Deeply Grasping the Practicality of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought

In October 2023, the National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology and Cultural Work was held in Beijing,

2023年10月，全国宣传思想文化工作会议在京召开，正式提出了习近平文化思想。这一重要思想构成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想体系中的文化篇，它从现实而来、用现实激活过去、并作用于现实，具有鲜明的现实性特征。深刻把握习近平文化思想的现实性，是准确理解、有效运用这一科学理论的重要前提。

Xi Jinping’s cultural thought emerges from an accurate grasp of practical problems

习近平文化思想产生于对现实问题的准确把握

Marxism has never been a pure speculation divorced from reality, nor an empty and abstract principle or dogma; rather, it always possesses an intrinsic and essential connection with specific, concrete socio-historical reality. In *The German Ideology*, Marx critically points out that the Young Hegelians remain trapped in abstract speculation and subjective imagination, and clearly states that ideas are the “reflexes and echoes” of the real life process. As the latest achievement of Marxist cultural theory, Xi Jinping’s cultural thought is closely linked to reality. It is grounded in the specific environment of China, which has achieved the First Centenary Goal [1]1 The First Centenary Goal refers to the goal set by the CPC of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the centenary of its founding in 2021., focuses on the cultural aspects of the process of Chinese-path modernization, and confronts the urgent need to build international discursive power and demonstrate cultural confidence. It is a reflection and product of social reality.

马克思主义从来不是远离现实的纯粹思辨，亦不是空洞抽象的原则教条，而总是与特定的、具体的社会历史现实之间存在内在且本质的关联性。在《德意志意识形态》中，马克思批判性地指出青年黑格尔派仍囿于抽象思辨与主观想象，并明确表示思想是现实生活过程的“反射和反响”。作为马克思主义文化理论的最新成果，习近平文化思想与现实紧密关联。它立足于实现了第一个百年奋斗目标的我国特定环境，聚焦于中国式现代化进程中的文化方面，面对着构建国际话语权与彰显文化自信的迫切需要，是社会现实的反映与产物。

In the construction of Chinese-path modernization, China has completed the historical tasks of poverty alleviation and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The material foundation required for socialist modernization and the people’s development has become more solid. At this point, the need for cultural-ethical progress becomes increasingly prominent. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that “Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress coordinated. Material abundance and spiritual prosperity are the fundamental requirements of socialist modernization.”

在中国式现代化建设中，我国脱贫攻坚、全面建成小康社会的历史任务已经完成，社会主义现代化建设和人民发展所需的物质基础更为坚实，此时，精神文明建设的需求就愈加凸显出来。习近平总书记强调，“中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化。物质富足、精神富有是社会主义现代化的根本要求”。

In terms of international civilizational exchange and the construction of China’s cultural system, with the continuous expansion of globalization in many aspects, the flourishing of new media and network technologies, international cultural exchanges are becoming more frequent and deeper. At the same time, China’s national rejuvenation and modernization process has entered a new stage, making cultural construction an urgent task. Therefore, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made systematic arrangements for cultural work, stating that continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural nation, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the New Era.

在国际文明交流和我国文化体系建设方面，随着全球化在多方面的不断扩展，新媒体和网络技术的繁荣发达，国际文化交流日益频繁，交往愈加深入，同时，我国民族复兴和现代化进程也已迈入新的阶段，文化建设成为当务之急。因而，习近平总书记对文化工作进行了系统部署，提出，在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明，是我们在新时代新的文化使命。

Xi Jinping’s cultural thought is grounded in fine traditional Chinese culture

习近平文化思想立足于中华优秀传统文化

The practicality of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought is not only reflected in its accurate grasp of the current reality but also in its requirement to re-examine the past from the dimension of present reality and to carry out the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional culture.

习近平文化思想的现实性不仅体现在对当前实际的准确把握中，同时也表现在从当下现实维度重新审视过去、并对优秀传统文化进行创造性转化与创新性发展的要求上。

History is the foundation of a nation, and traditional culture is its soul. The modern form of a nation is always built upon the past and deeply influenced by history. The Chinese nation has a cultural history of ten thousand years and a civilization history of over five thousand years. The construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the process of Chinese-path modernization have both been nurtured and developed within this profound cultural heritage and magnificent historical continuity. The outstanding continuity of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation must take its own path. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to Chinese traditional culture, clearly stating that “if we do not understand China from 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.” However, traditional culture is all-encompassing and complex, and in its formation and development, it was inevitably constrained by the conditions of its time and the level of people’s thinking. Therefore, some of its content may now seem outdated or has become dross. How to re-activate the vitality of traditional culture and how to rejuvenate this long-standing civilization is an unavoidable task.

历史是民族的根基，传统文化是民族的灵魂。一个民族的现代样态总是奠基于过去，深受历史影响。中华民族具有一万年的文化史、五千多年的文明史，中国特色社会主义建设和中国式现代化进程都是在这深厚的文化底蕴和恢弘的历史延续中孕育、发展而来的。中华文明突出的连续性从根本上决定了中华民族必然要走自己的道路。习近平总书记高度重视中华传统文化，明确指出“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”。但传统文化包罗万象，纷繁复杂，并且在其形成和发展过程中，不可避免地受制于当时时代条件、人们思想水平的局限，因而会有一些内容在今天看来已不合时宜或已成为糟粕。如何重新激活传统文化的活力，如何使悠久文明重新焕发生机，是一项不可回避的任务。

Faced with this situation, it is necessary to modernize traditional culture, “to make the most basic cultural genes of the Chinese nation compatible with contemporary culture and coordinated with modern society,” and to “promote the cultural spirit that transcends time and space, transcends national boundaries, is full of eternal charm, and has contemporary value,” thereby achieving “the organic connection between tradition and modernity,” as well as the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. Making tradition “compatible” with modernity does not mean erasing the content and characteristics of traditional culture, but rather re-evaluating historical culture from a modern perspective, excavating and inheriting those parts that remain effective, and using the spirit of the times to activate the vitality of fine traditional Chinese culture. This is a process of sublation [2]2 Sublation (Aufhebung) is a Hegelian term meaning to simultaneously cancel, preserve, and lift up to a higher level., a form of inheriting traditional culture in a higher sense. To “promote” tradition in modernity does not mean sticking to old ways or being complacent, but rather, through the excavation and elucidation of fine traditional culture, to make it serve China’s current cultural construction, continuously forge new brilliance in Chinese culture, and build a socialist cultural power.

面对这种情境，将传统文化予以现代化转化，“使中华民族最基本的文化基因与当代文化相适应、与现代社会相协调”，把“跨越时空、超越国界、富有永恒魅力、具有当代价值的文化精神弘扬起来”，从而实现“传统与现代的有机衔接”，以及中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化与创新性发展。使传统“适应”现代，并非抹杀传统文化的内容与特点，而是要从现代视角重新勘定历史文化，发掘并传承其依旧具有效性的部分，用时代精神激活中华优秀传统文化的生命力。这是一个扬弃过程，是一种在更高意义上对传统文化的继承。在现代仍“弘扬”传统，也并非因循守旧、固步自封，而是要通过对优秀传统文化的挖掘与阐发，使其服务于我国当前文化建设，不断铸就中华文化新辉煌，建设社会主义文化强国。

General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed the “Second Integration,” that is, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, thus forming the important cultural thought of the “Two Integrations.” Marxism has always held a fundamental guiding position in China’s construction and development, and issues in the cultural field are equally inseparable from the guidance of this scientific theory. The “Second Integration” provides the basic ideological adherence and important methodological guidance for fine traditional Chinese culture to integrate into current reality and complete its modern transformation. In his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Marxism brought advanced ideological theory to China, activated the genes of Chinese civilization with the light of truth, led China into the modern world, and promoted the life renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization. From the people-oriented concept to democracy, from the unity of all regions under heaven to the Chinese national community, from the coexistence of all things to the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, from enriching the people and valuing life to common prosperity, Chinese civilization has opened up a new horizon, achieved a leap from tradition to modernity, and developed a modern form of Chinese civilization.

习近平总书记创造性地提出了“第二个结合”，即把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，从而形成了“两个结合”的重要文化思想。马克思主义在我国的建设与发展过程中始终处于根本指导地位，文化领域的建设问题同样离不开这一科学理论的引领。“第二个结合”为中华优秀传统文化融入当前现实、完成现代转型提供了基本的思想遵循和重要的方法指引。在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中，习近平总书记指出，马克思主义把先进的思想理论带到中国，以真理之光激活了中华文明的基因，引领中国走进现代世界，推动了中华文明的生命更新和现代转型。从民本到民主，从九州共贯到中华民族共同体，从万物并育到人与自然和谐共生，从富民厚生到共同富裕，中华文明别开生面，实现了从传统到现代的跨越，发展出中华文明的现代形态。

Xi Jinping’s cultural thought is committed to social practice

习近平文化思想致力于社会实践

In *Theses on Feuerbach*, Marx, on the basis of criticizing Feuerbach’s intuitive materialism, negated the purely theoretical character of previous old philosophy, pointing out that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.” The emphasis on practice is further elaborated in *The German Ideology* and becomes an inherent requirement of communism. “For the practical materialist, i.e., the communist, it is a question of revolutionizing the existing world, of practically attacking and changing existing things.” “Communism is for us not a state of affairs which is to be established, an ideal to which reality [will] have to adjust itself. We call communism the real movement which abolishes the present state of things.”

在《关于费尔巴哈的提纲》中，马克思在批判费尔巴哈直观唯物主义的基础上，对以往旧哲学的纯理论特征进行了否定，指出“哲学家们只是用不同的方式解释世界，问题在于改变世界”。对实践的强调在《德意志意识形态》中得到进一步阐发，并成为共产主义的内在要求。“对实践的唯物主义者即共产主义者来说，全部问题都在于使现存世界革命化，实际地反对并改变现存的事物”，“共产主义对我们来说不是应当确立的状况，不是现实应当与之相适应的理想。我们所称为共产主义的是那种消灭现存状况的现实的运动”。

Explaining the relationship between humanity and the world from the perspective of practice is a prominent feature of Marxism. As an inheritance and development of Marxism, Xi Jinping’s cultural thought likewise emphasizes changing reality through practice. Xi Jinping’s cultural thought arises from a specific era background and social reality, analyzing and explaining cultural issues from a philosophical height. However, this theory does not merely stop at “interpreting the world”; on the basis of “interpretation,” it is committed to “changing the world,” using theory as a guide to transform reality.

从实践的角度来说明人与世界的关系是马克思主义的突出特征。习近平文化思想作为马克思主义的继承与发展，同样强调以实践改变现实。习近平文化思想产生于具体的时代背景和社会现实中，从哲学高度对文化问题进行了分析说明，但这一理论并没有仅仅停留于“解释世界”，而是在“解释”的基础上致力于“改变世界”，以理论为指导来改变现实。

The National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology and Cultural Work clearly articulated the distinctive characteristic of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought as the integration of theory and practice, namely “understanding the substance and applying it, integrating substance and application.” “Substance” refers to principles, embodied in the innovative theories and viewpoints of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought. “Application” refers to practice, manifested in the overall deployment and series of requirements of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought. In the realm of socialist ideology, it is necessary to firmly grasp the Party’s leadership over ideological work, deeply implement the Marxist theory research and development project, strengthen the construction of an all-media communication system, and improve the comprehensive governance system for the internet. In practicing core socialist values, it is necessary to make good use of red resources, deeply carry out propaganda and education on core socialist values, and promote the regularization and institutionalization of ideal and belief education. In the development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, it is necessary to adhere to a people-centered creative orientation, insist on placing social效益 first, unifying social and economic benefits, improve the modern cultural industry system and market system, and increase the protection of cultural relics and cultural heritage. In the dissemination of Chinese civilization, it is necessary to uphold the stance of Chinese culture, refine and display the spiritual symbols and cultural essence of Chinese civilization, strengthen the construction of international communication capacity, comprehensively enhance the effectiveness of international communication, and form an international discourse power commensurate with China’s comprehensive national strength and international status. Deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, promote Chinese culture to better reach the world; and so on.

全国宣传思想文化工作会议明确表述了习近平文化思想的理论与实践相结合的鲜明特点，即“明体达用、体用贯通”。“体”是原则，体现在习近平文化思想的创新性理论和观点上。“用”指实践，表现为习近平文化思想的总体部署和系列要求。在社会主义意识形态方面，要牢牢掌握党对意识形态工作领导权，深入实施马克思主义理论研究和建设工程，加强全媒体传播体系建设，健全网络综合治理体系；在践行社会主义核心价值观方面，要用好红色资源，深入开展社会主义核心价值观宣传教育，推动理想信念教育常态化制度化；在文化事业和文化产业发展方面，要坚持以人民为中心的创作导向，坚持把社会效益放在首位、社会效益和经济效益相统一，健全现代文化产业体系和市场体系，加大文物和文化遗产保护力度；在中华文明传播方面，要坚守中华文化立场，提炼展示中华文明的精神标识和文化精髓，加强国际传播能力建设，全面提升国际传播效能，形成同我国综合国力和国际地位相匹配的国际话语权。深化文明交流互鉴，推动中华文化更好走向世界；等等。

By solving practical cultural problems and promoting spiritual and cultural development, Xi Jinping’s cultural thought aims to promote the flourishing and progress of Chinese culture, construct a Chinese-path modernization that coordinates material and cultural-ethical progress, and ultimately realize the free and comprehensive development of the individual and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On the new journey of the New Era, we should deeply grasp the practicality of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, and under the guidance of this scientific theory, shoulder the new cultural mission.

通过解决现实文化问题、推动精神文化发展，习近平文化思想旨在促进中华文化繁荣向前，构建物质文明和精神文明相协调的中国式现代化，并最终实现人的自由全面发展和中华民族的伟大复兴。在新时代新征程上，我们应深刻把握习近平文化思想的现实性，并在这一科学理论的指导下担负起新的文化使命。

(Author: Sun Yanhao, Lecturer and Doctor, School of Marxism, South-Central Minzu University)

（作者：孙妍豪，中南民族大学马克思主义学院讲师、博士）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧