The Theoretical Theme, Theoretical System, and Theoretical Characteristics of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture

The formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has powerfully propelled the innovative development of Marxist cultural theory and represents a significant milestone in China’s cultural construction. At present, to deeply study, implement, and further research and elucidate Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, it is essential to correctly grasp its theoretical theme, theoretical system, and theoretical characteristics. Only in this way can we profoundly comprehend its core essence, spiritual substance, rich connotations, and practical requirements, and use them to guide practice and advance work, thereby writing a new chapter in building a culturally strong nation on the new journey of the New Era.

习近平文化思想的形成，有力推动了马克思主义文化理论的创新发展，是我国文化建设的重要里程碑。当前，深入学习贯彻和进一步研究阐释习近平文化思想，必须正确把握其理论主题、理论体系及理论特质，如此才能深刻领会其核心要义、精神实质、丰富内涵与实践要求，并用于指导实践、推动工作，谱写新时代新征程文化强国建设新篇章。

I. The Theoretical Theme of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture

一、习近平文化思想的理论主题

The theoretical theme is the fundamental problem that a theoretical system seeks to resolve; it is the starting point and core of the theoretical system, and also the center and general outline of the system, occupying a commanding position within it. The theoretical system is an expansion and deepening of the theoretical theme, and the series of interconnected viewpoints formed around the theoretical theme constitute the main content of the theoretical system. Answering the epochal questions of “what kind of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era” and “how to uphold and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era” constitutes the theoretical theme of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is constructed around this theoretical theme.

理论主题是一个理论体系所要解决的根本问题，是理论体系的出发点和核心所在，也是一个理论体系的中心、总纲，在理论体系中处于统领地位。理论体系就是对理论主题的拓展深化，围绕理论主题所形成的一系列相互联系的观点构成了理论体系的主要内容。回答“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”的时代课题，是习近平文化思想的理论主题，习近平文化思想就是围绕这一理论主题构建起来的。

(A) Creatively Answering “What Kind of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics to Uphold and Develop in the New Era”

（一）创造性回答“新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义文化”

Regarding the question of the proper state of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics at the current stage, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture provides answers from the dimensions of leading force, guiding ideology, main content, development path, and cultural stance.

围绕现阶段中国特色社会主义文化的应然状态问题，习近平文化思想从领导力量、指导思想、主要内容、发展道路、文化立场等维度进行了回答。

First, from the perspective of leading force, the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to be upheld and developed in the New Era must take the Communist Party of China as its leading force. The Party’s leadership over cultural construction is both a historical necessity and a strong call of the times, as well as a proper requirement for a Marxist political party. Only by adhering to the Party’s leadership can we, amidst diverse cultural trends, firmly establish the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological domain, ensure that cultural construction always serves the people and the socialist cause, and guarantee that cultural undertakings consistently align with the fundamental interests of the state and the people. “He who governs by virtue is like the North Star, which remains in its place while all other stars revolve around it.” [1]1 A classical allusion from the *Analects of Confucius* (*Lunyu*), Chapter “Wei Zheng” (Governing). It uses the metaphor of the North Star to illustrate the ruler’s role in leading by virtue, with all others naturally aligning. In cultural construction, the Party’s leadership is just like the North Star, playing a key role in guiding direction and凝聚力量 [2]2 A four-character idiom meaning “to gather strength” or “to pool forces,” often used in political discourse to describe the Party’s role in uniting the people.. Only by adhering to the Party’s leadership and consolidating the Party’s cultural leadership can we anchor the correct direction for cultural construction and gather the powerful spiritual strength for national unity and struggle.

其一，从领导力量看，新时代坚持和发展的中国特色社会主义文化，必须以中国共产党为领导力量。党领导文化建设既是历史的必然选择与时代的强烈呼唤，也是作为马克思主义政党的应有之义。只有坚持党的领导，才能在多元文化思潮中坚定马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，确保文化建设始终服务于人民、服务于社会主义事业，确保文化事业始终符合国家和人民的根本利益。“为政以德，譬如北辰，居其所而众星共之。”在文化建设中，党的领导正如北辰一般，发挥着引领方向、凝聚力量的关键作用。只有坚持党的领导，巩固党的文化领导权，才能为文化建设锚定正确方向，汇聚民族团结奋斗的强大精神力量。

Second, from the perspective of guiding ideology, the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to be upheld and developed in the New Era must take Marxism as its guiding ideology. Marxism is the ideological and spiritual banner for the development of the Party and the state, and also the soul of socialist ideology. Only by adhering to the guiding position of this scientific theoretical system in the ideological domain can we ensure the ideological unity, political solidarity, and uniformity of action of the Communist Party of China, thereby leading socialist China to always advance in the correct direction. On this fundamental issue, we must be unwavering and not waver in the slightest. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era fully demonstrates the powerful vitality of Marxism and is the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the 21st century. At present, upholding and developing this scientific theoretical system is truly upholding and developing Marxism.

其二，从指导思想看，新时代坚持和发展的中国特色社会主义文化，必须以马克思主义为指导思想。马克思主义是党和国家事业发展的思想与精神旗帜，也是社会主义意识形态的灵魂。只有坚持这一科学理论体系在意识形态领域的指导地位，才能确保中国共产党思想统一、政治团结和行动一致，从而领导社会主义中国始终沿着正确方向前进。对于这个根本性问题，必须坚定不移，丝毫不能动摇。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想充分展现了马克思主义的强大生命力，是当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义。当前，对这一科学理论体系的坚持和发展，就是真正坚持和发展马克思主义。

Third, from the perspective of main content, the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to be upheld and developed in the New Era must have clear main content. Xi Jinping points out: “Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics originates from the excellent traditional Chinese culture nurtured by the more than 5,000 years of civilization history of the Chinese nation, is forged from the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the Party leading the people in revolution, construction, and reform, and is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” [3]3 A direct quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, outlining the three sources of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. Among these, the traditional culture nurtured in the development of more than 5,000 years of civilization carries the genes and bloodline of the Chinese nation and is the cultural fertile soil in which socialism with Chinese characteristics is rooted. The revolutionary culture nurtured in the great struggles of the Party and the people was a powerful weapon for the victory of the Chinese revolution and is also the spiritual nourishment of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. The advanced socialist culture, which centrally embodies the national spirit with patriotism at its core and the spirit of the times with reform and innovation at its core, is itself a culture created by the Party in uniting and leading the people to advance the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and thus constitutes a component part of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

其三，从主要内容看，新时代坚持和发展的中国特色社会主义文化，必须有明确的主体内容。习近平指出：“中国特色社会主义文化，源自于中华民族五千多年文明历史所孕育的中华优秀传统文化，熔铸于党领导人民在革命、建设、改革中创造的革命文化和社会主义先进文化，植根于中国特色社会主义伟大实践。”其中，5000多年文明发展中孕育的传统文化，承载着中华民族的基因和血脉，是中国特色社会主义植根的文化沃土。在党和人民伟大斗争中孕育的革命文化，是中国革命胜利的有力武器，也是中国特色社会主义文化的精神滋养。集中体现了以爱国主义为核心的民族精神和以改革创新为核心的时代精神的社会主义先进文化，本身就是党在团结带领人民推进中国特色社会主义伟大实践中创造的文化，因而构成中国特色社会主义文化的组成部分。

Fourth, from the perspective of development path, to uphold and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, we must unswervingly follow the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics. “Unswervingly follow the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics” is the clear answer given by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in the face of the arduous tasks of cultural construction in the New Era. Chinese civilization has outstanding continuity, having persisted for more than 5,000 years without interruption and enduring repeated hardships without decline. This fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation must take its own path. This path, as reflected in cultural development, is the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics. The path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics is the unity of continuing the historical cultural lineage and the renewal and creation of civilization. It reveals the inherent laws of cultural inheritance and development and is the broad avenue for advancing cultural confidence and self-strengthening. Since the New Era, the Communist Party of China has united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to firmly follow the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, promoting solid steps and historic achievements in building a culturally strong socialist country. This fully proves that the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics is the only correct path for promoting the flourishing of socialist culture and building a culturally strong nation.

其四，从发展道路看，新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化，必须坚定不移走中国特色社会主义文化发展道路。“坚定不移走中国特色社会主义文化发展道路”，是以习近平同志为核心的党中央面对新时代文化建设艰巨任务给出的明确答案。中华文明具有突出的连续性，历经5000多年而弦歌不绝、迭遭忧患而经久不衰，这从根本上决定了中华民族必然走自己的路。这一道路体现在文化发展上就是中国特色社会主义文化发展道路。中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，是赓续历史文脉和文明更新创造的统一，它揭示了文化传承发展的内在规律，是推进文化自信自强的康庄大道。新时代以来，中国共产党团结带领全国各族人民坚定走中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，推动社会主义文化强国建设迈出坚实步伐、取得历史性成就，充分证明中国特色社会主义文化发展道路是推进社会主义文化繁荣、建设文化强国的唯一正确道路。

Fifth, from the perspective of cultural stance, the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to be upheld and developed in the New Era consistently adheres to the people’s stance. The people creating history is a fundamental principle of historical materialism. Putting the people first is the fundamental stance of socialism with Chinese characteristics and a main thread running through cultural construction. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics consistently adheres to serving the people and relying on the people, profoundly answering the key questions of “for whom, by whom, and with whom the fruits are shared” in cultural construction. It manifests the Communist Party of China’s profound understanding of the people’s role and function as the creators of history, as well as its correct grasp of the laws governing the evolution of human society. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in leading cultural construction in the New Era, the Communist Party of China has consistently adhered to the fundamental stance of putting the people first, unifying the tasks of propagating, educating, guiding, and serving the masses, stimulating the vitality and creativity of the people, and meeting their spiritual and cultural needs, thereby providing an inexhaustible source of impetus for cultural development.

其五，从文化立场看，新时代要坚持和发展的中国特色社会主义文化，始终坚持人民立场。人民创造历史是历史唯物主义的基本原理。人民至上是中国特色社会主义的根本立场，也是贯穿文化建设的一条主线。中国特色社会主义文化始终坚持一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，深刻回答了文化建设“为了谁、依靠谁、成果由谁共享”的关键问题，彰显了中国共产党对于人民群众历史创造者身份和作用的深刻认识，以及对于人类社会演进规律的正确把握。党的十八大以来，中国共产党在领导新时代文化建设过程中，始终坚持人民至上的根本立场，把宣传、教育、引导和服务群众，激发人民群众的活力、创造力，满足人民的精神文化需要相统一，为文化发展提供了不竭动力源泉。

(B) Creatively Answering “How to Uphold and Develop Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era”

（二）创造性回答“新时代怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化”

How to achieve the proper state of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era through effort? Xi Jinping Thought on Culture provides answers from the dimensions of general thinking, strategic deployment, and specific measures.

如何通过努力达到新时代中国特色社会主义文化的应然状态?习近平文化思想从总体思路、战略部署、具体举措等维度进行了回答。

First, from the perspective of general thinking, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture profoundly answers the fundamental question of how China’s cultural construction in the New Era should set its direction and plan its overall layout. It clears ideological fog, anchors the goal of struggle, and outlines a grand blueprint for how to uphold and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics on the new journey of the New Era. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture consistently adheres to the fundamental position of Marxism as the guiding ideology, unswervingly follows the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, upholds principles such as cultural confidence, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, and openness and inclusiveness, and clearly requires consciously undertaking the cultural mission of the New Era to promote cultural prosperity and build a culturally strong nation. These overarching top-level designs centrally embody our Party’s deepened understanding and grasp of the laws of cultural construction.

其一，从总体思路看，习近平文化思想深刻回答了新时代我国文化建设应当如何举旗定向、谋篇布局的根本问题，为新时代新征程怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化廓清了思想迷雾，锚定了奋斗目标，擘画了宏伟蓝图。习近平文化思想始终坚持马克思主义指导思想的根本地位，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，坚持文化自信、守正创新、开放包容等原则，明确要求自觉地担负起新时代的文化使命，推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国。这些统揽全局的顶层设计，集中体现了我们党对于文化建设规律的认识深化和理解把握。

Second, from the perspective of strategic deployment, Xi Jinping’s cultural thought not only sets forth the task of “crossing the river” in the field of cultural construction in the New Era, but also responds to the question of how to build the “bridge” and construct the “boat.” This is prominently manifested in Xi Jinping’s grasp of the inevitable trends of cultural construction in the New Era through the integration of history, reality, and the future; his overall planning of short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals; and his strategic deployment for cultural construction based on long-term development and current realities, thereby indicating the direction of development for cultural construction in the New Era. Xi Jinping keenly discerns the new situations and new tasks on the path forward, and around such aspects as consolidating the Party’s cultural leadership, building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding force, stimulating the entire nation’s cultural innovation and creativity, cultivating and practicing the core socialist values, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, coordinately promoting the flourishing development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, fostering a clean and upright cyberspace, constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, building a Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative system, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations, he devises strategic deployments. These strategic deployments manifest a distinct problem-orientation and practice-orientation, embody the consistency of goals and paths, the integration of the macro and the concrete, and the unity of the whole and the key, and have become the scientific action guide for cultural construction in the New Era.

其二，从战略部署看，习近平文化思想不仅提出了新时代文化建设领域的“过河”任务，也回应了如何搭“桥”和造“船”的问题。这突出表现为习近平在历史、现实和未来的贯通中把握新时代文化建设的必然趋势，统筹谋划近期、中期和远期目标，着眼长远发展、立足当前实际作出了文化建设的战略部署，指明了新时代文化建设的发展方向。习近平敏锐洞悉前进道路上的新形势新任务，围绕关于巩固党的文化领导权，建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，激发全民族文化创新创造活力，培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展，协同推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展，推动网络舆论空间风清气正，构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系，构建中国话语和中国叙事体系，促进人类文明交流互鉴等方面谋划战略部署。这些战略部署彰显了鲜明的问题导向和实践导向，体现了目标与路径的一致、宏观与具体的融合、整体与重点的统一，成为新时代文化建设的科学行动指南。

Third, from the perspective of specific measures, Xi Jinping’s cultural thought is rich in content, broad and profound, encompassing both high-level theoretical summaries and condensations, as well as concrete unfoldings at the practical and strategic levels, putting forward effective measures for advancing cultural construction in various specific fields according to time, place, and circumstances. For example, in the field of theoretical work, it emphasizes the need to strengthen theoretical arming through multiple forms and channels, using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people; in the field of ideology, it emphasizes the need to fully implement the responsibility system for ideological work and always adhere to the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain; in the field of ideal and belief education, it emphasizes promoting the regularization and institutionalization of ideal and belief education, supplementing the “calcium” in the spirit of Communists [4]4 A metaphorical reference to the need for Communists to strengthen their ideals and beliefs, drawing on the idea that a lack of spiritual “calcium” leads to moral or ideological weakness.; in the field of cultivating and practicing core values, it emphasizes ensuring that the core socialist values are as ubiquitous as air, enabling them to take root and sprout throughout society; in the field of philosophy and social science research, it emphasizes the need to base scholarship on Chinese soil and strive to construct an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences; in the field of online public opinion work, it emphasizes cultivating a positive, healthy, upward, and good online culture and creating a clean and upright cyberspace; in the field of literary and artistic work, it emphasizes adhering to a people-centered creative orientation and striving to create more outstanding works worthy of the times; in the field of news and public opinion work, it proposes respecting the laws of news dissemination, innovating methods and means, and effectively enhancing the communication power, guiding power, influence, and credibility of the Party’s news and public opinion; in the field of cultural system reform, it emphasizes improving the cultural management system and production and operation mechanisms, and advancing supply-side structural reform in the cultural field; in the field of cultural and tourism work, it proposes striving to improve the modern tourism system, accelerating the building of a strong tourism country, and promoting the high-quality development of the tourism industry to be stable and far-reaching; in the field of cultural heritage protection and inheritance, it emphasizes strengthening cultural relic protection, restoration, and archaeological work, and promoting the utilization of cultural relics and the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage; in the field of international communication capacity building, it emphasizes striving to build a Chinese discourse system and Chinese narrative system, telling China’s story well to the world; in the field of building the team of propaganda, ideological, and cultural workers, it emphasizes strengthening the training, selection, and management of cadres and talents in the propaganda, ideological, and cultural fields, striving to build a propaganda, ideological, and cultural work team that is politically reliable, highly competent, truth-seeking and innovative, and capable of winning battles. These specific measures for strengthening cultural construction condense the experience of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in advancing cultural construction during the various historical periods of revolution, construction, and reform, especially in the New Era, as well as the understanding and sublimation of the objective laws of cultural construction underlying these successful practices.

其三，从具体举措看，习近平文化思想内容宏富、博大精深，既有理论层面的高度概括和凝练，也有实践、方略层面的具体展开，因时因地因势提出了各个具体领域推进文化建设的有效举措。例如，在理论工作领域，强调要通过多种形式和多种渠道加强理论武装，用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人；在意识形态领域，强调要全面落实意识形态工作责任制，始终坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度；在理想信念教育领域，强调推动理想信念教育常态化制度化，补足共产党人精神上的“钙”；在核心价值观培育践行领域，强调要确保社会主义核心价值观像空气一样无处不在，使社会主义核心价值观在全社会落地生根；在哲学社会科学研究领域，强调要立足中国大地做学问，着力构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系；在网络舆论工作领域，强调要培育积极健康、向上向善的网络文化，营造风清气正的网络空间；在文艺工作领域，强调要坚持以人民为中心的创作导向，努力创作更多无愧于时代的优秀作品；在新闻舆论工作领域，提出尊重新闻传播规律，创新方法手段，切实提高党的新闻舆论传播力、引导力、影响力、公信力；在文化体制改革领域，强调要完善文化管理体制和生产经营机制，推进文化领域供给侧结构性改革；在文旅工作领域，提出要着力完善现代旅游业体系，加快建设旅游强国，推动旅游业高质量发展行稳致远；在文化遗产保护传承领域，强调要加强文物保护修复和考古工作，推进文物保护利用和文化遗产保护传承；在国际传播能力建设领域，强调要着力构建中国话语体系和中国叙事体系，向世界讲好中国故事；在宣传思想文化工作队伍建设领域，强调要加强对宣传思想文化领域干部人才的培养、选拔和管理，努力打造一支政治过硬、本领高强、求实创新、能打胜仗的宣传思想文化工作队伍。这些加强文化建设的具体举措，凝结着以习近平同志为核心的党中央对于党在革命、建设、改革各个历史时期，尤其是新时代推进文化建设的经验总结，以及这些成功实践背后所蕴含的文化建设客观规律的认识和升华。

In summary, “what kind of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era” provides the goal and direction for cultural construction, while “how to uphold and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics” provides the specific action guide. “What it is” and “how to do it” are highly dialectically unified; the two interact and develop in coordination, together constituting the theoretical theme of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought.

总之，“新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义文化”提供了文化建设的目标方向，“怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化”则提供了具体行动指南。“是什么”与“怎样做”是高度辩证统一的，二者相互作用、协同发展，共同构成了习近平文化思想的理论主题。

II. The Theoretical System of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought

二、习近平文化思想的理论体系

“Xi Jinping’s cultural thought comprehensively elaborates on the status and role, goals and tasks, principles and guidelines, strategic paths, and practical requirements of cultural construction in the New Era,” forming a scientific theoretical system that is systematic and complete, logically rigorous, internally unified, and rich in connotation.

“习近平文化思想全面阐述了新时代文化建设的地位作用、目标任务、方针原则、战略路径、实践要求”，构成了一个系统完备、逻辑严密、内在统一、内涵丰富的科学理论体系。

(A) The Theory of Status and Role

（一）地位作用论

Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. Cultural construction occupies an extremely important status and role in the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping’s cultural thought elaborates on the status and role of cultural construction from different dimensions, emphasizing the extreme importance of strengthening cultural construction.

文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂，文化建设在中国特色社会主义事业“五位一体”总体布局中具有极为重要的地位和作用。习近平文化思想从不同维度阐述了文化建设的地位作用，强调加强文化建设的极端重要性。

First, from the dimension of the coordinated development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, it elaborates on the status and role of culture. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization in which material civilization and cultural-ethical progress develop in coordination; it requires the accumulation of material civilization and, even more, the elevation of cultural-ethical progress. Looking at the history of human social development, those powerful countries or nations not only created strong material civilizations but also led the development of the cultural-ethical progress of their own eras. Xi Jinping points out: “Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a socialism in which material civilization and cultural-ethical progress develop comprehensively. A nation without a spiritual force can hardly stand on its own, and a cause without cultural support can hardly last long.” [5]5 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 12th National Congress of the Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 9th National Congress of the Chinese Writers Association” (November 30, 2016). Material and spiritual civilizations are the crystallization of all the achievements of humanity’s understanding and transformation of the world. Material civilization plays a foundational role in the entire system of human social civilization, constraining and determining cultural-ethical progress, while cultural-ethical progress, in turn, reacts upon material civilization. Material civilization and cultural-ethical progress are mutually conditional and mutually purposeful, promoting each other, and neither can be neglected. The development of material civilization requires a corresponding improvement in cultural-ethical progress, while the development of cultural-ethical progress will inject strong impetus into the construction of material civilization. Culture runs through the entire process and all aspects of modernization, exerting a subtle and pervasive influence on economic development, political civilization, and social harmony. Advancing Chinese-path modernization is the result of the balanced development and mutual promotion of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, and it is also a developmental process in which the two civilizations advance side by side. It is necessary to adhere to “grasping with both hands, both hands must be firm,” correctly handle the relationship between the two civilizations, and integrate the construction of cultural-ethical progress throughout the entire process of Chinese-path modernization and permeate all aspects of social life, thereby ensuring the coordinated development of the two civilizations and solidifying the ideological foundation for the united struggle of the broad masses of the people, their proactive spirit of forging ahead, and their healthy and upward value pursuits.

其一，从物质文明与精神文明协调发展维度阐述文化的地位作用。中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明协调发展的现代化，需要物质文明的积累，更需要精神文明的升华。纵观人类社会发展史，那些实力强盛的国家或民族，不仅创造了强大物质文明，也引领了自身所处时代的精神文明发展。习近平指出：“中国特色社会主义是物质文明和精神文明全面发展的社会主义。一个没有精神力量的民族难以自立自强，一项没有文化支撑的事业难以持续长久。”物质和精神两种文明，是人类认识与改造世界全部成果的结晶。物质文明在整个人类社会文明体系中具有基础性作用，对精神文明起着制约和决定作用，同时精神文明对物质文明具有反作用。物质文明和精神文明是互为条件又互为目的、相互促进、不可偏废的。物质文明的发展要求精神文明的相应提高，而精神文明的发展也会为物质文明建设注入强大动力。文化贯穿于现代化建设的全过程和各方面，对于经济发展、政治文明及社会和谐具有潜移默化的影响作用。推进中国式现代化，是物质文明和精神文明均衡发展、相互促进的结果，也是两个文明比翼双飞的发展过程。必须坚持“两手抓、两手都要硬”，正确处理两个文明的关系，把精神文明建设贯穿中国式现代化全过程、渗透社会生活各方面，从而确保两个文明协调发展，坚定广大人民群众团结奋斗的思想基础、开拓进取的主动精神以及健康向上的价值追求。

Second, it elaborates on the status and role of culture from the dimension of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Culture is an important force for the survival and development of a nation. The prosperity of a country or a nation is always supported by cultural flourishing. Throughout the course of human development, whether it is the leap of society or the sublimation of civilization, cultural progress has always been an important prerequisite. Realizing national rejuvenation is also inseparable from spiritual encouragement and inspiration. Only a nation that is spiritually rich can stand firm amidst the vicissitudes of history and the currents of the times. History and practice have repeatedly confirmed that any nation that abandons its own history and culture “cannot stand up” and may even fall into the abyss of decline or even extinction. Throughout the ages, the reason why the Chinese nation has attained a globally recognized status and influence, standing tall among the nations of the world, is not through militarism or external expansion, but by relying on the powerful appeal and attraction of Chinese culture. It is precisely the distinct character of Chinese culture—preserving the essence while innovating—that has endowed the Chinese nation with firm confidence, enabling all Chinese sons and daughters to display an uplifting spiritual outlook and to cultivate shared emotions, spirit, and ideals through the passage of time. Realizing the historic cause of national rejuvenation must be premised on cultural prosperity and flourishing. If the continuous development of civilization and the inheritance and promotion of culture cannot be ensured, the realization of the dream of building a strong country and national rejuvenation will become a fantasy.

其二，从实现中华民族伟大复兴维度阐述文化的地位作用。文化是民族生存和发展的重要力量。一个国家或民族的强盛，总是以文化兴盛为支撑。纵观人类发展历程，不论社会的跃进，还是文明的升华，都以文化的进步为重要前提。实现民族复兴，也离不开精神层面的鼓舞和激励。唯有精神上富足的民族，才能在历史长河和时代大潮风云变幻中屹立不倒。历史和实践反复证实，凡是抛弃了自己历史文化的民族，“是立不起来的”，而且可能堕入没落甚至消亡的深渊。古往今来，中华民族之所以具有举世瞩目的地位和影响，在世界民族之林中巍然屹立，并非靠穷兵黩武或对外扩张，而是依靠中华文化的强大感召力和吸引力。正是中华文化守正出新的鲜明品格，赋予了中华民族以坚定自信，使得全体中华儿女呈现出昂扬向上的精神风貌，在岁月更替中涵养了共同的情感、精神和理想。实现民族复兴的历史伟业，必须以文化的繁荣兴盛为前提。如果不能确保对文明的赓续发展，对文化的继承弘扬，强国建设、民族复兴梦想的实现将成为天方夜谭。

Third, it elaborates on the status and role of culture from the dimension of enhancing national cultural soft power. The development of a country is not only a process of increasing hard power, such as economic aggregate, but also a process of expanding soft power, such as ideology, culture, values, and institutional systems. As an important factor, the state of cultural soft power concerns our country’s position in the global cultural landscape and even the changes in its status in the balance of international forces. Chinese culture possesses the life endowment and survival resilience of convincing people through reason, through culture, and through virtue. It is our deepest cultural soft power, capable of building bridges between hearts and minds, and helping to continuously improve the country’s cultural soft power. To enhance national cultural soft power, it is necessary to strive to coordinate the unique ideological elements and cultural genes inherent in the Chinese nation for thousands of years with contemporary culture and modern society, to promote the cultural spirit with enduring charm and value, and to disseminate the achievements of cultural innovation that adhere to the unity of inheritance and innovation, and the unity of national character and global character. In short, enhancing national cultural soft power requires both internal and external cultivation, achieving the unity of “taking shape within” and “manifesting without,” and effectively building our own culture well.

其三，从提升国家文化软实力维度阐述文化的地位作用。一个国家的发展，既是经济总量等硬实力的提升，也是思想文化、价值观念、制度体系等软实力扩大的过程。作为其中重要因素，文化软实力的状况如何，事关我国在世界文化格局中的定位，乃至国际力量对比中的地位变化。中华文化具有以理服人、以文服人、以德服人的生命禀赋和生存耐性，是我们最深厚的文化软实力，能够架起沟通心灵的桥梁，助力国家文化软实力不断提高。提升国家文化软实力，就必须努力使中华民族数千年以来内蕴的独特思想要素和文化基因同当代文化、现代社会相协调，把具有恒久魅力与价值的文化精神弘扬起来，把坚持继承性与创新性相统一、民族性与世界性相统一的文化创新成果传播出去。总之，提升国家文化软实力要内外兼修，实现“形于中”与“发于外”的统一，切实把我们自身的文化建设好。

Fourth, it elaborates on the status and role of culture from the dimension of enriching the people’s spiritual life. A person cannot stand without spirit, and a country cannot be strong without spirit. Without the spiritual abundance of the people and the spiritual strength of the nation, a country and its people will fall into the quagmire of spiritual disorientation, losing their cohesion and vitality due to the loss of their soul. The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. And people are cultural rather than “materialized” beings; they are dynamic, comprehensive, rather than rigid and “one-dimensional.” As the quality of life improves and concepts gradually change, people in reality not only pursue material superiority but also demand a “happiness index”; they not only yearn for the harmony of the natural ecology but also aspire to the fullness of spiritual life; they not only care about efficiency and fairness but also strive to ensure harmonious interpersonal relationships and a fulfilling spiritual life, seeking the meaning of life on the basis of meeting basic needs. The ultimate goal of modernization is to realize the free and comprehensive development of people, making both their material and spiritual worlds equally abundant. Xi Jinping points out that “culture is an important factor in meeting the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life,” and it is necessary to strengthen cultural construction, promote cultural prosperity and development, build a modern socialist country, earnestly dedicate the best spiritual nourishment to the people, continuously meet the people’s spiritual and cultural needs, and enhance the people’s spiritual strength to forge ahead.

其四，从丰富人民精神生活维度阐述文化的地位作用。人无精神不立，国无精神不强。没有人民的精神富足、民族的精神强大，一个国家和民族就会陷入精神迷失的泥沼，因失去灵魂而丧失凝聚力和生命力。现代化的本质是人的现代化。而人是文化而非“物化”的人，是能动、全面而非僵化和“单向度”的人。随着生活质量提升和观念逐渐改变，现实中的人们不仅讲求物质优越，还要求“幸福指数”；不仅向往自然生态的和谐，还憧憬精神生活的充盈；不仅在意效率和公平，还努力确保人际关系的和谐与精神生活的充实，在满足基本生活基础上探寻生命的意义。现代化的最终目标是实现人自由而全面的发展，让人们的物质和精神世界同样富足。习近平指出，“满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，文化是重要因素”，要加强文化建设，推进文化繁荣发展，建设社会主义现代化强国，切实把最好的精神食粮奉献给人民群众，不断满足人民精神文化需求，增强人民不断奋进的精神力量。

(2) The Theory of Goals and Tasks

（二）目标任务论

Only when goals and tasks are clear can action be effective. Since the New Era, our Party has successively proposed “solidly advancing the building of a socialist cultural power,” “strengthening cultural confidence and promoting the prosperity of socialist culture,” “building a cultural power,” and “promoting cultural confidence and self-strengthening to create new brilliance in socialist culture,” systematically elaborating and continuously advancing these. Xi Jinping made clear requirements at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development regarding promoting cultural prosperity and building a cultural power. It can be seen that Xi Jinping’s cultural thought has consistently and continuously deepened the positioning of “building a socialist cultural power” as the goal and task of cultural construction. Xi Jinping emphasizes that the key to achieving the goal of a cultural power on schedule is to “continuously develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era that has strong ideological guiding power, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence.” These four aspects of “strength” clarify the direction of efforts for building a socialist cultural power, fully demonstrate our Party’s cultural subjectivity and historical mission, and mark the cultural coordinates and anchor the civilizational course for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

目标任务明确，行动才能有力。新时代以来，我们党相继提出“扎实推进社会主义文化强国建设”、“坚定文化自信，推动社会主义文化繁荣兴盛”、“建成文化强国”、“推进文化自信自强，铸就社会主义文化新辉煌”并系统阐述和不断推进，习近平在文化传承发展座谈会上作出关于推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国的明确要求，可见习近平文化思想将“社会主义文化强国建设”作为文化建设目标任务的定位始终是一以贯之、持续深化的。习近平强调，文化强国目标的如期实现，关键要“不断发展具有强大思想引领力、精神凝聚力、价值感召力、国际影响力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化”。这四个方面的“强大”，明确了建设社会主义文化强国的努力方向，充分彰显了我们党的文化主体性和历史使命感，为中华民族伟大复兴标示了文化坐标、锚定了文明航向。

First, developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era with strong ideological guiding power provides ideological guidance for building a cultural power. The essence of culture lies in “literature carrying the Way,” where the “Way” embodies the truth of thought. Engels pointed out: “A nation that wants to stand at the pinnacle of science cannot for a moment do without theoretical thinking.” The core of culture is “thought,” and the essential power of culture lies first in the guiding power of thought, guiding people with profound thoughts that are “broad and extensive yet refined and subtle.” Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a shining example of the Two Integrations [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Youth Should Consciously Practice the Core Socialist Values,” in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping’s Works*, vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2023), p. 240.. To enhance the ideological guiding power of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, it is necessary to unremittingly use this latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work, consciously using it to lead cultural construction in the New Era. Xi Jinping’s cultural thought has written a new chapter in the development of Marxist cultural theory and is the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. On the new journey of the New Era, to enhance the ideological guiding power of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, it is necessary to firmly grasp the theoretical character of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, which is “understanding the essence and applying it, integrating substance and function,” always hold high the Party’s cultural banner, adhere to the Party’s cultural leadership, make the truth of Marxism shine even more brightly, effectively consolidate Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, and consolidate the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country.

其一，发展具有强大思想引领力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化，为建成文化强国提供思想引领。文化的本质在于“文以载道”，其中“道”所体现的是思想的真理性。恩格斯指出：“一个民族要想站在科学的最高峰，就一刻也不能没有理论思维。”文化的核心是“思想”，文化的本质性力量首先在于思想的引领力，用“致广大而尽精微”的深邃思想来指引人。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是“两个结合”的光辉典范，增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力必须坚持不懈用这一马克思主义中国化时代化最新成果武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作，自觉用以统领新时代文化建设。习近平文化思想谱写了马克思主义文化理论发展新篇章，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的文化篇。新时代新征程要增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力，就必须牢牢把握习近平文化思想明体达用、体用贯通的理论品格，始终高举党的文化旗帜、坚持党的文化领导权，让马克思主义的真理光芒更加熠熠生辉，切实巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，巩固全党全国各族人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础。

Second, developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era with strong spiritual cohesion gathers spiritual strength for building a cultural power. Spirit is the soul of a nation’s survival and a unique marker distinguishing it from other nations. Once spiritual independence is lost, the independence of politics, ideology, culture, and other aspects will be affected, and there may be a risk of being fundamentally

其二，发展具有强大精神凝聚力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化，为建成文化强国汇聚精神力量。精神是一个民族赖以存续的灵魂，也是同其他民族相区别的独特标识，一旦丧失了精神上的独立自主，政治、思想、文化等方面的独立性就会受到影响，就有可能面临被釜底抽薪的风险。习近平指出，中华民族历经磨难而不倒的一个重要原因，“是我们民族有一脉相承的精神追求、精神特质、精神脉络”。新时代中国特色社会主义文化的强大精神凝聚力，源于中国共产党人在非凡征程中铸就的以伟大建党精神为源头的精神谱系，也源于中华民族在漫长社会历史发展过程中逐步形成的以爱国主义为核心的民族精神和以改革创新为核心的时代精神。新时代新征程要增强中国特色社会主义文化的精神凝聚力，就必须传承中国共产党人的精神谱系，赓续以爱国主义为核心的民族精神，弘扬以改革创新为核心的时代精神，激发全体人民的历史主动精神和创造精神，为推进社会主义文化强国建设提供强劲的精神动力。

Third, develop a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era that possesses a strong power of value appeal, thereby enhancing value identification for building a culturally strong country. Values are the core of culture, and among them, core values are the fundamental factor that determines the nature and direction of culture. Therefore, the realization of the goal of building a culturally strong country inherently requires strengthening the value appeal of cultural construction. Xi Jinping points out: “Core values are, in essence, a kind of virtue, both the virtue of the individual and a great virtue, that is, the virtue of the country and the virtue of society.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Youth Should Consciously Practice the Core Socialist Values,” in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping’s Works*, vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2023), p. 240. The core socialist values depict the value ideals of the people’s aspiration for a better life, reflect the value purpose of comprehensively advancing the construction of a strong country, and serve as the value guide for the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. On the new journey of the New Era, to enhance the value appeal of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to focus on building a system for transmitting traditional Chinese virtues, continuously strengthen the construction of the core socialist values system throughout society, pay attention to excavating and interpreting the rich connotations of the core socialist values from the people and events around us, integrate the core socialist values into all aspects of social production and life, let the core socialist values be condensed in people’s concrete and perceptible cultural behaviors, form common ideals and beliefs, powerful spiritual strength, and basic moral norms across the entire Party and society, continuously improve the civilized quality of the whole society, draw the largest concentric circle, and enhance value identification for building a socialist culturally strong country.

其三，发展具有强大价值感召力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化，为建成文化强国增进价值认同。价值观是文化的内核，其中核心价值观更是对于文化性质和方向起着决定作用的根本因素。由此，文化强国建设目标的实现，内在要求加强文化建设的价值感召。习近平指出：“核心价值观，其实就是一种德，既是个人的德，也是一种大德，就是国家的德、社会的德。”社会主义核心价值观描绘了人民群众向往美好生活的价值理想，反映了全面推进强国建设的价值目的，是中国特色社会主义文化建设的价值遵循。新时代新征程要增强中国特色社会主义文化的价值感召力，就要着力构建中华传统美德传承体系，在全社会持续加强社会主义核心价值体系建设，注重从身边人、身边事中挖掘和诠释社会主义核心价值观的丰富内涵，把社会主义核心价值观融入社会生产生活各个方面，让社会主义核心价值观凝结在人们具体可感的文化行为里，在全党全社会形成共同理想信念、强大精神力量、基本道德规范，不断提高全社会的文明素养，画好最大同心圆，为建成社会主义文化强国增进价值认同。

Fourth, develop a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era that possesses a strong international influence, thereby expanding the global vision for building a culturally strong country. A modern socialist strong country inevitably requires a strong cultural dissemination capacity and international influence. With the improvement of China’s national soft power and international influence, the international community’s attention to Chinese culture is increasing day by day, and it expects Chinese culture to play a greater role in the development and progress of human civilization. Chinese culture is not only rooted in China but also oriented toward the world. While establishing its own cultural subjectivity and doing its own work well, it must also make greater contributions to the development of world civilization. How to enhance the international influence of Chinese culture and increase China’s voice in the international arena has become a “must-answer question” for developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era and building a culturally strong country. On the new journey of the New Era, to enhance the international influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, we must be adept at using the refinement and sublimation of the spiritual symbols and cultural essence of Chinese civilization to promote Chinese culture’s better going global, and also pay attention to advancing international communication from a cultural perspective, extensively participating in world civilization dialogue, following the “precise communication method” of “grasping the general trend, distinguishing objects, and implementing precise policies,” [7]7 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 30th Collective Study Session of the 19th Politburo of the CPC Central Committee,” *People’s Daily*, December 1, 2021. promoting the global expression, regional expression, and segmented expression of Chinese stories and Chinese voices, more actively disseminating Chinese culture to the world, promoting Chinese propositions, and displaying China’s image, so that Chinese voices travel farther and Chinese stories spread wider, thereby not only letting the world know “China with the Great Wall” and “China on the tip of the tongue,” but also letting the world know “China in development,” “China in opening up,” and “China contributing to human civilization,” and effectively making new and greater contributions to creating a new form of human civilization and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

其四，发展具有强大国际影响力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化，为建成文化强国拓展全球视野。一个社会主义现代化强国，必然要求具有强大的文化传播力和国际影响力。随着中国国家软实力和国际影响力的提升，国际社会对中华文化的关注度与日俱增，并期待中华文化对人类文明发展进步发挥更大作用。中华文化不仅是扎根中国的，也是面向世界的，需要在确立自己文化主体性、做好自己的同时，也要对世界文明发展作出更大贡献。如何增强中华文化国际影响力，提高中国在国际上的话语权，已经成为发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化、建设文化强国的一道“必答题”。新时代新征程要增强中国特色社会主义文化的国际影响力，要求我们既要善于借助对于中华文明精神标识和文化精髓的提炼与升华来促进中华文化更好走向世界，也要注重从文化角度推进国际传播，广泛参与世界文明对话，按照“把握大势、区分对象、精准施策”的“精准传播方式”，推进中国故事和中国声音的全球化表达、区域化表达、分众化表达，更加主动地向世界传播中国文化、宣介中国主张、展示中国形象，让中国声音传得更远，让中国故事传得更开，从而不仅让世界知道“拥有长城的中国”“舌尖上的中国”，还让世界知道“发展中的中国”“开放中的中国”“为人类文明作贡献的中国”，切实为创造人类文明新形态、构建人类命运共同体作出新的更大贡献。

(III) Theory of Principles and Guidelines

（三）方针原则论

Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, on the one hand, proposes to continue adhering to the direction of serving the people and serving socialism and the policy of letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend, and on the other hand, elaborates on the principles to follow for cultural construction in the New Era from the perspective of cultural mission.

习近平文化思想一方面提出要继续坚持为人民服务、为社会主义服务的方向和百花齐放、百家争鸣的方针，另一方面从文化使命角度阐述了新时代文化建设的原则遵循。

First, strengthen cultural confidence. Cultural confidence is the most profound and enduring force in the development of a country and a nation. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has elevated cultural construction to a new height based on the new historical orientation, solemnly proposed and systematically elaborated cultural confidence as the “fourth confidence,” [8]8 The “fourth confidence” refers to cultural confidence, added to the earlier three confidences (confidence in the path, theory, and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics), first formally proposed by Xi Jinping in 2016. emphasizing that it is “a more fundamental, broader, and deeper confidence.” On the new journey, to strive to achieve the grand goal of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation, cultural confidence must be continuously strengthened. Specifically, this means consolidating cultural subjectivity, insisting on taking our own path, rooting in China’s soil to build an independent knowledge system, achieving spiritual independence, and letting the great edifice of the Chinese national spirit stand tall.

其一，坚定文化自信。文化自信是一个国家和民族发展中最深沉而持久的力量。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央立足新的历史方位，把文化建设提升到新高度，将文化自信作为“第四个自信”郑重提出并系统阐述，强调其是“更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信”。新征程上奋力实现强国建设、民族复兴的宏伟目标，必须不断增强文化自信。具体来说，就是要巩固文化主体性，坚持走自己的路，扎根中国大地构建自主知识体系，实现精神上的独立，让中华民族精神的大厦巍然耸立。

Second, uphold openness and inclusiveness. Openness and inclusiveness are the source of vitality for the development of civilization and a significant marker of cultural confidence. Only a civilization full of confidence in itself can engage in equal and friendly exchanges and interactions with various different civilizations while maintaining its independence. Xi Jinping points out: “Emphasizing the recognition and respect of one’s own country’s and nation’s civilizational achievements does not mean engaging in self-seclusion, let alone seeking self-aggrandizement or ‘only this one, no other branches.’” [9]9 Xi Jinping, “Speech at a Symposium on the Work of Philosophy and Social Sciences,” *People’s Daily*, May 19, 2016. The broad and magnificent atmosphere of Chinese civilization benefits from the open and inclusive mind and pattern of Chinese culture. In the long history of human civilization evolution, Chinese civilization has never advocated replacing diverse cultures with a single culture but has instead made unremitting efforts for the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures and the convergence into a common culture, thereby resolving cultural conflicts and gathering broad consensus. Currently and in the future, we must dialectically treat the cultures of various countries in the world with an open and inclusive mind, highlight the unique charm of Chinese culture in equal dialogue and exchange, forge new brilliance in Chinese culture with practical actions, and enhance its international influence.

其二，秉持开放包容。开放包容是文明发展的活力来源和文化自信的显著标志。只有对于自身充满自信的文明，才能在保持独立性的同时与各种不同文明平等友好地交流交往。习近平指出：“强调承认和尊重本国本民族的文明成果，不是要搞自我封闭，更不是要搞唯我独尊、‘只此一家，别无分店’。”中华文明的博大气象，就得益于中华文化开放包容的胸襟格局。漫长人类文明演进史中，中华文明从不主张以单一文化取代多元文化，而是为多元文化和谐共生以及汇聚形成共同文化不懈努力，借此化解文化冲突，凝聚广泛共识。当前和未来，我们要以开放包容的胸襟气度辩证对待世界各国文化，在平等对话交流中彰显中华文化的独特魅力，以实际行动铸就中华文化新辉煌，提升其国际影响力。

Third, adhere to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. Xi Jinping points out: “For cultural construction, upholding fundamental principles ensures that we do not lose ourselves or our direction, while breaking new ground enables us to grasp the times and lead the times.” [10]10 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage,” *People’s Daily*, June 3, 2023. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology of our Party and country. “Excellent traditional culture is the foundation for the inheritance and development of a country and a nation.” [11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the International Conference Commemorating the 2565th Anniversary of Confucius’ Birth,” *People’s Daily*, September 25, 2014. Cultural construction cannot forget one’s roots, otherwise it will commit subversive mistakes. Upholding fundamental principles, the most fundamental thing is to adhere to the “soul vein” of Marxism and the “root vein” of excellent traditional Chinese culture. The vitality of culture lies in innovation. Adhering to cultural innovation requires strengthening the excavation and elucidation of traditional culture, endowing it with new contemporary connotations, and making it radiate new vitality in the current stage. Promoting cultural innovation must be down-to-earth and cannot become a castle in the air or the moon in the water detached from practice. It must always face the vibrant practice of current cultural construction, firmly establish a problem orientation, and continuously promote the prosperity of culture in the New Era and create new cultural brilliance through the gradual resolution of various practical problems.

其三，坚持守正创新。习近平指出：“对文化建设来说，守正才能不迷失自我、不迷失方向，创新才能把握时代、引领时代。”马克思主义是我们党和国家的根本指导思想。“优秀传统文化是一个国家、一个民族传承和发展的根本。”文化建设不能数典忘祖，否则就会犯颠覆性错误。守正，最根本的是坚守马克思主义“魂脉”和中华优秀传统文化“根脉”。文化的生命力在于创新。坚持文化创新，就要加强对传统文化的挖掘和阐发，赋予其新的时代内涵，使其在当前阶段焕发出新的勃勃生机。推动文化创新必须脚踏实地，不能成为脱离实践的空中楼阁、水中之月。要始终面向当前文化建设深入推进的鲜活实践，树牢问题导向，在各种现实问题的逐步解决中不断推动新时代文化繁荣，造就新的文化辉煌。

(IV) Theory of Strategic Pathways

（四）战略路径论

Cultural construction, as a systematic project, requires overall strategic planning. Xi Jinping’s cultural thought clarifies “raising the banner, gathering the people’s hearts, cultivating new generations, revitalizing culture, and showcasing the image” [12]12 This is a five-point formulation for cultural construction work, first articulated at the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017. to comprehensively build a socialist culturally strong country, elucidating the strategic pathways for cultural construction.

文化建设作为一项系统工程，需要进行全局性的战略谋划。习近平文化思想明确“举旗帜、聚民心、育新人、兴文化、展形象”全面建设社会主义文化强国，阐明了文化建设的战略路径。

First, adhere to the correct course and raise the banner. The banner is the direction, and the banner is the strength. It is necessary to firmly grasp the essential attribute that contemporary Chinese culture is socialist culture, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leadership. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is undoubtedly the ideological banner of Chinese Communists in the New Era. Currently, it is necessary to make in-depth study and education of this scientific theoretical system a key link in “raising the banner,” consciously use it to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work, promote Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to take root in the hearts of the people and take root on the ground, and truly achieve understanding, mastery, and practical application.

其一，坚持正确航向举旗帜。旗帜就是方向，旗帜就是力量。要牢牢把握当代中国文化是社会主义文化的本质属性，高举中国特色社会主义旗帜，建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，无疑是新时代中国共产党人的思想旗帜。当前，要把深入开展对这一科学理论体系的学习教育作为“举旗帜”的关键环节，自觉用以武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作，推动习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想深入人心、落地生根，真正做到学懂弄通做实。

Second, persist in uniting and encouraging the people to gather popular support. Popular support is the greatest political asset; it is the source of strength for the Party to govern and rejuvenate the country and to continuously advance from victory to victory. History and practice have proven that where popular support lies, governance follows; where popular support gathers, governance flourishes. The more severe the international and domestic situation, the more complex the struggle in the ideological sphere, and the more arduous the mission of reform, development, and stability, the more necessary it is to strengthen confidence, inspire and mobilize the entire Party and the people of the whole country to unite as one and strive with perseverance. It is essential to firmly grasp the correct orientation of public opinion, fully leverage the guiding role of the main theme as the “fixed drum” [13]13 “Fixed drum” (定音鼓) is a metaphor for setting the tone or direction, akin to a bass drum in an orchestra that establishes the rhythm. and “weather vane,” enhance the maximum effect of positive energy as the “corrector” and “strong magnetic field,” strengthen and expand mainstream ideological public opinion, ensure that the entire Party and the people of the whole country are high-spirited and energized, maintain consistency in ideals and convictions, values, and moral concepts, gather the mighty force to transform the world, and march forward united as one toward the grand goals set by the Party Central Committee.

其二，坚持团结鼓劲聚民心。民心是最大的政治，是党执政兴国、不断从胜利走向胜利的力量源泉。历史和实践证明，民心所向，政之所往；民心所聚，政之所兴。国际国内形势越是严峻，意识形态领域斗争态势越是复杂，改革发展稳定使命任务越是艰巨，就越需要坚定信心，鼓舞带动全党全国人民同心同德、砥砺奋斗。要牢牢把握正确舆论导向，充分发挥主旋律“定音鼓”“风向标”的导向作用，增强正能量“校正器”“强磁场”的最大效应，做大做强主流思想舆论，确保全党全国人民士气高涨、精神振奋，在理想信念、价值理念和道德观念上保持一致，汇聚起改造世界的磅礴伟力，朝着党中央确定的宏伟目标团结一心向前进。

Third, persist in value guidance to cultivate new people. The key to accomplishing tasks lies in people; it is necessary to clarify the fundamental question of “what kind of people to cultivate, how to cultivate them, and for whom to cultivate them.” It is essential to adhere to fostering virtue through education and transforming people through culture, further promote the normalization and institutionalization of education on ideals and convictions, let the core socialist values “fly into the homes of ordinary people,” [14]14 “Fly into the homes of ordinary people” (飞入寻常百姓家) is a classical allusion from a poem by Liu Yuxi of the Tang Dynasty, originally describing swallows nesting in common homes; here it means making core socialist values accessible and familiar to everyone. making them common values that the people use daily without conscious awareness; anchor the shared ideological foundation for striving toward the goal of building a strong country, continuously raise the people’s ideological awareness, moral standards, and level of civilization, and cultivate new people of the era capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities.

其三，坚持价值引领育新人。成事之要，关键在人，需要搞清楚“培养什么人、怎样培养人、为谁培养人”的根本问题。要坚持立德树人、以文化人，进一步推进理想信念教育常态化制度化，让社会主义核心价值观“飞入寻常百姓家”，使其成为人民群众日用而不觉的共同价值观念；锚定强国建设目标砥砺奋斗的共有思想基础，不断提高人民思想觉悟、道德水准及文明素养，培养可担重任的时代新人。

Fourth, persist in self-confidence and self-reliance to revitalize culture. Culture conveys the Way, transmits emotions, and nurtures virtue. Culture is the bloodline and soul of a country and a nation. It is necessary to strengthen cultural self-confidence and self-reliance, adhere to the correct development path that highlights the characteristics of one’s own country and nation, continuously stimulate the cultural creativity and innovation vitality of the entire nation, open up new prospects for propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, create new brilliance in cultural development, promote the country’s progress from a large cultural country to a strong cultural country, better shoulder the cultural mission of the New Era, and create a new culture belonging to our era.

其四，坚持自信自强兴文化。文以载道，文以传情，文以植德。文化是一个国家、一个民族的血脉和灵魂。要坚定文化自信自强，坚持彰显本国本民族特色的正确发展道路，不断激发全民族文化创新创造活力，开创宣传思想文化工作新局面，铸就文化发展新辉煌，推动我国由文化大国向文化强国迈进，更好担负起新时代的文化使命，创造属于我们这个时代的新文化。

Fifth, persist in telling stories well to showcase the image. The successful construction of a national image benefits from the shaping and support of the country’s cultural soft power and influence. With increasingly frequent international exchanges, enhancing the level of international communication capacity building, telling China’s stories well to the world, and continuously improving the country’s cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture are major challenges and tasks posed by the times. It is necessary to take this mission requirement as the core lever for “showcasing the image,” focus on telling China’s stories well as the entry point, strengthen cultural exchanges and dialogue between civilizations, strive to improve the country’s and the nation’s communication influence, cultural appeal, image affinity, discourse persuasiveness, and public opinion guidance, and make new and greater contributions to promoting China’s cultural development and the progress of human civilization.

其五，坚持讲好故事展形象。国家形象的成功建构，得益于国家文化软实力和影响力的形塑与支撑。当前国际交往日益频繁，提升国际传播能力建设水平，向世界讲好中国故事，不断提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力，是时代提出的重大挑战和任务。要把这一使命要求作为“展形象”的核心抓手，以讲好中国故事为着力点，加强文化交流和文明对话，着力提高本国和本民族的传播影响力、文化感召力、形象亲和力、话语说服力以及舆论引导力，为推动中国文化发展和人类文明进步作出新的更大贡献。

(5) Theory of Practical Requirements

（五）实践要求论

In October 2023, the National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology, and Cultural Work was held and conveyed General Secretary Xi Jinping’s practical requirements of the “Seven Efforts.” [15]15 The “Seven Efforts” (七个着力) are a set of practical requirements for cultural work proposed by Xi Jinping, first articulated at the 2023 National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology, and Cultural Work. This important requirement provides both macro-level value guidance and specific directions for practical efforts, further enhancing the comprehensiveness, systematicity, and integrity of the strategic deployment for cultural construction under socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and providing a scientific guide for the development of cultural undertakings in the New Era.

2023年10月，全国宣传思想文化工作会议召开并传达了习近平总书记“七个着力”的实践要求。这一重要要求，既给出了宏观层面的价值引领，又具有具体实践的发力方向，进一步提升了新时代中国特色社会主义文化建设战略部署的全面性、系统性和整体性，为新时代文化事业发展提供了科学指南。

First, make efforts to strengthen the Party’s leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work. Adhering to the Party’s leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the steady development of propaganda, ideology, and cultural work and the primary principle for the smooth advancement of building a strong cultural country. This is a major conclusion drawn by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on the Party’s history and the general trend of the times, demonstrating a scientific grasp of ideological work and a profound understanding of the laws of cultural development. It is essential to resolutely uphold the correctness of the Chinese Communist Party’s cultural leadership, ensure that the leadership over related work in the cultural sphere is always firmly in the hands of the Party, and ensure that China’s cultural construction always advances boldly along the socialist direction.

其一，着力加强党对宣传思想文化工作的领导。坚持党的领导是宣传思想文化工作稳步发展的根本保证和文化强国建设顺利推进的首要遵循。这是以习近平同志为核心的党中央立足党的历史和时代大势得出的重大论断，彰显了对意识形态工作的科学把握，以及对文化发展规律的深刻认识。要坚决守好中国共产党的文化领导权之正，确保文化领域相关工作的领导权始终牢牢掌握在党的手里，确保我国文化建设始终沿着社会主义方向阔步前进。

Second, make efforts to build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power. Ideological work concerns the future and destiny of a political party, a country, and a nation. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology of our Party and country, and the core and soul of our mainstream values. It is necessary to further strengthen ideological leadership and propaganda and education, hold high the great banner of Marxist scientific theory, consolidate the common ideological foundation for the entire Party and the people of the whole country to strive forward, adhere to the Two Integrations, better construct the Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength, and provide an inexhaustible spiritual driving force for comprehensively building a modern socialist country.

其二，着力建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态。意识形态工作事关一个政党、国家和民族发展的前途命运。马克思主义是我们党和国家的根本指导思想，是我国主流价值观念的核心和灵魂。要进一步加强思想引领和宣传教育，高举马克思主义科学理论大旗，巩固全党全国人民砥砺奋进的共同思想基础，坚持“两个结合”，更好构筑中国精神、中国价值、中国力量，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供不竭精神动力。

Third, make efforts to cultivate and practice the core socialist values. The core socialist values fundamentally reflect the essential attributes of socialism, are rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, absorb and draw on the outstanding achievements of human civilization, manifest the value pursuits of the Chinese nation, and reflect the value concepts of the progress of human social development. Cultivating and practicing the core socialist values is a practical need for cultural work in the New Era and an inevitable requirement for better enriching the people’s spiritual world and凝聚 social consensus. It is necessary to closely combine the new mission of building a strong cultural country in the New Era to cultivate and practice the core socialist values, seek points of ideological resonance, value consensus, and civilizational growth in life practice, make great efforts to implement them in detail, in small matters, and in practice, and consolidate the ideological and moral foundation for all the people to strive together for national rejuvenation and modernization.

其三，着力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观。社会主义核心价值观从根本上体现了社会主义本质属性，根植于中华优秀传统文化，吸收借鉴人类优秀文明成果，彰显着中华民族的价值追求，反映了人类社会发展进步的价值理念。培育和践行社会主义核心价值观是新时代文化领域工作的现实需要，也是更好丰富人民精神世界、凝聚社会共识的必然要求。要紧密结合新时代文化强国建设新使命培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，在生活实践中找寻思想共鸣点、价值共识点与文明生长点，在落细、落小、落实上下大功夫，筑牢全体人民为民族复兴和现代化建设团结奋斗的思想道德基础。

Fourth, make efforts to enhance the communication power, guidance power, influence, and credibility of news and public opinion. News and public opinion work is a major and important matter for the Party in governing the country. It is necessary to respect the laws of news dissemination, take a firm political stance as the prerequisite, adhere to a people-centered work orientation, aim to strengthen the mainstream ideological public opinion of striving forward in the New Era, closely focus on the duties and missions of “holding high the banner, guiding the direction, centering on the overall situation, serving the people, uniting the people, boosting morale, shaping customs,凝聚 people’s hearts, clarifying fallacies, distinguishing right from wrong, connecting China with the outside world, and communicating with the world,” [16]16 This 48-character phrase is a standard formulation of the duties of propaganda and news work, often attributed to Xi Jinping’s directives. clearly adhere to the correct political direction, public opinion orientation, and value orientation, promote innovation in concepts, means, and methods, comprehensively utilize various methods such as mass communication, group communication, and interpersonal communication, widely promote the main theme and spread positive energy, and continuously improve the communication power, guidance power, influence, and credibility of news and public opinion.

其四，着力提升新闻舆论传播力、引导力、影响力、公信力。新闻舆论工作是党治国理政的大事要事。要尊重新闻传播规律，以坚定的政治立场为前提，以坚持以人民为中心为工作导向，以壮大奋进新时代主流思想舆论为目标，紧紧围绕“高举旗帜、引领导向，围绕中心、服务大局，团结人民、鼓舞士气，成风化人、凝心聚力，澄清谬误、明辨是非，联接中外、沟通世界”的职责使命，旗帜鲜明地坚持正确政治方向、舆论导向、价值取向，抓好理念创新、手段创新、方式方法创新，综合运用大众传播、群体传播、人际传播等多种方式，广泛弘扬主旋律、传播正能量，不断提高新闻舆论传播力、引导力、影响力、公信力。

Fifth, make efforts to continue the Chinese cultural lineage and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. Cultural construction in the New Era must fully utilize the precious resources of Chinese culture, highlight the principal position of Chinese civilization, be adept at rooting in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization, continuously promote the Two Integrations, better handle the relationship between the “root vein” and the “soul vein,” [17]17 “Root vein” (根脉) refers to the foundational source of Chinese civilization (fine traditional Chinese culture), while “soul vein” (魂脉) refers to the guiding ideological soul (Marxism). This distinction is part of the discourse on the Two Integrations. and inject ideological strength into continuing the Chinese cultural lineage and comprehensively building a strong socialist cultural country. It is necessary to adhere to making the past serve the present, making foreign things serve China, making dialectical choices, and discarding the dross and selecting the essential, be adept at proposing new ideas, expressing new discourses, forming new mechanisms, and introducing new forms in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, so that socialist culture with Chinese characteristics always reflects the spirit of the times and leads the trends of the times.

其五，着力赓续中华文脉、推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展。新时代文化建设，必须充分运用中华文化的宝贵资源，彰显中华文明主体地位，善于根植中华文明沃土，持续推进“两个结合”，更好地处理“根脉”与“魂脉”的关系，为赓续中华文脉、全面建设社会主义文化强国注入思想力量。要坚持古为今用、洋为中用、辩证取舍、推陈出新，善于在宣传思想文化工作中提出新思路、表达新话语、形成新机制、推出新形式，使中国特色社会主义文化始终反映时代精神、引领时代潮流。

Sixth, make efforts to promote the flourishing development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries. The flourishing of cultural undertakings and cultural industries helps the vigorous development of advanced socialist culture, thereby meeting the increasingly rich spiritual needs of the people and continuously enhancing the country’s cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. It is necessary to promote the comprehensive flourishing of cultural undertakings and the rapid development of cultural industries, continuously improve the people’s spiritual literacy, and constantly enhance the overall strength and competitiveness of culture. It is essential to be adept at clarifying the dialectical relationship between the two attributes of culture—ideological and industrial—and the two benefits—social and economic—and promote the great development and flourishing of culture.

其六，着力推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展。文化事业和文化产业的繁荣兴旺，有助于社会主义先进文化蓬勃发展，从而满足人民日渐丰富的精神需求，不断提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力。要推动文化事业全面繁荣、文化产业快速发展，不断提升人民精神素养，不断增强文化整体实力和竞争力。要善于厘清文化的意识形态和产业两种属性、社会和经济两种效益的辩证关系，推动文化大发展大繁荣。

Seventh, focus on strengthening international communication capacity and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations contribute to the richness and diversity of civilizations, thereby advancing the progress of human civilization and world peace and development. Through exchange, collision, conflict, and integration with other civilizations of the world, the vibrant vitality and inexhaustible creativity of Chinese civilization are fully stimulated, the affinity, appeal, and attractiveness of Chinese civilization are continuously enhanced, and the country’s cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture are steadily raised. It is necessary to focus on strengthening international communication capacity, improving the effectiveness of international communication, innovating the modes of communication discourse, achieving a two-way interaction between Chinese theory and Chinese practice, creating new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that connect China and the rest of the world, and telling China’s story well to the world, so that the world can better understand China, understand the Chinese people, understand the Communist Party of China, and understand the Chinese nation, enabling more countries to know China, listen to China, and comprehend China.

其七，着力加强国际传播能力建设、促进文明交流互鉴。文明交流互鉴有助于文明丰富多彩，从而推动人类文明进步和世界和平发展。通过与世界其他文明的交流碰撞和冲突融合，中华文明的鲜活生命力和不竭创造力充分激发，中华文明的亲和力、感染力、吸引力不断提升，国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力不断提升。要着力加强国际传播能力建设，提升国际传播效能，创新传播话语方式，实现中国理论与中国实践的双向互动，打造融通中外的新概念、新范畴、新表述，向世界讲好中国故事，从而让世界更好读懂中国、读懂中国人民、读懂中国共产党、读懂中华民族，让更多的国家认识中国、倾听中国、了解中国。

III. The Theoretical Characteristics of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought

三、习近平文化思想的理论特质

(A) “Understanding the substance to achieve its application, the substance and its application are interlinked”: The unity of scientificity and practicality

（一）“明体达用、体用贯通”：科学性与实践性相统一

Marxism has always emphasized the organic integration of theory and practice, that is, the unity of scientificity and practicality, repeatedly stressing that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.” [18] In the same vein, Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought possesses both theoretical innovation and development and practical deployment requirements; it has both macroscopic methodological guidance and microscopic concrete direction; it is embodied both in the truth of understanding the objective laws of the development of culture under socialism with Chinese characteristics and in the practical guidance for undertaking the new cultural mission at the new starting point, achieving the organic unity of scientificity and practicality, and manifesting the distinctive feature of this important thought: understanding the substance to achieve its application, the substance and its application are interlinked. “Substance” (ti) and “application” (yong) are an important pair of categories in Chinese philosophy. “Substance” refers to the ontology of existence or thought, that is, the national spirit, values, and excellent culture of the Chinese nation, and also refers to scientific thought and theory; “application” refers to practice, that is, the concrete expression and concrete application of the “substance.” It can be said that “substance” refers to the ontology, the origin, while “application” refers to practice, the method; their combination is the interconnection of theory and practice. The so-called “understanding the substance” (ming ti) refers to the innovation and breakthroughs of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought at the theoretical level, especially its inheritance and development of Marxist cultural theory. The so-called “achieving its application” (da yong) refers to the deployment requirements in the layout of cultural work, laying out the framework and structure for carrying out propaganda, ideological, and cultural work. The so-called “interlinked” (guantong) refers to the organic unity of cultural theory and cultural practice, ontology and methodology, and epistemology and praxeology, concretely manifested in the mutual interlinking of four aspects: the “soul vein” and the “root vein,” [19] the material and the spiritual, tradition and modernity, and theory and practice. In short, Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought profoundly embodies the organic unity of “substance” and “application,” addressing both what it is and why it is, as well as what to do and how to do it, manifesting the theoretical characteristic of the unity of Marxist scientificity and practicality.

马克思主义始终强调理论与实践的有机结合，也即科学性和实践性的统一，反复强调“哲学家们只是用不同的方式解释世界，而问题在于改变世界”。与之一脉相承的是，习近平文化思想既有理论的创新发展，又有实践的部署要求，既有宏观的方法遵循，又有微观的具体指导，既体现为对中国特色社会主义文化发展客观规律认识的真理性，又体现为新的起点上担负新时代的文化使命的实践指导性，实现科学性与实践性的有机统一，彰显了这一重要思想明体达用、体用贯通的鲜明特点。“体用”是中国哲学的一对重要范畴，“体”即存在或思维的本体，即中华民族的民族精神、价值观念、优秀文化，亦指科学的思想理论；“用”指实践，也即“体”的具体表达和具体适用。可以说，“体”是指本体、本源，而“用”则是指实践、方法，二者的结合就是理论与实践的互联互通。所谓“明体”，即习近平文化思想在理论层面的创新突破，尤其对于马克思主义文化理论的继承发展。所谓“达用”，即在文化工作布局上的部署要求，铺展了宣传思想文化工作开展的框架和布局。所谓“贯通”，即文化理论与文化实践、本体论与方法论以及认识论与实践论的有机统一，具体表现为“魂脉”与“根脉”、物质与精神、传统与现代、理论与实践四个方面的相互贯通。总之，习近平文化思想深刻体现了“体”与“用”的有机统一，既讲是什么、为什么，又讲做什么、怎么做，彰显了马克思主义科学性与实践性相统一的理论特质。

(B) “Taking establishment as the foundation, establishing and demolishing simultaneously”: The unity of constructiveness and criticalness

（二）“以立为本、立破并举”：建设性与批判性相统一

“Establishing” (li) and “demolishing” (po) are social behaviors by which the subject of social practice constructs or deconstructs specific things to achieve set goals. Among them, “establishing” involves maintaining, consolidating, and developing things, carrying a connotation of praise and affirmation; “demolishing” involves negating and criticizing things, breaking the existing state of things and promoting their transformation into their opposite. “Taking establishment as the foundation, establishing and demolishing simultaneously” is a consistent policy of the Communist Party of China in carrying out propaganda, ideological, and cultural work. “Establishing” is the prerequisite, “demolishing” is the guarantee, and “taking establishment as the foundation, establishing and demolishing simultaneously” manifests the complementarity of constructiveness and criticalness. Xi Jinping points out, “We must adhere to taking establishment as the foundation, establishing and demolishing simultaneously, and continuously enhance the cohesion and leading power of socialist ideology.” On the one hand, Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought adheres to taking establishment as the foundation and possesses prominent constructiveness. Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought clearly proposes to hold high the great banner of Marxism, using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate hearts and gather strength; firmly grasp the Party’s cultural leadership; promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture; cultivate and practice the core socialist values; promote the flourishing development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries; news propaganda and public opinion should focus on positive publicity, unity, and encouragement; and so on. These views fully reflect that Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought adheres to taking establishment as the foundation and possesses prominent constructiveness. On the other hand, Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought adheres to “establish

“立”与“破”是社会实践主体为达成既定目标而建构或解构特定事物的社会行为。其中，“立”是对事物进行维护、巩固和发展，带有褒扬和肯定的感情色彩；“破”则是对事物进行否定、批判，打破事物的现存状态并推动向其对立面转化。“以立为本、立破并举”，是中国共产党开展宣传思想文化工作一以贯之的方针，“立”是前提，“破”是保障，“以立为本、立破并举”彰显了建设性与批判性的相辅相成。习近平指出，“我们必须坚持以立为本、立破并举，不断增强社会主义意识形态的凝聚力和引领力”。一方面，习近平文化思想坚持以立为本，具有突出的建设性。习近平文化思想明确提出要高举马克思主义伟大旗帜，用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心聚力；牢牢把握党的文化领导权；推进中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展；培育和践行社会主义核心价值观；推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展；新闻宣传舆论要以正面宣传为主、团结鼓劲为主；等等。这些观点充分体现了习近平文化思想坚持以立为本，具有突出的建设性。另一方面，习近平文化思想坚持“立破并举、激浊扬清”，敢于亮剑善于斗争，立场坚定批驳谬误，具有突出的批判性。习近平指出：“坚持团结稳定鼓劲、正面宣传为主，也决不意味着放弃舆论引导和舆论斗争。”习近平文化思想提出始终保持清醒的头脑，旗帜鲜明同否定中国共产党领导、否定马克思主义、否定社会主义的各种错误思想作斗争，以战斗的姿态、战士的担当批判马克思主义过时论、共产主义渺茫论以及历史虚无主义等错误思潮及错误观点，充分揭露其错误实质和消极影响，勇于揭穿谎言、驳倒谬误、澄清迷雾，充分体现了习近平文化思想的批判性。总之，习近平文化思想不仅体现为对文化领域错误思潮和现实问题的深刻批判，而且主动建构起新的文化理论并不断省思，从而形成科学的理论体系。

(3) “Keeping pace with the times, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground”: the unity of inheritance and innovation

（三）“与时俱进、守正创新”：继承性与创新性相统一

History and practice have repeatedly confirmed that only by not forgetting the origins can we open up the future, and only by being adept at inheritance can we better innovate. The formation of any great thought embodies the organic unity of history, reality, and the future; it is inseparable from profound historical accumulation and is also engraved with distinct imprints of the times

历史和实践一再证实，不忘本来才能开辟未来，善于继承才能更好创新。任何伟大思想的形成都体现了历史、现实与未来的有机统一，既离不开深厚的历史积淀，也镌刻着鲜明的时代印记。习近平文化思想既始终不忘“老祖宗”，坚持中华文化的一脉相承，又坚持与时俱进、守正创新，充分体现了继承性和创新性相统一的鲜明特质。一方面，习近平文化思想具有突出继承性。从本质上讲，习近平文化思想属于意识形态的范畴，因而具有历史继承性特质。从内容上讲，习近平文化思想的继承性，源自于中华文化的内容延续性。习近平立足历史唯物主义基本原理，科学阐释了中华优秀传统文化、革命文化和社会主义先进文化的一脉相承关系，体现了习近平文化思想的原创性贡献。从文化发展规律上讲，习近平文化思想在“第一个结合”基础上深入阐发“第二个结合”，彰显了对马克思主义科学理论和中华优秀传统文化精髓的继承。另一方面，习近平文化思想具有突出的创新性。习近平文化思想根植于新时代中国共产党领导文化建设的鲜活实践，产生于世界范围内不同国家和地区间意识形态话语权争夺日趋激烈、我国宣传思想文化工作局面日益复杂的特定时代背景下，对新时代文化建设的意义、主体、目标、举措等一系列问题进行了统筹谋划，提出了一系列具有创新性的新观点新思想新论断。创新性还贯穿于这一思想对宣传思想文化工作全过程各方面的具体要求。例如，关于新闻工作，习近平指出“内容创新是根本的”。关于文艺工作，习近平强调“要把创新精神贯穿文艺创作生产全过程”。关于对外宣传，习近平强调要“创新对外宣传方式，着力打造融通中外的新概念新范畴新表述”。习近平文化思想以继承为基，以创新为本，着意在新的历史条件下发展文化理论、创新文化实践。继承性与创新性相结合的鲜明特质，将文化的过去、现在与将来紧密联结在一起。

(4) “Broadly absorbing and inclusively synthesizing”: the unity of national character and cosmopolitan character

（四）“广纳博采、兼收并蓄”：民族性与世界性相统一

Culture is national, and it is also human; Chinese culture is Chinese, and it is also global. In developing our advanced socialist culture, we must take root in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization, only then can we stand firm amidst the turbulence of world cultures. But holding fast to the root of the nation must never fall into the quagmire of narrow nationalism; highlighting national character must not obscure the human horizon or dilute the global perspective. National character and human character mutually illuminate each other; local character and global character mutually promote each other. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture adheres to broad adoption and inclusive absorption, both based in China and oriented toward the world, embodying the organic unity of national character and global character. On the one hand, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has a prominent national character. The reason the Chinese nation has endured hardships without decline is inseparable from the powerful support of Chinese culture. And Chinese culture has a prominent national character, containing the charm and wisdom that manifest the national style, embodying deep spiritual resonance. In the field of propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, Xi Jinping requires that we “build a philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner,” “clearly establish Chinese manner and Chinese style in the field of world literature and art,” and so on, all of which reflect the prominent national character of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. On the other hand, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has a prominent global character. While establishing the foundation of the nation, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture simultaneously promotes global benefits, creates human welfare, and pursues world beauty, dedicating itself to the innovative development of world culture and to the creation of civilization that benefits the entire globe. It issues a civilization initiative to the world, shapes a view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, vigorously promotes the common values of all humanity, actively advances exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations, and plays an ideological guiding role in clarifying the direction and illuminating the path for the creation of a new form of human civilization. This reflects contemporary China’s ideal pursuit of the rejuvenation of Chinese civilization and the progress of human civilization, and demonstrates the global sentiment of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. In short, the more national a culture is, the more global it is. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture’s elucidation and practice of this important principle fully manifests the development characteristic of the deep integration and mutual promotion and coexistence of the national character and global character of culture.

文化是民族的，也是人类的；中国文化是中国的，也是世界的。我们发展社会主义先进文化，必须扎根中华文明沃土，如此方能在世界文化激荡中屹立不倒。但坚守民族之根绝不能陷于狭隘民族主义泥潭，凸显民族性不可遮蔽人类眼界、不可淡化世界性视域。民族性与人类性是互为彰显的，本土性与世界性是互为促进的。习近平文化思想坚持广纳博采、兼收并蓄，既立足中国，又面向世界，体现了民族性与世界性的有机统一。一方面，习近平文化思想具有突出的民族性。中华民族之所以饱经风霜而不衰，离不开中华文化的有力支撑。而中华文化具有突出的民族特点，蕴含着彰显民族气派的神韵和智慧，体现着深层的精神共鸣。在宣传思想文化工作领域，习近平要求，我们要“建设具有中国特色、中国风格、中国气派的哲学社会科学”，“在世界文学艺术领域鲜明确立中国气派、中国风范”等等，都体现了习近平文化思想突出的民族性。另一方面，习近平文化思想具有突出的世界性。习近平文化思想在立民族之本的同时，行全球之利、造人类之福、求世界之美，致力于世界文化的创新发展，致力于惠及全球的文明创造，向全球发出文明倡议，塑造平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，大力弘扬全人类共同价值，积极推动人类文明交流互鉴，为人类文明新形态的创造起到了明确方向、明晰路径的思想引领作用，体现出当代中国对中华文明的复兴和人类文明进步的理想追求，展现了习近平文化思想的世界情怀。总之，文化越是民族的，就越是世界的。习近平文化思想对这一重要原则的阐发和践行，充分彰显了文化的民族性与世界性彼此深度融合、互促共生的发展特征。

(Author’s bio: Zhang Hao, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Marxism, Sun Yat-sen University, Young Scholar of the Ministry of Education’s “Changjiang Scholars Award Program”)

（作者简介：张浩，中山大学马克思主义学院教授、博士生导师，教育部“长江学者奖励计划”青年学者）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心