Deeply Grasping the Philosophical Implications of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture

Xi Jinping’s thought on culture is rich in content, profound in argumentation, rigorous in logic, and complete in system. It profoundly elucidates the guiding ideology, objectives and tasks, responsibilities and missions, functions and values of cultural development in the New Era, revealing the mission, goals, and realization pathways of cultural development, and shining with the truth of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. To fully understand and deeply grasp Xi Jinping’s thought on culture, one must use dialectical analysis to deeply apprehend its inherent characteristics and fully recognize the profound philosophical implications contained in this system of thought.

习近平文化思想内涵丰富、论述深刻、逻辑严密、系统完备，深刻阐明了新时代文化建设的指导思想、目标任务、责任使命、功能价值等重要内容，揭示了文化建设的使命、目标和实现路径，闪耀着辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的真理光芒。全面理解和深刻领悟习近平文化思想，必须运用辩证分析法深入把握其内在特质，充分认识这一思想体系包含的深厚哲学意蕴。

Upholding the “root vein” and the “soul vein” forms new understandings of cultural work in the New Era. Marxist cultural theory is an important component of Marxist doctrine and the “soul” of Xi Jinping’s thought on culture. In the course of studying philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism, the classical Marxist writers, taking historical materialism as their theoretical foundation, profoundly elucidated the basis for the generation of human culture, the basic connotations of culture, and its main characteristics and functions, thereby constructing a scientific theoretical system. Xi Jinping’s thought on culture consciously applies Marxist cultural theory to the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, integrates the essence of Marxist thought with the cream of fine traditional Chinese culture, and for the first time comprehensively and systematically answers major epochal questions such as what kind of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it, composing a new chapter of Marxist cultural theory for the times.

坚守“根脉”与“魂脉”，形成新时代文化工作的新认识。马克思主义文化理论是马克思主义学说的一个重要组成部分，是习近平文化思想之“魂”。马克思主义经典作家在研究哲学、政治经济学和科学社会主义的过程中，以历史唯物主义为理论基础，深刻阐明人类文化生成的基础、文化的基本内涵以及主要特征、功能，由此建构起一套科学的理论体系。习近平文化思想自觉将马克思主义文化理论运用于新时代中国特色社会主义伟大实践中，把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来，第一次全面系统地回答了新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义文化、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化等重大时代课题，谱写了马克思主义文化理论的时代新篇。

Fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization of wisdom and spiritual symbol accumulated over the more than 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization. It is an important source for nurturing the core socialist values, a solid foundation for us to stand firm amidst global cultural currents, and the “root vein” of the Chinese nation’s unceasing vitality and passing on of the torch from generation to generation. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, always proceeding from the strategic height of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and in the course of magnificent and great practice, has continuously led and promoted the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, providing the realistic soil and spiritual strength for the generation of Xi Jinping’s thought on culture.

中华优秀传统文化是中华民族五千多年文明史中沉积下来的智慧结晶与精神标识，是涵养社会主义核心价值观的重要源泉，也是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的坚实根基，是中华民族生生不息、薪火相传的“根脉”。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视中华优秀传统文化的传承发展，始终从实现中华民族伟大复兴的战略高度出发，在波澜壮阔的伟大实践中不断引领推动中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展，为习近平文化思想的生成提供了现实土壤和精神力量。

As the theoretical summation of the Party’s practical experience in leading cultural development in the New Era, Xi Jinping’s thought on culture has neither discarded the old master of scientific theory nor the old master of national culture. In promoting the two-way interaction and integration of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, it “has created a new cultural life form that is organically unified,” making Marxism Chinese and making fine traditional Chinese culture modern, and making the new culture formed through “integration” the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. It vividly embodies the upholding of the “soul vein” of Marxism and the preservation of the “root vein” of fine traditional Chinese culture.

习近平文化思想作为新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结，既没有丢掉科学理论的老祖宗，也没有丢掉民族文化的老祖宗，在促进马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的双向互动和融合中，“造就了一个有机统一的新的文化生命体”，让马克思主义成为中国的，让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，生动体现了对马克思主义“魂脉”的坚守和对中华优秀传统文化“根脉”的持守。

The dialectical unity of “ancient” and “modern” forms new concepts of cultural work in the New Era. Fine traditional Chinese culture is a splendid culture accumulated by the Chinese nation over a historical river of more than 5,000 years, reflecting the spiritual outlook and excellent characteristics of the Chinese nation. Its inherent outstanding innovativeness fundamentally determines the Chinese nation’s enterprising spirit of upholding the right principles without being conservative, and revering antiquity without restoring the old

“古”与“今”辩证统一，形成新时代文化工作的新理念。中华优秀传统文化是中华民族在五千多年的历史长河中积淀形成、反映中华民族精神风貌和优秀特质的灿烂文化。其内在的突出创新性，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。习近平文化思想坚持植根中华优秀传统文化沃土发展马克思主义文化理论，不是要“食古不化”地简单复兴传统文化，更不是以中华优秀传统文化替代马克思主义，而是结合新的时代要求和实践需求，进行有鉴别的对待、有扬弃的继承，使之与现实文化相融相通。

Marx and Engels pointed out: “The real content of all epoch-making systems arises from the needs of the period in which they are formed.” [n] Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought was formed and developed on the basis of a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the history of Chinese civilization, scientifically answering the practical questions of the cultural development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and it is the correct ideological guide leading the flourishing and development of culture in the New Era. By transforming those connotations and forms of expression in fine traditional Chinese culture that still have reference value today, endowing them with new contemporary connotations and modern forms of expression, and supplementing, expanding, and perfecting the connotations of fine traditional Chinese culture, it enables traditional culture to radiate vigorous vitality in responding to the propositions of the times, allowing the new culture formed through “integration” to have a deeper cultural foundation.

马克思、恩格斯指出：“一切划时代的体系的真正的内容都是由于产生这些体系的那个时期的需要而形成起来的。”习近平文化思想是在全面深入了解中华文明历史的基础上，科学回答新时代中国特色社会主义文化发展的现实问题中形成发展的，是引领新时代文化繁荣发展的正确思想指南。通过对中华优秀传统文化中那些至今仍有借鉴价值的内涵和表现形式加以改造，赋予其新的时代内涵和现代表达形式，对中华优秀传统文化的内涵加以补充、拓展、完善，使传统文化在回应时代命题中焕发蓬勃生机活力，让经由“结合”而形成的新文化具有更加深厚的文化根基。

As a cultural theory that integrates traditional culture with modern life, Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought draws essential nutrients from the accumulation of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization, fuses the cultural spirit that transcends time and space, surpasses national boundaries, and possesses contemporary value into the practical exploration of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously activates the vitality of traditional culture with a spirit of keeping pace with the times, enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory through innovation while discarding the outdated, and demonstrates its dialectical thinking in doing cultural work well in the New Era through the mutual unity of the “ancient” and the “modern.”

习近平文化思想作为将传统文化与现代生活相融相通的文化理论，从中华五千多年文明的积淀中汲取精华养分，将其中跨越时空、超越国度、具有当代价值的文化精神熔铸于中国特色社会主义事业的实践探索之中，以与时俱进的时代精神不断激活传统文化生命力，在推陈出新中丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，展现了其在“古”与“今”的相互统一中做好新时代文化工作的辩证思维。

Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, forming new ideas for cultural work in the New Era. When the source is deep, the flow is long; when the roots are deep, the leaves flourish. [n] Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, regarding cultural development in the New Era, has on the one hand, on the basis of unwaveringly adhering to the guiding role of Marxism, firmly held fast to the roots of fine traditional Chinese culture, enabling Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to be deeply rooted in the soil of scientific socialism and Chinese history and culture; on the other hand, under the new conditions of the times, it has consistently adhered to the “Two Integrations,” continuously put forward new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments on cultural development in the New Era, promoted historic achievements in the cause of propaganda, ideology, and culture, demonstrated the political courage of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought in bravely undertaking new cultural missions through the dialectical unity of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, and formed new ideas for cultural work in the New Era.

坚持守正创新，形成新时代文化工作的新思路。源浚者流长，根深者叶茂。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央围绕新时代文化建设，一方面，在坚持马克思主义指导思想不动摇的基础上，牢牢守住中华优秀传统文化之根，使中国化时代化的马克思主义深深扎根于科学社会主义和中华历史文化土壤之上；另一方面，在新的时代条件下始终坚持“两个结合”，不断提出新时代文化建设的新思想新观点新论断，推动宣传思想文化事业取得历史性成就，彰显了习近平文化思想在坚持守正与创新的辩证统一中勇担新的文化使命的政治魄力，形成了新时代文化工作的新思路。

Upholding fundamental principles does not mean sticking to old rules and following the beaten track, but rather preserving the foundation and source, the roots and soul. Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought is not a “peak flown in from elsewhere” [n] that fell from the sky, but rather, on the basis of upholding the fundamentals of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, and grounded in cultural subjectivity, it is a theoretical summary of the Party’s practical experience in leading cultural development in the New Era. “Breaking new ground” does not mean groundless fantasy or reckless action, but rather fully unleashing human subjective initiative on the basis of grasping the laws of the development of things. Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought is not only in the same lineage as the basic principles of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, but also merges and integrates with the theoretical character consistently upheld by our Party of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, and being pragmatic and realistic. With its new ideological content, it enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory, forms a systematic and scientific theoretical system, and makes original contributions to the development of Marxism.

守正并不是墨守成规、循规蹈矩，而是守住本和源、根和魂。习近平文化思想不是一座从天而降的“飞来峰”，而是在坚守马克思主义和中华优秀传统文化之正的基础上，立足文化主体性，对新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结。“新”不是凭空幻想、恣意妄为，而是在把握事物发展规律的基础上充分发挥人的主观能动性。习近平文化思想既与马克思主义基本原理和中华优秀传统文化一脉相承，又与我们党一贯坚持的解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实的理论品格贯通融合，以崭新的思想内容丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，形成了系统科学的理论体系，为发展马克思主义作出了原创性贡献。

Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought neither talks about innovation in the abstract while discarding traditional experience, nor is it confined to tradition or stuck in old ways. On the basis of fully absorbing and applying the essence of Marxist theory and inheriting and developing the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture, it actively responds to the major issues in the flourishing and development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, innovates methods and approaches, and achieves the upholding of fundamental principles and breaking new ground in cultural work in the New Era through the unity of drawing from tradition and seeking change and innovation.

习近平文化思想既没有抛开传统经验而空谈创新，也没有囿于传统、墨守成规，在充分吸收运用马克思主义理论的精髓，继承发展中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源之上，积极回应中国特色社会主义文化繁荣发展中的重大问题，创新方式方法，在汲取传统和求新求变的统一中实现了新时代文化工作的守正创新。

Understanding the substance and applying it, integrating substance and function, forming new methods for cultural work in the New Era. Marx said, “The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.” [n

明体达用、体用贯通，形成新时代文化工作的新方法。马克思说过，“哲学家们只是用不同的方式解释世界，问题在于改变世界”。习近平文化思想既有文化理论观点上的创新和突破，又有文化工作布局上的部署要求；既深化了对中国特色社会主义文化建设规律的认识，又明确了新时代文化建设的路线图和任务书，彰显了这一重要思想对“体”与“用”的辩证结合和对认识论与方法论的纯熟把握，为担负起新的文化使命贡献实践伟力。

The “substance” (体) of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture concerns the essential basis and fundamental principles of culture, civilization, and cultural construction. This thought has achieved innovation and breakthroughs in cultural theoretical viewpoints, deepening the understanding of the laws governing cultural construction—this is what is meant by “clarifying the substance” (明体). The series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments put forward by Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture have gradually formed a scientific system rich in content and comprehensive in scope, making original contributions to the perfection of the theory of cultural development under socialism with Chinese characteristics, realizing the self-construction of its “substance,” and providing a powerful ideological weapon and a scientific guide to action for doing a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work on the new journey of the New Era. The “function” (用) of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture concerns the practical paths, methods, and means of cultural construction and cultural work in the New Era. This thought stipulates the deployment requirements for the layout of cultural work, clarifying the roadmap and task book for cultural construction in the New Era—this is what is meant by “realizing the function” (达用). “Clarifying the substance” is not an end in itself; the true purpose of “clarifying the substance” is to achieve “practical application” (致用). Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture has put forward a series of systematic, complete, and feasible strategic paths at a new historical starting point, depicting the roadmap and task book for cultural construction in the New Era, and realizing the self-assertion of its “function.”

习近平文化思想之“体”就是关于文化、文明以及文化建设的本质根据和根本原则。这一思想实现了文化理论观点上的创新和突破，深化了对文化建设的规律性认识，即为“明体”。习近平文化思想提出的一系列新思想新观点新论断，逐渐形成了一个内涵丰富、系统全面的科学体系，为中国特色社会主义文化发展理论的完善作出了原创性贡献，实现了“体”的自我构建，为做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作提供了强大思想武器和科学行动指南。习近平文化思想之“用”，就是关于新时代文化建设、文化工作的实践路径、方式方法等。这一思想规定了文化工作布局上的部署要求，明确了新时代文化建设的路线图和任务书，即为“达用”。“明体”不是目的，真正的“明体”是为了达到“致用”。习近平文化思想在新的历史起点上提出了一系列系统完备、切实可行的战略路径，描绘了新时代文化建设的路线图和任务书，实现了“用”的自我主张。

“Clarifying the substance and realizing the function, with substance and function interpenetrating” (明体达用、体用贯通) is a vivid summary of the theoretical character and practical method of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture. It not only indicates that Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture contains the content of “substance” and “function,” but also points out the intrinsic relationship of interpenetration between the two. “Substance” determines “function,” and “function” reacts back upon “substance.” The “substance” of cultural thought profoundly reveals the “function” of cultural practice, while the “function” of cultural practice promotes the “substance” of cultural thought toward perfection. The two, in their dialectical unity, illuminate the future path of the development of culture under socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“明体达用、体用贯通”是对习近平文化思想理论品格和实践方法的生动概括，不仅指明了习近平文化思想包含“体”与“用”的内容，而且还点明了两者之间相互贯通的内在关系。“体”决定“用”，“用”反作用于“体”。文化思想之“体”深刻揭示文化实践之“用”，文化实践之“用”促进文化思想之“体”趋于完善。二者于辩证统一中，照鉴着中国特色社会主义文化发展的未来道路。

[The author is Vice President of the Shanghai Municipal Party School (Academy of Governance).]

〔作者系上海市委党校（行政学院）副校（院）长〕

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧