On the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that “promoting cultural prosperity, building a culturally strong country, and building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation” are the new cultural missions of the New Era, requiring us to strengthen our cultural confidence, strive with vigor, and work to create a new culture that belongs to our time. This sets a goal for us to build a new culture and create a new civilization under new historical conditions, and points the way forward. Building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a strategic task that runs through history, the present, and the future, and is a far-reaching goal that connects China with the world. We must deeply understand its essential connotations and spiritual substance, fully recognize its contemporary value and great significance, and strive to have a clear understanding and in-depth reflection on a series of issues concerning Chinese civilization and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. This is required not only for a profound comprehension of Chinese civilization, but even more so for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. As Mao Zedong said: “To understand the laws of the world, to find correct theory, in order to effectively guide practice and transform the world.” [1]1 This is a paraphrase of Mao Zedong’s view on the relationship between theory and practice, drawn from his philosophical writings such as *On Practice* and *On Contradiction*.

在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记提出，“推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明”是新时代新的文化使命，要求我们坚定文化自信、奋发有为，努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化。这为我们在新的历史条件下建设新文化、创造新文明，提出了奋斗目标，指明了前进方向。建设中华民族现代文明，是一项贯通历史、现实和未来的战略任务，是一个联通中国与世界的远大目标。我们要深入理解其内涵要义与精神实质，充分认识其时代价值与重大意义，对有关中华文明、中华民族现代文明的一系列问题力求有清晰的认识和深入的思考。这既是深刻领悟中华文明的要求，更是建设中华民族现代文明的要求。正如毛泽东所说：“认识世界的规律性，找到正确的理论，为着有效的指导实践，改造世界。”

I. The Basic Connotations of Civilization

一、文明的基本内涵

The basic connotations of civilization can be divided into broad and narrow senses. In the broad sense, civilization refers to the rich content of material civilization, political civilization, and cultural-ethical progress; in the narrow sense, civilization mainly refers to cultural-ethical progress, which is close to culture at the spiritual level. Just as culture is linked to humanity and is a unique creation of human beings, what civilization signifies is also a historical phenomenon and a social state. Civilization is the sediment of social history and the product of human social practice. In terms of its distinction from a state of barbarism, civilization relies on three basic elements—groups (cities), writing (thought), and rites (norms)—to bring human society into an autonomous and rational era. As a general representation of the state of social development, civilizations born in human history are often linked to specific social forms and social systems, hence the terms feudal civilization, capitalist civilization, and socialist civilization. It is on this basis that Mao Zedong, with China’s long history and the level of development achieved in ancient China, proudly emphasized that “China is one of the earliest civilized countries in the world.”

文明的基本内涵有广义与狭义之分。广义的文明指向物质文明、政治文明、精神文明等丰富内容；狭义的文明主要指精神文明，与精神层面的文化接近。正如文化与人相联系、是人类独有的创造一样，文明所表征的亦是一种历史现象，是一种社会状态。文明是社会历史的积淀物，是人类社会实践的产物。就与野蛮状态相区别而论，文明依赖群体（城市）、文字（思维）、礼仪（规范）三方面基本要素，使人类社会进入一个自主且理性的时代。作为社会发展状态的总体性表征，人类历史上诞生的文明，往往与特有的社会形态、社会制度相联系，故有封建主义文明、资本主义文明、社会主义文明之称。正是基于此，毛泽东以中国的悠久历史和远古中国所达到的发展程度，非常自豪地强调“中国是世界文明发达最早的国家之一”。

Civilization and culture are internally connected, often used interchangeably, and even serve as substitutes or explanations for each other. Thus, it is difficult to strictly distinguish between civilization and culture, or to give them definite boundaries and precise definitions. But even so, we can still glimpse many differences between them and distinguish their respective connotations and manifestations from some aspects. For example, culture is mainly the result manifested externally, while civilization is mainly the connotation contained internally; culture is often linked to knowledge and learning, while civilization is often associated with behavior and rites; culture has the form of concrete existence and materialization, while civilization has the appearance of atmosphere and state; culture tends to point to the relationship between humans and things, while civilization tends to point to the relationship between humans and humans. Regarding the basic relationship between civilization and culture at the spiritual level, it can be roughly understood as: civilization is the inner essence of culture, and culture is the external manifestation of civilization; civilization is the accumulation and crystallization of culture, and culture is the foundation and support of civilization.

文明与文化内在联通，时有通用，甚至互为替代与说明。故而，文明与文化难以严格区分，难以给出确定的边界与准确的界定。但即便如此，我们仍可窥见二者的诸多不同，从一些方面区分出各自的蕴含与表现，如文化主要是显于外的结果，文明主要是寓于内的内涵；文化多与知识、学问相联系，文明多与行为、礼仪相关联；文化具有实存、物化之形，文明具有氛围、状态之样；文化偏于指向人与物之间，文明偏于指向人与人之间。就精神层面的文明与文化的基本关系看，大致可理解为：文明是文化的内在精髓，文化是文明的外在呈现；文明是文化的积累与结晶，文化是文明的基础与支撑。

There are many explanations of civilization in ancient Chinese texts, which help us to further explore its subtleties. The *Book of Changes* [2]2 The *Book of Changes* (*Yijing* or *I Ching*) is an ancient Chinese divination text and one of the oldest classics, often considered a source of cosmological and philosophical principles., known as the “source of the Great Way” of Chinese civilization, states: “The dragon appears in the field; the world is civilized.” [3]3 This line from the *Book of Changes* uses the image of a dragon emerging in the field as a metaphor for a sage or virtuous ruler appearing, bringing order and enlightenment (“civilization”) to the world. Du Guangting of the Former Shu [4]4 Du Guangting (850–933 CE) was a Daoist scholar and official of the Former Shu kingdom (907–925 CE), one of the short-lived states during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. wrote in his “Memorial Congratulating on the Yellow Cloud”: “To pacify distant customs with civilization, to intimidate the Xiongnu [5]5 The Xiongnu were a nomadic confederation active in the northern frontiers of China from the 3rd century BCE to the late 1st century CE, often in conflict with Chinese dynasties. with military strategy.” Kong Yingda of the Tang Dynasty [6]6 Kong Yingda (574–648 CE) was a prominent Confucian scholar and official of the Tang Dynasty, known for his authoritative commentaries on the Confucian classics., in his commentary on the *Book of Documents* [7]7 The *Book of Documents* (*Shangshu*) is a collection of historical speeches and documents from ancient China, one of the Five Classics of Confucianism., explained “civilization” as “ordering heaven and earth is called wen (pattern/culture), illuminating the four directions is called ming (brightness).” From these interpretations of the connotation of “civilization,” it can be seen that, within the general framework of grasping the relationship between heaven and humanity, the ancients particularly valued the implication of “humanistic cultivation” in the concept of “civilization.” In traditional culture, the explicit manifestation of humanistic cultivation was mainly rites and norms—that is, adhering to certain rites and making behavior orderly and disciplined. Hence, the *Annals of Yanzi* [8]8 The *Annals of Yanzi* (*Yanzi Chunqiu*) is a text attributed to Yan Ying, a famous statesman of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE), containing anecdotes and dialogues. holds that “the reason why humans are superior to beasts is that they have rites,” and Confucius even more emphasized that “without learning rites, one cannot establish oneself,” [9]9 This is a saying from the *Analects of Confucius* (*Lunyu*), Book 16, Chapter 13. attributing to “rites” the proper attitudes of respect, reverence, harmony, and frugality in dealing with the world and interacting with others. This highlights “rites,” which are regarded as an important marker of civilization, and to a large extent, rites came to represent the civilized image of the Chinese nation.

中国古代典籍中有许多关于文明的阐释，有助于我们进一步去探微究里。被称为中华文明“大道之源”的《易经》认为：“见龙在田，天下文明。”前蜀杜光庭在《贺黄云表》中云：“柔远俗以文明，慑凶奴以武略。”唐代孔颖达注疏《尚书》时解释“文明”为“经天纬地曰文，照临四方曰明”。这些对“文明”内涵的阐释，可见古人在把握天人关系这一总的思维框架下，尤为看重“文明”理念中的“人文教化”意蕴。而人文教化的显性表现，在传统文化看来则主要是礼仪和规范，即遵从一定的礼仪、使行为有规有矩。是故，《晏子春秋》认为“凡人之所以贵于禽兽者，以有礼也”，孔子更强调“不学礼，无以立”，把“礼”归为处世为人应有的恭、敬、和、俭。这就把“礼”凸显出来了，“礼”被视为文明的重要标识，“礼”在很大程度上也就代表了中华民族的文明形象。

Although people’s explanations and definitions of civilization (including culture) are diverse and relatively complex, when viewed and understood from a macroscopic perspective, people tend to grasp it by linking it to social development and historical progress. Civilization is usually regarded as a state achieved by humanity in promoting social progress, a result of courteous interaction between people. On this point, people’s views are consistent. Engels pointed out that “the period of civilization is the period of learning to further process natural products, the period of genuine industry and art,” [10]10 This is a paraphrase of Engels’s discussion of the “period of civilization” in *The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State* (1884). and he also emphasized that civilization is a matter of practice, a social quality. Similar discussions place civilization within the process of historical development, viewing the history of civilization as the history of human society reaching a certain stage, and the era of civilization as the era when human society has reached a certain level. This is the cornerstone for us to grasp the essential connotations of civilization, and the theoretical basis for us to deepen our thinking on a series of issues related to civilization. So-called ancient civilization, modern civilization, contemporary civilization, or feudal civilization, capitalist civilization, socialist civilization, all undoubtedly derive from this. Clarifying this point is necessary and fundamental.

人们对文明（包括文化）的说明与规定，尽管多种多样且相对繁杂，但若从宏观意义上去看待与理解，人们还是更趋向于从联通社会发展、结合历史进步加以把握，通常把文明视为人类推动社会进步而达到的一种境界、人际之间礼仪相处的一种结果。在这一点上，人们的看法具有一致性。恩格斯指出，“文明时代是学会对天然产物进一步加工的时期，是真正的工业和艺术的时期”，他还强调，文明是实践的事情,是一种社会品质。类似的一些论述，将文明置于历史发展过程中看待，将文明历史看作人类社会发展到一定阶段的历史，将文明时代看作人类社会发展到一定程度的时代。这是我们把握文明之内涵要义的基石，是我们深化思考有关文明的一系列问题的理论基点。所谓古代文明、近代文明、现代文明亦或封建主义文明、资本主义文明、社会主义文明，无疑都是由此而来。明确这一点是必要的，也是基本的。

II. Chinese Civilization and Its Prominent Characteristics

二、中华文明及其突出特征

Chinese civilization, also known as Huaxia civilization, together with ancient Egyptian civilization, Mesopotamian civilization, and Indian civilization, is known as one of the four great civilizations of the world, and is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. The other three ancient civilizations were later interrupted, but only Chinese civilization has not been interrupted and has continued unbroken. By “interruption,” it mainly means that the language and writing were not continued, and the classics and ideas were not passed down. In our country, “the characters created by our ancestors thousands of years ago are still in use today.” [11]11 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development (2023). “Over the past thousands of years, the vast array of historical and cultural classics handed down in our country is so rich and complete that no other country can compare. This is a unique and important symbol of Chinese civilization, a precious treasure of the Chinese nation.” [12]12 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development (2023).

中华文明亦称华夏文明，与古代埃及文明、两河文明、印度文明并称为世界四大文明，是世界上历史最悠久的文明之一。其他三个古代文明后来都中断了，唯有中华文明未曾中断且一直延续未绝。所谓中断，主要是语言文字未能承续、典籍与理念未能传后。而在我国，“我们的祖先在几千年前创造的文字至今仍在使用”。“几千年来，我国流传下来的各种历史文化典籍浩如烟海，其丰富和完备的程度，没有任何一个国家可以相比。这是中华文明特有的重要标志，是中华民族的宝贵财富”。

About 5,000 years ago, various regions of the Huaxia land successively entered the era of civilization, and the more mature civilization formed in the Central Plains radiated its influence in all directions, becoming the core and leader of the overall process of East Asian civilization. The *Commentary on the Tang Code* [13]13 The *Commentary on the Tang Code* (*Tang Lü Shu Yi*) is the official legal commentary on the Tang legal code, completed in 653 CE, and is a foundational text of Chinese legal history. records: “Those who personally receive the king’s teachings belong to China; they have the dignity of dress and deportment, customs of filial piety and fraternal duty, and conduct themselves with rites and righteousness.” In the long process of historical development, Chinese civilization has been passed down in one continuous line, accumulated continuously, and formed a unique form of civilization; Chinese civilization has shaped the inner qualities and spiritual temperament of the Chinese people, endlessly continuing and being passed down from generation to generation, with its cohesion and influence constantly strengthening and expanding. Chinese civilization has gone through various dynasties, with the main body of the nation and the main body of the language continuing from beginning to end, creating a brilliant miracle that has lasted for more than 5,000 years. Upholding the spirit of “Although Zhou was an old state, its mandate was renewed” [14]14 This is a line from the *Book of Songs* (*Shijing*), a classic collection of ancient Chinese poetry, often cited to express the idea of continuous renewal and adaptation. and the concept of “keeping pace with the times,” [15]15 This is a concept from the *Book of Changes*, referring to the need to move in harmony with the times and adapt to changing circumstances. Chinese civilization, with an attitude of self-criticism and open-mindedness, absorbs the essence of cultures from all sides to nourish the bloodline of its own national culture. All this is the reason why Chinese civilization is deeply vibrant and vital, and the basis for its continuous growth and expanding influence. There is no doubt that Chinese civilization has written the most important chapter in the history of human civilization, and can be described as a brilliant pearl in the history of human civilization.

距今约5000年，华夏大地各地区陆续进入文明时代，中原地区形成的更为成熟的文明则向四方辐射其影响力，成为东亚文明总进程的核心与引领者。《唐律疏议》记载：“亲被王教，自属中国，衣冠威仪，习俗孝悌，居身礼义。”中华文明在漫长的历史发展过程中，一脉相承、持续累积，形成独具特色的文明形态；中华文明塑造出华夏儿女的内在品质和精神气韵，生生不息、代代传承，其凝聚力、影响力不断增强与拓展。中华文明历经各个朝代，民族主体、语言主体前后延续，创造了延绵5000多年的辉煌奇迹。秉持“周虽旧邦，其命维新”的精神和“与时偕行”的理念，中华文明以自我批判和虚怀若谷的姿态，汲取各方文化精华滋补本民族文化血脉。这一切，都是中华文明深具活力和生命力的缘由，是中华文明不断生长、不断扩大影响力的基础。毫无疑问，中华文明书写了人类文明历史上最重要的篇章，可谓是人类文明发展史上的一颗璀璨明珠。

Chinese culture has a long and continuous history, and Chinese civilization is extensive and profound. At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping, linking the fine traditional Chinese culture, summarized and identified five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, providing an ideological guide for us to understand Chinese civilization more deeply and profoundly. “The fine traditional Chinese culture contains many important elements that together shape the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization.” These prominent characteristics include outstanding continuity, outstanding innovativeness, outstanding unity, outstanding inclusiveness, and outstanding peacefulness. The five prominent characteristics are interconnected and work together, marking the historical inheritance and genetic code of the Chinese nation, marking the enterprising spirit and fearless character of the Chinese nation, marking the cohesive consciousness and national responsibility of the Chinese nation, marking the broad-mindedness and open spirit of the Chinese nation, and marking the peace concept and global vision of the Chinese nation. These prominent characteristics signify that the Chinese nation and the Chinese people uphold what is right without being conservative, respect antiquity without restoring the old, and possess a firm common belief that the territory must not be divided, the country must not be thrown into chaos, the nation must not be dispersed, and civilization must not be severed.

中国文化源远流长，中华文明博大精深。在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记联系中华优秀传统文化，总结概括出中华文明的五大突出特性，为我们更深入、更深刻地认识中华文明提供了思想指南。“中华优秀传统文化有很多重要元素，共同塑造出中华文明的突出特性。”这些突出特性，包括突出的连续性、突出的创新性、突出的统一性、突出的包容性、突出的和平性。五大突出特性互为联结，共同作用，标示出中华民族的历史传承和血脉基因，标示出中华民族的进取精神和无畏品格，标示出中华民族的凝聚意识和国家责任，标示出中华民族的博大胸怀和开放精神，标示出中华民族的和平理念和全球视野。这些突出特性，表征着中华民族和中国人民守正不守旧、尊古不复古，具有坚定的国土不可分、国家不可乱、民族不可散、文明不可断的共同信念。

Taking “outstanding unity” as an example: for a super-large country composed of multiple ethnic groups like China, in its long historical evolution, it is inevitable to experience a process of “long divided, must unite; long united, must divide,” [16]16 The "three great mountains" (三座大山) refers to imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, which the CPC identified as the main oppressors of the Chinese people before 1949. [ and it is inevitable to produce contradictions and conflicts between different ethnic groups within the country. Yet even so, contradictions and conflicts often bear the characteristics of internal strife, mostly belonging to the “ebb and flow” within the great family of the Chinese nation, and a state of division is not the norm; ultimately, it always returns to one family, one whole. This is because the Chinese people have always held the spiritual sustenance of “the whole world united under one heaven, peace and tranquility across the four seas,” [17]17 This sentence is a standard formulation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC (October 2022), emphasizing the Party’s commitment to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and rejecting both a return to the pre-reform planned economy and a shift toward Western-style capitalism. and have always cherished the spiritual pursuit of “when the Great Way prevails, the world is shared by all.” [18]18 Xi National unity becomes the aspiration of the people and the will of the nation. All ethnic groups in China have worked together with toil and hardship to build the country’s beautiful mountains and rivers. Although the Chinese nation has evolved alternately between unity and division, prosperity and decline, unity and prosperity are always the norm, while division and decline are the abnormal states. Statistics show that in the approximately 4,000 years since the Xia Dynasty, on the land of China, the total time of internal ethnic separatism was over 1,200 years, while the time of ethnic unity was over 2,700 years, which fully demonstrates the prominent characteristic of unity of Chinese civilization. The Qin Dynasty achieved “unified script, unified axle length for carriages, unified weights and measures, unified norms of conduct,” [19] initiating the development process of a unified multi-ethnic country in China. Although there were various forms of ethnic strife and division afterwards, the historical trend towards ethnic integration and national unity has never been fundamentally altered. This is both a result of the inherent strength of Chinese civilization and a realistic manifestation of the spirit of pluralistic integration, openness, and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization.

就以“突出的统一性”而言，像中国这样一个由多民族组成的超大型国家，在其漫长的历史演进过程中，难免会经历“分久必合，合久必分”的过程，难免会产生国家内部不同民族之间的矛盾与冲突。但即便如此，矛盾与冲突往往也是带有内部纷争特征，多属于华夏民族大家庭内里的“此消彼长”，且分割状态不是常态，最终总要归为一家、归为一体。因为中国人民始终抱持“天下一统，四海靖宁”的精神寄托，始终怀有“大道之行也，天下为公”的精神追求，国家一统成为民心所向、民族意志。华夏各民族胼手胝足，共建祖国锦绣河山。中华民族虽在统一与分割、兴盛与衰落中交替演进，但总是以统一和兴盛为常态，以分割和衰落为异态。有统计表明，自夏朝以后的约4000年时间里，在华夏大地上，国家内部的民族割据时间总计为1200余年，而民族统一时间则为2700多年，这充分彰显出中华文明突出的统一性特征。秦朝实现“书同文，车同轨，量同衡，行同伦”，开启了中国统一的多民族国家的发展历程。此后虽有民族间多种形式的纷争与分割，但民族融合、国家一统的历史趋向未曾根本改易。这既是中华文明的内在力量使然，又是中华文明多元融合、开放包容精神气质的现实映现。

III. The Basic Implications of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

三、中华民族现代文明的基本意蕴

Leading from “Chinese civilization” to “the modern civilization of the Chinese nation” is a natural extension of thought, an inevitable progression of concepts from the abstract to the concrete. However, the proposal of iconic concepts and the expression of key terms often contain important propositions and major judgments, thereby revealing the depth of the subject’s thinking and the loftiness of its vision. The proposal and elucidation of “the modern civilization of the Chinese nation” demonstrate our Party’s deepening understanding and conscious action on a series of major issues such as cultural construction and civilizational creation.

从“中华文明”导引出、过渡至“中华民族现代文明”，是思维的自然延伸，是概念由抽象进展到具体的必然。但标识性概念的提出、关键性语汇的表达，却往往蕴涵着重要命题和重大判断，由此也透现出主体思维的深邃与视界的高远。“中华民族现代文明”的提出与阐发，显示出我们党对文化建设、文明创造等一系列重大问题在认识上的深化、在行动上的自觉。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the creative transformation and innovative development of the fine traditional Chinese culture, highlighted the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, promoted the continuous deepening of cultural heritage and development, and guided the focus and attention of culture towards “Chinese civilization” and “the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The Chinese nation is a nation with extraordinary creativity. We have created a great Chinese civilization, and we can continue to expand and successfully follow the development path suited to China’s national conditions.” He emphasized, “The research results of major projects such as the Chinese Civilization Origins Project have empirically verified China’s million-year history of humanity, ten-thousand-year history of culture, and over five-thousand-year history of civilization.” In 2022, during an inspection tour in Anyang City, Henan Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated, “This visit is intended to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese civilization, to make the past serve the present, and to provide reference for better building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” This was the first time General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the concept of “the modern civilization of the Chinese nation” and the proposition of “building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” In June 2023, at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Only by comprehensively and deeply understanding the history of Chinese civilization can we more effectively promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the fine traditional Chinese culture, more forcefully advance the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” He systematically expounded the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, clearly proposed the epochal mission of building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and put forward and elucidated a series of innovative insights and important viewpoints, which can be described as having a commanding perspective and profound thought, providing profound inspiration and profound education.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化、创新性发展，突出马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，推动文化传承发展不断深化，引导文化关注点、注意力进展到“中华文明”“中华民族现代文明”上来。习近平总书记指出：“中华民族是具有非凡创造力的民族，我们创造了伟大的中华文明，我们也能够继续拓展和走好适合中国国情的发展道路。”他强调，“中华文明探源工程等重大工程的研究成果，实证了我国百万年的人类史、一万年的文化史、五千多年的文明史”。2022年，习近平总书记在河南省安阳市考察时指出，“这次来是想更深地学习理解中华文明，古为今用，为更好建设中华民族现代文明提供借鉴”。这是习近平总书记首次提出“中华民族现代文明”概念和“建设中华民族现代文明”命题。2023年6月，在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记指出：“只有全面深入了解中华文明的历史，才能更有效地推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，更有力地推进中国特色社会主义文化建设，建设中华民族现代文明。”他系统阐述了中华文明的突出特性，明确提出建设中华民族现代文明的时代使命，提出并阐发一系列创新见解和重要观点，可谓高屋建瓴、思想精辟，给人以深刻启发、深刻教育。

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s new ideas, new viewpoints, and

习近平总书记关于中华文明、中华民族现代文明的新思想新观点新论断，促使我们进一步理解中华文明、中华民族现代文明，促使我们深刻把握中华民族现代文明的基本意蕴等一系列基本问题。

First, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation corresponds to the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation and the modern-era civilization of the Chinese nation. It is the civilization of the Chinese nation as it has been inherited and developed from ancient times to the present, the modern manifestation of Chinese civilization under new historical conditions, and the modern creation of Chinese civilization under a new social formation. In everyday usage, the concept of "Chinese civilization" mainly refers to the society of ancient China, specifically the civilization contained within fine traditional Chinese culture, that is, the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation. However, "Chinese civilization" is also a holistic concept, a universal expression encompassing ancient civilization, modern-era civilization, and modern civilization. It is in this sense of origin and comparison, within the connection that both distinguishes and continues the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation and the modern-era civilization of the Chinese nation, that we understand the basic meaning of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

首先，中华民族现代文明对应中华民族古代文明、中华民族近代文明，是中华民族从古至今承续发展的文明，是中华文明在新的历史条件下的现代呈现，是中华文明在新的社会形态下的现代创造。从日常使用上看，“中华文明”概念主要指向中国古代社会，特指在中华优秀传统文化中蕴涵的文明，亦即中华民族古代文明。但“中华文明”同时又是一个整体性概念，是一个涵盖古代文明、近代文明、现代文明在内的全称表达。这是从源出与比较的意义层面，在与中华民族古代文明、中华民族近代文明既相互区分又一脉相承的联通中，来理解中华民族现代文明的基本意蕴。

Second, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation refers to the new civilization created, advanced, and continuously developed by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China since the founding of New China. Taking the "Chinese nation" as its subject and grounded in the social practice of "modernity," the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a holistic and systematic civilization encompassing material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization. It is a civilization that integrates the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional Chinese culture, striving to forge an organic and unified new cultural life-form. It is a civilization that forms the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, creating a new culture that belongs to our era. It is a civilization that condenses and forms its own excellent qualities and distinctive features, fully demonstrating and fully exerting its own cohesion, centripetal force, and influence. It is a brand-new civilization built on the basis of inheritance and reference, which transcends both the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation and capitalist civilization. It is from the perspective of the starting course and connotative meaning, focusing on inherent requirements and construction tasks, that we grasp the basic meaning of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

其次，中华民族现代文明是指自新中国成立以来，由中国共产党团结带领中国人民创造推进且不断发展的新的文明。中华民族现代文明以“中华民族”为主体、立足“现代”社会实践，是包括物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明在内的具有整体性与系统性的文明，是把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合、着力造就有机统一的新的文化生命体的文明，是形成中国式现代化文化形态、创造出属于我们这个时代的新文化的文明，是凝结形成自身优秀品质和鲜明特色、充分彰显并充分发挥自身凝聚力、向心力和影响力的文明，是在继承与借鉴基础上构建起既超越中国古代文明、又超越资本主义文明的崭新文明。这是从起始历程与内涵要义层面，侧重内在要求和建设任务来把握中华民族现代文明的基本意蕴。

Finally, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a continuation of historical civilization. Although historical civilization becomes "the past" in the course of civilizational development, various elements of "modern" civilization are also accumulated in the "historical" civilization of the past, and modern civilization will inevitably carry them forward. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is the latest form of Chinese civilization, embodying the new characteristics and new demands of the present era, reflecting the new missions and new circumstances of contemporary practice, and refracting the interest demands and inner aspirations of the people. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a marker of social progress, the crystallization of the construction of an advanced socialist culture, a civilizational form oriented toward modernization, toward the world, and toward the future, and the sublimation of a national, scientific, and popular socialist culture. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is the civilizational accumulation of Chinese-path modernization, the essence condensed from the practical innovation and theoretical innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and contains the Chinese experience, Chinese solutions, and Chinese wisdom created by the Party and the people in the process of carrying out the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause, and realizing the great dream. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is the civilizational foundation of contemporary China's development and the inner pursuit of hundreds of millions of Chinese people. Its endogenous cultural identity, cultural consensus, and cultural responsibility, as well as the positive social mentality it nurtures and the harmonious social relations it shapes and maintains, are the spiritual forces that drive the stable development of the Party and the state's undertakings. This is to understand the basic implications of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation from the perspective of its main characteristics and basic functions, by revealing the roles it should play and the values it should realize.

最后，中华民族现代文明是历史文明的延续，历史文明虽然在文明发展的历史中成为“过去”，但在过往的“历史”文明中也积淀着种种“现代”文明的元素，现代文明必然会使之发扬光大；中华民族现代文明是中华文明的最新形态，体现着当今时代的新特征、新诉求，反映着当代实践的新使命、新情况，折射出人民群众的利益要求和内心愿景；中华民族现代文明是社会进步的标志，是社会主义先进文化建设的结晶，是面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的文明形态，是民族的、科学的、大众的社会主义文化的升华；中华民族现代文明是中国式现代化建设的文明积淀，是中国特色社会主义实践创新和理论创新的精华凝结，蕴涵着党和人民在进行伟大斗争、建设伟大工程、推进伟大事业、实现伟大梦想过程中创造出的中国经验、中国方案和中国智慧；中华民族现代文明是当代中国发展的文明底色，是亿万华夏儿女的内心追寻，其内生的文化认同、文化共识和文化责任，其孕育生长的积极社会心态、塑造维护的和谐社会关系，是推动党和国家事业发展稳定的精神力量。这是从主要特征与基本功能的视阈，通过昭示其应发挥的作用和实现的价值，来认识中华民族现代文明的基本意蕴。

IV. The Essential Determinations of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

四、中华民族现代文明的本质规定

To deeply grasp the essential determinations of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation aims to further reveal the fundamental attributes and inherent characteristics of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee, in the practice of leading the Party and the people in advancing the governance of the state, has placed cultural construction in an important position in the overall work, continuously deepened the understanding of the laws of cultural construction, and put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions. These important viewpoints are the theoretical summary of the Party's practical experience in leading cultural construction in the New Era and the fundamental guidelines for doing a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work. They must be adhered to and implemented for a long time and continuously enriched and developed." The important viewpoints emphasized by General Secretary Xi Jinping that "must be adhered to and implemented for

深刻把握中华民族现代文明的本质规定，旨在进一步揭示中华民族现代文明的根本属性和内在特质。习近平总书记指出：“党的十八大以来，党中央在领导党和人民推进治国理政的实践中，把文化建设摆在全局工作的重要位置，不断深化对文化建设的规律性认识，提出一系列新思想新观点新论断。这些重要观点是新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结，是做好宣传思想文化工作的根本遵循，必须长期坚持贯彻、不断丰富发展。”习近平总书记强调的“必须长期坚持贯彻、不断丰富发展”的重要观点，如坚持和加强党对宣传思想文化工作的全面领导、坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位、以社会主义核心价值观引领文化建设等，不仅昭示出文化建设的根本要求，同时也从不同层面赋予中华民族现代文明以本质上的规定。

First, the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The leading core position of the Communist Party of China in the revolution, construction, and reform undertakings of China was conferred by the historical development process of the Chinese nation since modern times, was determined by the historical merits of the CPC uniting and leading the Chinese people to overthrow the "three great mountains" [16]16 The "three great mountains" (三座大山) refers to imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, which the CPC identified as the main oppressors of the Chinese people before 1949. [, cast off the state of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, and establish New China, and was the conscious choice of the Chinese people. Since the founding of New China, the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation has always advanced under the leadership of the CPC, achieving extraordinary accomplishments and exerting tremendous influence. To continue building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, it remains necessary to uphold the leadership of the CPC, with the CPC providing guidance, overall planning, and impetus. This is because the leadership of the CPC is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. "The great victory achieved by the CPC in leading the Chinese people has enabled the Chinese nation, with a civilization history of over five thousand years, to comprehensively advance toward modernization, allowing Chinese civilization to radiate new vitality in the process of modernization; it has enabled the socialist proposition with a history of five hundred years to successfully open up a correct path of high realism and feasibility in the world's most populous country, allowing scientific socialism to radiate new vitality in the twenty-first century." [17]17 This sentence is a standard formulation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC (October 2022), emphasizing the Party’s commitment to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and rejecting both a return to the pre-reform planned economy and a shift toward Western-style capitalism. The more than one hundred years of arduous struggle led by the CPC for the Chinese people constitute a great historical process of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation, and at the same time a process of exploration and development in cultural innovation and civilizational transformation. History has proven and will continue to prove that only by upholding and strengthening the leadership of the CPC can the modern civilization of the Chinese nation continuously accumulate and develop, and can it continuously converge and elevate.

一是中国共产党领导。中国共产党在中国革命、建设、改革事业中的领导核心地位，是中华民族近代以来的历史发展进程赋予的，是由中国共产党团结带领中国人民推翻“三座大山”、摆脱半殖民地半封建社会状态、建立新中国的历史功勋所决定的，是中国人民的自觉选择。自新中国成立以来，中华民族现代文明建设始终在中国共产党领导下推进，已经取得非凡的成就和巨大的影响。继续在中国特色社会主义道路上建设中华民族现代文明，仍然必须坚持中国共产党领导，由中国共产党来引领、统筹、推动。因为中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义的最本质特征，是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势。“中国共产党领导中国人民取得的伟大胜利，使具有五千多年文明历史的中华民族全面迈向现代化，让中华文明在现代化进程中焕发出新的蓬勃生机；使具有五百年历史的社会主义主张在世界上人口最多的国家成功开辟出具有高度现实性和可行性的正确道路，让科学社会主义在二十一世纪焕发出新的蓬勃生机”。中国共产党领导中国人民进行的100多年的艰苦奋斗，是强国建设、民族复兴的伟大历史进程，同时也是文化创新、文明转型的探索发展历程。历史已经证明并将继续证明，只有坚持并加强中国共产党领导，中华民族现代文明才能持续累积发展，才能不断汇聚提升。

Second, the ideological foundation of Marxism. The core of civilization is cultural-ethical progress, and the soul of cultural-ethical progress lies in the scientific concepts within it that possess rationality and inevitability, have a unifying force, and guide the correct direction. Even if the modern civilization of the Chinese nation exists as a holistic system, it is by no means a mechanical patchwork of numerous civilizational elements, but an organic system with cohesion and centripetal force, overall order, and concerted action in the same direction. Based on the concrete reality of contemporary Chinese civilizational development, from the perspective of cultural construction and spiritual forging, the scientific theory of Marxism and its innovative achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times remain the ideological foundation and theoretical guidance we must adhere to. This is the fundamental experience gained from the century-long struggle of the CPC and an important revelation from the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation that began with the founding of New China and has been continuously advanced. The scientific theory that serves as the ideological foundation and spiritual support for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation includes not only the basic positions, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism, but also the innovative achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times created by applying Marxism to guide Chinese practice, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the worldview and methodology it contains. Engels pointed out: "A nation that wants to stand at the pinnacle of science cannot for a moment do without theoretical thinking." [18]18 Xi In building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, the ideological foundation of Marxism is of utmost importance, and opening up new frontiers in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is of utmost importance. "After Marxism was introduced into China, the propositions of scientific socialism were warmly welcomed by the Chinese people and ultimately took root and blossomed in Chinese soil. This was by no means accidental, but was integrated with the excellent historical culture inherited by our country for thousands of years and the values that the broad masses of the people use daily without being fully aware of." [19] Marxism and its innovative achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times have already been integrated into the practice and life of the Chinese people and have deeply merged into the construction process of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

二是马克思主义思想基础。文明的内核是精神文明，精神文明的灵魂则是其中具有合理性和必然性、具有统摄力量并指引正确方向的科学理念。中华民族现代文明即便是一个整体性的系统存在，也绝不是诸多文明元素的机械拼凑，而是一个有着凝聚力和向心力、整体有序且同向共为的有机体系。立足当代中国文明发展的具体实际，就文化构建和精神铸造来看，马克思主义科学理论及其中国化时代化的创新成果，依然是我们必须坚守的思想基础和理论指导，这是中国共产党百年奋斗获得的根本经验，是始自新中国成立并持续推进的中华民族现代文明建设的重要启示。作为中华民族现代文明之思想基础和精神支撑的科学理论，既包括马克思主义的基本立场观点方法，也包括运用马克思主义指导中国实践而创立形成的中国化时代化的创新成果，特别是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想及其内蕴的世界观和方法论。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。”建设中华民族现代文明，马克思主义思想基础至为关键，开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界至为关键。“马克思主义传入中国后，科学社会主义的主张受到中国人民热烈欢迎，并最终扎根中国大地、开花结果，决不是偶然的，而是同我国传承了几千年的优秀历史文化和广大人民日用而不觉的价值观念融通的。”马克思主义及其中国化时代化的创新成果已经融入中国人民的实践与生活，已经深深地汇入中华民族现代文明的构建过程之中。

Third, the attribute of socialism. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation commenced with the founding of New China, advancing as the Chinese people embarked on the socialist path and as socialism laid the fundamental political preconditions and institutional foundation for it. Insofar as the form of civilization depends on the social form and social system, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation stands on the solid foundation of socialism, advancing along the broad road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which has been obtained through the long-term exploration of the Party and the people. This constitutes the most solid foundation and the most reliable guarantee for the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. “Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of China’s social development; it is scientific socialism rooted in the land of China, reflecting the will of the Chinese people, and adapting to the requirements of China’s and the era’s development and progress.” Socialism with Chinese characteristics not only adheres to the basic principles of scientific socialism but also possesses distinct “practical characteristics, theoretical characteristics, national characteristics, and characteristics of the times.” With such a solid foundation and reliable guarantee, the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation will not stray onto the wrong path, will not be abandoned halfway, and will not remain inactive. From socialism to socialism with Chinese characteristics, and from the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics to the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, this is both the exploration, progress, and deepening of understanding in terms of ideas and concepts for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and the practical expansion and consolidation of the foundation for its steady advance. It is socialism that provides a warm embrace for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation; it is socialism with Chinese characteristics that opens up a broad stage for it. The socialist attribute of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation determines that building this civilization must adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics, “persisting in not changing the path or altering our resolve, neither taking the old path of closed-door rigidity nor the evil path of changing flags and banners, insisting on placing the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength, and firmly grasping the destiny of China’s development and progress in our own hands.” [17]17 This sentence is a standard formulation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC (October 2022), emphasizing the Party’s commitment to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and rejecting both a return to the pre-reform planned economy and a shift toward Western-style capitalism.

三是社会主义属性。中华民族现代文明启程于新中国成立，在中国人民走上社会主义道路、由社会主义为之奠定根本政治前提和制度基础上进发。就文明形态依赖于社会形态、社会制度而言，中华民族现代文明立足社会主义坚实基础，在由党和人民长期探索而获得的中国特色社会主义康庄大道上前进，这成为中华民族现代文明建设最为坚固的基础、最为可靠的保障。“中国特色社会主义，是科学社会主义理论逻辑和中国社会发展历史逻辑的辩证统一，是根植于中国大地、反映中国人民意愿、适应中国和时代发展进步要求的科学社会主义”。中国特色社会主义既坚持科学社会主义基本原则，又具有鲜明的“实践特色、理论特色、民族特色、时代特色”。有了这样的坚固基础和可靠保障，中华民族现代文明建设就不会误入歧途，就不会半途而废，就不会无所作为。由社会主义到中国特色社会主义，由中国特色社会主义道路到中国特色社会主义制度，既是中华民族现代文明在思想理念上的探索前进和认识深化，又是中华民族现代文明稳步前行的实践拓展和根基夯实。是社会主义，为中华民族现代文明提供了温暖怀抱；是中国特色社会主义，为中华民族现代文明开拓出广阔舞台。中华民族现代文明的社会主义属性决定了，建设中华民族现代文明必须坚持中国特色社会主义，“坚持道不变、志不改，既不走封闭僵化的老路，也不走改旗易帜的邪路，坚持把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，坚持把中国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中”。

Fourth, the principal position of the people. Taking a firm stand with the people, upholding the supremacy of the people, respecting the people’s initiative, and practicing the people-centered development philosophy are the unwavering purpose of our Party and the basic principle of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Mao Zedong pointed out: “The people, and only the people, are the motive force in the making of world history.” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “The people are the creators of history; the masses are the true heroes. The masses are the source of our strength.” The modern civilization we aim to build is the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and the modern civilization of the Chinese people. “The Chinese nation” is the subject to which this modern civilization belongs, and “the Chinese people” are the practical subject of this modern civilization. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is not a castle in the air, nor can it be a pie in the sky; it must highlight the subjectivity of civilization and consolidate cultural subjectivity, must take the people as the principal, be led by the people, and be built and shared by the people. This is where socialist civilization surpasses capitalist civilization in its advantages, and it is the most distinctive feature that distinguishes the new modern civilization of the Chinese nation from other civilizations. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the cause of hundreds of millions of people themselves; the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a civilization built by hundreds of millions of people themselves. Only by highlighting the people’s principal position in civilization, the people’s leading role in civilization, and the people’s rights to co-build and co-share civilization can the modern civilization of the Chinese nation have the deepest foundation of public opinion, become a great cause that reflects the will of the people, meets the aspirations of the people, and is driven by the strength of the people, and can the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation be solidly advanced and proceed steadily and far.

四是人民主体地位。站稳人民立场，坚持人民至上，尊重人民首创精神，践行以人民为中心的发展思想，是我们党坚守不易的宗旨，是中国特色社会主义的基本原则。毛泽东指出：“人民，只有人民，才是创造世界历史的动力。”习近平总书记强调：“人民是历史的创造者，群众是真正的英雄。人民群众是我们力量的源泉。”我们要建设的现代文明是中华民族的现代文明，是中国人民的现代文明，“中华民族”是现代文明的归属主体，“中国人民”是现代文明的实践主体。中华民族现代文明不是空中楼阁，更不能画饼充饥，必须突出文明主体性、巩固文化主体性，必须以人民为主体，由人民来主导，由人民来共建共享。这是社会主义文明超越资本主义文明的优势所在，是崭新的中华民族现代文明区别于其他文明最鲜明的特征。中国特色社会主义是亿万人民自己的事业，中华民族现代文明是亿万人民自己建设的文明。唯有突出人民的文明主体地位、突出人民的文明主导作用、突出人民的文明共建共享权益，中华民族现代文明才有最为深厚的民意基础，才能成为民心所向、民意所愿、民力所为的伟大事业，中华民族现代文明建设才能扎实推进、行稳致远。

V. The Path and Guidelines for Building the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

五、建设中华民族现代文明的路径遵循

Revealing the basic implications of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and clarifying its essential stipulations must ultimately be implemented in construction practice and realized in concrete actions. Its basic implications and essential stipulations illuminate the direction of efforts for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and touch upon the practical path for its construction. “At the new historical starting point, to continue promoting cultural prosperity, building a strong cultural nation, and building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must strengthen cultural confidence, adhere to taking our own path, 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 autonomy. We must uphold openness and inclusiveness, adhere to adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, inherit and develop fine traditional Chinese culture, promote the localization of foreign cultures, and continuously cultivate and create socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era. We must uphold integrity and innovation, with the integrity and innovation of righteousness and sharpness, continue the historical lineage and write a glorious contemporary chapter.” General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound exposition provides the fundamental guidelines and path guidance for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

揭示中华民族现代文明的基本意蕴，明确中华民族现代文明的本质规定，最终要落实到建设实践中、落实在实际行动上。其基本意蕴和本质规定，昭示出中华民族现代文明建设的努力方向，触及中华民族现代文明建设的践行路径。“在新的历史起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明，要坚定文化自信，坚持走自己的路，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。要秉持开放包容，坚持马克思主义中国化时代化，传承发展中华优秀传统文化，促进外来文化本土化，不断培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化。要坚持守正创新，以守正创新的正气和锐气，赓续历史文脉、谱写当代华章。”习近平总书记的深刻论述，为建设中华民族现代文明提供了根本遵循和路径指引。

First, follow the practice of Chinese-path modernization. Draw nourishment from the achievements and experiences, opportunities and challenges, and the advancement and development of Chinese-path modernization, deeply rooting the foundation of modern civilization construction in practice and in the soil of reality.

第一，依循中国式现代化实践。从中国式现代化的成就与经验、机遇与挑战、推进与发展中汲取养料，将现代文明建设的根基深深扎在实践之中、深深扎在现实土壤之中。

Modern civilization is generated in the movement of modernization; the modern civilization of the Chinese nation accumulates and grows in the process of Chinese-path modernization. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC points out: “On the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of New China, especially since reform and opening up, and through theoretical and practical innovations and breakthroughs since the 18th National Congress, our Party has successfully advanced and expanded Chinese-path modernization.” This tells us that, originating from the arduous struggles and tortuous course of the Chinese nation to escape from semi-colonial and semi-feudal society since modern times, Chinese-path modernization began with the birth of New China, rose with reform and opening up, matured in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and is now advancing vigorously toward the goal of comprehensively building a great modern socialist country and realizing the second centenary goal. The construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation advances in tandem with Chinese-path modernization, connecting and reflecting each other, increasingly displaying distinct national characteristics and Chinese style, and can be said to be unique and outstanding. Chinese-path modernization is not a copy of other countries’ modernization, nor is it a product of civilizational rupture; it is a modernization that continues ancient civilization and grows from the land of China, a result of cultural continuity and civilizational renewal. As the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation must inherently contain the essence and achievements of Chinese-path modernization, becoming a new form of Chinese civilization in contemporary China. Chinese-path modernization organically connects the socialist path, reform and opening up, and the market economy, absorbs and draws on the reasonable factors and civilizational achievements of human society’s pursuit of modernization development, and is creating a new form of human civilization and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation must be integrated into the practice of Chinese-path modernization construction, relying on its grand theme and rich practice to manifest its own value and role; it must closely follow the process of Chinese-path modernization construction, leveraging its broad fields and comprehensive achievements to enrich its own elements and content, achieving interaction and resonance with Chinese-path modernization, so that “Chinese-path modernization endows Chinese civilization with modern power, and Chinese civilization endows Chinese-path modernization with profound heritage.”

现代文明在现代化运动中生成，中华民族现代文明在中国式现代化进程中累积成长。党的二十大报告指出：“在新中国成立特别是改革开放以来长期探索和实践基础上，经过十八大以来在理论和实践上的创新突破，我们党成功推进和拓展了中国式现代化。”这告诉我们，源于近代以来中华民族为摆脱半殖民地半封建社会而进行的艰苦抗争和曲折历程，中国式现代化肇始于新中国的诞生、崛起于改革开放、成熟于中国特色社会主义新时代，正朝向全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标昂首推进。中华民族现代文明建设是伴随中国式现代化同步向前推进的，与中国式现代化相衔接、相映照，正愈益呈现出鲜明的民族特征和中国风格，可谓独树一帜并独领风骚。中国式现代化不是照搬照抄其他国家的现代化，不是文明断裂的产物，而是赓续古老文明、从中华大地上生长出来的现代化，是文化承续、文明更新的结果。作为中国式现代化的文化形态，中华民族现代文明必定内蕴着中国式现代化的精髓与成果，成为中华文明发展到当代中国的崭新形态。中国式现代化将社会主义道路、改革开放、市场经济有机联通，吸收借鉴人类社会追求现代化发展的合理因素和文明成果，正创造出人类文明的新形态，创造出中华民族的现代文明。中华民族现代文明建设必须汇入中国式现代化建设实践中，依托中国式现代化建设的宏阔主题和丰厚实践，彰显自身的价值与作为；必须紧贴中国式现代化建设进程，借力中国式现代化建设的广阔领域和综合成就，丰富自身的要素与内容，实现与中国式现代化的互动与共振，让“中国式现代化赋予中华文明以现代力量，中华文明赋予中国式现代化以深厚底蕴”。

Second, integrate with the construction of advanced socialist culture. Extract the essence of civilization from the basic elements and rich content of advanced socialist culture construction, build a solid and powerful cultural foundation for modern civilization construction, and promote its own development and growth.

第二，结合社会主义先进文化建设。从社会主义先进文化建设的基本元素、丰富内容中摄取文明精髓，搭建起坚实有力的现代文明建设的文化基础，促进自身的发育成长。

The construction of an advanced socialist culture and the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation are interconnected in content and identical in essence. In a certain sense, it can even be said that the construction of an advanced socialist culture is the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Just as culture and civilization are difficult to distinguish yet differ, the construction of an advanced socialist culture and the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation are two sides of the same coin, yet each must be considered separately. The construction of an advanced socialist culture emphasizes practice in the process of advancement, while the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation focuses more on the pursuit of a target realm. The process of building an advanced socialist culture is not only a process of transforming contemporary China from a large cultural country into a strong cultural country, but also a process of enabling Chinese civilization to enter modern society and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The history of the Chinese Communist Party leading the Chinese people in revolution, construction, and reform and opening up is not only a history of practical exploration, but also a history of theoretical development, cultural innovation, and civilizational construction. To comprehensively build a modern socialist country and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, promote cultural confidence and self-strengthening, develop a socialist culture that is national, scientific, and popular, oriented toward modernization, the world, and the future, stimulate cultural innovation and creativity, enhance the spiritual strength of the nation, and forge new brilliance in socialist culture. Advancing the construction of an advanced socialist culture is aimed at creating a new culture belonging to our era and at building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation well. To this end, we must organically unify the construction of an advanced socialist culture with the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation in the process of developing an advanced socialist culture, and promoting the comprehensive elevation of an advanced socialist culture in the process of constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

社会主义先进文化建设与中华民族现代文明建设在内容上是相通的、本质上是一致的。在一定意义上，甚至可以说，社会主义先进文化建设就是中华民族现代文明建设。正如文化与文明难以区分却又有所不同一样，社会主义先进文化建设与中华民族现代文明建设既是一体两面的，又需要分别来看待。社会主义先进文化建设重在过程推进中的践行，中华民族现代文明建设则更专注于目标境界的追求。建设社会主义先进文化的过程，既是使当代中国由一个文化大国转变为一个文化强国的过程，也是使中华文明走入现代社会、构建起中华民族现代文明的过程。中国共产党领导中国人民进行革命、建设、改革的历史，不仅是实践探索史，也是理论发展史、文化创新史、文明建构史。全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，必须坚持中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，推进文化自信自强，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，激发文化创新创造活力，增强民族精神力量，铸就社会主义文化新辉煌。推进社会主义先进文化建设，是为了创造属于我们这个时代的新文化，是为了把中华民族现代文明建设好。为此，我们必须把社会主义先进文化建设与中华民族现代文明建设有机统一起来，在发展社会主义先进文化过程中建设中华民族现代文明，在中华民族现代文明建设过程中促进社会主义先进文化全面提升。

Third, connect the historical lineage of the Chinese nation. Excavate ideological concepts, humanistic spirit, and moral norms from the long-standing, extensive, and profound fine traditional Chinese culture, allowing the construction of modern civilization to connect with millennia of heritage and circulate through the bloodline, building a bridge between ancient and modern civilizations.

第三，联通中华民族历史文脉。从源远流长、博大精深的中华优秀传统文化中挖掘思想观念、人文精神、道德规范，让现代文明建设思接千载、血脉流通，架起古今文明相通的桥梁。

“China has a history of civilization with over 5,000 years of continuous development; observing historical China is an important angle for observing contemporary China.” [18]18 Xi The modern civilization of the Chinese nation did not emerge out of nowhere, departing from the path of Chinese civilization; it is inevitably nourished and nurtured by the fine traditional Chinese culture. The basic concept of “when the granaries are full, people know propriety and honor; when food and clothing are sufficient, they know glory and disgrace” [19] enlightens us to promote the coordinated development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress; the traditional thinking of “unity of heaven and humanity” and “the Dao follows nature” [20] inspires us to strive for harmony between humanity and nature. The Chinese people’s sense of responsibility and consciousness of “the world is for all,” [21] the family-state sentiment of cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and pacifying the world, [22] with a sense of responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation, a strong spirit of patriotism, and a value orientation of willingness to contribute and sacrifice—these have remained unchanged in character from ancient times to the present and occupy an important position in the Chinese civilizational system. Regarding the positive achievements and reasonable factors contained in the fine traditional Chinese culture that are needed by modern civilization, we must fully absorb them and carry out necessary transformations, so that they can be carried forward under new historical conditions. Our Party has always opposed cultural nihilism and cultural restorationism, [23] consistently adhering to the scientific attitude of dialectical sublation of “discarding the dross and extracting the essence,” [24] consistently comprehensively examining the five thousand years of Chinese civilization with the thinking of a grand view of history, [25] gaining wisdom and inspiration from history and culture, and providing useful mirrors for the development and progress of contemporary China. We vigorously promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the fine traditional Chinese culture, advance the realization of the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, and have already and will continue to enable Chinese-path modernization and the new form of human civilization it creates to exhibit profound cultural heritage and distinct contemporary ethos. “Marxism and the fine traditional Chinese culture have different origins, but there is a high degree of compatibility between them.” [26] Mutual compatibility enables organic integration and mutual achievement, making it possible to create a new cultural life form, “making Marxism Chinese and the fine traditional Chinese culture modern.” [27] Such a process of connecting the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of the fine traditional Chinese culture is, in fact, a process of connecting ancient and modern civilizations in one continuous lineage, and at the same time, a process of continuously promoting the development and elevation of the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

“中国有着5000多年连续发展的文明史，观察历史的中国是观察当代的中国的一个重要角度。”中华民族现代文明不是离开中华文明的大道凭空产生的，必然是深受中华优秀传统文化的滋润与养护。“仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱”的基本理念，启示我们促进物质文明和精神文明协调发展；“天人合一”“道法自然”的传统思维，启发我们力求人与自然和谐共生。中国人民“天下为公”的责任感和担当意识，修齐治平、兴亡有责的家国情怀，强烈的爱国主义精神和勇于奉献牺牲的价值取向，从古至今本色不变，在中华文明体系中占有重要地位。对中华优秀传统文化中蕴含的、为现代文明所需要的积极成果与合理因素，我们必须充分吸纳并进行必要改造，使之在新的历史条件下发扬光大。我们党历来反对文化虚无主义和文化复古主义，始终坚持“剔除其糟粕、汲取其精华”的辩证扬弃的科学态度，始终以大历史观思维全面审视中华五千年文明，从历史文化中获取智慧、得到启迪，为当代中国的发展进步提供有益镜鉴。我们大力推进中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化、创新性发展，推进实现马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，已经并将继续使中国式现代化及其创造的人类文明新形态呈现出深厚的文化底蕴和鲜明的时代气韵。“马克思主义和中华优秀传统文化来源不同，但彼此存在高度的契合性”，相互契合才能有机结合并互相成就，才能造就出新的文化生命体，“让马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的”。这样一个让马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来的过程，实际上就是一个让古今文明一脉联通的过程，同时就是推动中华民族现代文明建设不断发展、不断提升的过程。

Fourth, expand the global perspective of modern civilization construction. Through exchange and mutual learning with the outstanding achievements of the cultures of the world’s nations, enable the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation to see across ten thousand miles, [28] achieving the development and progress of human civilization and the richness and diversity of world culture with a broad mind.

第四，拓展现代文明建设的全球视阈。从与世界各民族文化优秀成果交流互鉴中，让中华民族现代文明建设视通万里，以博大胸怀成就人类文明发展进步、成就世界文化丰富多彩。

The development of humanity and the progress of civilization are concomitant; national culture and human culture mutually promote each other. Whether it is Chinese civilization or other civilizations of the world, they are all products of labor and crystallization of wisdom. The sea admits hundreds of rivers; its capacity is great. [29] “Civilization is inclusive; it is because of inclusion that human civilization has the impetus for exchange, mutual learning, and development.” [30] “All achievements of civilization deserve respect; all achievements of civilization must be cherished.” [31] Only through exchange and mutual learning can a civilization be full of vitality. Chinese civilization is a civilization born on Chinese soil, and it is also a civilization formed in the process of continuous exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations. In the process of constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must not only highlight its own advantages and characteristics, maintaining the unique style and charm of Chinese civilization, but also broaden our horizons, draw on the strengths of hundreds of schools, [32] in order to seek the beauty of each, appreciate the beauty of others, and achieve shared beauty. [33] The modern civilization of the Chinese nation, facing the practice of changes in human survival and lifestyle in the era of economic globalization, cannot do without the critical inheritance and dialectical sublation of all outstanding achievements of modern human civilization; at the same time, because the modern civilization of the Chinese nation always focuses on the common interests and public welfare of all humanity, it forms a sharp contrast with the narrowness and drawbacks of the “Western civilization-centric theory” and the “Western civilization superiority theory.” It is precisely because Chinese civilization, with its broad mind of the sea admitting hundreds of rivers and its tolerant attitude of incorporating diverse elements, seeks harmonious coexistence with other world civilizations through seeking common ground while reserving differences, that Chinese civilization remains ever new and continuously radiates new vitality. Although the world today is fraught with turmoil and conflict, economic globalization faces challenges, and acts of containment and suppression occur frequently, this has not fundamentally changed the basic pattern and mainstream trend of dialogue among human civilizations and mutual learning among cultures. The construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation needs to maintain full confidence and strategic resolve, actively integrate into the world civilization system as always, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and continue to make unique, irreplaceable, and historic great contributions to the cause of human civilization.

人类的发展与文明的进步是相伴而生的，民族文化与人类文化是互为促成的。不论是中华文明，还是世界上的其他文明，都是劳动的成果和智慧的结晶。海纳百川，有容乃大。“文明是包容的，人类文明因包容才有交流互鉴的动力。”“一切文明成果都值得尊重，一切文明成果都要珍惜。”只有通过交流互鉴，一种文明才能充满生命力。中华文明是在中国大地上产生的文明，也是在同其他文明不断交流互鉴过程中形成的文明。中华民族现代文明在建设过程中，既要凸显自身的优势和特色，保持中华文明特有的风采和魅力，又必须拓宽视野，博采百家之长，以求各美其美、美人之美、美美与共。中华民族现代文明面向经济全球化时代人类生存与生活方式变革实践，离不开对现代社会人类文明一切优秀成果的批判继承与辩证扬弃；而同时，中华民族现代文明因始终关注全人类共同利益和公共性福祉，与“西方文明中心论”和“西方文明优越论”的偏狭与弊端形成鲜明对照。中华文明正是以海纳百川的博大胸怀、兼收并蓄的宽容心态，同世界其他文明在求同存异中寻求和谐共生，才使得中华文明历久弥新，不断焕发新的生命力。尽管当今世界动荡冲突不断、经济全球化面临挑战、遏制打压行为频发频现，但未从根本上改变人类文明对话和文化互鉴的基本格局和主流趋向。中华民族现代文明建设需要保持充分自信、保持战略定力，一如既往地积极融入世界文明体系之中，推动人类命运共同体的构建，为人类文明事业继续作出独有的、不可替代的、载入史册的伟大贡献。

(Author’s bio: Shang Zhixiao, Senior Professor at Shandong Normal University, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Chinese Marxism at Shandong Provincial Universities)

（作者简介：商志晓，山东师范大学资深教授，山东省高校当代中国马克思主义研究院院长）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心