统多，不断巩固文化主体性，这为新时代中国共产党深化主体文化建设提供了方法论指导。

During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the ideological and cultural field faced confrontations between many contradictions, such as the native and the foreign, the traditional and the modern, the new and the old. How to inject a scientific cultural impetus into the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, enhance cultural consciousness, and strengthen cultural confidence became an important issue the CPC needed to resolve in its theoretical deepening and practical innovation. On the one hand, it used Marxism to guide the exchange and development of diverse cultures. Deng Xiaoping pointed out, “Things belonging to the cultural field must be analyzed, differentiated, and criticized using Marxism in terms of their ideological content and methods of expression.” Using Marxism to guide the direction of main-body cultural construction became a regular understanding of the CPC’s cultural construction. On the other hand, guided by historical materialism, it enhanced the historical initiative of cultural creation. Jiang Zemin emphasized, “Our cultural construction cannot sever history.” Hu Jintao emphasized, “More consciously and more proactively promote the great development and flourishing of culture.” [22]22 Jiang Zemin, “Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China” (2001), in *Selected Works of Jiang Zemin*, vol. 3 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2006), p. 278; Hu Jintao, “Report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” (2007), in *Selected Important Documents Since the 17th National Congress*, vol. 1 (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2009), p. 26. Every nation, in its practice of labor production and life, generates a mode of existence with group characteristics, which becomes an important nourishment and cultural impetus for that nation’s reproduction and survival. Taking the inheritance and innovation of historical culture as its foundation, the CPC continuously enhanced the construction of cultural soft power, providing solid theoretical support for deepening the understanding of Chinese cultural subjectivity and the construction of a main-body culture in the New Era.

改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，思想文化领域面临着本体与外来、传统与现代、新与旧等诸多矛盾的交锋，如何为中国特色社会主义伟大实践注入科学的文化动力，增进文化自觉和坚定文化自信，成为中国共产党在理论深化和实践创新中需要解决的重要问题。一方面，以马克思主义主导多样文化的交流和发展。邓小平指出，“属于文化领域的东西，一定要用马克思主义对它们的思想内容和表现方法进行分析、鉴别和批判”。以马克思主义主导主体文化建设方向，成为中国共产党文化建设的规律性认识。另一方面，以唯物史观为指导增进文化创建的历史主动性。江泽民强调，“我们的文化建设不能割断历史”。胡锦涛强调，“更加自觉、更加主动地推动文化大发展大繁荣”。每个民族在劳动生产与生活实践中都会生成具有群体特色的生存方式，成为这个民族繁衍生息的重要滋养和文化动力。中国共产党以历史文化传承创新为基点，不断提升文化软实力建设，为深化新时代中华文化主体性认识以及主体文化建设提供了坚实的理论支撑。

In the New Era, how to handle the relationship between the “root vein” (根脉) and the “soul vein” (魂脉) of culture, how to resolve the “dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West,” and better strengthen cultural confidence became an important topic for the CPC’s cultural construction. First, cultural subjectivity enhances cultural confidence. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity.” The CPC in the New Era has put forward the major proposition of consolidating cultural subjectivity, further strengthening the confidence and self-strengthening of Chinese culture, and promoting Chinese civilization to have greater leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power. Second, the people need culture, and culture needs to grasp the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Jointly serve the era’s task of educating people through culture.” [23]23 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on the Work of Philosophy and Social Sciences” (2016), in *Selected Important Documents Since the 19th National Congress*, vol. 1 (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2019), p. 123. On the basis of caring for, satisfying, and leading the actual needs of cultural subjects, it stimulates the innovative vitality of the masses toward the main-body culture, making the main-body culture a spiritual driving force for the growth and development of the masses, fully reflecting the value orientation of the CPC in consolidating cultural subjectivity in the New Era. Finally, deepen the construction of a main-body culture in the “Two Integrations.” [24]24 The “Two Integrations” refer to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. To uphold fundamental principles, “what is upheld is the CPC’s cultural leadership and the Chinese nation’s cultural subjectivity.” Historical materialism holds that the economic base determines the superstructure; the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics is built on the socialist mode of production. Sublating the heterogeneous culture generated on the basis of alienated labor, meeting the needs of Chinese-path modernization, and scientifically leading the development direction of the main-body culture have become important focal points for building a culturally strong country in the New Era.

新时代如何处理文化“根脉”和“魂脉”的关系，如何破解“古今中外之争”,更好地坚定文化自信，成为中国共产党文化建设的重要课题。首先，文化主体性增进文化自信。习近平总书记指出，“文化自信就来自我们的文化主体 性”。新时代中国共产党提出巩固文化主体性重大命题，进一步坚定中华文化的自信与自强，促进中华文明更具引领力、凝聚力、塑造力和辐射力。其次，人民需要文化，文化需要掌握人民。习近平总书记指出，“共同服务以文化人的时代任务”。在关 切、满足和引领文化主体现实需求的基础上，激发人民群众对主体文化的创新活力，使主体文化成为人民群众成长发展的精神动力，充分体现新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性的价值导向。最后，在“两个结合”中深化主体文化建设。守正，“守的是中国共产党的文化领导权和中华民族的文化主 体性”。唯 物史观认为经济基础决定上层建筑，中国特色社会主义文化建立在社会主义生产方式之上。扬弃异化劳动基础上生成的异质文化，满足中国式现代化发展需要，科学引领主体文化发展方向，成为新时代文化强国建设的重要着力点。

The CPC’s consolidation of cultural subjectivity in the New Era exhibits distinct theoretical characteristics. First, adhere to seeking truth from facts, realizing the self-realization of the universality of contradiction within the particularity of contradiction in consolidating cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “For any culture to stand firm and go far, to have leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity.” The CPC in the New Era has always adhered to the laws of cultural inheritance and innovation, actively drawn on the outstanding achievements of human civilization, and committed to promoting cultural innovation on the basis of inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, continuously activating the cultural innovation vitality of the masses, enabling the consolidation of cultural subjectivity in the New Era to complete the self-realization of the universality of contradiction within the particularity of contradiction, further manifesting the theoretical character of seeking truth from facts. Second, adhere to keeping pace with the times, always adhere to guiding the consolidation of cultural subjectivity with the Party’s innovative theory. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “The creation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful manifestation of this cultural subjectivity.” The important expositions in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era concerning undertaking the cultural mission of the New Era, strengthening cultural confidence, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, mastering the dominance of public opinion under information conditions, and constructing Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative systems provide ideological weapons that keep pace with the times for the theoretical innovation of consolidating cultural subjectivity. Finally, adhere to putting the people first, always adhere to the people’s culture for the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, making “every member of the Chinese nation a subject for spreading Chinese virtues and Chinese culture,” and “taking the people as the center means taking the satisfaction of the people’s spiritual and cultural needs as the starting point and落脚点 of literature, art, and cultural work.” [25]25 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 10th National Congress of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 9th National Congress of the China Writers Association” (2016), in *Selected Important Documents Since the 19th National Congress*, vol. 1 (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2019), p. 123; Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Literature and Art Work” (2014), in *Selected Important Documents Since the 18th National Congress*, vol. 1 (Beijing: Central Party Literature Press, 2014), p. 127. The CPC in the New Era has always emphasized the people’s subject position in cultural generation, development, inheritance, and innovation, continuously stimulating the people’s subjective momentum in cultural innovation and development, so that the cultural subjectivity of the New Era is continuously consolidated and strengthened.

新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性展现出鲜明的理论特色。首先，坚持实事求是，在巩固文化主体性中实现矛盾普遍性在矛盾特殊性中的自我实现。习近平总书记指出：“任何文化要立得住、行得远，要有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力，就必须有自己的主体性。”新时代中国共产党始终坚持文化传承与创新规律，积极借鉴人类文明的优秀成果，致力于在传承中华优秀传统文化的基础上推进文化创新，不断激活人民群众的文化创新活力，使新时代巩固文化主体性完成矛盾普遍性在矛盾特殊性中的自我实现，更加彰显实事求是的理论品格。其次，坚持与时俱进，始终坚持以党的创新理论指导巩固文化主体性。习近平总书记指出：“创立新时代中国特色社会主义思想就是这一文化主体性的最有力体现。”习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中关于担负新时代的文化使命、坚定文化自信、铸牢中华民族共同体意识、掌握信息化条件下舆论主导权、构建中国话语和中国叙事体系等重要论述，为巩固文化主体性的理论创新提供了与时俱进的思想武器。最后，坚持人民至上，始终坚持人民的文化为人民。习近平总书记指出，让中华民族的“每一分子都成为传播中华美德、中华文化的主体”,“以人民为中心，就是要把满足人民精神文化需求作为文艺和文艺工作的出发点和落脚点”。新时代中国共产党始终强调人民在文化生成、发展、传承和创新中的主体地位，不断激发人民群众在文化创新发展中的主体动能，使新时代文化主体性持续巩固和增强。

IV. The Institutional Advantages of the CPC’s Consolidation of Cultural Subjectivity in the New Era

四、新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性的制度优势

The CPC’s consolidation of cultural subjectivity in the New Era possesses incomparable institutional advantages. The fundamental institutions, basic institutions, and important institutions of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics provide solid guarantees for consolidating cultural subjectivity in the New Era. These institutional advantages will be transformed into innovative momentum, continuously promoting the innovative development of Chinese cultural subjectivity.

新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性具有无可比拟的制度优势，中国特色社会主义制度的根本制度、基本制度、重要制度为新时代巩固文化主体性提供坚实保障。这些制度优势将转化为创新动能，持续推动中华文化主体性的创新发展。

The Fundamental Institutional Advantages of the CPC’s Consolidation of Cultural Subjectivity in the New Era

新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性的根本制度优势

China’s Constitution clearly stipulates: “The socialist system is the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” “All work and activities of China’s national governance are carried out in accordance with the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.” The socialist system and the leadership of the CPC are the fundamental institutional advantages for consolidating and developing cultural subjectivity.

我国宪法明确规定：“社会主义制度是中华人民共和国的根本制度。中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征。”“我国国家治理一切工作和活动都依照中国特色社会主义制度展开。”社会主义制度和中国共产党领导是巩固和发展文化主体性的根本制度优势。

The socialist system and the leadership of the CPC guarantee cultural stability and cultural security. Today, various ideologies and cultures in the world, while exchanging and blending, also bring challenges to the people’s spiritual stability and national cultural security. Strengthening the Party’s leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work is one of the important focal points for facing the new cultural mission. The socialist system provides the fundamental institutional guarantee for better fulfilling this cultural mission. At the same time, the CPC in the New Era adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought in areas such as propaganda and ideological work, ideological and political work, and literary and artistic work, ensuring the maintenance of cultural stability and cultural security amidst the exchange, blending, and confrontation of diverse cultures, thereby better consolidating cultural subjectivity.

社会主义制度和中国共产党领导保障了文化定力和文化安全。当今世界各种思想文化在交流和交融的同时，也给人民精神定力和国家文化安全带来了挑战。加强党对宣传思想文化工作的领导，是面对新的文化使命的重要着力点之一。社会主义制度为更好地完成这项文化使命提供了根本制度保障。同时，新时代中国共产党在宣传思想工作、思想政治工作、文艺工作等领域坚持以习近平文化思想为指导，确保在多样文化交流、交融和交锋中保持文化定力和文化安全，进而更好地巩固了文化主体性。

The socialist system and the Party’s cultural leadership guarantee the scientific development direction of cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “For cultural construction, upholding integrity is necessary to avoid losing oneself and losing one’s direction.” All work and activities to consolidate cultural subjectivity unfold under the socialist system, and the socialist system also provides institutional guarantees for better upholding the Party’s cultural leadership. The Communist Party of China’s cultural leadership and cultural subjectivity are profoundly interconnected; the realization of cultural leadership is manifested not only in the formulation of guiding ideology and policies for the construction of the subject culture, but also in the value guidance and methodological direction of cultural creation and dissemination. In this process, the Party’s leadership is not abstract but concrete; through the formulation, implementation, and supervision of the line, principles, and policies for cultural construction, it ensures the scientific development direction of cultural subjectivity.

社会主义制度和党的文化领导权保障了文化主体性的科学发展方向。习近平总书记指出，“对文化建设来说，守正才能不迷失自我、不迷失方向”。巩固文化主体性的一切工作和活动都在社会主义制度下展开，社会主义制度也为更好地坚持党的文化领导权提供制度保障。中国共产党的文化领导权与文化主体性具有深刻的内在联系，文化领导权的实现不仅体现在主体文化建设指导思想和政策的制定上，同时也体现在文化创造和传播的价值引导和方法论指导上。在这一过程中，党的领导不是抽象的而是具体的，通过文化建设的路线、方针和政策的制定、执行和监督，确保了文化主体性的科学发展方向。

The socialist system and the leadership of the Communist Party of China guarantee the sustained enhancement of the developmental impetus of cultural subjectivity. Cultural subjectivity was established on Chinese soil by the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese people. Party leadership is the dominant force in the innovative development of Chinese culture, and the socialist system provides institutional guarantees for the Party’s overall leadership. This ensures that the development of Chinese culture both conforms to the basic principles and line of socialism and reflects the will and demands of the people, thereby scientifically enhancing the developmental impetus of cultural subjectivity. The “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization” [n] points out: “Adhere to a people-centered creative orientation, combine the production of results with the cultivation of talent, integrate the focus on works with the improvement of the environment, and improve the service, guidance, and organizational mechanisms for literary and artistic creation and production.” The socialist system and the Party’s cultural policies both emphasize a people-centered approach, ensuring that the fruits of cultural development are shared by all the people. Raising the cultural quality and cultural consciousness of the entire nation, enhancing the cohesion and appeal of socialist culture, provides a solid guarantee for enhancing and consolidating the developmental impetus of cultural subjectivity.

社会主义制度和中国共产党领导保障了持续增进文化主体性的发展动力。文化主体性是中国共产党带领中国人民在中国大地上建立起来的。党的领导是中华文化创新发展的主导力量，社会主义制度为党的全面领导提供制度保障，这样确保了中华文化发展既符合社会主义的基本方针和路线，又能反映人民群众的意愿和要求，进而科学增进文化主体性的发展动力。《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》指出：“坚持以人民为中心的创作导向，坚持出成果和出人才相结合、抓作品和抓环境相贯通，改进文艺创作生产服务、引导、组织工作机制。”社会主义制度和党的文化政策均强调以人民为中心，确保了文化的发展成果由全体人民共享。提高全民族的文化素质和文化自觉，增强社会主义文化的凝聚力和吸引力，为提升巩固文化主体性的发展动力提供了坚实保障。

Upholding the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain is a major institutional innovation concerning the overall situation of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings and the long-term development of China’s cultural undertakings. It centrally embodies the valuable historical experience accumulated by the Party in leading cultural construction practice and provides a solid institutional foundation for consolidating cultural subjectivity and ensuring that cultural development always advances along the correct path. As the fundamental political system, the system of people’s congresses is conducive to ensuring the scientific nature of consolidating cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “The system of people’s congresses upholds that all power in the state belongs to the people, maximizing the guarantee that the people are the masters of the house.” The system of people’s congresses helps to strengthen the cultural subject and the construction of the subject culture, ensuring that cultural construction conforms to the fundamental interests of the people and guaranteeing that the people are both the subjects of cultural innovation and the beneficiaries of cultural development. As a platform support, the system of people’s congresses is an important vehicle for extensively listening to and reflecting the will of the people and concentrating the wisdom of the people. Therefore, on this platform, it is possible to focus on hot issues in the people’s cultural life, more effectively target the key points and difficulties of cultural development, and provide decision-making references and bases for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，是关系党和国家事业发展全局、关系我国文化发展事业长远的重大制度创新，集中体现了党在领导文化建设实践中积累的宝贵历史经验，为巩固文化主体性、确保文化发展始终沿着正确道路前进，提供了坚实制度基础。作为根本政治制度，人民代表大会制度有利于保障巩固文化主体性的科学性。习近平总书记指出，“人民代表大会制度，坚持国家一切权力属于人民，最大限度保障人民当家 作主”。人民代表大会制度有助于强化文化主体与主体文化建设，确保文化建设符合人民的根本利益，保障人民群众既是文化创新的主体也是文化发展的受益者。人民代表大会制度作为平台支撑，是广泛听取和反映人民意志、集中人民智慧的重要载体。因此，在这个平台上可以聚焦人民群众的文化生活热点问题，更加有效地聚焦文化发展的重点和难点，为巩固文化主体性提供决策的参考和依据。

The Basic Institutional Advantages of the Communist Party of China’s Consolidation of Cultural Subjectivity in the New Era

新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性的基本制度优势

The basic institutions of socialism with Chinese characteristics refer to the sum total of relations of production established on the basis of a certain level of productive forces and the corresponding political and ideological superstructure, including institutions in the economic, political, cultural, and social spheres. These basic institutions provide important guarantees for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

中国特色社会主义基本制度是指建立在一定生产力水平基础上的生产关系的总和以及与其相适应的政治思想上层建筑，包括经济、政治、文化、社会等方面的制度。这些基本制度为巩固文化主体性提供了重要保障。

Relevant basic institutions at the political level provide important guarantees for consolidating cultural subjectivity. First, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is conducive to ensuring the scientific and democratic consolidation of cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Advancing consultative democracy is conducive to improving the people’s orderly political participation, strengthening the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the people, and promoting the scientific and democratic nature of decision-making.” Political consultation emphasizes consultation and discussion on major policies before decisions are made, in order to seek consensus and provide intellectual support and resources for policy formulation. Through political consultation, wisdom and strength from all sides can be pooled, broad social consensus can be formed, the people’s subjective consciousness can be fully enhanced, and a democratic path can be provided for the formulation and implementation of policies to consolidate cultural subjectivity. At the same time, political consultation also provides a platform for different groups to express their opinions and suggestions, which is conducive to the democratization and scientification of policies. This is crucial for achieving the establishment of a subject amidst diversity and the direction amidst plurality on the basis of consolidating cultural subjectivity, and for advancing the innovative development of culture. Second, the system of regional ethnic autonomy is conducive to enhancing the developmental vitality of cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “Uphold and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and strengthen exchanges, interactions, and integration among all ethnic groups.” The system of regional ethnic autonomy provides a full development platform for all ethnic groups, enabling the diverse cultures of all ethnic groups to be protected and developed. The system of regional ethnic autonomy enables all ethnic groups to promote the common prosperity of culture through exchange and mutual learning while maintaining their own cultural characteristics. Third, the system of grassroots self-governance is conducive to enhancing the innovative vitality of cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “We must improve the mechanism for grassroots self-governance, mobilize the initiative of urban and rural residents, enterprises and institutions, and social organizations for autonomous self-governance, and build a community of social governance where everyone has responsibility and everyone fulfills their duty.” Through different forms such as grassroots self-governing organizations, social groups, and volunteer organizations, the masses can directly participate in various aspects of cultural construction, thereby ensuring the breadth and depth of cultural activities. This increase in participation can not only enhance the appeal and affinity of cultural activities but also promote a richer and more colorful grassroots cultural life, continuously strengthening the vitality of cultural innovation.

政治层面的相关基本制度为巩固文化主体性提供了重要保障。其一，中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度有利于保障科学民主地巩固文化主体性。习近平总书记指出：“推进协商民主，有利于完善人民有序政治参与、密切党同人民群众的血肉联系、促进决策科学化民主化。”政治协商强调在决策前对重大政策进行协商讨论，以求得共识，并为政策的制定提供智力支持和智力资源。通过政治协商，可以凝聚各方面智慧和力量，形成广泛的社会共识，充分增强人民群众的主体性认识，为巩固文化主体性的政策制定和执行提供民主路径。同时，政治协商还为不同群体提供了表达自己意见和建议的平台，有助于政策的民主化和科学化，这对于在巩固文化主体性的基础上，实现多样当中立主体、多元当中把方向，推进文化创新性发展至关重要。其二，民族区域自治制度有利于增进文化主体性发展活力。习近平总书记强调，“坚持和完善民族区域自治制度，加强各民族交往交流交融”。民族区域自治制度为各民族搭建了充分的发展平台，使各民族多样文化得以保护和发展。民族区域自治制度使各民族能够在保持自身文化特色的同时，通过交流互鉴，促进文化的共同繁荣。其三，基层群众自治制度有利于提升文化主体性的创新活力。习近平总书记指出：“要完善基层群众自治机制，调动城乡群众、企事业单位、社会组织自主自治的积极性，打造人人有责、人人尽责的社会治理共同体。”通过基层自治组织、社会团体、志愿者组织等不同形式，群众可以直接参与到文化建设的各个环节中，从而保障了文化活动的广泛性和深入性。这种参与性的提高，不仅能够增强文化活动的吸引力和亲和力，还能促进基层文化生活更加丰富多彩，不断增强文化创新活力。

Relevant basic institutions at the economic level provide important guarantees for consolidating cultural subjectivity. The basic socialist economic system, comprising public ownership as the mainstay with diverse forms of ownership developing together, distribution according to work as the mainstay with multiple modes of distribution coexisting, and the socialist market economy system, both embodies the superiority of the socialist system and is compatible with the level of development of social productive forces in the primary stage of socialism in China. It is a great creation of the Party and the people. First, the basic economic system of public ownership as the mainstay with diverse forms of ownership developing together guarantees the nature and development direction of the subject culture. The essence of culture is the objectification of human labor. In a private ownership economy, labor becomes alienated, and its objectified products cannot be grasped by the people. The socialist public ownership economy ensures that the objectified products of people’s free and conscious species-essence labor can be grasped by the people, guaranteeing the people’s status as the cultural subject. Second, the distribution system with distribution according to work as the mainstay and multiple modes of distribution coexisting ensures that the people’s culture serves the people and consolidates the people’s principal position in socialist culture. The people are both the creators of culture and the objects of its nourishment. The socialist distribution system ensures that the people share excellent cultural achievements, better realizes the era’s task of educating people through culture, and enables all the people to continuously enhance their cultural consciousness and cultural confidence under the nourishment of excellent culture, thereby continuously consolidating cultural subjectivity. Third, the socialist market economy system, established on the basis of the basic economic system and the distribution system, continuously activates the developmental vitality for consolidating cultural subjectivity. In the process of Chinese-path modernization, people’s cultural needs exhibit diversified characteristics. The socialist market economy system ensures the coordinated development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, continuously stimulating the vitality of the inheritance and innovation of Chinese culture.

经济层面的相关基本制度为巩固文化主体性提供了重要保障。公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展，按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存，社会主义市场经济体制等社会主义基本经济制度，既体现了社会主义制度优越性，又同中国社会主义初级阶段社会生产力发展水平相适应，是党和人民的伟大创造。其一，以公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展的基本经济制度，保障主体文化的性质和发展方向。文化的本质是人劳动的对象化，私有制经济中劳动发生异化，其对象化产品不能为人民群众所掌握。社会主义公有制经济保障人自由自觉的类本质劳动的对象化产品能够为人民群众所掌握，保障人民群众的文化主体地位。其二，以按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存的分配制度，保障人民文化为人民，夯实人民群众在社会主义文化中的主体地位。人民群众既是文化的创造者，也是文化的滋养对象。社会主义分配制度确保人民共享优秀文化成果，更好地实现以文化人的时代任务，使全体人民群众在优秀文化滋养中不断增进文化自觉与文化自信，进而不断巩固文化主体性。其三，建立在基本经济制度和分配制度基础之上的社会主义市场经济体制，不断激活巩固文化主体性的发展活力。中国式现代化进程中人的文化需求呈现多样化特点，社会主义市场经济体制保障文化事业和文化产业协同发展，不断激发中华文化传承与创新活力。

The relevant basic institutions at the cultural level provide important guarantees for consolidating cultural subjectivity. The system for developing an advanced socialist culture helps to continuously consolidate the common ideological foundation for all the people to consolidate cultural subjectivity. On the one hand, the system for guiding public opinion with a correct orientation helps to create a favorable ideological and cultural environment for consolidating cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “The principle that the Party must supervise propaganda, ideology, the media, and the internet must be implemented to the letter.” [27]27 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference on the Work of Propaganda, Ideology, and the Internet” (2018), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping’s Works*, vol. 2 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2023), p. 35. At present, diverse world cultures coexist, interact, and clash, and consolidating cultural subjectivity faces multiple challenges in public opinion. The system for guiding public opinion with a correct orientation helps the people further consolidate cultural subjectivity by singing the main theme and spreading positive energy. On the other hand, the system for ideological and moral construction helps to promote the sustained development of the work of consolidating cultural subjectivity. In 2017, the Central Civilization Commission issued and implemented the *Guiding Opinions on Deepening Mass Cultural-Ethical Progress Activities*; in 2019, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council successively issued and implemented the *Outline for the Implementation of Civic Moral Construction in the New Era* and the *Outline for the Implementation of Patriotic Education in the New Era*; in 2021, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council issued and implemented the *Opinions on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era*. These systems and policy opinions play an important role in ensuring the sustained development of the work of consolidating cultural subjectivity.

文化层面的相关基本制度为巩固文化主体性提供了重要保障。繁荣发展社会主义先进文化制度，有利于不断夯实全体人民巩固文化主体性的共同思想基础。一方面，坚持正确导向的舆论引导工作制度，有利于营造巩固文化主体性的良好思想文化环境。习近平总书记指出，“必须把党管宣传、党管意识形态、党管媒体、党管互联网原则落实到位”。当前，世界多样文化交流、交融与交锋并存，巩固文化主体性面临多重舆论挑战。坚持正确导向的舆论引导工作制度，有利于人民群众在唱响主旋律、弘扬正能量中进一步巩固文化主体性。另一方面，思想道德建设工作制度有利于推进巩固文化主体性工作持续发展。2017年中央文明委印发实施《关于深化群众性精神文明创建活动的指导意见》,2019年中共中央、国务院先后印发实施《新时代公民道德建设实施纲要》《新时代爱国主义教育实施纲要》,2021年中共中央、国务院印发实施《关于新时代加强和改进思想政治工作的意见》,这些制度和政策意见在保障巩固文化主体性工作持续发展方面发挥着重要作用。

The relevant basic institutions at the social level and the level of ecological civilization provide important guarantees for consolidating cultural subjectivity. On the one hand, the socialist education system helps to consolidate the principal position of the people in cultural inheritance and innovation. The *Education Law of the People’s Republic of China* clearly states: “Education must serve the construction of socialist modernization and serve the people, must be combined with productive labor and social practice, and cultivate socialist builders and successors who are fully developed morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and labor-wise.” The socialist education system clarifies the basic direction of talent cultivation, ensuring that the educational enterprise can cultivate promising young people who inherit and develop excellent Chinese culture, thereby providing a talent guarantee for enriching the subject culture and consolidating the cultural subject. On the other hand, the environmental governance and ecological restoration systems within the ecological civilization system help to better protect cultural subjectivity. In 2020, the General Office of the Central Committee of the CPC and the General Office of the State Council issued the *Guiding Opinions on Building a Modern Environmental Governance System*, emphasizing “improving the corporate responsibility system for environmental governance” and “strengthening the construction of the corporate environmental governance responsibility system, urging enterprises to strictly implement laws and regulations, and accept social supervision.” Continuously improving the environmental governance responsibility system enables people to better handle the relationship between humans and nature, protect the diversity of nature and culture, and safeguard the natural foundation for cultural subjectivity.

社会层面和生态文明层面的相关基本制度为巩固文化主体性提供了重要保障。一方面，社会主义教育制度有利于夯实人民群众在文化传承与创新中的主体地位。《中华人民共和国教育法》明确指出：“教育必须为社会主义现代化建设服务、为人民服务，必须与生产劳动和社会实践相结合，培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义建设者和接班人。”社会主义教育制度明确人才培养基本方向，确保教育事业能够培养出传承和发展中华优秀文化的有为青年，进而为丰富主体文化和夯实文化主体提供人才保障。另一方面，生态文明制度中的环境治理和生态修复制度有利于更好地呵护文化主体性。2020年，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发了《关于构建现代环境治理体系的指导意见》,强调“健全环境治理企业责任体系”,“加强企业环境治理责任制度建设，督促企业严格执行法律法规，接受社会监督”。不断完善环境治理责任制度，使人能够更好地处理人与自然的关系，保护自然与文化的多样性，为文化主体性守护好自然根基。

Important Institutional Advantages of the CPC’s Consolidation of Cultural Subjectivity in the New Era

新时代中国共产党巩固文化主体性的重要制度优势

The so-called important institutions are specific institutions derived from the fundamental and basic institutions, covering all areas, aspects, and links of national governance. Among the important institutions in various fields, the system for cultivating and practicing core socialist values, the supervision system for the protection of cultural heritage, and the system for the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent play an important role in consolidating and developing cultural subjectivity.

所谓重要制度，就是由根本制度和基本制度派生而来的、国家治理各领域各方面各环节的具体制度。在各领域的重要制度中，培育和践行社会主义核心价值观制度、文化遗产保护督察制度、教育科技人才一体化发展制度在巩固和发展文化主体性中发挥着重要作用。

The system for cultivating and practicing core socialist values helps to deepen the value core of cultural subjectivity. In the cultural form of a certain period and a certain group, there are surface-level cultural phenomena, mid-level national cultural psychology, and deep-level value cores. Consolidating cultural subjectivity cannot be separated from inheriting and developing the value core within them. In 2013, the General Office of the Central Committee of the CPC issued and implemented the *Opinions on Cultivating and Practicing Core Socialist Values*, emphasizing the integration of cultivating and practicing core socialist values into the entire process of national education and their implementation in economic development practice and social governance. Promoting the cultivation and practice of core socialist values through institutionalized and normalized mechanisms not only clarifies the value orientation for consolidating cultural subjectivity but also provides a reference basis for凝聚 [28]28 The Chinese term *ningju* (凝聚) here means to gather or condense, implying the active process of forging a shared value consensus. the value consensus of cultural subjectivity.

培育和践行社会主义核心价值观制度有利于深化文化主体性的价值内核。在一定时期一定群体的文化形态中，包含着表层的文化现象、中层的民族文化心理和深层次的价值内核，巩固文化主体性离不开传承与发展其中的价值内核。2013年，中共中央办公厅印发实施了《关于培育和践行社会主义核心价值观的意见》,强调把培育和践行社会主义核心价值观融入国民教育全过程、落实到经济发展实践和社会治理中。以制度化、常态化机制推进社会主义核心价值观的培育和践行，既为巩固文化主体性明确了价值导向，也为凝聚文化主体性的价值共识提供了参考依据。

The supervision system for the protection of cultural heritage helps to better inherit and develop excellent traditional Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Improve the systems and mechanisms for the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, accelerate the improvement of the legal and regulatory system, strengthen the allocation of work forces and the integration of management resources, and effectively enhance authority, coordination, and binding force.” In 2024, the *Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization* emphasized: “Establish a coordination body for the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, establish a supervision system for the protection of cultural heritage, and promote the systematic protection and unified supervision of cultural heritage.” Improving the supervision system for the protection of cultural heritage helps the people, on the basis of enhancing cultural consciousness and cultural confidence, to manifest their principal position in the inheritance and innovation of Chinese culture, and thereby consciously consolidate cultural subjectivity.

文化遗产保护督察制度有利于更好地传承和发展中华优秀传统文化。习近平总书记强调：“健全文化遗产保护传承体制机制，加快完善法规制度体系，加强工作力量配备和管理资源整合，切实增强权威性、协同性、约束力。”2024年，《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》强调：“建立文化遗产保护传承工作协调机构，建立文化遗产保护督察制度，推动文化遗产系统性保护和统一监管。”健全文化遗产保护督查制度，有利于人民群众在增强文化自觉和文化自信的基础上，彰显自身在中华文化传承与创新中的主体地位，进而自觉巩固文化主体性。

The important institutions related to the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent help to better develop cultural subjectivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic pillars for comprehensively building a modern socialist country.” In 2025, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council issued and implemented the *Outline for Building an Education Powerhouse*, emphasizing “building a mechanism for the integrated and coordinated advancement of education, science and technology, and talent.” Within this system, through policy coordination, project planning, and resource allocation, the collaborative education mechanisms such as teaching and educating people, cultural education, and scientific research education can be better improved, strengthening the supporting role of education for science and technology and talent. This is conducive to further realizing the coordinated development of people and culture, and continuously consolidating the educational, scientific, and talent foundations for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

教育科技人才一体化发展相关重要制度有利于更好地发展文化主体性。习近平总书记指出：“教育、科技、人才是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的基础性、战略性 支撑。”2025年， 中共中央、国务院印发实施《教育强国建设规划纲要》强调，“构建教育科技人才一体统筹推进 机制”。在 这一制度中，通过政策协调、项目统筹、资源配置，可以更好地完善教书育人、文化育人、科研育人等协同育人机制，强化教育对科技和人才的支撑作用，这有利于进一步实现人与文化的协同发展，不断夯实巩固文化主体性的教育之基、科学之基和人才之基。