The Dialectical Interconnection of the Outstanding Characteristics of Chinese Civilization

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development not only elucidated the outstanding continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness of Chinese civilization, but also analyzed the dialectical relations among them. These outstanding characteristics not only each possess their own important value, but also have an organic connection with each other. Understanding and promoting the complementarity, coordination, and unity of the five outstanding characteristics is beneficial for deeply grasping the overall stipulations of Chinese civilization and the scientific requirements of the “Second Integration” [1]1 A classical Chinese saying from the philosopher Mencius (Mengzi), emphasizing the natural diversity of things..

习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话，不仅阐释了中华文明具有的突出的连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性、和平性，而且分析了它们之间的辩证关系。这些突出特性不但具有各自的重要价值，而且相互存在着有机联系。理解和促进五个突出特性的相辅相成、协调统一，对于深入把握中华文明的总体规定与“第二个结合”的科学要求富有裨益。

The Respective Important Significance of the Five Outstanding Characteristics

五个突出特性各自的重要意义

Each outstanding characteristic of Chinese civilization was forged by the Chinese nation with wisdom and sweat over more than five thousand years of civilizational creation. They are the condensation of the Chinese nation’s actions and qualities, presenting the uniqueness and strengths of Chinese civilization from different dimensions, and each possesses its own irreplaceable profound significance.

中华文明的每一个突出特性都是中华民族在五千多年文明创造中以智慧和汗水铸成的，它们是中华民族之作为与品质的凝结，从不同向度呈现了中华文明的独特与优长，具有各自不可替代的深远意义。

Continuity is the most obvious and unique characteristic of Chinese civilization, distinguishing it from other civilizations in human history by displaying its distinctive features and charm, and its unique heritage and glory. Chinese civilization has its origins and its flow; it has endured hardships without interruption, suffered repeated setbacks yet remained enduring. Continuity fully proves that Chinese civilization possesses a strong subjectivity and vigorous vitality to meet challenges, solve problems, turn crises into opportunities, and achieve sustained development. It signifies the quality and resilience of Chinese civilization, “fundamentally determining that the Chinese nation must take its own path” — the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This path was forged under the guidance of Marxism, and it also emerged from the more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization. Because of this unique nature of Chinese civilization and its significance, “if one does not understand China from the perspective of its long-standing historical continuity, it is impossible to understand ancient China, impossible to understand modern China, and even more impossible to understand future China.”

连续性是中华文明最显明、最独特的特性，使中华文明显示出独有的特色与魅力，展现出特有的传承与荣光，从而同人类历史上的其他文明区分开来。中华文明有源有流，历经磨难而绵延不绝、迭遭忧患却经久不衰，连续性充分证明了中华文明具有应对挑战、解决难题、转危为机、持久发展的强大主体性与旺盛生命力，表征了中华文明的品质与韧性，“从根本上决定了中华民族必然走自己的路”，走中国特色社会主义道路。这一道路是在马克思主义指导下走出来的，也是从五千多年中华文明史中走出来的。由于中华文明的此种独特性质及其意义，“如果不从源远流长的历史连续性来认识中国，就不可能理解古代中国，也不可能理解现代中国，更不可能理解未来中国”。

Innovativeness constitutes the powerful force of the Chinese nation as it endured hardships and blazed trails, and it is the most crucial driving force for the development of Chinese civilization. Chinese civilization is both long-standing and ever-renewing. Abundant and vigorous creativity has endowed the Chinese nation with a vibrant and uplifting vitality. Guided by the spirit of “if you can improve yourself in one day, do so each day, and continue day after day” [2]2 An internal quotation, likely from a speech or document by Xi Jinping or another senior leader, emphasizing the relationship between unity and continuity., the Chinese nation continuously created and elevated its own civilization, enabling it to stand in the world as the most prosperous and powerful civilization for a long historical period. The innovativeness of Chinese civilization “fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation to uphold what is right without being conservative, to respect antiquity without restoring the old, and determines the fearless character of the Chinese nation in not fearing new challenges and courageously accepting new things.” This valuable spiritual character is not only a powerful force for the development and progress of Chinese civilization, but is itself a significant marker of the flourishing of Chinese civilization, manifesting its excellent qualities of discarding the old and introducing the new, creating new situations, pursuing excellence, and striving for perfection.

创新性构成中华民族筚路蓝缕、披荆斩棘的强大力量，是中华文明最关键的发展动力。中华文明既源远流长又历久弥新。充盈丰沛的创造力让中华民族始终具有蓬勃发展、昂扬向上的生机活力。在“苟日新，日日新，又日新”精神引领下，中华民族不断创造和提升自己的文明，从而能够在很长历史时期作为最繁荣、最强大的文明体屹立于世。中华文明的创新性，“从根本上决定了中华民族守正不守旧、尊古不复古的进取精神，决定了中华民族不惧新挑战、勇于接受新事物的无畏品格”。这种可贵的精神品格，不仅是中华文明发展进步的强大力量，而且本身就是中华文明繁荣昌盛的显著标识，彰显了中华文明革故鼎新、开创新局、追求卓越、臻于至善的优秀品格。

Unity manifests the value orientation and spiritual ethos of the Chinese nation, constituting an important condition for the continued existence and development of Chinese civilization. History proves that unity is the basic prerequisite for national unity, stability, development, and prosperity, while disunity, division, and conflict only cause the people to suffer and bring disgrace to civilization. As a profound endowment and strong gene of the Chinese nation, unity centrally expresses the consensus of the Chinese people on a good social order and presents the strong cultural identity of the Chinese people. Unity consolidates people’s hearts, condenses emotions, and refines spirit, making the Chinese nation a community with powerful strength, “fundamentally determining that the various ethnic cultures of the Chinese nation are integrated into one, and that even when encountering major setbacks, they remain firmly cohesive.” The unity of Chinese civilization enlightens us that the territory cannot be divided, the country cannot be thrown into chaos, and the nation cannot be scattered; we must not each go our own way or be like a sheet of loose sand, but must maintain centralized unity.

统一性展现了中华民族的价值取向与精神气象，构成中华文明持续存在和发展的重要条件。历史证明，统一是国家团结稳定、发展繁荣的基本前提，涣散分裂、割据冲突只会让人民受难、使文明蒙尘。统一性作为中华民族的深刻禀赋与强健基因，集中表达了中华儿女对良善社会秩序的共识，呈现了中国人民强烈的文化认同。统一性凝聚人心、凝结情感、凝练精神，使中华民族成为一个具有强大力量的共同体，“从根本上决定了中华民族各民族文化融为一体、即使遭遇重大挫折也牢固凝聚”。中华文明的统一性启迪我们，国土不可分、国家不可乱、民族不可散，不能各自为政、一盘散沙，而需保持集中统一。

Inclusiveness is the key to Chinese civilization’s continuous absorption of rich nourishment, integration of fresh blood, and development and sublimation. The outstanding inclusiveness of Chinese civilization manifests in two dimensions: internal and external. Internally, through the interaction, exchange, and integration of various ethnic groups, “Chinese cultural identity transcends regional localities, blood lineages, religious beliefs, etc., integrating the vast territory and huge population with enormous internal differences into a diverse and unified Chinese nation.” Externally, it involves “appreciating the beauty of others, and sharing beauty among all” [3]3 Standard formulations in Chinese political discourse regarding national unity and territorial integrity., admiring the uniqueness of heterogeneous civilizations and absorbing the outstanding achievements of human civilization. Inclusiveness “fundamentally determines the historical orientation of the Chinese nation towards interaction, exchange, and integration,” and “determines the open-mindedness of Chinese culture to embrace all civilizations of the world,” enabling the Chinese nation to broaden its horizons, expand its mind, and elevate its pattern, allowing Chinese civilization to gather the wisdom of the ages and adopt the strengths of all nations, thereby continuing to advance.

包容性是中华文明持续吸收丰厚滋养、融入新鲜血液而发展升华的关键所在。中华文明突出的包容性表现为对内和对外两个向度。对内，各民族交往交流交融，“中华文化认同超越地域乡土、血缘世系、宗教信仰等，把内部差异极大的广土巨族整合成多元一体的中华民族”；对外，“美人之美，美美与共”，欣赏异质文明的独特性，汲取人类优秀文明成果。包容性“从根本上决定了中华民族交往交流交融的历史取向”，“决定了中华文化对世界文明兼收并蓄的开放胸怀”，让中华民族能够开阔眼界、拓展胸怀、提升格局，使中华文明集千古之智、采万国之长，从而持续前行。

Peacefulness is embodied in the Chinese nation’s constant pursuit of harmony, unity, concord, beauty, and integration both within and outside civilization. The Chinese nation has always upheld the concept of resolving differences, dissolving opposition, alleviating contradictions, and reconciling conflicts, opposing the strong bullying the weak, the big oppressing the small, forcing others to submit, and being extreme and biased. It has always emphasized treating others with courtesy, convincing people by virtue, being kind to others with benevolence, and transforming people through culture, advocating coexistence and mutual progress, maintaining great harmony, and striving to avoid disputes, conflicts, and the flames of war. This kind of peacefulness is not only the pursuit of peace but also the maintenance of peace. It “fundamentally determines that China will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order; determines that China continuously pursues civilizational exchange and mutual learning without engaging in cultural hegemony; determines that China will not impose its own values and political system on others; and determines that China insists on cooperation, not confrontation, and will never engage in the small-circle politics of ‘befriending those who agree and attacking those who disagree’.”

和平性体现为中华民族始终追求文明内部和外部的和睦、和衷、和谐、和美、和合。中华民族素来秉持消解分歧、化解对立、纾解矛盾、和解冲突的理念，反对倚强凌弱、以大欺小、强人从己、偏激极端；始终注重以礼待人、以德服人、以仁亲人、以文化人，倡导共生并进、保合太和，力避纷争冲突、硝烟战火。此种和平性，不仅是追求和平，而且是维护和平，“从根本上决定了中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者，决定了中国不断追求文明交流互鉴而不搞文化霸权，决定了中国不会把自己的价值观念与政治体制强加于人，决定了中国坚持合作、不搞对抗，决不搞‘党同伐异’的小圈子”。

The Universal Interconnection of the Five Outstanding Characteristics

五个突出特性普遍的相互联系

The five outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization not only each shine with their own light, but also complement each other and form a dialectical unity, continuously promoting the development of Chinese civilization. Each characteristic benefits from the others, being driven and promoted by them; in turn, it drives and promotes the others, making them more prominently manifested and expanded.

中华文明五个突出特性不仅闪耀出各自的光芒，而且相互之间相得益彰、辩证统一，持续推动中华文明发展。每个特性都得益于其他特性，由它们所推动和促进；同时又反过来推动和促进其他特性，使之更加突出呈现出来、拓展开来。

Continuity establishes the premise for the development of Chinese civilization. “When the skin is gone, what can the hair adhere to?” [4]4 An internal quotation, likely from a speech or document by Xi Jinping or another senior leader, on the relationship between inclusiveness and continuity. Without continuity, if civilization were to break, the unity, inclusiveness, innovativeness, and peacefulness of Chinese civilization would be out of the question. If the subject of Chinese civilization were to change its banner or exist in name only, it would mean an essential rupture of civilization, and Chinese civilization would no longer be Chinese civilization in the true sense. Continuity enables Chinese civilization to always be named with the resounding word “Chinese,” allowing the other characteristics to always have a home and fertile soil to take root, sprout, blossom, and bear fruit.

连续性为中华文明发展确立前提。皮之不存，毛将焉附？没有连续性，文明出现断裂，中华文明的统一性、包容性、创新性与和平性就无从谈起。如果中华文明之主体改旗易帜或名存实亡，那么将意味着文明的本质性破裂，中华文明也就不再是真正意义上的中华文明。连续性使中华文明能够始终以“中华”这响亮二字命名，让其他特性始终拥有生根发芽、开花结果的家园与沃土。

Innovativeness infuses an inexhaustible powerful force into the development of Chinese civilization. Without innovation and creation, civilization would inevitably stagnate and then decline; not only would inclusiveness and peacefulness be impossible to guarantee, but continuity and unity would also become problematic. Innovativeness not only keeps Chinese civilization full of vitality and vigor, but also makes it strive vigorously, gradually improve and optimize, and continuously raise its level of development and overall standard. This provides a solid foundation and sufficient confidence for the continuity, unity, peacefulness, and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization, and allows them to be increasingly elevated. Innovativeness even enables the specific content and forms of the unity, peacefulness, and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization to discard the old and introduce the new, and keep pace with the times.

创新性为中华文明发展灌注源源不竭的强大力量。没有创新和创造，文明必然停滞进而衰落，不但包容性与和平性无法得到保证，连续性与统一性亦成问题。创新性让中华文明不仅保持生机与活力，而且踔厉奋发，日渐改善和优化，不断提高发展程度与整体水平，从而使中华文明的连续性、统一性、和平性与包容性拥有坚实的基础和充足的底气，且愈益提升。创新性甚至让中华文明的统一性、和平性和包容性的具体内容与形式本身革故鼎新、与时俱进。

Unity is the solid “main axis” of the development of Chinese civilization. The Chinese nation and Chinese civilization are robust and powerful because of unity and solidarity. Unity strengthens the subjectivity and power of the Chinese nation, allowing Chinese civilization to endure for a long time, and also constitutes the foundation of peacefulness, inclusiveness, and innovativeness. If the nation and country lose unity and fall into division and fragmentation, the peacefulness, inclusiveness, innovativeness, and even continuity of Chinese civilization would inevitably face severe threats, let alone its development. Without unity, there would be no past, present, or future for Chinese civilization.

统一性是中华文明发展的坚实“主轴”。中华民族和中华文明因团结统一而刚健有力。统一性强化了中华民族的主体性与力量，让中华文明得以恒久绵延，亦构成和平性、包容性、创新性的根基。如果民族和国家丧失统一、分裂割据，中华文明的和平性、包容性、创新性乃至连续性都必然遭受严峻威胁，其发展更无从谈起。没有统一，就不会有中华文明的过去、现在和未来。

Inclusiveness provides a powerful guarantee for the development of Chinese civilization. "It is the nature of things to be unequal." [1]1 A classical Chinese saying from the philosopher Mencius (Mengzi), emphasizing the natural diversity of things. Civilizations are always diverse and differentiated. Without inclusiveness and synthesis, conflicts and strife would inevitably arise, seriously affecting stability and unity, and harming the formation and consolidation of the civilization's unity, continuity, peacefulness, and innovativeness. The Chinese nation has always respected and accepted the differences and diversity of human civilizations with an appreciative gaze, promoting mutual understanding and affinity among people of different regions and countries, transcending civilizational estrangement through civilizational exchange, transcending civilizational conflict through civilizational mutual learning, and transcending civilizational superiority through civilizational coexistence. A robust capacity for inclusiveness and a strong character of inclusiveness enable Chinese civilization to correctly treat heterogeneous civilizations, thereby powerfully safeguarding its own unity, continuity, peacefulness, and innovativeness over the long term.

包容性为中华文明发展提供有力保障。“物之不齐，物之情也。”文明总是千姿百态、千差万别。不兼容并包，势必纷争四起、冲突蔓延，严重影响安定团结，不利于文明的统一性、连续性、和平性与创新性的形成和巩固。中华民族总是以欣赏的目光尊重和接纳人类各种文明的差异性与多样性，促进不同地域、国家的民众相知相亲，以文明交流超越文明隔阂、文明互鉴超越文明冲突、文明共存超越文明优越。强劲的包容力与强健的包容性，让中华文明能够正确对待异质文明，从而长期有力地维护自己的统一、连续、和平与创新。

Peacefulness is a fundamental condition for the sustained development of Chinese civilization. It is both the common result of the other four characteristics and constitutes their common guarantee. The peaceful and gentle nature of the Chinese nation, its attitude of inclusiveness and synthesis, and its practice of integrating differences and harmonizing opposites, make Chinese civilization averse to aggression, expansion, and domination of the world. The reason Chinese civilization has been able to withstand hardships and trials, weathering storms without dispersing and enduring for so long, is that the peacefulness of valuing harmony and seeking concord among all nations has played an important role. It is precisely because of peacefulness that Chinese civilization generates a strong centripetal force and attractiveness, enabling it to achieve unity, and thereby continuity—that is, enduring unity or continuous unity. It is also precisely because of peacefulness that Chinese civilization can rationally accommodate various heterogeneous civilizations, and thereby engage in comprehensive innovation.

和平性是中华文明持续发展的基础性条件，既是其他四个特性的共同结果，也构成这些特性的共同保障。中华民族平和温润的品性、兼容并包的态度、融同合异的作为，让中华文明厌恶侵略扩张、独霸天下。中华文明之所以能够经受艰难险阻、风吹雨打而凝聚不散、长久存续，以和为贵、协和万邦的和平性发挥了重要作用。正是由于和平性，中华文明生成强劲的向心力与吸引力，从而能够统一，进而连续，亦即持久性统一或统一性持久。也正是由于和平性，中华文明能够合理包容各种异质文明，进而综合创新。

The Crucial Interactions Among the Five Outstanding Characteristics

五个突出特性关键的相互作用

Within the organic interconnections among the five outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization, some interactions are of particularly crucial significance and deserve focused attention. They are the concentrated manifestation of the dialectical unity of the five outstanding characteristics, constituting the key mechanism through which the five characteristics mutually reinforce each other.

在中华文明五个突出特性相互的有机联系当中，有一些相互作用具有尤为关键的意义，值得着重关注。它们是五个突出特性辩证统一关系的集中展现，构成五个突出特性互相强化的关键机理。

Unity and continuity complement each other. "'Inwardly cohesive' pursuit of unity is the prerequisite for the continuity of civilization, and also the result of the continuity of civilization." [2]2 An internal quotation, likely from a speech or document by Xi Jinping or another senior leader, emphasizing the relationship between unity and continuity. Continuity lays the foundation of "popular sentiment" and "public will" for unity, enabling the sons and daughters of China to generate a strong spiritual need and powerful spiritual force for firm belief in unity. Conversely, the continuous, unbroken transmission of civilization further requires the unity of Chinese civilization, strengthening social consensus such as "a strong, unified state is the destiny of all ethnic groups" and "national unity will forever be the core of China's core interests," [3]3 Standard formulations in Chinese political discourse regarding national unity and territorial integrity. thereby further elevating the unity of Chinese civilization. It can be seen that unity and continuity are internally consistent, two sides of the same coin. The great-unity tradition of Chinese civilization, once formed, could not and cannot be dissolved; it has been powerfully transmitted, which is also a manifestation of the continuity of Chinese civilization. In this sense, the unity of our civilization is a continuous unity. And the continuity of Chinese civilization is also a unified continuity. This continuity is not dispersed or fragmented, but united and unified. In fact, a fragmented civilization could never possess such a long continuity; only unity can achieve this unique feat unparalleled in the history of human civilization.

统一性与连续性相辅相成。“‘向内凝聚’的统一性追求，是文明连续的前提，也是文明连续的结果。”连续性为统一性奠定“民心”与“公意”，让华夏儿女生成坚定统一信念的强烈精神需要和强大精神力量。而文明连续不断的传承，又反过来进一步需要中华文明的统一性，强化“坚强统一的国家是各族人民的命运所系”“国家统一永远是中国核心利益的核心”等社会共识，进一步升华中华文明的统一性。可见，统一性与连续性内在一致、一体两面。中华文明的大一统传统，自形成后就没有也不可能被消解，而是强有力地传承，这也是中华文明连续性的表征。在此意义上，我们文明的统一性是一种连续的统一性。而中华文明的连续性亦为一种统一的连续性。这种连续性不是分散的、分裂的，而是团结的、统一的。事实上，四分五裂的文明绝不可能有如此悠长的连续性，唯有团结统一才能达成人类文明史上独一无二的伟业。

Inclusiveness and peacefulness are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Civilizations are peaceful because they are inclusive, and inclusive because they are peaceful. Without appropriate inclusiveness towards diverse and heterogeneous civilizations, disharmony, conflict, and even war easily arise, and there will be no lasting peace. It can be said that a lack of inclusiveness easily leads to a decline in peacefulness, resulting in the smoke of war and the flames of conflict everywhere. In this sense, inclusiveness constitutes the direct prerequisite for peacefulness. Conversely, conflict, and especially war, easily exacerbates mutual incomprehension, lack of communication, lack of acceptance, and mutual intransigence between different civilizations. Conversely, the more civilizations are mutually inclusive, the more they can coexist peacefully; the more they coexist peacefully, the more they can be mutually inclusive. It can be seen that the peacefulness and inclusiveness of civilization are also internally consistent, two sides of the same coin. Chinese civilization, precisely in its inclusiveness towards heterogeneous civilizational elements or wholes, coexists peacefully with them, or, precisely in its peaceful coexistence with them, includes them, thereby allowing inclusiveness and peacefulness to mutually generate and promote each other in historical development.

包容性与和平性相互依存、相互加强。文明因包容而和平，因和平而包容。没有对多样和异质文明的恰适包容，就容易导致不和谐、冲突乃至战争，就不会有长久的和平。可以说，包容性的缺乏，极易导致和平性的消退，造成狼烟四起、战火纷飞。在此意义上，包容性构成和平性的直接前提。而冲突尤其战争又十分容易加剧不同文明间的互不理解、互不沟通、互不接纳、互不相让。反之，文明之间越是相互包容，就越能和平共处；越是和平共处，也越能相互包容。可见，文明的和平性与包容性也是内在一致、一体两面的。中华文明正是在对异质文明要素或整体的包容中与之和平相处，或者说在与之和平共处中包容对方，从而让包容性与和平性在历史发展中互相生成、相互促进。

Inclusiveness and innovativeness are mutually generative and complementary. Inclusiveness constitutes the foundation of innovativeness, and innovativeness in turn reinforces inclusiveness. A closed civilization that does not accept or absorb heterogeneous civilizational factors easily loses its capacity for change and innovation in self-repetition and self-satisfaction, thereby gradually stagnating and declining. One of the key reasons Chinese civilization advances with the times and changes daily is precisely its respect for differences, inclusiveness of diversity, consensus-building, and amity and good-neighborliness; it does not suppress diverse cultures with a single culture, but rather gathers diverse cultures into a common culture. Inclusiveness better stimulates the vitality of innovation and elevates the innovativeness of Chinese civilization. From another perspective, the need for innovation in Chinese civilization requires the inclusion of heterogeneous civilizational factors. The strong character of comprehensive innovation leads Chinese civilization to actively and proactively accept and absorb the beneficial components of heterogeneous civilizations, thereby coexisting peacefully and progressing together with other human civilizations. In this sense, innovativeness elevates inclusiveness.

包容性与创新性相生相成。包容性构成创新性的基础，创新性又反过来强化包容性。不接受、吸纳异质文明因素的封闭文明，容易在自我重复和自我满足中逐步丧失变革力与创新性，从而日趋停滞与衰落。中华文明之所以与时偕行、日新月异，关键原因之一就在于尊重差异、包容多样、凝聚共识、亲仁善邻，不以单一文化抑制多样文化，而是将多样文化汇聚成共同文化。包容性更好地激发了创新活力，提升了中华文明的创新性。换个视角看，中华文明的创新需要，要求包容异质文明因素。强烈的综合创新品格，让中华文明积极主动地接受、吸收异质文明的有益成分，从而同人类其他文明和平相处、共生并进。在此意义上，创新性升华了包容性。

Unity and continuity constitute the conditions for inclusiveness. Precisely because Chinese civilization possesses a strong centripetal force and unity, coupled with its long history and heritage, it has formed a robust subjectivity, and thereby the capacity to include other civilizations. Inclusiveness also guarantees unity and continuity. "The more inclusive [a civilization is], the more it is recognized and defended, and the more it will be continuous and unbroken." [4]4 An internal quotation, likely from a speech or document by Xi Jinping or another senior leader, on the relationship between inclusiveness and continuity. Inclusiveness further enhances the stability, cohesion, and attractiveness of Chinese civilization, strengthening its unity and continuity. It can be said that unity and continuity themselves inherently contain the implication of inclusiveness. Without broad and effective inclusiveness, there would be no broad, profound, unified, and continuous Chinese civilization.

统一性、连续性构成包容性的条件。正因为中华文明具有很强的向心力和统一性，再加上悠久的历史与传承，因此形成了强健的主体性，进而有能力包容其他文明。包容性也保障统一性与连续性。“越包容，就越是得到认同和维护，就越会绵延不断。”包容性进一步增强了中华文明的稳定性、凝聚力和吸引力，强化了中华文明的统一性与连续性。可以说，统一性、连续性本身就内含着包容性的意蕴。没有广泛而有效的包容，就不会有博大精深、统一连续的中华文明。

Continuity, unity, and innovativeness mutually reinforce each other. On the one hand, continuity and unity constitute the conditions for innovativeness. Unity and continuity maintain the stability, unity, and stable transmission of the entire society, providing a favorable environment for inclusiveness and thereby innovation, thus contributing to the forging and tempering of innovativeness. When continuity and unity consolidate inclusiveness, to some extent they are also strengthening innovativeness. On the other hand, innovativeness also powerfully supports continuity and unity. "Continuity is not stagnation, let alone ossification, but a historical process of progress supported by innovation." [5]5 An internal quotation, likely from a speech or document by Xi Jinping or another senior leader, defining continuity as a dynamic, innovative process. The transmission of Chinese civilization is not simple repetition or reproduction, but a process of carrying forward the past and ushering in the new. Persistent innovation allows the Chinese nation to maintain strong cohesion and vitality, continuously strengthening its civilizational power and elevating its civilizational level, thereby stretching and enduring, and existing perpetually in the form of a unified civilizational entity.

连续性、统一性同创新性相互强化。一方面，连续性、统一性构成创新性的条件。统一性与连续性维护整个社会的安定团结、稳定传承，为包容进而创新提供了有益环境，从而有助于创新性的锻铸与淬炼。当连续性、统一性巩固包容性时，某种程度上也就是在强化创新性。另一方面，创新性亦有力支撑连续性与统一性。“连续不是停滞、更不是僵化，而是以创新为支撑的历史进步过程。”中华文明的传承并非简单的重复与再现，而是承前启后的推陈出新。持之以恒的创新让中华民族保持强大的凝聚力与生命力，持续增强自己的文明力量、提升自己的文明水准，从而以统一文明体的形式绵亘延长、恒久存续。

(Author: Liu Zhihong, Distinguished Research Fellow of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Research Center, Renmin University of China, and Associate Professor, School of Philosophy; this article is a phased result of the National Social Science Fund Major Project "Research on the Common Values of All Mankind")

（作者：刘志洪，系中国人民大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院特约研究员、哲学院副教授；本文系国家社会科学基金重大项目“全人类共同价值研究”阶段性成果）

Source: Guangming Daily, October 2, 2024, Edition 07

文章来源：《光明日报》2024年10月2日07版

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧