The Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

Historical materialism holds that culture is a product of economic and social development and is conditioned by political factors. The mode of production of material life determines the emergence and development of culture, and the essence of culture embodies the degree of development of social practice. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC explicitly proposed “advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization.” Chinese-path modernization is the greatest practice of contemporary China and the most concentrated expression of the current mode of production of material life. The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is the condensation and sublimation of the practical experience of Chinese-path modernization in ideas and concepts. To systematically elucidate the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to answer the following questions: first, from the perspective of the historical context, why is the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization being proposed; second, from the perspective of basic connotation, what is the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization; third, from the perspective of practical principles, how to construct the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization; and finally, from the perspective of future development, what outstanding significance does the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization possess. This article attempts to offer a preliminary understanding and explanation of these questions.

唯物史观认为，文化是经济社会发展的产物，受政治条件的制约。物质资料的生产方式决定文化的产生和发展，文化的实质体现社会实践的发展程度。党的二十大报告明确提出“以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴”。中国式现代化是当代中国的最大实践，是当今社会物质资料的生产方式的最集中体现。中国式现代化的文化形态是中国式现代化实践经验在思想观念上的凝练和升华。系统阐释中国式现代化的文化形态，必然要求回答以下问题：首先，从时代背景来说，为什么提出中国式现代化的文化形态；其次，从基本内涵来说，中国式现代化的文化形态是什么；再次从实践原则来说，如何建设中国式现代化的文化形态；最后，从未来发展来说，中国式现代化的文化形态具有何种突出意义。本文尝试就此作出初步理解和解答。

I. The Historical Context of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

一、中国式现代化的文化形态的时代背景

Chinese-path modernization is not only the great practice of the CPC uniting and leading the Chinese people to strive for national rejuvenation, but also a great creation that continuously promotes cultural prosperity and development and enriches the forms of modern civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The Second Integration makes Marxism Chinese, makes fine traditional Chinese culture modern, and makes the new culture formed through the Integration the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.” [1]1 The Second Integration refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture, complementing the First Integration (combining Marxism with China’s specific realities). This indicates that shaping the new culture formed through the Integration is not only an inherent requirement of Chinese-path modernization construction, but also an inevitable necessity for achieving cultural reconstruction and civilizational rebirth. Therefore, when answering why the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is being proposed, we must proceed from the dual logic of fact and value. On the one hand, over a long period, especially since the New Era, China’s economic and social development and Chinese-path modernization have continuously advanced, objectively giving rise to and forming the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization; on the other hand, in the face of changes unseen in a century in the world, the Chinese nation has seized the opportunity, and has never been as close as it is today to achieving the goal of national rejuvenation, requiring the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization to continuously provide a more powerful spiritual impetus.

中国式现代化不仅是中国共产党团结带领中国人民奋力实现民族复兴的伟大实践，而且也是不断推进文化繁荣发展、丰富现代化文明形态的伟大创造。习近平总书记指出：“‘第二个结合’让马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，让经由‘结合’而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态。”这表明，塑造经由“结合”而形成的新文化，不仅是中国式现代化建设的题中之义，而且也是实现文化再造、文明重生的必然要求。因此，我们在回答为什么提出中国式现代化的文化形态时，必须基于事实和价值的双重逻辑。一方面，长期以来特别是新时代以来，中国经济社会发展和中国式现代化不断向前推进，客观地催生和形成中国式现代化的文化形态；另一方面，面对世界百年未有之大变局，中华民族顺势而为，从来没有像今天这样接近实现民族复兴的目标，需要中国式现代化的文化形态不断提供更为强劲的精神动力。

(1) The Inevitable Requirement for the Coordinated Development of Economy and Culture in the Process of Chinese-Path Modernization

（一）中国式现代化进程中经济与文化协调发展的必然要求

To understand China, the key is to understand Chinese-path modernization. To understand Chinese-path modernization, scientific methods of thinking are needed. The historical materialism founded by Marx and Engels not only constitutes the theoretical foundation for Chinese-path modernization to achieve a series of major historic achievements, but also constitutes the ideological prerequisite for scientifically understanding and grasping Chinese-path modernization. Through a critical reflection on German classical philosophy and even all modern philosophy, Marx recognized: “The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.” [2]2 Karl Marx, A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, Preface (1859). It is precisely because the mode of production of material life, this unavoidable basic premise of human real history, was neglected that, although Hegel had endowed his theoretical system with a profound “sense of history” through dialectics, in the final analysis “the dialectic became mystified in Hegel’s hands” [3]3 Karl Marx, Capital, Volume I, Afterword to the Second German Edition (1873). and “what functions in the ‘real world’ as ‘essence’ or ‘necessity’ is reduced to the Idea.”

读懂中国，关键是读懂中国式现代化。读懂中国式现代化，需要科学的思维方法。由马克思恩格斯创立的唯物史观不仅构成了中国式现代化能够取得一系列重大历史性成就的理论基础，同时也构成了科学理解和把握中国式现代化的思想前提。通过对德国古典哲学乃至全部近代哲学的批判性反省，马克思认识到：“物质生活的生产方式制约着整个社会生活、政治生活和精神生活的过程。不是人们的意识决定人们的存在，相反，是人们的社会存在决定人们的意识。”正是由于忽视了物质生活的生产方式这一人类现实历史的不可回避的基本前提，因而尽管黑格尔已经通过辩证法赋予其理论体系以厚重的“历史感”，但归根到底“辩证法在黑格尔手中神秘化了”，“在‘现实’中作为‘本质’或‘必然性’起作用的东西，却被归结为理念”。

From the perspective of historical materialism, culture is, in the final analysis, a reflection of economy and politics in ideas. The development of Chinese-path modernization has always emphasized the coordination of the modernization of things and the modernization of people, that is, the mutual coordination and common development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress. Viewed from the internal structure of Chinese-path modernization, the cultural form is embedded within the economic form, political form, social form, and form of ecological civilization of Chinese-path modernization. The “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan” overall layout for Chinese-path modernization construction requires the coordinated development of the “five civilizations” — political, economic, cultural, social, and ecological — but, in the final analysis, the economic form of Chinese-path modernization determines the scope, degree, and speed of development of the cultural form. The law of the dialectical movement of economy and culture dictates that while achieving material abundance, it is also necessary to achieve spiritual enrichment, continuously meeting the people’s growing needs for a better life. Thus, it is necessary to summarize the practical experience of Chinese-path modernization development from a cultural perspective and grasp the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

在唯物史观看来，文化归根到底是经济和政治在观念上的反映。中国式现代化的发展始终强调物的现代化和人的现代化相协调，即物质文明与精神文明之间实现相互协调、共同发展。从中国式现代化的内在结构看，文化形态内嵌于中国式现代化的经济形态、政治形态、社会形态、生态文明形态之中，“五位一体”的中国式现代化建设总体布局要求实现政治、经济、文化、社会、生态“五大文明”协调发展，但归根结底中国式现代化的经济形态决定着文化形态的范围、程度和发展速度。经济与文化辩证运动的发展规律决定，在实现物质富足的同时，也需要实现精神的富有，不断满足人民群众日益增长的美好生活需要，从而也就需要从文化的角度总结中国式现代化发展的实践经验，把握中国式现代化的文化形态。

(2) The Need to Build a New Form of Human Civilization and the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

（二）建设人类文明新形态和中华民族现代文明的需要

The goal of constructing the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is to raise the level of social civility, unleash cultural advantages, and enhance the spiritual impetus for modernization development. Although human political life and social life are, in the final analysis, conditioned by the mode of production of material life, as Mao Zedong pointed out, “a certain culture (as an ideological form of culture) is a reflection of the politics and economy of a given society, and in turn exerts a great influence and effect upon that society’s politics and economy.” [4]4 Mao Zedong, “On New Democracy” (1940). Various forms of social consciousness also possess relative independence and can play a unique role in social development in their own way. As a modernization that coordinates the “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan,” not only is the development of the cultural form itself an important aspect of the continuous advancement of Chinese-path modernization, but the development of the cultural form is also an important driving force promoting the coordinated development and continuous progress of all other aspects, including politics and economy. The culture of a country or a nation embodies the commonalities of that country or nation in terms of values, beliefs and pursuits, ways of thinking, and psychological habits. Therefore, it can generate strong resonance and identification within that country or nation, thereby forming a powerful cohesive force. Culture shapes the spiritual home of humanity. On the one hand, building a new form of human civilization and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is the landmark cultural mission and construction project of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization; on the other hand, refining, summarizing, and grasping the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization also constitutes an inherent need for exploring a new form of human civilization and building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

建设中国式现代化的文化形态的目标是提高全社会文明程度，释放文化优势，增强现代化发展的精神动力。虽然人类的政治生活和社会生活等方面归根到底受物质生活的生产方式的制约，但正如毛泽东所指出的，“一定的文化（当作观念形态的文化）是一定社会的政治和经济的反映，又给予伟大影响和作用于一定社会的政治和经济”, 各种社会意识也具有相对独立性，能够以自己的方式对社会发展起到独特作用。中国式现代化作为“五位一体”协调发展的现代化，不仅文化形态的发展本身就是中国式现代化不断推进的一个重要方面，而且文化形态的发展也是促进包括政治、经济在内的全部其他方面协调发展、不断进步的重要推动力。一个国家、一个民族的文化体现了该国家、该民族在价值观念、信仰追求、思维方式、心理习惯等方面的共性，因而能够在本国家、本民族当中产生强烈的共鸣和认同，进而形成强大合力。文化塑造了人类的精神家园。一方面，构建人类文明新形态和中华民族现代文明，是中国式现代化的文化形态的标志性文化使命和建设工程；另一方面，提炼、总结和把握中国式现代化的文化形态，也构成探索人类文明新形态和建设中华民族现代文明的内在需要。

(3) The Need to Promote Cultural Confidence and Self-Strengthening

（三）推进文化自信自强的需要

The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization reflects the cultural foundation of Chinese-path modernization, providing spiritual support for casting off cultural inferiority, enhancing cultural confidence, and promoting cultural self-strengthening. Looking back at history, we can see that China’s modernization was first swept along in the wave of modernization dominated by Western civilization. As Marx pointed out, “It compels all nations, on pain of extinction, to adopt the bourgeois mode of production; it compels them to introduce what it calls civilization into their midst, i.e., to become bourgeois themselves. In one word, it creates a world after its own image.” [5]5 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto (1848). Under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have achieved a historic leap from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong, fundamentally changing the historical situation of “the East being subordinate to the West.” This has not only laid a solid material foundation for the people’s happy life but has also greatly enhanced the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation.

中国式现代化的文化形态反映了中国式现代化的文化底蕴，为摆脱文化自卑、增强文化自信、促进文化自强提供了精神支撑。回顾历史我们就会看到，中国的现代化首先是在由西方文明所主导的现代化浪潮中被裹挟前行的，正如马克思所指出的那样，“它使未开化和半开化的国家从属于文明的国家，使农民的民族从属于资产阶级的民族，使东方从属于西方”。在中国共产党领导下，中国人民实现了从站起来、富起来到强起来的历史性飞跃，根本性地改变了“东方从属于西方”的历史境遇，这不仅为人民的幸福生活奠定了坚实的物质基础，同时也极大增强了中华民族的文化自信。

In fact, cultural confidence is confidence in Chinese-path modernization as “another picture of modernization.” It represents a kind of social, group-level cultural consciousness — that is, a conscious awareness of the scientific and advanced nature of one’s own culture, and the active transformation of the advantages of one’s own culture into confidence in that culture. Cultural self-strengthening requires, on the basis of cultural confidence, further enhancing culture’s influence, communication power, and appeal, and giving full play to the guiding role of advanced culture in social development. Therefore, on the basis of the practical achievements of Chinese-path modernization, continuously promoting cultural confidence and self-strengthening inevitably requires leveraging the functions and roles of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

事实上，文化自信是对中国式现代化作为“现代化的另一幅图景”的自信，代表着一种社会意义上的群体性文化自觉，即自觉意识到自身文化的科学性、先进性，并积极将自身文化的优势转化为对自身文化的信心。文化自强则要求在文化自信的基础上，进一步增强文化的影响力、传播力、感召力，发挥先进文化对社会发展的引领作用。因此，在中国式现代化所取得的实践成就的基础上，不断推进文化自信自强，必然要求发挥中国式现代化的文化形态的功能和作用。

II. The Basic Connotation of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

二、中国式现代化的文化形态的基本内涵

From the perspective of conceptual composition, the “cultural form of Chinese-path modernization” comprises two parts: “Chinese-path modernization” and “cultural form.” As a holistic concept, “Chinese-path modernization” can be understood in a commensurable sense as the modernization of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, that is, including economic modernization, political modernization, cultural modernization, social modernization, and ecological modernization. How then should we understand “cultural form”? It is necessary here to clarify the relationship between “culture” and “cultural form,” and thereby grasp the specific content of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

从概念组成结构看，“中国式现代化的文化形态”包括“中国式现代化”和“文化形态”两部分。作为一个总体性概念，“中国式现代化”我们可以通约化理解为“五位一体”的现代化，即包括经济现代化、政治现代化、文化现代化、社会现代化和生态现代化。那么如何理解“文化形态”？这里有必要澄清“文化”与“文化形态”的关系，进而把握中国式现代化的文化形态的具体内容。

(I) The Relationship between Culture and Cultural Form

（一）文化与文化形态的关系

Within the perspective of historical materialism, culture and cultural form, as components of social life, are in essence both products of social practice. Marx pointed out: “All social life is in essence practical.” [6]6 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The German Ideology* (1845-1846), in *Marx & Engels Collected Works*, Vol. 5 (London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1976), p. 59. Culture is the conceptual reflection of economy and politics; cultural form is likewise determined by economic form and political form. Both are related to the development of productive forces and the mode of production; a given set of productive forces and mode of production determines a given culture and cultural form. But as for the distinction between the two, cultural form is the socio-historical manifestation of culture under different temporal and spatial conditions, and is the specific component of culture as a whole. The relationship between them is that of whole and part, universal and particular, content and form. In other words, culture, as the result of humanization, exists wherever human society exists, yet it does not necessarily possess a definite cultural form, let alone a definite cultural form concerning some particular modernization.

在唯物史观视域中，文化与文化形态作为社会生活的组成部分，在本质上都是社会实践的产物。马克思指出：“全部社会生活在本质上是实践的。”文化是经济和政治在观念上的反映，文化形态也由经济形态和政治形态所规定，二者都与生产力和生产方式的发展有关，一定的生产力和生产方式决定一定的文化和文化形态。但就二者的区别来说，文化形态是作为文化在不同时空条件下的社会历史体现，是作为整体的文化的具体组成部分，二者是整体与部分、普遍与具体、内容与形式的关系。换言之，文化作为人化的结果，有人类社会就有文化，然而不一定具有明确的文化形态，就更不用说具有明确的关于某种现代化的文化形态了。

The positing of cultural form implies cultural consciousness. The conceptual distinction from culture to cultural form indicates that our understanding of our own culture has moved from being-in-itself to being-for-itself. The different internal mechanisms and evolutionary threads of different cultures give rise to different cultural forms, and different cultural forms influence different choices of modernization paths. The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is a cultural form formed on the basis of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and the modernization of Chinese civilization. Therefore, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization possesses prominent “Chinese attributes” and “modern attributes.”

提出文化形态，意味着文化自觉。从文化到文化形态的概念划分，表明我们对自身文化的认识从自在走向自为。不同的文化的内在机理和演进脉络形成了不同的文化形态，不同的文化形态影响了不同的现代化道路选择。中国式现代化的文化形态是在马克思主义中国化时代化、中华文明现代化的基础上形成的文化形态。因此，中国式现代化的文化形态具有突出的“中国属性”和“现代属性”。

(II) The Fundamental Goal of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

（二）中国式现代化的文化形态的根本目标

The “end” of culture is civilization; the mission of any cultural form is to condense and forge a civilization, just as the core socialist values use “civilization” at the national level to mark the goal of socialist cultural development. As a conceptualized and systematized entity, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization consistently revolves around one fundamental goal: building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. On the one hand, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation encompasses civilization in all aspects and fields, including economy, politics, culture, society, and ecology; it is a civilization advanced by taking Chinese-path modernization as the concrete mode of practice. On the other hand, Chinese-path modernization as a cultural form, and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation as a civilizational system, are the main content of the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and become the inevitable new cultural mission in the New Era. In other words, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation occupies a core position within the theoretical system of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

文化的“尽头”是文明，任何一种文化形态的使命都是凝练、锻造一种文明，正如社会主义核心价值观在国家层面用文明来标注社会主义文化建设的目标一样。作为概念化、体系化的中国式现代化的文化形态，始终围绕着一个根本目标，即建设中华民族现代文明。一方面，中华民族现代文明囊括经济、政治、文化、社会、生态等各方面各领域的文明，是以中国式现代化为具体实践方式向前推进的文明；另一方面，作为文化形态的中国式现代化、作为文明体系的中华民族现代文明，则是中国特色社会主义文化建设的主要内容，成为我们在新时代新的文化使命之必然。换言之，中华民族现代文明在中国式现代化的文化形态的理论体系中居于核心位置。

(III) The Essential Requirements of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

（三）中国式现代化的文化形态的本质要求

Specifically, culture is humanity’s spiritual productive activity and its products; cultural construction is civilization in the process of development; the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is the inevitable crystallization of the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, the basic connotation of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization necessarily includes the law-governed understanding and essential stipulations of the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. This is concentratedly expressed in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important directive of the “seven focal efforts” [7]7 Xi Jinping, “Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” (Report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, October 18, 2017). regarding propaganda, ideology, and cultural work. The “seven focal efforts” constitute an organic whole, clarifying the substance and realizing its function, with substance and function interpenetrating, and together they form the essential requirements of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

具体来说，文化是人类的精神生产活动及其产物，文化建设是正在发展的文明，中国式现代化的文化形态是中国特色社会主义文化建设的必然结晶。因此，中国式现代化的文化形态的基本内涵必然包括对中国特色社会主义文化建设的规律性认识和本质性规定，这集中体现为习近平总书记对宣传思想文化工作作出的“七个着力”重要指示。“七个着力”是一个有机整体，明体达用、体用贯通，构成了中国式现代化的文化形态的本质要求。

First, focusing efforts on strengthening the Party’s leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work is the fundamental prerequisite of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

首先，着力加强党对宣传思想文化工作的领导是中国式现代化的文化形态的根本前提。

The Communist Party of China is the leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature and the most significant advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Handling China’s affairs well depends on the Party

中国共产党是中国特色社会主义事业的领导核心。中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义的最本质特征，也是最显著优势。办好中国的事情，关键在党。习近平总书记强调：“党中央是大脑和中枢，党中央必须有定于一尊、一锤定音的权威，这样才能‘如身使臂，如臂使指，叱咤变化，无有留难，则天下之势一矣’。”宣传思想文化工作是一项极端重要的工作，事关大局和长远，事关国家和民族的治乱兴衰。文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂；在“五位一体”总体布局中，文化建设是灵魂。对于这样一项培根铸魂的工作来说，坚持和加强党的领导既是根本前提，也是根本保证，要在确保中国特色社会主义文化发展方向的基础上，铸就社会主义文化发展的新辉煌。

Second, focusing on building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power is an inherent requirement of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

其次，着力建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态是中国式现代化的文化形态的内在要求。

Culture and cultural form possess distinct ideological attributes. Ideology manifests as the ideology of a class; the ideology of a society manifests as the ideology of the ruling class. Marx and Engels believed: “The class which is the ruling material force of society is at the same time its ruling intellectual force.” [6]6 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The German Ideology* (1845-1846), in *Marx & Engels Collected Works*, Vol. 5 (London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1976), p. 59. Chinese-path modernization is a socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is a cultural form of a socialist nature led by the Communist Party of China, possessing distinct attributes of socialist ideology, manifested as the unity of Party spirit and people-centeredness. In the work of propaganda, ideology, and culture, we must uphold and consolidate the guiding position of Marxism, inherit the fine traditional Chinese culture, carry forward revolutionary culture, develop advanced socialist culture, enrich the people’s spiritual world, meet the people’s spiritual needs, and truly lead social trends and the currents of the times.

文化和文化形态具有鲜明的意识形态属性。意识形态表现为阶级的意识形态，一个社会的意识形态表现为统治阶级的意识形态。马克思恩格斯认为：“一个阶级是社会上占统治地位的物质力量，同时也是社会上占统治地位的精神力量。”中国式现代化是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，中国式现代化的文化形态是中国共产党领导的社会主义性质的文化形态，具有鲜明的社会主义意识形态属性，表现为党性与人民性的统一。在宣传思想文化工作中，坚持和巩固马克思主义指导地位，传承中华优秀传统文化，弘扬革命文化，发展社会主义先进文化，丰富人民精神世界，满足人民精神需求，真正引领社会风尚和时代潮流。

Finally, focusing on cultivating and practicing the core socialist values, focusing on enhancing the communication power, guidance power, influence, and credibility of news and public opinion, focusing on continuing the Chinese cultural lineage and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, focusing on promoting the flourishing development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, and focusing on strengthening the capacity for international communication and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are the realization pathways of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

最后，着力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，着力提升新闻舆论传播力引导力影响力公信力，着力赓续中华文脉、推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展，着力推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展，着力加强国际传播能力建设、促进文明交流互鉴是中国式现代化的文化形态的实现路径。

In terms of consolidating hearts and minds, we must focus on cultivating and practicing the core socialist values. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era. This is the inevitable result of China’s economic and social development, and also the inevitable result of the movement and change of the principal contradiction in society. At the same time, at the level of social consciousness and values, it calls for a new set of values that aligns with the New Era, namely, the core socialist values. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “The core socialist values are the concentrated embodiment of the contemporary Chinese spirit and condense the common value pursuits of all the people.” [7]7 Xi Jinping, “Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” (Report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, October 18, 2017). At the national level, the value goals of “prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony” are the general direction for social and individual value pursuits; at the social level, the value orientation of “freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law” is an essential link connecting national value goals and individual value standards; at the individual level, the value standards of “patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship” are the realistic foundation for realizing national value goals and social value orientations. Although individual value standards, social value orientations, and national value goals each have their own emphases, they are internally consistent. In cultural construction, we must always take the core socialist values as the guide, unite the will of all the people, form the “greatest common divisor,” and draw the “largest concentric circle.” [8]8 “Greatest common divisor” and “largest concentric circle” are metaphors used by Xi Jinping to describe the broadest possible unity of interests and consensus among the people under the leadership of the CPC.

从凝心聚力来说，要着力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，这是我国经济社会发展的必然结果，也是社会主要矛盾运动、变化的必然结果，同时在社会意识和价值观念层面呼唤一种与新时代相契合的新的价值观，即社会主义核心价值观。习近平总书记指出：“社会主义核心价值观是当代中国精神的集中体现，凝结着全体人民共同的价值追求。”国家层面“富强、民主、文明、和谐”的价值目标是社会和个人价值追求的总方向；社会层面“自由、平等、公正、法治”的价值取向是沟通国家价值目标和个人价值准则的必然环节；个人层面“爱国、敬业、诚信、友善”的价值准则是国家价值目标和社会价值取向得以实现的现实基础。个人的价值准则、社会的价值取向、国家的价值目标，三者虽各有侧重，但内在一致。在文化建设中，要始终做到以社会主义核心价值观为引领，团结全体人民意志，形成“最大公约数”，画出“最大同心圆”。

Regarding the work of news and public opinion, efforts must be focused on enhancing communication, guidance, influence, and credibility. News and public opinion work is an important component of the Party’s undertakings and holds a special position and role in the development of the Party’s and the state’s affairs. Marx believed that “the true press is the people’s press,” which “harmoniously integrates all genuine elements of the people’s spirit.” Emphasizing the people’s standpoint and the unity of Party spirit and people’s character is a key connotation of the Marxist view of journalism. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “We must uphold the unity of Party spirit and people’s character, transform the Party’s theories, lines, policies, and principles into the conscious actions of the masses, promptly reflect the experiences created by the masses and the actual situations they face, enrich the people’s spiritual world, and strengthen the people’s spiritual strength.” Facing new changes in the global media landscape, the ecology of public opinion, and forms of communication, General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the construction and innovation of communication means and creatively proposed the “four forces” of news and public opinion: “communication, guidance, influence, and credibility.” It can be said that the “four forces” are important standards for measuring the effectiveness of news and public opinion dissemination.

从新闻舆论工作来说，要着力提升传播力引导力影响力公信力。新闻舆论工作是党的事业的重要组成部分，在党和国家事业发展中具有特殊的地位和作用。马克思认为，“真正的报刊即人民报刊”，“和谐地融合了人民精神的一切真正要素”。强调人民立场、强调党性和人民性的统一是马克思主义新闻观的重要内涵。习近平总书记指出，“要坚持党性和人民性相统一，把党的理论和路线方针政策变成人民群众的自觉行动，及时把人民群众创造的经验和面临的实际情况反映出来，丰富人民精神世界，增强人民精神力量”。面对世界媒体格局、舆论生态、传播形式的新变化，习近平总书记高度重视传播手段建设和创新，创造性提出“传播力、引导力、影响力、公信力”的新闻舆论“四力说”。可以说，“四力”是衡量新闻舆论传播效果的重要标准。

Regarding the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, efforts must be focused on continuing the Chinese cultural lineage and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Chinese civilization is the only great civilization in the world that has continued uninterrupted and developed in the form of a state to this day.” Unfolding the long scroll of Chinese academic and intellectual history—the royal learning of the Three Dynasties [9]9 The Three Dynasties (三代) refers to the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties (c. 2070–256 BCE), considered the formative period of Chinese civilization., the pre-Qin schools of thought [10]10 The pre-Qin schools of thought (先秦子学) refers to the diverse philosophical schools that flourished during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (770–221 BCE), including Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and Mohism., the classical studies of the Han Dynasty, the Neo-Daoism of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Buddhist studies of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties, and the evidential scholarship of the Qing Dynasty—it has always preserved its foundation while opening up new horizons. This is true not only of academic thought but also of agricultural production, institutions and systems, literature and art, and craftsmanship and skills. For example, in the development of literature—the Book of Songs, the Songs of Chu, Han Dynasty rhapsodies, Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan drama, and Ming and Qing novels—it has always carried its Way while adapting to the times. An important task of cultural construction in the New Era is to consolidate the foundation of civilization and continue the Chinese cultural lineage. Promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture fully displays the enduring charm and contemporary style of Chinese culture, thereby actively creating the modern form of Chinese civilization.

从传承发展中华文化来说，要着力赓续中华文脉、推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展。习近平总书记指出：“中华文明是世界上唯一绵延不断且以国家形态发展至今的伟大文明。”我们展开中华学术思想史的长卷，三代王官之学、先秦子学、两汉经学、魏晋玄学、隋唐佛学、宋明理学、清代朴学，始终守其元而开生面。不仅学术思想是这样，农耕生产、典章制度、文学艺术、工匠技艺等莫不如此。譬如就文学发展来说，诗经、楚辞、汉赋、唐诗、宋词、元曲、明清小说，始终载其道而合乎时。新时代文化建设的重要任务就是夯实文明根基、赓续中华文脉。推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展，将中华文化所具有的永久魅力和时代风采都充分地展现出来，从而积极创造中华文明的现代形态。

Regarding cultural undertakings and cultural industries, efforts must be focused on promoting their coordinated development and common prosperity. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed cultural construction in a prominent position in governance, vigorously promoting the flourishing development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries. Adhering to the coordinated development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries enables the people to enjoy a more substantial, richer, and higher-quality spiritual and cultural life; adhering to the principle of putting social benefits first and unifying social and economic benefits has established guidelines and standards for China’s cultural system reform, public cultural services, and cultural industry development in the New Era. Cultural undertakings and cultural industries have different emphases: cultural undertakings are characterized by public welfare and public nature, requiring the standardization and equalization of basic public cultural services, while simultaneously improving quality and level to continuously meet the people’s increasingly diverse spiritual and cultural needs; cultural industries are characterized by operation and market nature, requiring the optimization and upgrading of the cultural industry structure, expanding and guiding cultural consumption that aligns with socialist trends, and accelerating the development of modern cultural industries.

从文化事业和文化产业来说，要着力推动两者协调发展、共同繁荣。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记将文化建设摆在治国理政的突出位置，着力推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展。坚持文化事业和文化产业协调发展，让人民享有更加充实、更为丰富、更高质量的精神文化生活；坚持社会效益第一、社会效益和经济效益相统一的原则，为新时代以来我国文化体制改革、公共文化服务、文化产业发展确立了遵循和标准。文化事业和文化产业各有侧重：文化事业具有公益性、公共性的特征，要促进基本公共文化服务标准化、均等化，同时要提高质量和水平，不断满足人民日益多样化的精神文化需要；文化产业具有经营性、市场性的特征，要推动文化产业结构优化升级，扩大和引导符合社会主义风尚的文化消费，加快发展现代文化产业。

Regarding external communication and exchange, efforts must be focused on strengthening international communication capacity and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. “Hard power” makes a country strong; “soft power” makes a country great. Strengthening international communication capacity includes specifically disseminating contemporary Chinese values, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese culture, shaping a good national image, and enhancing international discourse power, continuously improving the cultural ability to influence international public opinion and change the global landscape. Civilizations become colorful through exchange, and civilizations become rich through mutual learning. We must conduct broader and deeper dialogues among world civilizations, implement the Global Civilization Initiative, promote the common values of all humanity, and provide abundant and lasting cultural strength for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

从对外传播交往来说，要着力加强国际传播能力建设、促进文明交流互鉴。“硬实力”使一个国家强大，“软实力”使一个国家伟大。要加强国际传播能力建设，具体包括传播当代中国价值观念、展现中华文化独特魅力、塑造良好国家形象、提高国际话语权等内容，不断提高影响国际舆论、改变世界格局的文化能力。文明因交流而多彩，文明因互鉴而丰富。要更加广泛深入地开展世界文明对话，落实全球文明倡议，弘扬全人类共同价值，为构建人类命运共同体提供充沛持久的文化力量。

(IV) The Philosophical Concepts of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

（四）中国式现代化的文化形态的哲学理念

Culture is a product created by people in social practice and is socialized. The special attributes and functions of culture determine that the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is both a conceptual reflection of the content of cultural construction in Chinese-path modernization and a conceptual reflection of the content of the “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan” construction in Chinese-path modernization. The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is not only the result of the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics but is also embedded within material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization.

文化是人们在社会实践中所创造的、社会化的产物。文化的特殊属性和功能决定了中国式现代化的文化形态，既是对中国式现代化的文化建设内容的观念反映，也是对中国式现代化的“五位一体”建设内容的观念反映。中国式现代化的文化形态既是中国特色社会主义文化建设的结果，同时也蕴含在物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明当中。

Philosophy is the living soul of culture. As the condensation and sublimation of the practical experience of Chinese-path modernization in ideas and concepts, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is interconnected with the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, and is interconnected with the core concepts, value pursuits, and development goals of Chinese-path modernization. Going further, the philosophical concepts of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization are concentratedly embodied in the unique worldview, values, view of history, view of civilization, view of democracy, and view of ecology contained in Chinese-path modernization. These unique “six views” are both theory and thought, as well as culture and philosophy. They come from the great practice of Chinese-path modernization, are reflected in all the content of the “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan” construction, and are also the main content of the philosophical concepts of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

哲学是文化的活的灵魂。作为中国式现代化实践经验在思想观念上的凝练和升华，中国式现代化的文化形态与中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求、重大原则相贯通，与中国式现代化的核心理念、价值追求、发展目标相贯通。更进一步说，中国式现代化的文化形态的哲学理念就集中体现为中国式现代化蕴含的独特世界观、价值观、历史观、文明观、民主观、生态观。这独特“六观”既是理论、思想，也是文化、哲学，从中国式现代化的伟大实践中来，既反映在“五位一体”建设的全部内容中，也是中国式现代化的文化形态的哲学理念的主要内容。

From the perspective of worldview, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is concentratedly manifested as the “six imperatives” [11]11 The “six imperatives” (六个必须坚持) are: upholding the people-centered development philosophy, upholding self-reliance and independent efforts, upholding the fundamental system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, upholding the new development philosophy, upholding the system of opening up, and upholding the system of Party leadership. They are the core components of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC states: “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 of the CPC, our Party has successfully advanced and expanded Chinese-path modernization.” From the perspective of modernization in a general sense, China’s modernization has undergone a relatively long period; from the perspective of modernization that shares the common characteristics of modernization in various countries but is even more based on China’s own national conditions, Chinese-path modernization has been greatly advanced and expanded since the 18th National Congress of the CPC. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: “Summarizing and deeply elaborating the theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major theoretical innovation of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the latest major achievement of scientific socialism.” This indicates that the formal establishment and formation of the theory of Chinese-path modernization began with the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and also signifies a high degree of theoretical self-awareness regarding the practice of Chinese-path modernization. Similarly, the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC explicitly proposed the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, with the “six imperatives” as its main content. Marxist philosophy holds that worldview and methodology are unified; a worldview is a fundamental view of the world, and when used to guide practice, it becomes methodology. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, with the “six imperatives” as its main content, are the scientific worldview and methodology guiding Chinese-path modernization. Therefore, the “six imperatives” are the concentrated manifestation of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization in terms of worldview.

从世界观看，中国式现代化的文化形态集中表现为“六个必须坚持”。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。”从一般意义的现代化看，中国的现代化经历了一个较长时期；从既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色的现代化看，中国式现代化在党的十八大以来得到极大推进和拓展。习近平总书记明确指出：“概括提出并深入阐述中国式现代化理论，是党的二十大的一个重大理论创新，是科学社会主义的最新重大成果。”这表明，正式确立和形成中国式现代化理论是从党的二十大开始的，也意味着对中国式现代化实践的高度理论自觉。同样，在党的二十大报告中明确提出以“六个必须坚持”为主要内容的习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论。马克思主义哲学认为，世界观和方法论是一体的，世界观是对世界的根本看法，用以指导实践就是方法论。以“六个必须坚持”为主要内容的习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论是指导中国式现代化的科学世界观和方法论，因此“六个必须坚持”是中国式现代化的文化形态在世界观方面的集中体现。

From the perspective of values, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is centrally manifested as putting the people first. In the philosophical sense, truth, goodness, and beauty are intrinsically unified; the fundamental worldview one holds inevitably gives rise to corresponding value choices and behavioral norms. The scientific worldview of Marxism inherently contains the organic unity of a concept of truth and a concept of value. From this angle, whatever worldview the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization possesses, it will inevitably form corresponding values. The first of the “Six Musts,” “must put the people first,” vividly embodies this. Putting the people first is the fundamental value stance of Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “We must adhere to the people-first concept, highlighting the people-oriented nature of the modernization direction.” [12]12 The “root vein” (根脉) and “soul vein” (魂脉) are Party metaphors: the former refers to China’s excellent traditional culture as the foundational source, the latter to Marxism as the guiding spiritual essence. This is a clear expression of the values of Chinese-path modernization and also the fundamental value guideline of Chinese-path modernization. From the perspective of fundamental value purpose, Chinese-path modernization is modernization that is people-centered; from both domestic and international perspectives, Chinese-path modernization not only seeks happiness for the Chinese people but also seeks progress for the people of the world. Facing the changes unseen in a century in the world, we must proceed from the overall interests of all humanity, uphold shared interests, shared rights, and shared responsibilities, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

从价值观看，中国式现代化的文化形态集中表现为人民至上。哲学意义上的真、善、美是内在统一的，人们持有何种对世界的根本看法，也就必然会形成与之相应的价值选择和行为准则，马克思主义的科学世界观内在蕴含着真理观与价值观的有机统一。从这一角度来说，中国式现代化的文化形态具有何种世界观，也就必然形成何种价值观。“六个必须坚持”的第一条“必须坚持人民至上”鲜明地体现了这一点。坚持人民至上是中国式现代化的根本价值立场。习近平总书记强调：“我们要坚守人民至上理念，突出现代化方向的人民性。”这是中国式现代化价值观的明确表达，也是中国式现代化的根本价值遵循。从根本价值旨趣看，中国式现代化就是以人民为中心的现代化；从国内国际看，中国式现代化不仅为中国人民谋幸福，而且为世界人民谋进步。面对世界百年未有之大变局，我们要从全人类整体利益出发，秉持利益共生、权利共享、责任共担，推动构建人类命运共同体。

From the perspective of history, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is centrally manifested as a grand view of history. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Establish a grand view of history, analyze the mechanisms of evolution and explore historical laws from the long river of history, the great tide of the times, and global changes, propose corresponding strategic measures, and enhance the systematic, forward-looking, and creative nature of work.” [13]13 The “Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development” (文化传承发展座谈会) was a high-level meeting convened by the CPC in June 2023, where Xi Jinping delivered a major speech on the “Two Integrations.” We must view our cause, practice, and development trends based on the more than 40 years of practice history of reform and opening up, the more than 70 years of development history of the People’s Republic of China, the more than 100 years of struggle history of the Communist Party of China, the more than 180 years of modern struggle history of the Chinese people, the more than 500 years of world socialist history, and the more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization history. Advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is our great cause, great practice, and great development trend. This inevitably requires the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization to possess this grand view of history.

从历史观看，中国式现代化的文化形态集中表现为大历史观。习近平总书记指出：“树立大历史观，从历史长河、时代大潮、全球风云中分析演变机理、探究历史规律，提出因应的战略策略，增强工作的系统性、预见性、创造性。”要立足40多年的改革开放实践史、70多年的中华人民共和国发展史、100多年的中国共产党奋斗史、180多年的中国人民近代抗争史、500多年的世界社会主义史、5000多年的中华文明史来看待我们的事业、实践和发展趋势。以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，就是我们的伟大事业、伟大实践和伟大发展趋势，这必然要求中国式现代化的文化形态具备这种大历史观。

From the perspective of civilization, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is centrally manifested as the coordination of the “Five Civilizations.” [14]14 This is a paraphrase of a common Chinese academic formulation linking modernization to the Marxist concept of world history. So-called civilization is the sum total of all humanistic spirit and inventions accumulated by humanity in the process of historical development, including both material and cultural-ethical achievements, demonstrating the historical activities and historical processes through which people gradually understand and adapt to the objective world and explore spiritual pursuits that can be accepted and recognized by people. “Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of the coordination of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress.” More specifically, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization. At the same time, in the context of modernization and modernity, we uphold the theory of civilizational coordination and oppose Western-centrism, cultural superiority theory, and the clash of civilizations theory.

从文明观看，中国式现代化的文化形态集中表现为“五大文明”相协调。所谓文明，是人类在历史发展过程中所积累下来的，包括物质文明和精神文明成果在内的，一切人文精神和发明创造的总和，展现了人们逐渐认识和适应客观世界，探寻可被人接受和认可的精神追求的历史活动和历史过程。“中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化。”更加具体地说，中国式现代化是物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展的现代化。同时，在现代化和现代性语境中，我们秉持文明协调论，反对西方中心论、文化优越论、文明冲突论。

From the perspective of democracy, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is centrally manifested as whole-process people’s democracy. From the perspective of political construction, the essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization is to develop whole-process people’s democracy. Uphold the principal position of the people and safeguard the people’s democratic rights. “Whole-process people’s democracy is the essential attribute of socialist democratic politics, and it is the broadest, most genuine, and most effective democracy.” [15]15 This is a paraphrase of a passage from *The German Ideology* by Marx and Engels.

从民主观看，中国式现代化的文化形态集中表现为全过程人民民主。从政治建设看，中国式现代化的本质要求是发展全过程人民民主。坚持人民主体地位，维护人民民主权利。“全过程人民民主是社会主义民主政治的本质属性，是最广泛、最真实、最管用的民主。”

From the perspective of ecology, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is centrally manifested as the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. From the perspective of ecological civilization construction, the essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization is to promote the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Nature is the mother of life,

从生态观看，中国式现代化的文化形态集中表现为人与自然和谐共生。从生态文明建设看，中国式现代化的本质要求是促进人与自然和谐共生。习近平总书记指出，“自然是生命之母，人与自然是生命共同体”。天人关系是中国传统哲学的一对核心范畴，天人合一意在解决人与宇宙的关系，“天”和“人”是内在统一的，皆以“仁”为性。我们要尊重自然规律，置自己于天地万物之中，进而达到“人与天地参”的境界。

III. Principles for Building the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

三、中国式现代化的文化形态的建设原则

The shaping of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is intrinsically aligned with the development of Chinese-path modernization; throughout the entire process of shaping the cultural form, it is necessary to manifest the cultural subjectivity of Chinese-path modernization. On the one hand, we must adhere to the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” as the fundamental pathway, properly handling the dialectical relationship between the “root vein” and the “soul vein.” On the other hand, we must uphold the dialectical unity of independent development and open development, maintaining spiritual independence and autonomy while building and developing the cultural form through exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, thereby shaping the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization in the consistency of preserving Chinese national characteristics and possessing universal principles of the world.

中国式现代化的文化形态的塑造与中国式现代化的发展内在契合，在文化形态塑造的全过程中都需要彰显中国式现代化的文化主体性。一方面要坚持以“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”为根本路径，处理好“根脉”与“魂脉”的辩证关系；另一方面要坚持自主发展和开放发展的辩证统一，既保持精神上的独立自主，又在世界文明的交流互鉴中建设和发展文化形态，从而在保持中华民族特色与具备世界普遍原理的一致性中塑造中国式现代化的文化形态。

(I) The “Two Integrations” Provide the Fundamental Pathway for Building the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

（一）“两个结合”为建设中国式现代化的文化形态提供了根本路径

General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out in his speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development that the “Two Integrations” are the “only way” and the “greatest magic weapon” for opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. In fact, the same applies to building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization; the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” provide the fundamental pathway for building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. Marxism is not a doctrine confined to the study; rather, it is a theory that continuously advances practical development and achieves its own theoretical innovation through ongoing engagement with practice. Integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities is not only a manifestation of Marxism’s own special theoretical character but also an important aspect of upholding and developing Marxism and continuously adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. At the same time, possessing an excellent traditional culture spanning over 5,000 years is China’s historical reality and the cultural foundation of Chinese-path modernization. The introduction of Marxism enabled the Chinese people to “transition from passivity to initiative in spirit,” gradually freeing us from the confusion experienced in the exploration of modernization since modern times and providing us with a spiritual backbone. Therefore, Marxism provides scientific theoretical guidance for the Chinese nation, and Marxism is the driving force for the cultural development of Chinese-path modernization.

习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的讲话中明确指出，“两个结合”是开辟和发展中国特色社会主义的“必由之路”和“最大法宝”。事实上，建设中国式现代化的文化形态也是如此，“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”为建设中国式现代化的文化形态提供了根本路径。马克思主义不是书斋里的学问，而是在与实践的持续性关联中不断推进实践发展和实现自身理论创新的理论，把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合既是马克思主义本身的特殊理论品性之所在，同时也是坚持和发展马克思主义，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化的重要方面。与此同时，拥有5000多年优秀传统文化是中国的历史实际，是中国式现代化的文化根基，马克思主义的传入使中国人“在精神上就由被动转入主动”，让我们逐渐摆脱了近代以来探索现代化过程中的迷茫，获得了精神上的主心骨。因此，马克思主义为中华民族提供了科学理论指导，马克思主义是中国式现代化的文化发展动力。

Furthermore, although China’s excellent traditional culture and Marxism were born in different historical times and spaces, there is a high degree of compatibility between the spiritual essence of China’s excellent traditional culture and the theoretical characteristics of Marxism. This mutual compatibility is the prerequisite for “integration,” and the results of “integration” achieve mutual accomplishment between the two. The excellent factors in China’s traditional culture are activated by Marxism and take on new contemporary connotations, which promotes the eruption of powerful spiritual strength from Chinese civilization. Meanwhile, China’s excellent traditional culture, as the cultural foundation of Chinese-path modernization, has the progressive significance of nurturing modernization, thereby enriching the cultural life of Marxism and providing rich historical and cultural nourishment for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. To build the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, we must adhere to the “soul vein” of Marxism and the “root vein” of China’s excellent traditional culture. The new path of cultural inheritance and development created through the interactive contact between Marxism and China’s excellent traditional culture, as indicated by the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” can greatly enhance the culture’s capacity for self-renewal and guidance, providing the fundamental pathway for building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

而且更进一步说，中华优秀传统文化和马克思主义虽然诞生在不同的历史时空，但中华优秀传统文化的精神实质与马克思主义的理论特质之间存在着高度的契合性，这种彼此契合是“结合”的前提，而“结合”的成果则实现了二者的相互成就。中华传统文化中的优秀因子被马克思主义激活，并形成了新的时代内涵，这促进了中华文明迸发出强大的精神力量。而中华优秀传统文化作为中国式现代化的文化根基，则具有涵养现代化的进步意义，从而充实了马克思主义的文化生命，为马克思主义中国化时代化提供了丰厚的历史文化滋养。建设中国式现代化的文化形态，要坚守马克思主义“魂脉”和中华优秀传统文化“根脉”。由“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”所指明的在马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的交互式接触中所创造出的新的文化传承发展路径，能够极大地提高文化的自我更新和引导能力，提供建设中国式现代化的文化形态的根本路径。

(II) Spiritual Independence and Autonomy Are the Fundamental Prerequisite for Building the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

（二）精神上的独立自主是建设中国式现代化的文化形态的根本前提

Spiritual independence and autonomy are the backbone of a political party, a country, and a nation’s self-reliance and self-strengthening, and they are the spiritual foundation for our Party to firmly uphold confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture. In fact, the opening up of the path of Chinese-path modernization originated from our insistence on taking our own road, and the continuous advancement of Chinese-path modernization also stems from our adherence to the direction of independent development. Independent development and taking our own road are intrinsically unified.

精神上的独立自主是一个政党、国家、民族自立自强的脊梁，是我们党坚定道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信的精神基础。事实上，中国式现代化道路的开辟就源于我们坚持走自己的路，中国式现代化的不断推进也源于我们坚持独立自主的发展方向，独立自主与走自己的路是内在统一的。

Building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization must take spiritual independence and self-reliance as its fundamental prerequisite. It needs to be clarified here that adhering to independence and self-reliance is not cultural nationalism or cultural conservatism, but rather persisting in building a new form of civilization with national characteristics. Upholding the emancipation of the mind and seeking truth from facts is the prerequisite for achieving spiritual independence and self-reliance, while upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is the fundamental guarantee for achieving spiritual independence and self-reliance. Only by upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, standing at the forefront of the times, comprehending the changes of past and present, issuing the pioneering voice of thought, using the Chinese path to summarize Chinese experience well, elevating Chinese experience into Chinese theory, neither blindly following various dogmas nor copying foreign theories, but rather, in the process of advancing Chinese-path modernization, basing oneself on the great historical practice and contemporary practice of the Chinese nation, always mastering the initiative in thought and culture, and achieving spiritual independence and self-reliance, can we truly promote the construction and development of the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

建设中国式现代化的文化形态，必须以精神上的独立自主为根本前提。在这里需要说明的是，坚持独立自主不是文化民族主义、文化保守主义，而是坚持建设具有民族特色的文明新样态。坚持解放思想、实事求是是实现精神上的独立自主的前提，坚持中国共产党的文化领导权则是实现精神上的独立自主的根本保证。只有坚持守正创新，立时代之潮头、通古今之变化、发思想之先声，用中国道路总结好中国经验，把中国经验提升为中国理论，既不盲从各种教条，也不照搬外国理论，而是在推进中国式现代化的过程中立足中华民族伟大历史实践和当代实践，始终掌握思想文化主动，实现精神上的独立自主，才能真正推动中国式现代化的文化形态的建设与发展。

(III) Mutual Learning Among Civilizations Provides a Beneficial Supplement for Enriching the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

（三）文明互鉴为丰富中国式现代化的文化形态提供有益补充

Culture arises from the object-oriented activity between subject and object, and from the communicative activity between people. The communicative attribute and fluid nature of culture require that the cultural form, in its dynamic shaping process, maintain exchange and dialogue within the field of world cultural practice. From the perspective of a grand historical view, “the process of ‘modernization’ is the process of human society transitioning from a traditional agricultural society to a modern industrial society, and is the process of ‘history becoming world history’.” [14]14 This is a paraphrase of a common Chinese academic formulation linking modernization to the Marxist concept of world history. With the continuous development of productive forces, the old modes of communication based on geographical spatial separation have been broken. The bourgeoisie, by opening up global markets, created a universal mode of communication based on the logic of capital, dragging the entire world into the irreversible historical process of “history transforming into world history.” As Marx and Engels recognized, “men’s world-historical, rather than merely local, existence is already an empirical fact,” [15]15 This is a paraphrase of a passage from *The German Ideology* by Marx and Engels. which means that understanding any country or nation cannot be separated from the empirical fact that history has transformed into world history and that universal world communication has already been formed.

文化产生于主体与客体之间的对象性活动、人与人之间的交往活动，文化的交往属性和流动特性要求文化形态在动态塑造过程中保持世界文化实践场域内的交流对话。从大历史观看，“‘现代化’的过程就是人类社会从传统的农业社会向现代的工业社会转变的过程，是‘历史向世界历史的转变’过程”。随着生产力的不断发展，过去以地理空间区隔为基础的旧的交往方式被打破，资产阶级通过开拓全球市场，创建了建立在资本逻辑基础上的普遍交往模式，将全世界都卷入到了“历史转变为世界历史”这一不可逆的历史进程中来。正如马克思恩格斯意识到的那样，“人们的世界历史性的而不是地域性的存在同时已经是经验的存在了”，这也就意味着，对任何一个国家和民族的理解，都不能脱离历史转变为世界历史和世界性的普遍交往已经形成这一经验事实。

In modern society, the world-historical attribute of human beings determines the world-historical nature of culture as human activity. Modern culture, with the development of productive forces and modes of production, has long surpassed local existence and become world culture in the sense of empirical fact. Against this historical and epochal background, upholding the basic attitude of openness and inclusiveness, and enriching and developing the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization through exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, is inevitably an important aspect of shouldering the new cultural mission and promoting the development of Chinese civilization and Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Exchange and mutual learning are the essential requirements for the development of civilizations.” [16]16 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping, likely from a speech on civilization exchange. Enriching the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization inevitably requires actively promoting mutual learning among civilizations on the basis of the coexistence of civilizations.

在现代社会，人的世界历史属性规定了作为人类活动的文化的世界历史性，现代文化随着生产力和生产方式的发展早已超出了地域性的存在，成为经验事实意义上的世界性文化。在这一历史和时代背景下，秉持开放包容的基本态度，在世界文明交流互鉴中丰富和发展中国式现代化的文化形态，必然是肩负新的文化使命，促进中华文明与中华文化发展的重要方面。习近平总书记指出：“交流互鉴是文明发展的本质要求。”丰富中国式现代化的文化形态，必然要求在文明共存的基础上积极推进文明互鉴。

IV. The Prominent Significance of the Cultural Form of Chinese-Path Modernization

四、中国式现代化的文化形态的突出意义

As the Second Integration allows the new culture formed through “integration” to become the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, “we are more capable than any previous era of resolving the ‘ancient-modern, Chinese-Western debate’,” [17]17 This is a paraphrase of a statement by Xi Jinping regarding the resolution of the “ancient-modern, Chinese-Western debate” through the Second Integration. which also marks the entry of the Chinese nation into a new stage of “creating a new culture belonging to our era and building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” [18]18 This is a paraphrase of a key cultural mission statement from Xi Jinping. The prominent significance of building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization lies not only in its ability to manifest the cultural subjectivity of Chinese-path modernization and to lead the continuous development of fine traditional Chinese culture, but also in its interconnection with the construction of the civilizational system of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. In summary, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is the spiritual force that enables Chinese-path modernization to go broader, last longer, and proceed more firmly.

随着“第二个结合”让经由“结合”而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态，“我们比以往任何一个时代都更有条件破解‘古今中西之争’”，这也标志着中华民族进入“创造属于我们这个时代的新文化，建设中华民族现代文明”的新阶段。建设中国式现代化的文化形态的突出意义不仅在于能够彰显中国式现代化的文化主体性、能够引领中华优秀传统文化的不断发展，同时也与建构中华民族现代文明的文明体系相互贯通。总的来说，中国式现代化的文化形态是中国式现代化走得更宽、走得更久、走得更坚定的精神力量。

(I) Manifesting the Cultural Subjectivity of Chinese-Path Modernization

（一）彰显中国式现代化的文化主体性

Cultural subjectivity is, on the one hand, the awakening of the self-awareness of a cultural life entity, the prerequisite for the cultural life entity to achieve itself; on the other hand, it is the result of the awakening of the self-awareness of the cultural life entity, the driving force for the continued growth and expansion of the cultural life entity. With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense. With the continuous advancement of Chinese-path modernization, we have achieved historic accomplishments in economic and social development that have attracted worldwide attention, established the country’s independent and self-reliant status and spiritual independence and self-reliance, and thereby can establish the cultural subjectivity of Chinese-path modernization.

文化主体性一方面是文化生命体自我意识的觉醒，是文化生命体成就自身的前提；另一方面又是文化生命体自我意识觉醒的结果，是文化生命体继续成长壮大的动力。有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上的坚定自我。随着中国式现代化的不断推进，我们在经济社会发展方面取得了举世瞩目的历史性成就，确立了国家的独立自主地位和精神上的独立自主，进而能够确立中国式现代化的文化主体性。

“China” and “Chinese” are not only geographical references but also historical and cultural concepts. With the in-depth advancement of the Second Integration, the cultural subjectivity of Chinese-path modernization is no longer manifested as a passive response when encountering foreign cultural subjectivity, but rather as gradually breaking free from its long-term “apprentice status,” actively moving toward the world, confidently displaying China’s own claims in theory and practice on the world stage, and continuously consolidating cultural subjectivity amidst the exchange and collision of world cultures. Therefore, building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization fully manifests the cultural subjectivity of Chinese-path modernization.

“中国”和“中华”不仅是一个地理指称，更是一个历史文化概念，随着“第二个结合”的深入推进，中国式现代化的文化主体性不再表现为遭遇外来文化主体性时的被动应对，而是表现为逐渐摆脱其长期所处的“学徒状态”，主动走向世界，在世界舞台上自信展现中国理论与实践的自我主张，并在世界文化的交流激荡中不断巩固文化主体性。因此，建设中国式现代化的文化形态，充分彰显了中国式现代化的文化主体性。

(II) Leading the Creative Transformation and Innovative Development of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

（二）引领中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展

The Chinese nation’s ability to endure hardships, regenerate, and flourish vigorously over more than 5,000 years is inseparable from the nurturing and support of fine traditional Chinese culture. Advancing the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era is also inseparable from a comprehensive understanding of the history of Chinese civilization and from the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. “Creative transformation” emphasizes the re-contextualization of “making the past serve the present,” aligning it with the context of the times and displaying the style of the era. “Innovative development” emphasizes innovation, aiming to integrate traditional culture and aesthetic spirit into new cultural creative activities, shaping a new cultural form, cultural image, aesthetic purport, and cultural pursuit.

中华民族之所以在5000多年间历经磨难仍能生生不息、返本开新、蓬勃发展，离不开中华优秀传统文化的涵养和支撑。新时代推进中国特色社会主义文化建设，也离不开对中华文明之历史的全面了解，离不开对中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展。“创造性转化”重在“古为今用”的重新语境化，使之与时代语境相契合，展现时代风采。“创新性发展”重在创新，旨在把传统文化和美学精神融入新的文化创造活动中，塑造出一种新的文化样态、文化形象、审美旨趣和文化追求。

Therefore, we can see that building the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization can lead the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. The Second Integration uses the basic principles of Marxism to continuously activate fine traditional Chinese culture, both fully tapping the contemporary value of Chinese history and culture and building the modern form of Chinese civilization from a new starting point. Specifically, core principles such as the leadership of the Communist Party of China, putting the people first, and common prosperity, as well as the continuous advancement of the Chinese-path modernization path, have achieved the creative transformation and innovative development of cultural elements in Chinese civilization, such as the political tradition of “grand unification,” the virtue of heaven and earth and the ideal of the heavenly way, and the collectivist personality of “the great community as one body” and “family-state-world.” [19]19 “Grand unification” (大一统) refers The cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, as a new cultural life entity, signifies the “rejuvenation of Chinese civilization.” [20]

所以我们可以看到，建设中国式现代化的文化形态，能够引领中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展。“第二个结合”以马克思主义基本原理实现了对中华优秀传统文化的持续激活，既充分挖掘中华历史文化的时代价值，又在新起点上建设中华文明的现代形态。具体来说，中国共产党领导、人民至上、共同富裕等核心原则以及中国式现代化路径的持续推进，实现了对中华文明中“大一统”的政治传统、天地之德与天道理想、“大群一体”“家国天下”的集体主义人格等文化要素的创造性转化和创新性发展。中国式现代化的文化形态作为新的文化生命体，意味着中华文明“再度青春化”。

(III) Constructing the Civilizational System of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

（三）建构中华民族现代文明的文明体系

The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a civilization in which material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization are coordinated, promoting the comprehensive development of individuals and the overall progress of society. Building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a systematic project, involving all aspects of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan. It is necessary to adhere to a systematic perspective, grasp the laws of universal connection and development and change of things, and understand the internal mechanism of contradictions in the social organism and their transformation, thereby forming an internally related civilizational system, namely the civilizational system of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. On the one hand, culture represents actual social development in the form of concepts. On the other hand, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, as a cultural form rather than some special cultural phenomenon or cultural expression, is key precisely because the cultural form has achieved a leap from being-in-itself to being-for-itself. It is no longer a simple reflection or abstract expression of individual concrete cultural phenomena of actual existence, but rather, at the level of being-for-itself, forms a clear theoretical self-awareness of the various cultural phenomena, their internal connections, and the cultural life entity they constitute, thereby achieving a conceptual and overall grasp of Chinese-path modernization at the theoretical height of the unity of “the freedom of the whole” and “the necessity of the moments.”

中华民族现代文明是物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明相协调，促进人的全面发展和社会全面进步的文明。建设中华民族现代文明是一个系统工程，涉及“五位一体”建设的全部内容，必须坚持系统观念，抓住事物普遍联系、发展变化的规律，把握社会有机体矛盾及其转化的内在机理，从而形成一种内在关联的文明体系，即中华民族现代文明的文明体系。一方面，文化以观念的形式表征了现实的社会发展。另一方面，中国式现代化的文化形态作为文化形态，而非某种特殊的文化现象或文化表现，其关键就在于文化形态实现了从自在到自为的跃迁，它不再是对现实存在的单个具体文化现象的简单反映或抽象表达，而是在自为的层面上对诸文化现象、其内在关联及其所构成的文化生命体形成清晰的理论自觉，从而在“全体的自由性”与“环节的必然性”相统一的理论高度形成对中国式现代化的概念性、总体性把握。

As a theoretical and systematic expression of the state of social culture, the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization actually represents the basic characteristics and internal relations of the entire society in such fields as the economy and politics; the cultural form, in the manner of a cultural life-form, represents the social organism. To go a step further, constructing the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization is in fact constantly constructing and perfecting the cultural life-form generated in the course of Chinese-path modernization, and constructing the social organism by means of constructing the cultural life-form, thereby constructing the civilizational system of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. This civilizational system both empowers the construction of Chinese-path modernization and provides Chinese wisdom for the progress of human civilization.

中国式现代化的文化形态作为社会文化领域状况的理论化、系统化表达，所表征的实际上就是整个社会在经济、政治等诸领域的基本特征及其内在关系，文化形态以文化生命体的方式表征着社会有机体。更进一步说，建设中国式现代化的文化形态，实际上就是在不断建设和完善中国式现代化进程中所生成的文化生命体，并以建设文化生命体的方式建设社会有机体，从而建构中华民族现代文明的文明体系。这一文明体系，既为中国式现代化建设赋能，又为人类文明进步提供中国智慧。

(Author: Professor, School of Philosophy, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者：中国社会科学院大学哲学院教授）

Online Editor: You Heng

网络编辑：有恒