Cultural Consciousness, Cultural Confidence, Cultural Self-Strengthening: Three Perspectives for Understanding Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought

The soul of a nation is transformed and forged by culture. Culture is the soul of a country and a nation, providing indispensable spiritual support for national prosperity, national rejuvenation, and the people’s happiness. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping, with a broad historical vision, a firm cultural stance, and far-reaching strategic considerations, has put forward a series of new thoughts, new viewpoints, and new judgments on cultural construction in the New Era that are original, epochal, and guiding, thereby forming Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought. This important thought enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory, contains the dialectical logical system of “cultural consciousness, cultural confidence, and cultural self-strengthening,” and exhibits distinct systematic and theoretical characteristics. Cultural consciousness, cultural confidence, and cultural self-strengthening are an organic whole that mutually permeates, supports, and promotes one another. Exploring the relationship between these three and Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought, as well as the internal logic and interactive connections among them, is of great significance for deeply studying and comprehending Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought and for promoting the building of a cultural power.

国家之魂，文以化之，文以铸之。文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂，为国家富强、民族振兴、人民幸福提供不可或缺的精神支撑。党的十八大以来，习近平以宏阔的历史视野、坚定的文化立场、深远的战略考量，围绕新时代文化建设提出一系列具有原创性、时代性、指导性的新思想新观点新论断，形成了习近平文化思想。这一重要思想丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，蕴含着“文化自觉、文化自信、文化自强”的辩证逻辑体系，具有鲜明的体系化学理化特征。文化自觉、文化自信、文化自强三者是相互渗透、相互支撑、相互促进的有机整体，探究三者与习近平文化思想之间的关系以及三者之间的内在理路与互动关联，对于深入学习领会习近平文化思想、推动文化强国建设具有重要意义。

I. Cultural Consciousness: The Logical Starting Point of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought

一、文化自觉：习近平文化思想的逻辑起点

Cultural consciousness mainly refers to a country’s or a nation’s self-awareness, self-awakening, and self-creation in culture. In the theoretical system of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought, cultural consciousness is an important logical starting point and also the theoretical premise for answering a series of major questions in the New Era, such as why cultural construction is emphasized, what kind of culture to build, and how to build such a culture.

文化自觉，主要指一个国家、一个民族在文化上的自我觉悟、自我觉醒和自我创建。在习近平文化思想的理论体系中，文化自觉是重要的逻辑起点，也是回答新时代为什么重视文化建设、建设什么样的文化、怎么建设这样的文化等一系列重大问题的理论前提。

(1) Clarifying the “Weight” of Culture, Highly Affirming the Value and Status of Culture

（一）明确文化“重量”，高度肯定文化的价值地位

Cultural consciousness is first embodied in a sober understanding and high regard for the strategic position of culture in the overall cause of the Party and the state. This cognition is the soil in which cultural confidence can sprout and the prerequisite for the smooth advancement of cultural self-strengthening. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping has highly affirmed the important role of culture, pointing out: “When culture thrives, the nation thrives; when culture is strong, the nation is strong. Without a high degree of cultural confidence and without the flourishing and prosperity of culture, there will be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” In 2020, at a symposium of experts in the fields of education, culture, health, and sports, Xi Jinping clearly stated: “Without the flourishing development

文化自觉首先体现为对文化在党和国家事业全局中战略地位的清醒认识与高度重视，这种认知是文化自信得以萌生的土壤，也是文化自强能够顺利推进的前提。党的十八大以来，习近平高度肯定文化的重要作用，指出：“文化兴国运兴，文化强民族强。没有高度的文化自信，没有文化的繁荣兴盛，就没有中华民族伟大复兴。”2020年，习近平在教育文化卫生体育领域专家代表座谈会上明确指出：“没有社会主义文化繁荣发展，就没有社会主义现代化。”这一重要论述将文化繁荣发展与社会主义现代化建设紧密结合，凸显了文化在国家发展全局中的重要地位。在此基础上，习近平进一步从四个维度系统阐释了文化的战略价值，指出：统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局、协调推进“四个全面”战略布局，文化是重要内容；推动高质量发展，文化是重要支点；满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，文化是重要因素；战胜前进道路上的各种风险挑战，文化是重要力量源泉。围绕文化的战略地位所提出的“四个重要”定位，厘清了文化与新时代中国特色社会主义事业的内在关联，以更广阔的视野、更深刻的洞察为文化建设锚定了战略坐标。这种对文化价值的深刻认知，将文化提升到关乎国家现代化进程、民族复兴伟业的重要地位，展现出新时代中国共产党人高度的文化自觉。

(2) Grasping the “Context” of Culture, Accurately Understanding the Laws of Cultural Development

（二）摸透文化“脉络”，准确把握文化发展规律

Cultural development has its own internal laws; only by accurately grasping these laws can we promote cultural construction in the correct direction. This is not only an important manifestation of cultural consciousness but also the key to firm cultural confidence and enduring cultural self-strengthening. The cultural consciousness embedded in Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is prominently expressed in its profound insight into the laws of development of fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture. Regarding fine traditional Chinese culture, Xi Jinping has profoundly summarized its historical lineage, sorted out its core connotations, and clarified its contemporary value. At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development held in June 2023, Xi Jinping summarized the five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization—continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness—fully reflecting a deep grasp of the laws of Chinese cultural development. Regarding revolutionary culture, Xi Jinping has thoroughly elucidated the principles, theories, and logic of passing down the red gene and the revolutionary torch from generation to generation, profoundly pointing out: “We must deeply understand from the Party’s brilliant achievements, arduous journey, historical experience, and fine traditions why the Communist Party of China works, why Marxism works, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics works, and clarify the historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic behind them.” Regarding advanced socialist culture, Xi Jinping, with a profound and far-reaching strategic vision, has

文化的发展具有自身内在规律，只有准确把握规律，才能推动文化建设沿着正确方向前进，这既是文化自觉的重要体现，也是文化自信能够坚定、文化自强能够持久的关键所在。习近平文化思想中蕴含的文化自觉，突出表现在对于中华优秀传统文化、革命文化和社会主义先进文化发展规律的深刻洞察。关于中华优秀传统文化，习近平深刻总结其历史脉络，梳理其核心内涵，明确其时代价值。在2023年6月召开的文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总结了中华文明具有连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性、和平性五个突出特性，充分体现了对中华文化发展规律的深刻把握。关于革命文化，习近平深入阐释了让红色基因、革命薪火代代传承的道理学理哲理，深刻指出：“要从党的辉煌成就、艰辛历程、历史经验、优良传统中深刻领悟中国共产党为什么能、马克思主义为什么行、中国特色社会主义为什么好等道理，弄清楚其中的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑。”关于社会主义先进文化，习近平以深邃高远的战略眼光揭示了未来发展方向和实践内在要求。他强调，要“坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，全面贯彻新时代中国特色社会主义文化思想，发展面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的，民族的科学的大众的社会主义文化”，深刻指明了社会主义先进文化的发展规律。

(3) Clarifying the cultural “responsibility” and explicitly articulating the cultural mission of Chinese Communists

（三）厘清文化“责任”，明确提出中国共产党人的文化使命

Cultural consciousness is not only a cognitive awareness but also a practical commitment. As early as 2014, Xi Jinping made a clear-cut statement in response to various fallacies in society concerning the cultural mission of Communists and erroneous views on fine traditional Chinese culture, demonstrating a high degree of cultural consciousness. He pointed out that Chinese Communists “are neither historical nihilists nor cultural nihilists, and they must not forget their ancestry or belittle themselves.” This view was further enriched and developed in the report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, expanding into the statement that “since its founding, the CPC has been both an active leader and practitioner of China’s advanced culture and a faithful inheritor and promoter of fine traditional Chinese culture.” This formulation clearly defines the dual role of Chinese Communists in cultural construction, providing a fundamental guideline for fulfilling the cultural mission. In June 2023, at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, Xi Jinping formally proposed that continuing to promote cultural prosperity and build a strong cultural nation at a new starting point is “our new cultural mission in the New Era.” This heightened consciousness of fulfilling the new cultural mission manifests the cultural sentiment and value ideal of the CPC to never forget its origins and to forge ahead into the future.

文化自觉不仅是一种认知层面的觉悟，更体现为一种实践层面的担当。早在2014年，习近平针对社会上存在的种种关于共产党人文化使命的谬误、种种关于中华优秀传统文化的错误论调，进行过旗帜鲜明的表态，体现出高度的文化自觉。他指出，中国共产党人“不是历史虚无主义者，也不是文化虚无主义者，不能数典忘祖、妄自菲薄”。这一观点，在2017年党的十九大报告中又得到丰富与发展，拓展为“中国共产党从成立之日起，既是中国先进文化的积极引领者和践行者，又是中华优秀传统文化的忠实传承者和弘扬者”。这一论述清晰界定了中国共产党人在文化建设中的双重角色，为践行文化使命提供了根本遵循。2023年6月，在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平正式提出，在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国，是我们在“新时代新的文化使命”。这一践行新的文化使命的高度自觉意识，彰显了中国共产党不忘本来、开辟未来的文化情怀与价值理想。

It is precisely from this logical starting point of cultural consciousness that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture lays the cognitive foundation for the generation of cultural confidence and provides the action premise for advancing cultural self-reliance; conversely, the enhancement of cultural confidence and the effectiveness of cultural self-reliance further deepen the degree of cultural consciousness.

习近平文化思想正是从文化自觉这一逻辑起点出发，为文化自信的生成打下了认知基础，更为文化自强的推进提供了行动前提；而文化自信的增强与文化自强的成效，反过来又进一步深化文化自觉的程度。

II. Cultural Confidence: The Spiritual Fulcrum of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture

二、文化自信：习近平文化思想的精神支点

Cultural confidence is an important theoretical innovation made by Xi Jinping. For the first time, he placed cultural confidence alongside confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system, expanding the “three confidences” of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the “four confidences.” Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the important status of cultural confidence, pointing out that “cultural confidence is a more fundamental, broader, and deeper confidence” and that it is “the most basic, most profound, and most enduring force in the development of a country and a nation.” The proposal of cultural confidence has generated a profound sense of identity and conviction among the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in China at the spiritual level, enabling socialism with Chinese characteristics to gain more nourishment because it possesses culture as this most basic, most profound, and most enduring force. This confidence is built on a deep historical foundation, scientific theoretical support, and fruitful practical achievements, and thus has a solid basis for its generation.

文化自信是习近平作出的重要理论创新。他首次将文化自信与道路自信、理论自信、制度自信并列，将中国特色社会主义的“三个自信”丰富拓展为“四个自信”。习近平多次强调文化自信的重要地位，指出：“文化自信是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信”，“是一个国家、一个民族发展中最基本、最深沉、最持久的力量”。文化自信的提出，使全党全国各族人民在精神层面产生深刻的认同感和信念感，使中国特色社会主义因为有了文化这一最基本、最深沉、最持久的力量，从而获得更多滋养。这种自信建立在深厚的历史底蕴、科学的理论支撑、丰硕的实践成果之上，具有坚实的生成根基。

(1) From a historical perspective, the “root vein” of fine traditional Chinese culture endows cultural confidence with the deepest spiritual genes

（一）从历史维度看，中华优秀传统文化的“根脉”为文化自信赋予了最深厚的精神基因

Xi Jinping clearly stated that “traditional Chinese culture is the cultural root vein of the Chinese nation.” With its development spanning several millennia, its profound and extensive ideological connotations, and its enduring contemporary value, fine traditional Chinese culture provides inexhaustible spiritual nourishment for cultural confidence.

习近平明确指出，“中华传统文化是中华民族的文化根脉”。中华优秀传统文化以其绵延数千年的发展历程、博大精深的思想内涵、历久弥新的时代价值，为文化自信提供了不竭的精神滋养。

On the one hand, Chinese civilization is the only civilization in the world that has never been interrupted and has continued to the present day; this unique historical characteristic provides a solid spiritual foundation for cultural confidence. Xi Jinping points out: “Chinese civilization has been continuous and enduring for more

一方面，中华文明是世界上唯一未曾中断、延续至今的文明，这一独特历史特征为文化自信提供了坚实的精神根基。习近平指出：“中华文明5000多年绵延不断、经久不衰，在长期演进过程中，形成了中国人看待世界、看待社会、看待人生的独特价值体系、文化内涵和精神品质，这是我们区别于其他国家和民族的根本特征，也铸就了中华民族博采众长的文化自信。”强烈的文化认同感与归属感，使中华民族无论历经多少磨难，都能坚守文化立场、保持民族本色，为文化自信提供了最深厚的精神支撑。另一方面，中华优秀传统文化蕴含的丰富思想观念、人文精神与道德规范，构成了文化自信的基本精神内核。在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平细数中华优秀传统文化中的“天下为公、天下大同的社会理想，民为邦本、为政以德的治理思想，九州共贯、多元一体的大一统传统，修齐治平、兴亡有责的家国情怀”等诸多重要元素。这些重要元素不仅深刻影响了中华民族的发展进程，塑造了中华民族的精神品格，也为解决当代人类面临的共同问题提供了有益借鉴。正如习近平所指出的，“中华优秀传统文化是中华民族的突出优势”，“是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的坚实根基”。

The fine traditional Chinese culture, which embodies the deepest spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, has become the spiritual root of cultural confidence. And the conscious inheritance and promotion of fine traditional Chinese culture is itself a manifestation of cultural consciousness; when we take cultural confidence as our driving force to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, we further advance cultural self-strengthening.

积淀着中华民族最深沉精神追求的中华优秀传统文化，成为了文化自信的精神根脉。而对中华优秀传统文化的自觉传承与弘扬，本身就是文化自觉的体现；当我们以文化自信为动力，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展时，又进一步推动了文化自强。

(2) From the theoretical dimension, the “soul vein” of Marxism provides the most scientific truth-based support for cultural confidence

（二）从理论维度看，马克思主义的“魂脉”为文化自信构筑了最科学的真理支撑

The generation and consolidation of cultural confidence cannot be separated from the guidance of scientific theory. Marxism and the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times provide powerful truth-based support and directional guidance for cultural confidence, enabling cultural confidence to be built on a foundation of scientific theory.

文化自信的生成与巩固，离不开科学理论的指引。马克思主义及其中国化时代化的理论成果，为文化自信提供了强大的真理支撑与方向引领，使文化自信建立在科学理论基础之上。

On the one hand, Marxism is a scientific worldview and methodology that reveals the universal laws of the development of nature and human society, providing scientific guidance for correctly understanding the essence and developmental laws of culture. For example, the Marxist theory of the dialectical relationship between social existence and social consciousness provides a scientific basis for understanding the important value of culture; the view that the masses are the main subjects of cultural creation provides a scientific basis for correctly understanding the service targets and relying forces of culture; the methodology of cultural inheritance and innovation provides a scientific basis for promoting cultural construction. On the other hand, the formation and development of the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times provide strong support for cultural confidence. “Ever since the Chinese learned Marxism-Leninism, the Chinese have moved from passivity to initiative in spirit.” [2]2 Mao Zedong, “On New Democracy” (1940). Advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is a process of pursuing truth, revealing truth, and steadfastly practicing truth. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has consistently adhered to combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, forming a series of theoretical innovation achievements, and constantly promoting the development of the cause through new ideological and cultural awakenings, new achievements in theoretical creation, and new accomplishments in cultural construction.

一方面，马克思主义是科学的世界观和方法论，揭示了自然界和人类社会发展的普遍规律，为我们正确认识文化的本质与发展规律提供了科学指导。比如，马克思主义关于社会存在与社会意识辩证关系的理论，为认识文化的重要价值提供了科学依据；关于人民群众是文化创造主体的观点，为正确认识文化的服务对象与依靠力量提供了科学依据；关于文化传承与创新的方法论，为推动文化建设提供了科学依据。另一方面，马克思主义中国化时代化的理论成果的形成和发展，为文化自信提供了坚强支撑。“自从中国人学会了马克思列宁主义以后，中国人在精神上就由被动转入主动。”推进马克思主义中国化时代化是一个追求真理、揭示真理、笃行真理的过程。中国共产党自成立以来，始终坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，形成了一系列理论创新成果，不断以思想文化新觉醒、理论创造新成果、文化建设新成就推动事业发展。

The truth attribute of Marxism and the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times enables cultural confidence to break free from subjective conjecture and blind worship, to be built on rational cognition and scientific guidance, and to enhance the firmness and durability of cultural confidence. And the cognition of and identification with the truth attribute of Marxism and the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is itself a manifestation of cultural consciousness; when we consciously use the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method to analyze cultural phenomena and guide cultural construction, we are at the same time promoting the practice of cultural self-strengthening, and in practice further verifying the truth power of Marxism, thereby consolidating cultural confidence and deepening cultural consciousness.

马克思主义及其中国化时代化理论成果的真理属性，使文化自信摆脱了主观臆断与盲目崇拜，建立在理性认知与科学指导之上，增强了文化自信的坚定性与持久性。而对马克思主义及其中国化时代化理论成果真理属性的认知与认同，又是文化自觉的体现；当我们自觉地运用马克思主义的立场、观点、方法分析文化现象、指导文化建设时，又是在推动文化自强的实践，同时在实践中进一步验证马克思主义的真理力量，进而巩固文化自信，深化文化自觉。

(3) From the practical dimension, the historic achievements and historic transformations in cultural construction in the New Era provide the most powerful practical basis for cultural confidence

（三）从实践维度看，新时代文化建设的历史性成就与历史性变革为文化自信提供了最有力的现实依据

Cultural confidence is not an abstract spiritual concept but a rational belief built on the foundation of practice. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, China’s cultural construction has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations, providing the most direct practical support for cultural confidence and adding the most powerful practical footnote to it.

文化自信不是抽象的精神概念，而是建立在实践基础上的理性信念。党的十八大以来，在习近平文化思想的指引下，我国文化建设取得了历史性成就、发生了历史性变革，为文化自信提供了最直接的现实支撑，增添了最有力的现实注脚。

The brilliant achievements of cultural construction in the New Era, to mention the most important ones, are mainly manifested in the following: First, the situation in the ideological domain has undergone a comprehensive and fundamental transformation. Ideological work is an extremely important task for the Party, bearing on the long-term stability and security of the country and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation. Since the New Era, the Party has established and adhered to the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, firmly grasped the leadership over ideological work, vigorously cultivated and practiced the core socialist values, and consolidated the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. Second, cultural undertakings and the cultural industry have flourished and developed. In terms of cultural undertakings, the public cultural service system has been increasingly improved, grassroots cultural activities have been vigorously carried out, and the basic cultural rights and interests of the people have been effectively guaranteed. In terms of the cultural industry, the scale of the cultural industry has continued to expand, its structure has been continuously optimized, and new business forms and models have emerged continuously, becoming an important growth point for the national economy. Third, the international influence of culture has significantly improved. Since the New Era, the Party has attached great importance to international communication work, innovating communication concepts, content, and forms, telling China’s stories well to the world, spreading China’s voice well, and the country’s soft power has been significantly enhanced.

新时代文化建设的辉煌成就择其要者述之，主要表现在：一是意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变。意识形态工作是党的一项极端重要的工作，事关国家长治久安、民族凝聚力和向心力。新时代以来，党确立和坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，牢牢掌握意识形态工作领导权，大力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，巩固了全党全国各族人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础。二是文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展。文化事业方面，公共文化服务体系日益完善，基层文化活动蓬勃开展，人民群众的基本文化权益得到有效保障。文化产业方面，文化产业规模持续扩大，结构不断优化，新业态、新模式不断涌现，成为国民经济的重要增长点。三是文化国际影响力显著提升。新时代以来，党高度重视国际传播工作，创新传播理念、内容和形式，向世界讲好中国故事，传播好中国声音，国家软实力明显提升。

The achievements of cultural construction in the New Era have added stronger confidence to the firm belief in cultural confidence and are a vivid manifestation of cultural confidence in the practical domain. It is precisely under the inspiration of the belief in firm cultural confidence that the development of the Party’s and the country’s cause has gained a stronger ideological guarantee and a more powerful spiritual force.

新时代文化建设的成就，为坚定文化自信增添了更强劲的底气，是文化自信在实践领域的生动彰显。正是在坚定文化自信这一信念的感召下，党和国家事业发展才有了更为坚强的思想保证和更为强大的精神力量。

In summary, within the theoretical system of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, cultural confidence is an important spiritual fulcrum. Cultural confidence takes cultural consciousness as its cognitive foundation and cultural self-strengthening as its practical orientation, playing an important role of connecting the preceding and the following between the two. At the same time, cultural confidence is not unidirectionally driven by cultural consciousness and directed toward cultural self-strengthening; the firmness of cultural confidence can deepen cultural consciousness, and the realization of cultural self-strengthening can in turn consolidate cultural confidence, achieving mutual promotion and mutual influence.

综上，在习近平文化思想的理论体系中，文化自信是重要的精神支点。文化自信以文化自觉为认知基础，以文化自强为实践指向，在二者之间发挥着承上启下的重要作用。同时，文化自信也并非单向地受文化自觉推动、向文化自强发力，文化自信的坚定能够深化文化自觉，文化自强的实现又能够巩固文化自信，实现了相互促进、相互影响。

III. Cultural Self-Strengthening: The Directional Anchor Point of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture

三、文化自强：习近平文化思想的方向锚点

Cultural self-strengthening mainly refers to a country or a nation, on the basis of adhering to its own cultural subjectivity, achieving a “stronger” state in the cultural domain. The proposal of the goal and task of “cultural self-strengthening” has marked the cultural coordinate and anchored the civilizational course for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. From the 18th National Congress of the CPC proposing to “solidly advance the building of a socialist cultural power,” to the 19th National Congress proposing to “firmly establish cultural confidence and promote the flourishing and prosperity of socialist culture,” the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee proposing to “build China into a country with a strong socialist culture” by 2035, and then to the 20th National Congress proposing the strategic task of “promoting cultural confidence and self-strengthening and creating new brilliance in socialist culture,” the blueprint for the goal of a culturally strong country has become increasingly clear. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee [3]3 The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in 2024. made further arrangements for “solidly advancing the building of a culturally strong country” during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period [4]4 The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for National Economic and Social Development. and put forward specific requirements from perspectives such as “promoting and practicing the core socialist values” and “vigorously flourishing cultural undertakings,” reflecting the Party’s continuously deepening understanding of the goals and tasks of cultural construction and its constantly reaching new heights in understanding the laws of cultural construction.

文化自强，主要指一个国家、一个民族在坚守自身文化主体性的基础上，实现文化领域的“强起来”。“文化自强”目标任务的提出，为中华民族伟大复兴标识了文化坐标、锚定了文明航向。从党的十八大提出“扎实推进社会主义文化强国建设”，到党的十九大提出“坚定文化自信，推动社会主义文化繁荣兴盛”、党的十九届五中全会提出到2035年“建成文化强国”，再到党的二十大提出“推进文化自信自强，铸就社会主义文化新辉煌”的战略任务，文化强国的目标蓝图越来越清晰。党的二十届四中全会对“十五五”时期“扎实推进文化强国建设”作出进一步部署，并从“弘扬和践行社会主义核心价值观”“大力繁荣文化事业”等角度提出具体要求，体现了党对文化建设目标任务的认识持续深化，对文化建设规律的认识不断达到新的高度。

To deeply understand the theoretical connotation and practical requirements of “cultural self-strengthening,” it is necessary to grasp it from the two aspects of “self” (自) and “strengthening” (强).

深刻理解“文化自强”的理论内涵与实践要求，需要从“自”与“强”两个方面对其进行把握。

(1) The “Self” (自) of Cultural Self-Strengthening

（一）文化自强之“自”

Cultural self-strengthening, first of all, is “self,” that is, taking one’s own stand and holding fast to oneself. It is the concentrated embodiment of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence, and it is the prerequisite and foundation for achieving “strengthening.”

文化自强，首先是“自”，即立足自身、坚守自我，是文化自觉与文化自信的集中体现，是实现“强”的前提和基础。

On the one hand, the “self” of cultural self-strengthening emphasizes upholding and consolidating cultural subjectivity. “For any culture to stand firm, travel far, and possess guiding power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity.” [5]5 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development,” Qiushi, 2023, no. 14. Chinese civilization itself “possesses a cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality for self-development, responding to challenges, and breaking new ground.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development,” Qiushi, 2023, no. 14. Facing the drastic social changes since modern times, the Communist Party of China, leading the Chinese people, has continued the Chinese cultural lineage through arduous guardianship and unremitting exploration, establishing and consolidating our cultural subjectivity on Chinese soil. With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense. With cultural subjectivity, “the Communist Party of China has a powerful cultural force to lead the times, the Chinese nation and the Chinese people have a solid cultural foundation for national identity, and Chinese civilization has a distinctive cultural characteristic for exchange and mutual learning with other world civilizations.” [7]7 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development,” Qiushi, 2023, no. 14. At present, against the backdrop of increasingly fierce international competition, Western-centric cultural narratives still attempt to dissolve the cultural subjectivity of other countries through various means. If cultural subjectivity is lost, even if there is some development in cultural forms, it will be difficult to escape the status of a spiritual appendage and truly “become strong” in culture. Therefore, to achieve cultural self-strengthening, we must first uphold and consolidate our cultural subjectivity.

一方面，文化自强之“自”强调坚持并巩固文化主体性。“任何文化要立得住、行得远，要有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力，就必须有自己的主体性。”中华文明本身就“具有自我发展、回应挑战、开创新局的文化主体性与旺盛生命力”。面对近代以来的剧烈社会变迁，中国共产党带领中国人民在艰辛守护和不懈探索中赓续中华文脉，在中国大地上建立并巩固了我们的文化主体性。有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上坚定的自我。有了文化主体性，“中国共产党就有了引领时代的强大文化力量，中华民族和中国人民就有了国家认同的坚实文化基础，中华文明就有了和世界其他文明交流互鉴的鲜明文化特性”。当前，在国际竞争日趋激烈的背景下，西方中心主义的文化叙事仍试图通过各种方式消解其他国家的文化主体性，若丧失文化主体性，即便在文化形式上有所发展，也难以摆脱精神上的附庸地位，难以真正在文化上“强起来”。所以，实现文化自强，首先要坚持和巩固我们的文化主体性。

On the other hand, the “self” of cultural self-strengthening emphasizes upholding independence and self-reliance. First, it means adhering to one’s own path. Independence and self-reliance are important principles for the founding of our Party and our country. Cultural self-strengthening must take its own path; it can neither take the old path of closed-door rigidity nor the evil path of changing the banner and flag, nor can it copy or imitate the paths of other countries. China’s problems must be solved by the Chinese people themselves, starting from China’s basic national conditions. This spirit of independent exploration, this firm determination to take our own path, is the true meaning of our Party’s continuous awakening from setbacks and continuous victory after victory. To achieve cultural self-strengthening, we must unswervingly take our own path and place the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength. Second, it means upholding spiritual independence and self-reliance. “The spirit is the soul on which a nation depends for long-term survival. Only when the spirit reaches a certain height can a nation stand firm and forge ahead courageously in the torrent of history.” [8]8 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army,” People’s Daily, August 2, 2022. This requires us to adhere to the stance of Chinese culture, resolutely oppose “worshiping the West” and “taking the West as the standard of beauty,” always be vigilant against “de-ideologization,” “de-Sinicization,” and “de-mainstreamization,” base ourselves on the great historical and contemporary practices of the Chinese nation, use Chinese principles to summarize Chinese experience well, elevate Chinese experience into Chinese theory, and achieve spiritual independence and self-reliance. Only with spiritual independence and self-reliance can we gain a firm foothold in the global cultural turbulence and achieve cultural self-strengthening in the true sense.

另一方面，文化自强之“自”强调坚持独立自主。一是要坚持走自己的路。独立自主是我们立党立国的重要原则。文化自强必须走自己的路，既不能走封闭僵化的老路，也不能走改旗易帜的邪路，更不能照抄照搬他国道路。中国的问题必须从中国基本国情出发，由中国人自己来解答。这种独立自主的探索精神，这种坚持走自己道路的坚定决心，是我们党不断从挫折中觉醒、不断从胜利走向胜利的真谛。要实现文化自强，必须坚定不移走自己的路，把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上。二是坚持精神上的独立自主。“精神是一个民族赖以长久生存的灵魂，唯有精神上达到一定的高度，这个民族才能在历史的洪流中屹立不倒、奋勇向前。”这就要求我们要坚守中华文化立场，坚决反对“以洋为尊”“以洋为美”，时刻警惕“去思想化”“去中国化”“去主流化”，立足中华民族伟大历史实践和当代实践，用中国道理总结好中国经验，把中国经验提升为中国理论，实现精神上的独立自主。只有精神上独立自主，才能在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟，实现真正意义上的文化自强。

(II) The “Strengthening” of Cultural Self-Strengthening

（二）文化自强之“强”

If the “self” of cultural self-strengthening emphasizes more on cultural subjectivity and independence, then the “strengthening” of cultural self-strengthening emphasizes more on the enhancement of strength and broad recognition. This is not only the goal orientation of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence but will also further strengthen cultural consciousness and cultural confidence. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party [9]9 The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in September 2024, focusing on comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. clearly proposed the core goal of building a culturally strong country: “developing a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era that possesses strong ideological guiding power, spiritual cohesive power, value appeal, and international influence,” [10]10 “Communiqué of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” Xinhua News Agency, September 30, 2024. marking the yardstick and direction of “strengthening” for cultural self-strengthening.

如果说文化自强之“自”强调的更多是文化主体性与独立自主，那么文化自强之“强”强调的则更多是实力提升与广泛认可，这既是文化自觉与文化自信的目标指向，也会进一步强化文化自觉与文化自信。党的二十届四中全会明确提出了“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”这一文化强国建设的核心目标，为文化自强标明了“强”的标尺与方向。

Strong ideological guiding power is essentially a matter of “what banner to hold and what path to take.” Strong ideological guiding power can ensure that cultural development always advances in the correct direction. Xi Jinping emphasized: “Thought is power. For a nation to stand at the forefront of the times, it cannot be without theoretical thinking for a moment, nor can it be without ideological guidance for a moment.” [11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China,” People’s Daily, July 2, 2021. Marxism is the foundation for the founding of our Party and our country, and for rejuvenating our Party and our country. Upholding the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field determines the nature and development direction of our culture and is the fundamental guarantee for promoting cultural self-strengthening along the correct path. The ideological guiding power of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era is concentratedly embodied in the truth power and practical value of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, using the worldview and methodology of this thought to observe the times, interpret the times, and lead the times. We must adhere to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, continuously advancing the Party’s theoretical innovation, and guiding the continuously developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era with developing Marxism.

强大的思想引领力，本质就是“举什么旗、走什么路”的问题。强大的思想引领力，能够确保文化发展始终沿着正确方向前进。习近平强调：“思想就是力量。一个民族要走在时代前列，就一刻不能没有理论思维，一刻不能没有思想指引。”马克思主义是我们立党立国、兴党兴国之本，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，决定着我国文化的性质和发展方向，是推动文化自强沿着正确道路前进的根本保障。新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力，集中体现为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的真理力量与实践价值。要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，用这一思想的世界观和方法论观察时代、解读时代、引领时代。要坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，不断推进党的理论创新，用发展着的马克思主义指导不断发展的新时代中国特色社会主义文化。

Strong spiritual cohesive power is essentially a matter of “gathering the people’s hearts and pooling the people’s strength.” Strong spiritual cohesive power can bring people of all ethnic groups together in heart and spirit, making culture a spiritual bond for unity, struggle, and the shared pursuit of dreams. Marxism holds that the essence of human beings is the totality of all social relations, and culture is precisely an important carrier for maintaining social bonds and condensing spiritual will. The Chinese nation has always had the community concept of “all under Heaven as one family” and “harmony among all nations.” This concept has accumulated into a strong national cohesive force over the long course of history. We must adhere to using Chinese culture, this shared spiritual home, to nourish the soul, consolidate the foundation, and cultivate the vitality, inspiring the entire nation’s sense of community in sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, so that all the people are closely united in ideals, values, and moral concepts, gathering the will and strength of all the people to form a powerful synergy where “those with the same desire will prevail.”

强大的精神凝聚力，本质就是“聚民心、汇民力”的问题。强大的精神凝聚力，能够促使各族人民人心归聚、精神相依，让文化成为团结奋斗、共筑梦想的精神纽带。马克思主义认为，人的本质是一切社会关系的总和，而文化正是维系社会联结、凝聚精神意志的重要载体。中华民族历来具有“天下一家”“协和万邦”的共同体理念，这种理念在历史长河中积淀为强大的民族凝聚力。要坚持以中华文化这一共有精神家园滋养心灵、固本培元，激发全民族休戚与共、荣辱与共的共同体意识，使全体人民在理想信念、价值理念、道德观念上紧紧团结在一起，将全体人民的意志与力量汇聚起来，形成“上下同欲者胜”的强大合力。

Strong value appeal is essentially a matter of “cultivating people through culture and educating people through culture.” Strong value appeal can promote social progress towards goodness and make mainstream values deeply rooted in people’s hearts, making culture a spiritual banner for nurturing virtue and leading social trends. Values and culture are interdependent and mutually generative. The appeal of culture does not stem from forced indoctrination but is based on the attractiveness and infectious power of value concepts, achieving “convincing people through reason” and “convincing people through virtue.” The core socialist values are the concentrated expression of the contemporary Chinese spirit, the ideological and moral foundation for凝聚 Chinese strength, determine the level of social civilization and the moral outlook of citizens, and are the fundamental guideline for leading the value direction of cultural self-strengthening. We must guide cultural construction with the core socialist values, integrate the core socialist values into social development and daily life, give play to the role of culture in cultivating the mind and nurturing sentiments, and transform correct value concepts into social consensus and elevate them into conscious action.

强大的价值感召力，本质就是“以文化人、以文育人”的问题。强大的价值感召力，能够促进社会向上向善、主流价值深入人心，让文化成为涵养美德、引领风尚的精神旗帜。价值观与文化相依相生。文化的感召力并非源于强制灌输，而是基于价值理念的吸引力与感染力，实现“以理服人”“以德服人”。社会主义核心价值观是当代中国精神的集中体现，是凝聚中国力量的思想道德基础，决定着社会文明程度和公民道德风貌，是引领文化自强价值航向的根本遵循。要以社会主义核心价值观引领文化建设，把社会主义核心价值观融入社会发展、融入日常生活，发挥文化养心志、育情操的作用，将正确的价值理念转化为社会共识、升华为行动自觉。

Strong international influence is essentially a matter of “displaying the image and connecting with the people’s hearts.” Strong international influence concerns not only our country’s position in the global cultural landscape but also the quality of a great modern socialist country. International influence is mainly reflected in the dissemination capacity, degree of recognition, and discursive weight of culture on the international stage, specifically manifested in the ability and level of Chinese culture and Chinese civilization to go global. The enhancement of international influence is not cultural export or civilizational conquest but is based on exchange and mutual learning among diverse civilizations, realizing a civilizational landscape where “each beauty is beautiful, and beauty is shared.” We must strengthen the capacity for international communication, accelerate the construction of a Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative system, improve the ability and level of telling China’s stories well, convince people with facts, move people with emotion, and influence people with reason, enhance the international community’s understanding and recognition of China, and strive to provide Chinese solutions for deepening global civilizational exchange and mutual learning and promoting the common progress of human civilization.

强大的国际影响力，本质就是“展形象、通民心”的问题。强大的国际影响力，不仅关系我国在世界文化格局中的地位，而且关系社会主义现代化强国的成色。国际影响力主要体现为文化在国际舞台的传播能力、认同程度与话语权重，具体表现为中华文化与中华文明走向世界的能力与水平。国际影响力的提升并非文化输出或文明征服，而是基于文明多样性的交流互鉴，实现“各美其美、美美与共”的文明图景。要加强国际传播能力建设，加快构建中国话语和中国叙事体系，提高讲好中国故事的能力水平，用事实说服人、情感感染人、道理影响人，增进国际社会对中国的认知认同，努力为深化全球文明交流互鉴、推动人类文明共同进步提供中国方案。

From the above, it can be seen that “self” and “strengthening” are dialectically unified, mutually dependent and mutually reinforcing, together constituting the complete system of cultural self-strengthening. In the theoretical system of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, cultural self-strengthening is an important directional anchor. Cultural self-strengthening takes cultural consciousness as its cognitive foundation and cultural confidence as its spiritual driving force; it is the logical extension and practical destination of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence. At the same time, the advancement of cultural self-strengthening in turn deepens cultural consciousness and consolidates cultural confidence.

由上可见，“自”与“强”辩证统一，二者相互依存、相互促进，共同构成了文化自强的完整体系。在习近平文化思想的理论体系中，文化自强是重要的方向锚点。文化自强以文化自觉为认知基础，以文化自信为精神动力，是文化自觉与文化自信的逻辑延伸和实践归宿；同时，文化自强的推进又反过来深化文化自觉、巩固文化自信。

IV. Conclusion

四、结语

The three important concepts of “cultural awareness,” “cultural confidence,” and “cultural self-strengthening” contained in Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture are not a simple linear progression but an organic whole of interactive connections and dynamic development.

习近平文化思想中蕴含的“文化自觉”“文化自信”“文化自强”三个重要概念，并非简单的线性递进关系，而是互动关联、动态发展的有机整体。

From the perspective of generative mechanism, cultural awareness is the cognitive prerequisite for nurturing cultural confidence and realizing cultural self-strengthening. Only by deeply understanding the value and status of culture, accurately grasping the laws of cultural development, and firmly fulfilling the cultural mission can one cultivate rational and steadfast cultural confidence and achieve cultural self-strengthening. Cultural confidence connects cultural awareness and cultural self-strengthening in both directions; it is the sublimation of cultural awareness and also injects powerful spiritual impetus into cultural self-strengthening. Only by holding a strong sense of identification, pride, and confidence in one’s own culture can the cultural innovation and creative vitality of the entire nation be stimulated, pushing cultural self-strengthening from concept to practice. Cultural self-strengthening is the practical unfolding and goal direction of cultural awareness and cultural confidence; it is a test of the scientificity of the cognition of cultural awareness and also a manifestation of cultural confidence in the realm of practice.

从生成机理看，文化自觉是涵养文化自信和实现文化自强的认知前提，只有深刻认识文化的价值地位、准确把握文化发展规律、坚定践行文化使命，才能培育起理性而坚定的文化自信，实现文化自强；文化自信双向联结文化自觉与文化自强，是文化自觉的升华，又为文化自强注入强大精神动力，只有对自身文化抱有强烈的认同感、自豪感与自信心，才能激发全民族的文化创新创造活力，推动文化自强从理念走向实践；文化自强是文化自觉与文化自信的实践展开与目标方向，是对文化自觉认知科学性的检验，也是文化自信在实践领域的彰显。

From the perspective of mutual interaction, the deepening of cultural awareness can promote the enhancement of cultural confidence, while the enhancement of cultural confidence can in turn raise the initiative and profundity of cultural awareness. The consolidation of cultural confidence can inject impetus into cultural self-strengthening, while the advancement of cultural self-strengthening can further strengthen the confidence and vitality of cultural confidence, pushing cultural confidence to sublimate into a more enduring spiritual force. The elevation of cultural awareness can point the correct direction for cultural self-strengthening, while the achievements of cultural self-strengthening can push cultural awareness to evolve to a deeper level.

从相互作用看，文化自觉的深化能够推动文化自信的增强，而文化自信的增强又能提升文化自觉的主动性与深刻性；文化自信的巩固能够为文化自强注入动力，而文化自强的推进又能进一步增强文化自信的底气与活力，推动文化自信向更持久的精神力量升华；文化自觉的提升能够为文化自强指明正确方向，而文化自强的成就又能推动文化自觉向更深层次演进。

Cultural awareness, cultural confidence, and cultural self-strengthening are highly unified in their value pursuit and mutually reinforcing in their ideological content, together constituting an indivisible organic whole. On the new journey of the New Era, we must further deeply study and comprehend Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, using cultural awareness to consolidate the ideological foundation, using cultural confidence to stimulate spiritual impetus, and using cultural self-strengthening to realize development goals, jointly forging new brilliance in socialist culture.

文化自觉、文化自信、文化自强在价值追求上高度统一，在思想内涵上相互促进，共同构成了不可分割的有机整体。新时代新征程，我们要进一步深刻学习领会习近平文化思想，以文化自觉筑牢思想根基，以文化自信激发精神动力，以文化自强实现发展目标，共同铸就社会主义文化新辉煌。

Author’s brief biography: Dong Xiaotong, Associate Researcher at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

作者简介：董晓彤，中共中央党史和文献研究院副研究员。