Promoting the Building of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation through Research on the History of Chinese Civilization

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development: “Continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation from a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the New Era.” [1]1 The “New Era” refers to the period beginning with the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, characterized by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. “Articles should be written for the times.” [2]2 A classical allusion to Bai Juyi’s (772–846) essay “Letter to Yuan Zhen,” advocating that literature should serve its contemporary society. Philosophy and social sciences must place social responsibility first. As one of the important branches of philosophy and social sciences, history should inherit the fine tradition of “practical application to statecraft,” [3]3 “Practical application to statecraft” (经世致用) is a Confucian principle emphasizing the practical relevance of scholarship to governance and society. stand at the forefront of the times, comprehend the changes from ancient to modern times, and give voice to pioneering ideas. How to present the Chinese civilization that has continued uninterrupted for thousands of years, and to guide research on the history of Chinese civilization with the goal of building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, is the central task of history in the New Era.

习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中指出：“在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明，是我们在新时代新的文化使命。”“文章合为时而著”，哲学社会科学要把社会责任放在首位。作为哲学社会科学的重要分支之一，历史学更应传承经世致用的优良传统，立时代之潮头，通古今之变化，发思想之先声。如何呈现历经数千年而绵延不绝的中华文明，以建设中华民族现代文明为目标引领中华文明史研究，是新时代历史学的中心任务。

The term “civilization” originates from classics such as the *Book of Changes* and the *Book of Documents*. Although its meaning varies with context, it is generally regarded as a state of human progress, distinguished from “barbarism” and “savagery.” Civilization includes both material progress and cultural achievements. Chinese civilization is broad and profound, encompassing the totality of the material civilization, cultural-ethical progress, and institutional civilization created by the Chinese nation. 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 fine traditional Chinese culture, more forcefully advance the construction of a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” “Only by basing ourselves on the magnificent 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization can we truly understand the historical inevitability, cultural connotation, and unique advantages of the Chinese path.” Research on the history of Chinese civilization should systematically narrate the process of mutual coexistence between humans and nature on Chinese soil, as well as the process of adapting to and transforming nature; deeply contemplate the developmental laws of Chinese civilization; display the cultural achievements and social progress made by the Chinese nation over its long history; and establish the status and contribution of Chinese civilization in the global history of civilization.

“文明”一词，源出于《易》《尚书》等经典，其语义虽随语境变化而有不同，但普遍被视为人类的进步状态，与“野蛮”“蒙昧”相区别。文明既包括物质上的进步，也包括文化上的成就。中华文明博大精深，是中华民族创造的物质文明、精神文明、制度文明的总和。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。”“只有立足波澜壮阔的中华五千多年文明史，才能真正理解中国道路的历史必然、文化内涵与独特优势。”中华文明史研究，要系统讲述在中华大地上人与自然相生相伴及其适应和改变自然的历程，深入思考中华文明的发展规律，展现中华民族在悠久历史中所取得的文化成就与社会进步，确立中华文明在全球文明史上的地位与贡献。

Research on the Origins of Chinese Civilization Project [4]4 A major national research project launched in the early 2000s to investigate the origins of Chinese civilization through archaeology and multidisciplinary methods.

中华文明探源工程研究

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The Chinese nation has a history of one million years of humanity, 10,000 years of culture, and more than 5,000 years of civilization.” All of this requires archaeological work to construct, reference, verify, enrich, and perfect. The origin of civilization is not only a practical issue of archaeology but also a problem of theoretical interpretation and theoretical innovation. What exactly are the criteria for civilization? For a long time, people have used elements such as writing, bronze vessels, cities, and ritual and ceremonial centers as markers or criteria to discuss the origins of civilization. However, the diversity of the origins of civilization shows that this “checklist” is difficult to apply to all civilizations. Whether to use a single element of civilization or multiple elements to judge whether a society has entered civilization requires consideration of the different ecological environments, natural environments, and social environments of different regions, and consideration of the differences in the materialized forms presented by different types of civilization. Therefore, strengthening theoretical reflection on the criteria for civilization must proceed from China’s actual conditions, proposing a Chinese plan for defining civilization and determining entry into civilized society. The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project [5]5 A government-sponsored research project (1996–2000) that used historical, archaeological, and scientific methods to establish a more precise chronology for the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. and the Research on the Origins of Chinese Civilization Project have basically reconstructed China’s ancient historical system, empirically verified China’s one million years of human history, 10,000 years of cultural history, and more than 5,000 years of civilization, and proposed a Chinese plan for the criteria of civilization, namely: “development of productive forces, population increase, and the emergence of cities; intensification of social division of labor and social differentiation, and the emergence of classes; continuous strengthening of power, and the emergence of kingship and the state.” The Research on the Origins of Chinese Civilization Project has achieved initial results. In his speech at the 39th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, [6]6 A collective study session of the CPC Central Committee’s top leadership, held on May 27, 2022, focused on the origins of Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “further answer major questions such as the basic picture, internal mechanisms, and evolutionary paths of civilizations in different regions regarding the origin, formation, and development of Chinese civilization.” To this end, archaeology needs to enhance its problem awareness, select major issues, further empirically verify this Chinese plan, strengthen exploration of the evolutionary paths of early civilizations in different regions including the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the West Liao River basin, strengthen theoretical reflection on the criteria for civilization, and eliminate cognitive biases regarding the origins of Chinese civilization.

习近平总书记强调：“中华民族具有百万年的人类史、一万年的文化史、五千多年的文明史。”这些都需要考古工作来建构、参考、印证、丰富和完善。文明起源不仅仅是考古学实践问题，更是理论阐释和理论创新问题。文明的标志到底是什么？长期以来，人们将文字、铜器、城市、礼仪祭祀中心等作为文明的标志或要素来讨论文明起源。但是，文明起源的多样性表明，这一“清单”难以适用所有的文明。是用单一文明要素还是用多种文明要素来判断一个社会是否进入文明，需要根据不同地区的生态环境、自然环境和社会环境，需要考虑不同类型文明所呈现的物化形式是有差别的。因此，加强文明标准的理论思考，要从中国实际出发，提出文明定义和认定进入文明社会的中国方案。夏商周断代工程、中华文明探源工程基本重建了我国上古史体系，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，并提出了文明标准的中国方案，即“生产发展、人口增加，出现城市；社会分工和社会分化不断加剧，出现阶级；权力不断强化，出现王权和国家”，中华文明探源工程初见成效。习近平总书记在中共中央政治局第三十九次集体学习时的讲话中强调，“进一步回答好中华文明起源、形成、发展的基本图景、内在机制以及各区域文明演进路径等重大问题”。为此，考古学需要增强问题意识，选择重大问题，进一步实证这一中国方案，加强对包括黄河中下游、长江中下游、西辽河流域等不同地域在内的早期文明演进路径的探索，加强文明标准的理论思考，祛除对中华文明起源的认知偏见。

Theoretical Interpretation of the Outstanding Characteristics of Chinese Civilization

学理化阐释中华文明突出特性

Chinese civilization possesses outstanding continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness. This is the most concise scientific summary of the characteristics of Chinese civilization and the source of confidence in Chinese culture, determining that the Chinese nation must take its own path. Archaeology and history should combine archaeological discoveries with historical documents, persistently provide archaeological and historical interpretations of the “five outstanding characteristics” of Chinese civilization, continuously consolidate the evidential foundation for the “five outstanding characteristics” of Chinese civilization, see through phenomena to grasp the essence, deeply contemplate the reasons and background behind the “five outstanding characteristics” of Chinese civilization, and provide reasonable explanations. Theoretical interpretation can be carried out at different levels. It can be a systematic, comprehensive theoretical interpretation; it can be basic work on collecting historical materials; or it can combine historical facts from different eras to fully demonstrate one of the outstanding characteristics. How to view the unity of Chinese civilization from the transition from the parallel system of commanderies and kingdoms in the Han Dynasty to the single system of commanderies and counties? [7]7 The Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) initially combined direct central rule (commanderies) with semi-autonomous kingdoms; later it shifted to a unified system of commanderies and counties, a key step in centralization. How to view the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from the coexistence of regimes of different ethnic groups such as the Song, Liao, and Jin? [8]8 The Song (960–1279), Liao (907–1125), and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties coexisted as rival polities, with the Liao and Jin founded by non-Han ethnic groups, illustrating interethnic political and cultural interaction. How to view the continuity of Chinese civilization from the continuation of institutions and culture between the Ming and Qing dynasties? [9]9 The Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, despite the latter being founded by the Manchus, maintained continuity in many institutions, such as the civil service examination system and Confucian state ideology. Such decomposed arguments will continuously consolidate the foundation of the argument, and their integration will be integration at a higher level, continuously advancing and deepening our understanding of the “five outstanding characteristics” of Chinese civilization.

中华文明具有突出的连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性、和平性，这是对中华文明特性最精练的科学概括，也是中华文化的自信源泉，决定了中华民族必然走自己的路。考古学和历史学要结合考古发现与历史文献，持之以恒地对中华文明“五个突出特性”作考古学和历史学阐释，不断筑牢中华文明“五个突出特性”的论证基础，要透过现象看本质，深入思考中华文明“五个突出特性”背后的原因与背景，提供合理解释。学理化的阐释可以分层次进行，既可以是系统的、通贯的理论阐释，也可以是基础性史料收集工作，还可以结合不同时代的历史事实就其中一个突出特性进行充分论证。如何从汉代郡国并行到单一的郡县制看中华文明的统一性？如何从宋辽金各民族政权的并列看中华文明的包容性？如何从明清两代之间制度与文化的延续看中华文明的连续性？类似的分解式论证将不断夯实论证的基础，其整合也将会是更高程度的整合，将不断推进和深化我们对中华文明“五个突出特性”的理解。

Infusing Research on the History of Chinese Civilization with Mutual Learning among Civilizations

以文明互鉴贯穿中华文明史研究

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Civilization, especially thought and culture, is the soul of a country and a nation.” “Chinese civilization is a civilization born on Chinese soil, and it is also a civilization formed through continuous exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations.” Therefore, the history of Chinese civilization should be regarded as part of the process of human civilization, and also part of world history. We should acknowledge the diversity of civilizations, and advocate comparative research and exchange and mutual learning. Viewing human civilizations equally and rationally absorbing the outstanding achievements of all civilizations is the attitude that research on the history of Chinese civilization should adopt when facing world history. World history research and area and country studies also provide important references for research on the history of Chinese civilization, thereby highlighting the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization, enabling a genuine understanding of why “all achievements of civilization deserve respect, and all achievements of civilization should be cherished,” more forcefully refuting the clash of civilizations theory, opposing the theory of civilizational superiority and hierarchy, and advocating civilizational harmony.

习近平总书记指出，“文明特别是思想文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂”。“中华文明是在中国大地上产生的文明，也是同其他文明不断交流互鉴而形成的文明。”因此，要把中华文明史看作人类文明进程的一部分，同时也是世界文明史的一部分，承认文明的多样性，提倡比较研究与交流互鉴。平等地看待人类文明，合理吸收一切文明中的优秀成果，是中华文明史研究面对世界文明史应有的态度。世界史研究、区域国别研究，也都为中华文明史研究提供重要参照，进而彰显中华文明的突出特性，在真正意义上理解何以“一切文明成果都值得尊重，一切文明成果都要珍惜”，更有力地破解文明冲突论，反对文明优越论、尊卑论，提倡文明和谐。

Innovating the Writing Model for the History of Chinese Civilization

创新中华文明史书写模式

There are two relatively mature writing models for the history of civilization. One is the writing model of art history, which emphasizes the introduction of archaeological and artistic treasures. Through a thread running through different periods and styles, it enables the public to gain a full and correct understanding of various artistic and cultural relics. In this model, the history of civilization is both a general history and an art history, or an art history set against the background of general history. The other is a more macroscopic history of civilization, whose narrative usually includes various aspects such as environment, ethnicity, institutions, language and writing, religion, law, and philosophy, generally unfolding along a certain historical concept as the main thread. Regardless of the model, totality is what the writing of the history of civilization values most; the core lies in integrating the fragments of civilization into the overall narrative. Research on the history of Chinese civilization should transcend traditional historiography, focus on exploring the role of the environment and human adaptation to and transformation of the environment, explore the evolution of the social lifestyles of broader social groups, and especially further strengthen the understanding and grasp of fine traditional Chinese culture from the ideological level, “deeply understand the cultural bloodline of China, and accurately grasp the cultural soil that nourishes the Chinese people.” The history of Chinese civilization is not a synthesis of various specialized histories, nor is it a fusion of general history and specialized history. Rather, under the guidance of historical materialism, it must proceed from the economic base, focusing on the civilization and progress of human society. To this end, researchers need to possess a vision of holistic history and the ability to master knowledge from different fields and different eras; promote multidisciplinary integration; and create a narrative model for the history of Chinese civilization that encompasses agricultural civilization, grassland civilization, and maritime civilization, and fully reflects that Chinese civilization was jointly created by multiple ethnic groups.

文明史存在两种较为成熟的写作模式。一种是艺术史的写作模式，即重视对考古和艺术珍品的介绍，通过一条贯穿不同时期、不同风格的线索，使民众对形形色色的艺术与文化遗珍获得充分而正确的认识。在这种模式下，文明史既是通史，更是艺术史，或者是以通史为背景的艺术史。一种是更为宏观的文明史，通常其叙述包含了环境、民族、制度、语言文字、宗教、法律、哲学等各个方面，一般以某种历史观念为主线展开。无论哪一种模式，总体性是文明史写作最重视的，核心在于要将文明的碎屑融入整体叙事。中华文明史研究应当超越传统史学，着力探讨环境的作用以及人类对环境的适应与改变，探讨更广泛的社会群体的社会生活方式的演变，尤其是要进一步从思想层面加强对中华优秀传统文化的理解与把握，“深入了解中国的文化血脉，准确把握滋养中国人的文化土壤”。中华文明史不是各种专史的综合，也不是通史与专史的融合，而是要在唯物史观的指导下，坚持从经济基础出发，聚焦人类社会的文明和进步。为此，需要研究者具备整体史的视野，拥有驾驭不同领域、不同时代知识的能力；推动多学科融合，创造出包纳农业文明、草原文明、海洋文明在内的并充分反映中华文明由多民族共同缔造的中华文明史叙事模式。

Constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is not simply a return to tradition, still less a clinging to the past, but rather the pursuit of the creative transformation and innovative development of the excellent traditional Chinese culture. Research on the history of Chinese civilization that serves the overall situation of constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation must summarize the positive and innovative elements in China’s institutional culture, excavate the positive and modern elements in China’s ideological culture, present the brilliant cultural treasures of history, and commit itself to enhancing historical consciousness and strengthening cultural confidence, so as to provide intellectual resources and cultural impetus for Chinese-path modernization.[10]10 Chinese-path modernization (中国式现代化) — the CPC’s official framework for China’s development model, presented as a distinct alternative to Western modernization, combining socialist principles with Chinese characteristics.

建设中华民族现代文明，不是简单地回归传统，更不是株守过往，而是追求中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展。服务于建设中华民族现代文明大局的中华文明史研究，要总结中国制度文化中积极的、创新的要素，挖掘中国思想文化中正面的、现代性的元素，呈现历史上灿烂的文化瑰宝，致力于增强历史自觉和坚定文化自信，为中国式现代化提供思想资源与文化动力。

(The author is Deputy Director and Researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者系中国社会科学院考古研究所副所长、研究员）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心