Accurately Grasping the Relationship between Chinese Culture and the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has continuously deepened its understanding of the construction of Chinese culture and creatively put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new theses. In 2019, at the National Conference on Commending Model Units for Ethnic Unity and Progress, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Our splendid culture was jointly created by all ethnic groups. Chinese culture is the culmination of the cultures of all ethnic groups." [1]1 The National Conference on Commending Model Units for Ethnic Unity and Progress is a high-level meeting held by the CPC and the Chinese government to recognize exemplary efforts in promoting ethnic unity. At the Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs held in 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping focused on elaborating the relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups, emphasizing that "we must correctly grasp the relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups. The excellent traditional cultures of all ethnic groups are all components of Chinese culture. Chinese culture is the trunk, and the cultures of all ethnic groups are the branches and leaves. Only with deep roots and a strong trunk can the branches and leaves be lush." [2]2 The Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs is a major policy-setting meeting on ethnic work convened by the CPC Central Committee. On March 5, 2022, when participating in the deliberation of the Inner Mongolia delegation at the Fifth Session of the 13th National People's Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again stressed the need to "correctly handle the relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of one's own ethnic group, so as to consolidate the ideological and cultural foundation for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation." [3]3 The 13th National People's Congress was the national legislature in office from 2018 to 2023. It can be said that properly handling the intrinsic relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups, and enabling the cultures of all ethnic groups to integrate into the contemporary and modernizing currents of Chinese culture, are important tasks in the current construction of socialist culture.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央不断深化对中华文化建设的认识，创造性地提出了一系列新思想新观点新论断。2019年，习近平总书记在全国民族团结进步表彰大会上指出：“我们灿烂的文化是各民族共同创造的。中华文化是各民族文化的集大成”。在2021年召开的中央民族工作会议上，习近平总书记着重阐释了中华文化与各民族文化的关系，强调“要正确把握中华文化和各民族文化的关系，各民族优秀传统文化都是中华文化的组成部分，中华文化是主干，各民族文化是枝叶，根深干壮才能枝繁叶茂”。2022年3月5日，习近平总书记在参加十三届全国人大五次会议内蒙古代表团审议时，再次强调要“正确处理中华文化和本民族文化的关系，为铸牢中华民族共同体意识夯实思想文化基础”。可以说，处理好中华文化与各民族文化之间的内在关系，使各民族文化融入中华文化时代化现代化发展洪流是当前社会主义文化建设的重要内容。

I. The Connotation and Extension of Chinese Culture and the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

一、中华文化与各民族文化的内涵与外延

Chinese culture is the culmination of the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups, and the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups are an important component of Chinese culture. The process by which the cultures of all ethnic groups move from diversity to unity is a process of continuous convergence and development of Chinese culture. The cultures of all ethnic groups arise within specific territories and among specific populations, possessing specific territorial and ethnic characteristics in terms of language, script, customs, and habits. However, this does not mean that the cultures of all ethnic groups exist independently of Chinese culture. On the contrary, the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture are always interwoven, borrowing from and absorbing each other, and continuously merging into one. As Mr. Fei Xiaotong believed, all ethnic groups, through contact, mixing, connection, and fusion, formed the pluralistic and unified Chinese nation. [4]4 Fei Xiaotong (1910–2005) was a pioneering Chinese sociologist and anthropologist who developed the theory of the "pluralistic and unified structure of the Chinese nation." Similarly, under the continuous nourishment of Chinese civilization, Chinese culture formed in early China a multi-layered "unitary" cultural pattern centered on the Yellow River–Yangtze River–West Liao River region, with the Central Plains as its core. The cultures of all ethnic groups, through contact, borrowing, and convergence, coalesced into a shared Chinese culture characterized by "you have me, and I have you."

中华文化是各民族优秀文化的集大成，各民族优秀文化是中华文化的重要组成部分。各民族文化从多元走向一体的过程是中华文化不断汇聚、发展的过程。各民族文化产生于特定的地域、人群之间，在语言文字、风俗习惯等方面有着特定的地域性和民族性。但这不意味着各民族文化独立于中华文化而存在，相反，各民族文化与中华文化之间总是相互交错、相互借鉴、相互吸收而不断融为一体。正如费孝通先生认为，各民族相互接触、混杂、联结、融合成了多元统一的中华民族。同样的，中华文化也是在连绵不断的中华文明的浸润下，在早期中国形成了以黄河—长江—西辽河领域为主体的、以中原地区为中心的多层次的“一体”文化格局。各民族文化相互接触、借用、汇聚，凝合而成了“你中有我，我中有你”的共同的中华文化。

(I) The Formation Mechanism of Chinese Culture and the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

（一）中华文化与各民族文化的形成机理

The culture of an individual ethnic group mainly refers to the culture within a single ethnic group, a culture formed in the long-term common practice of production and life that reflects the group's characteristics and level of production. Chinese culture, on the other hand, is the culture of the entire Chinese nation. In a narrow sense, it is the culture produced, inherited, and developed within China's geographical scope; in a broad sense, it can also refer to the general term for cultures worldwide that bear the characteristics of Chinese civilization.

各民族文化主要是指单个民族内部的文化，是一个民族在长期共同生产生活实践中形成的反映这一群体特质以及生产水平的文化。而中华文化是整个中华民族的文化，从狭义来说，是中国地理范围之内生产、传承及发展形成的文化；就广义而言，又可指称世界范围内具有中华文明特征的文化总称。

Chinese culture can be traced back to prehistoric times. From the Paleolithic Age onward, the Peiligang Culture and Longshan Culture discovered in the Yellow River basin, the Hemudu Culture and Liangzhu Culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the Hongshan Culture in Chifeng are all manifestations of Chinese civilization. [5]5 These are major Neolithic archaeological cultures in China: Peiligang (c. 7000–5000 BCE) in Henan, Longshan (c. 3000–1900 BCE) in the Yellow River valley, Hemudu (c. 5500–3300 BCE) in Zhejiang, Liangzhu (c. 3300–2300 BCE) in the Yangtze River delta, and Hongshan (c. 4700–2900 BCE) in Inner Mongolia and Liaoning. In terms of distribution, they present a state of being scattered like stars in the sky, and the cultures of different geographical units, through exchange, diffusion, and fusion, had already highlighted the attribute of coexistence and inclusiveness. For example, jade artifacts characteristic of the Hongshan Culture, thousands of miles away, have been found in the Liangzhu Culture; the Taosi Culture in southern Shanxi simultaneously contains elements of the Qijia Culture, the Xiaoheyan Culture, the Liangzhu Culture, and the Dawenkou-Longshan Culture. This indicates that regional cultures were not static or isolated but had already integrated other cultural forms and continuously developed, forming new regional characteristics. With the establishment of early states, a Central Plains cultural circle centered on the sphere of influence of existing political powers gradually took shape. However, cultural exchanges between regions did not cease as a result; instead, they achieved mutual integration and exchange through various opportunities. From the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties onward, people from various regions engaged in cultural interaction through intermarriage, migration, trade, and other means, continuously converging toward the Central Plains cultural circle, eventually giving rise to the splendid scenes of "in Luoyang, every household studies Hu music" and "all Qiang people sing Han songs." [6]6 These are classical poetic allusions: "in Luoyang, every household studies Hu music" refers to the widespread adoption of non-Han music in the Tang dynasty capital; "all Qiang people sing Han songs" describes the cultural sinicization of the Qiang people in the same period. Therefore, through historical development and integration, although the cultures of all ethnic groups have regional and ethnic characteristics, these cultures are not completely isolated but are interwoven and integrated, possessing both differences and essential commonalities.

中华文化最早可追述到史前。从旧石器时代起，在黄河流域考古发现的裴李岗文化、龙山文化，长江下游的河姆渡文化、良渚文化以及赤峰的红山文化等，都是中华文明的体现，从分布来看，呈现出满天星斗、星罗棋布的状态，且不同地理单元的文化相互交流、传播与融合，已经突显了兼容并存的文化属性。如在良渚文化中发现有数千里之外的红山文化特征的玉器，晋南陶寺文化中同时含有齐家文化、小河沿文化、良渚文化和大汶口-龙山文化的元素。这表明各地域文化并非一成不变、孤立存在，而是早已融合其他文化形式，不断发展，形成了新的地域特色。随着早期国家的建立，日渐形成了以既有政权势力范围为中心的中原文化圈，但是各地域之间的文化交流并未因此断绝，而是以各种契机实现着彼此交融互通。从夏商周起，各地的人们通过通婚、迁徙、商贸等各种方式进行文化互动，不断向中原文化圈内聚，才形成了后来的“洛阳家家学胡乐”、“万里羌人尽汉歌”的盛景。因此，经过历史的发展与融合，各民族文化虽有地域性、民族性特色，但是这些文化并不是完全孤立的，而是相互交织、共融，既有差异的部分，又有着本质的共性。

In handling the relationship between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture, emphasis should be placed on grasping this commonality of the cultures of all ethnic groups. Only by understanding cultural differences from the concept of a cultural collection can the intrinsic relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups be more clearly understood, promoting the better integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups into Chinese culture.

在处理各民族文化与中华文化关系问题上，应该着重把握各民族文化这一共通性特点，从文化的集合的理念去理解文化的差异，才能更明晰中华文化与各民族文化的内在关系，促进各民族文化更好地融入中华文化。

(II) The Scope of Chinese Culture and the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

（二）中华文化与各民族文化的所属范围

Chinese culture is the overall culture of the Chinese nation and represents the direction of national culture. Therefore, Chinese culture is often combined with state power, closely linked to the mainstream values and mainstream culture advocated by state power, and displays the state's ideology and value concepts in the form of political culture. The cultures of all ethnic groups are an important component of Chinese culture, arising in specific regions. They have the significance of ethnic culture while also representing local culture, belonging to a type of regional or local culture. In comparison, Chinese culture has a broader scope and a higher level. It not only includes the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups but also transcends ethnic and regional boundaries, becoming a symbol of national spiritual culture and leading the development direction of the cultures of all ethnic groups.

中华文化是中华民族整体的文化，代表国家文化的走向，故而中华文化往往与国家政权结合在一起，与国家政权倡导的主流价值观和主流文化紧密联接，以政治文化的形态展示着国家的意识形态和价值理念。而各民族文化是中华文化的重要组成部分，产生于特定区域，既具有民族文化的意义，又是地方文化的代表，属于一种区域性或地方性文化。相较而言，中华文化涵盖的范围更广，层次更高，它既包含各民族优秀文化，又超越民族和地域范畴，成为国家精神文化的象征，引领着各民族文化的发展方向。

The difference in scope between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups reflects the relationship between the whole and the parts, or the cultural characteristic of unity and diversity. The Chinese nation is a pluralistic unity formed by many dispersed ethnic units through contact, mixing, connection, and fusion, or division and extinction, resulting in a state of "you come, I go; I come, you go; I have you, and you have me." [7]7 This phrasing is a direct quotation from Fei Xiaotong's description of the dynamic interactions among ethnic groups in the formation of the Chinese nation. Along with the formation of the pluralistic and unified structure of the Chinese nation, Chinese culture has also moved toward fusion through several rounds of contact, interaction, and connection among the cultures of all ethnic groups, gradually highlighting its shared and common cultural characteristics of unity. In this sense, Chinese culture embodies the overall and unitary cultural content, while the cultures of all ethnic groups, as partial and pluralistic cultures, continuously absorb other ethnic cultures, interpenetrate each other, and increasingly coalesce, forming an organic component of Chinese culture. In Chinese history, the content of ethnic cultures formed in the production and life practices of all ethnic groups—such as language, script, dietary habits, customs and beliefs, clothing and adornments, and architectural styles—presents pluralistic characteristics. However, these cultural contents are not sharply demarcated but are mutually integrated and borrowed. For example, Hu cakes, pepper, cucumbers, Hu clothing, and Hu music from border ethnic areas were successively introduced into the Central Plains, while silk, tea, ironware, medical classics, and crop cultivation techniques from the Central Plains flowed into the frontier regions, forming exchanges and mutual learning between Central Plains culture and frontier culture. Even the surnames of the Oroqen ethnic group incorporate cultural elements from the Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Daur ethnic groups. [8]8 The Oroqen are one of China's officially recognized ethnic minorities, primarily living in the northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. As Mr. Fei Xiaotong stated: "In the development process of Chinese culture, pluralistic cultural forms, through mutual contact, influence, absorption, and fusion, have jointly formed the traditional culture of the Chinese nation characterized by 'harmony in diversity.'" [9]9 "Harmony in diversity" (和而不同) is a classical Confucian concept from the Analects, meaning harmonious coexistence without requiring uniformity.

中华文化与各民族文化在所属范围上的差异性，体现了中华文化与各民族文化之间整体与局部的关系，或者说是一体与多元的文化特性。中华民族是由许许多多分散的民族单位，经过接触、混杂、联结和融合，或分裂和消亡，形成的你来我去、我来你去，我中有你、你中有我的多元统一体。伴随着中华民族多元一体格局的形成，中华文化也经由各民族文化几番接触、互动、联结而走向融合，逐渐突显了其共有共享的一体的文化特征。从这个意义上来说，中华文化体现为整体的、一体的文化内容，各民族文化则作为局部的、多元的文化，不断吸收其他民族文化，相互渗透，日益凝聚，形成了中华文化的有机组成部分。在中国历史上，各民族在生产生活实践中形成的语言文字、饮食习惯、风俗信仰、衣着服饰、建筑风格等民族文化的内容，就呈现多元特色，但这些文化内容并非泾渭分明，而是相互融合，彼此借用。如边疆民族地区的胡饼、胡椒、胡瓜、胡服、胡乐等相继被引入中原地区，中原地区的丝绸、茶叶、铁器、医药典籍、作物种植技术等纷纷流入塞外，形成了中原文化与边塞文化的交流与互鉴。甚至鄂伦春族的姓氏也是融合了汉族、满族、蒙古族、达斡尔族等的文化内容。正如费孝通先生所言：“在中华文化的发展过程中，多元的文化形态在相互接触中相互影响、相互吸收、相互融合。共同形成中华民族‘和而不同’的传统文化。”

The cultures of all ethnic groups jointly created the collection of Chinese culture, injecting fresh blood into Chinese culture through learning from each other's strengths and complementing each other's advantages, enabling Chinese culture to continuously grow and flourish. At the same time, the development of Chinese culture provides high-quality resources for the cultures of all ethnic groups, creatively innovating the traditional forms of the cultures of all ethnic groups. Under the guidance of Chinese culture, the local attributes and ethnic characteristics of the cultures of all ethnic groups are increasingly illuminated by the holistic and common characteristics of Chinese culture.

各民族文化共同创造了中华文化的集合，在取长补短、优势互补中为中华文化注入新鲜血液，使中华文化不断生长、繁荣；同时，中华文化的发展又为各民族文化提供优质资源，创造性地革新了各民族文化的传统方式。在中华文化的引领下，各民族文化的地方属性、民族特性日渐为中华文化的整体性、共同性特征所辉映。

(III) The Hierarchical Categories of Chinese Culture and the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

（三）中华文化与各民族文化的分层类别

Fei Xiaotong held that both the Chinese nation and the various ethnic groups are called nations, but there is an upper and lower level distinction; beneath the Chinese nation there exists a lower-level "ethnic group." Inferred from this hierarchical relationship, there must also exist between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups such an upper-level and lower-level subordinate relationship. Chinese culture resides above the cultures of all ethnic groups, belonging to the upper level of culture, transcending the category of ethnic culture, and symbolizing the spiritual lineage of the entire Chinese national community. The cultures of all ethnic groups are the lower-level culture within the "ethnic group," belonging below the level of national culture, possessing distinct ethnic characteristics, yet not independent of Chinese culture; rather, as cultures within China's territory, they always belong to a part of Chinese culture, are contained within Chinese culture, and are regulated by Chinese culture. For this reason, the lower-level cultures of all ethnic groups can be further divided into more levels. Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups, following the stratification of their ethnic concepts, respectively belong to an upper and lower level relationship, that is, the category of national culture and grassroots culture.

费孝通先生认为中华民族与各民族都称为民族，但是层次上有着上、下层之分，中华民族之下还包含了更低一层次的“民族集团”。从这一层级关系推断，中华文化与各民族文化之间也必然存在着这样一种上层与下层的从属关系。中华文化居于各民族文化之上，属于文化的上层，超越了民族文化的范畴，象征着整个中华民族共同体的精神脉络。各民族文化则是“民族集团”内部属于国家文化层面之下的下层的文化，具有鲜明的本民族特色，但又不独立于中华文化，而是作为中国地域内的文化，始终属于中华文化的一部分，包含于中华文化，受中华文化的规制。为此，下层的各民族文化可以区分为更多的层次。中华文化与各民族文化随着其民族概念的分层而分别属于上、下层关系，即国家文化与基层文化的范畴。

In geographical space, the cultures of all ethnic groups are concentratedly expressed as regional cultures. For example, when thinking of Mongolian culture, one first associates it with the cultural style of the Inner Mongolia region, including dietary habits of dairy and meat, the bold and warm local customs, the vast grasslands of galloping horses, and so on. Viewing the cultures of all ethnic groups from the perspective of geographical space, the cultures of all ethnic groups are often intertwined and seamlessly integrated with regional cultures. When people travel to a multi-ethnic region, they do not deliberately focus on the ethnic groups of that region, but rather seek out the distinctive cultural landscapes of that area. Therefore, placing ethnic culture within the concept of geographical space, people pay more attention to the regional characteristics of ethnic culture rather than the ethnic group itself. Since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the pursuit and longing of various ethnic groups for Huaxia culture, that is, emphasizing the geographical space centered on "Huaxia," and the imagination and construction of the cultural value and political regulations of this space, have become the key to the integration of Huaxia culture. The system of regional ethnic autonomy [10]10 The system of regional ethnic autonomy (民族区域自治制度) is a basic political system of China, established in the 1949 Common Program and formalized in the 1954 Constitution, under which areas with concentrated ethnic minority populations are designated as autonomous regions, prefectures, or counties with certain legislative and administrative powers. further combines ethnicity with regionality, being a political and cultural concept that establishes geographical spatial thinking in national governance. Placing ethnic culture within a geographical space, the cultures of all ethnic groups then become representative markers of regional culture.

在地理空间上，各民族文化集中表现为地域文化，如关于蒙古族文化首先联想到的是内蒙古地区的文化风格，包括奶食与肉食的饮食习惯、豪迈热情的风土民情、策马奔腾的辽阔草原等。从地理空间的视角看各民族文化，各民族文化往往与地域文化交织互嵌，浑然一体。人们去往一个多民族地区旅游，不会特意关注这个地区的民族，而是找寻这一地区别样的文化景观。所以，将民族文化放在地理空间的概念中，人们更多关注的是民族文化的地域特性而非民族本身。自春秋战国以来，各民族对华夏文化的追寻与向往，也即强调以“华夏”为中心的地理空间，对这一空间的文化价值与政治规制的想象与构设，成为华夏文化整合的关键。民族区域自治制度更是将民族性与区域性相结合，是在国家治理中确立地理空间思维的政治文化概念。将民族文化置于一个地理空间中，各民族文化则成了地域文化的代表性标识。

In the category of ethnicity, the most prominent feature of the cultures of all ethnic groups is not the manifestation of difference, but rather a culture embodied as a kind of life practice. The local customs and practices of a region arise from the production and life practices of that place, and the ethnic cultural characteristics thus formed can be regarded as a "mapping" of different modes of production and life. The Miao people in southeastern Guizhou, because they live in forests, favor black clothing. During hunting, black clothes blend with nature, increasing hunting opportunities, and the black dye comes from locally cultivated indigo, which is easily obtained. Hence, historical records often record them as "black barbarians" or "black Miao." In modern times, with changes in social life and their contact with surrounding ethnic groups, the black color system has gradually changed to cyan, blue, and white; styles such as ultra-short skirts and extremely wide-legged trousers are also the result of adapting to their living environment, a cultural phenomenon molded based on life in high mountains and dense forests, which in turn influences Miao social life. It can be said that the culture of each ethnic group is closely related to its life practice; it is a culture of life, which changes with the vicissitudes of social life.

在民族范畴上，各民族文化最突出的特点并非差异性的表现，更多体现为一种生活实践的文化。一个地区的风土民情，产生于该地的生产生活实践，其形成的民族文化特征可以被视为一种不同的生产生活方式的“映射”。黔东南苗族因其生活在森林中，服饰尚黑，在狩猎过程中，黑色衣服与自然融为一体，增加狩猎机会，且黑色染料来源于当地种植的蓝靛，易获得。故而史书常记载其为“黑蛮”或“黑苗”。近代以来，随着社会生活的变迁，以及他们与周围其他民族的接触，黑色系也逐渐向青、蓝、白变化；诸如超短裙以及特大裤脚的装束也是其适应生存环境的结果，是以高山密林生活为出发点而模塑的文化现象，继而影响苗族社会生活。可以说，各民族的文化与其生活实践息息相关，是一种生活的文化，会随着社会生活的变迁而发生改变。

In terms of industrial category, the cultures of all ethnic groups also manifest as a type of ethnic cultural industry different from other regions, such as Tibetan thangka art, Miao embroidery skills, Manchu qipao culture, Uyghur naan culture, and so on. These are ethnic cultural industries and resources with regional characteristics, expressions of different economic forms, and industrial cultures developed according to local conditions based on regional and ethnic characteristics. The ethnic cultural industry is a type within the overall cultural industry economy. In terms of development model, it differs from the urban cultural industry of modern large-scale production. Apart from differences in category, production methods, and consumption patterns, these cultural industries have no essential distinction.

在产业类别上，各民族文化又呈现为一种不同于其他地区的民族文化产业类型，如藏族的唐卡艺术、苗族的刺绣技艺、满族的旗袍文化、维吾尔族的馕文化等等，是带有区域特色的民族文化产业与资源，是不同经济形式的表达，是基于地区特色、民族特色，因地制宜而发展起来的产业型文化。民族文化产业是整个文化产业经济中的一种，在发展模式上，有异于现代化大生产的都市型文化产业。这些文化产业除了类别、生产方式与消费方式不同，并无本质差别。

Looking at the different stratified categories of the cultures of all ethnic groups, although there are differences in the geographical locations, historical backgrounds, and development methods of these cultures, they are all expressions of Chinese culture in different forms. With the advancement of Chinese-path modernization, the connection between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture is becoming increasingly close, the integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups is deepening, diversity is gradually moving toward unity, and the cultures of all ethnic groups will also become an important content in building the shared spiritual home of the Chinese nation.

从各民族文化的不同分层类别来看，虽然各民族文化所处的地理位置、产生的历史背景以及发展方式上存在差异性，但都是中华文化不同形式的表达。随着中国式现代化的推进，各民族文化与中华文化之间的联系日益紧密，各民族文化的融合愈发加深，多元逐渐走向一体，各民族文化也将成为构筑中华民族共有精神家园的重要内容。

II. The Internal Mechanism by Which the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups Converge into Chinese Culture

二、各民族文化合于中华文化的内在机理

The cultures of all ethnic groups are an important component of Chinese culture. Only when "the excellent traditional cultures of all ethnic groups 'converge like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea' into Chinese culture can all ethnic groups of the Chinese nation, through co-creation and mutual learning, create an organic whole of Chinese culture." The key to the integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups into Chinese culture lies in the ability of the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups to be recognized and accepted by the Chinese nation as a whole, becoming cultural content shared and commonly used by the Chinese nation.

各民族文化是中华文化的重要组成部分，只有“各民族优秀传统文化‘百川汇海’于中华文化之中，中华各民族才在共创互鉴中创造了有机整体的中华文化”。各民族文化融入中华文化的关键在于各民族的优秀文化能够被中华民族整体认可、接受，成为中华民族共享、共用的文化内容。

(1) The Connectivity of Geographical Units Opens the Horizon of Chinese Culture

（一）地理单元的连通开启中华文化的视野

The connectivity of geographical units deepens the interactions, exchanges, and integration among multiple ethnic groups. The mutual borrowing and accommodation of diverse cultures become the mainstream, and the unity and inclusiveness of culture become the basic trend in the development of the cultures of all ethnic groups, thereby opening the horizon of Chinese culture and creating a Chinese civilization system of "harmonious coexistence and symbiosis." The development of Chinese culture is closely related to changes in China's geographical space. Historically, the special geographical advantages of the Central Plains region provided a geographical foundation for the formation of Chinese culture and the cultural activities of various ethnic groups in the Central Plains region. Precisely because the prefectures and counties of the Central Plains region were connected over a long period, with frequent personnel exchanges and continuous ethnic interactions, the internal differences within Central Plains culture were reduced, making Central Plains culture the cohesive core of Chinese culture. In the process of continuous adjustment and expansion, the Central Plains geographical unit absorbed other geographical units with an inclusive attitude, and through contact and collision with different cultures, further expanded the sphere of influence of Central Plains culture, incorporating different cultures into the category of Chinese culture. "Once a culture is formed, it always has an impulse to consciously extend and expand its cultural energy from the core habitat that produced it to the peripheral habitats." With the extension and connectivity of geographical space, Central Plains culture continuously radiated toward frontier cultures, the cultures of all ethnic groups were brought into Central Plains culture, and Central Plains culture in turn permeated the cultures of all ethnic groups. The connection and interaction of cultures together constituted the cultural attributes of the Chinese nation. Therefore, the connectivity of geographical units is an important way to promote structural interaction between different cultures. Within a unified geographical space, the mobility of all ethnic groups increases, cultural interaction rises accordingly, and cultural integration causes the cultures of all ethnic groups to continuously adjust their characteristics in the process of adapting to other ethnic cultures, forming a larger intersection among them. The long-term exchange and integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups within the connectivity of geographical units jointly shaped the content of Chinese culture, which also made the connotation of Chinese culture rich, colorful, substantial in content, and elevated in level. The connectivity of geographical units is the starting point for opening the horizon of culture. It plays an important role in promoting cultural radiation, adjusting regional ethnic cultures, realizing cross-regional cultural integration, and forming a nationwide integrated culture. In Chinese history, with the development of unified dynastic states, the connections between geographical units became increasingly close, and interactions and integration continuously occurred between cultures of different regions, with political governance and cultural unification proceeding simultaneously. Some scholars even believe that the core of the relationship between the frontier and the Central Plains ethnic groups in Chinese history is precisely the cultural relationship.

地理单元的连通使多民族之间的交往交流交融加深，多元文化的相互借用与融通成为主流，文化的统一性与包容性成为各民族文化发展的基本走向，从而开启了中华文化的视野，创造“和合共生”的中华文明体系。中华文化的发展与中国地理空间的变化息息相关。历史上，中原地区特殊的地理优势，为中华文化的形成以及中原地区各民族的文化活动提供了地理基础。正是因为中原地区各州县长期连通，人员往来频繁，民族交往不断，从而缩小了中原文化的内部差异性，使得中原文化成为中华文化的凝聚核心。中原这一地理单元在不断调整、扩张的过程中，以包容的姿态吸纳了其他地理单元，在与不同文化的接触、碰撞中进一步扩大了中原文化圈的影响范围，将不同文化纳入中华文化的范畴。“每一种文化一旦形成，它总是对产生这种文化的核心生境以外的外缘生境有一种自觉的文化能量延伸和扩展之冲动。”随着地理空间的延展与连通，中原文化不断向边疆文化辐射，各民族文化被带入到中原文化中，中原文化又渗入到各民族文化中，文化的连接与互动共同构成了中华民族的文化属性。因此，地理单元的连通是促进不同文化结构性互动的重要方式。在统一的地理空间中，各民族的流动加强，文化互动随之上升，文化的交融使得各民族文化在适应其他民族文化的过程中不断调整自己的特质，形成彼此之间更大的交集。各民族文化在地理单元的连通中长期的交流、交融，共同形塑了中华文化的内容，这也使得中华文化的内涵丰富、多彩，内容充实，层级升维。地理单元的连通是开启文化视野的起点，它对于促进文化辐射、调整区域性的民族文化、实现跨区域的文化融合、形成全国性的一体文化发挥着重要作用。在中国历史上，随着大一统王朝国家的发展，地理单元的联系日益紧密，各地文化之间不断发生着互动与融合，政治治理与文化统一同步进行。甚至有学者认为，中国历史上边疆与中原民族关系的核心就是文化的关系。

(2) The Embedding of Political Culture Anchors the Development Direction of Chinese Culture

（二）政治文化的内嵌锚定中华文化的发展方向

In a certain sense, Chinese culture is also nested with national culture and political culture, representing the ideology and political direction of the state. The process of integrating the cultures of all ethnic groups into Chinese culture requires the use of political narrative to bring ethnic culture within the political category. The embedding of political culture helps to anchor the development direction of the cultures of all ethnic groups, enabling the commonality of ethnic cultures to transcend particularity, forming a national cultural system generally recognized by social groups. This is conducive to enhancing the consensus of the cultures of all ethnic groups and strengthening the unified cultural characteristics within the state.

在某种意义上，中华文化又与国家文化、政治文化相互嵌套，代表着国家的意识形态和政治方向。各民族文化融入中华文化的过程需要用政治叙事将民族文化纳于政治范畴。政治文化的内嵌有助于锚定各民族文化的发展方向，使民族文化共同性超越特殊性，形成获得社会群体普遍认可的国家文化体系，这有利于增进各民族文化的共识性，增强国家内部的统一文化特性。

When political culture is embedded within the cultures of all ethnic groups, these ethnic cultures begin to shift toward national culture, focusing on thinking about the developmental direction of ethnic culture from the national subject position, achieving active integration with national politics, and forming a common political culture. Shaping the cultures of all ethnic groups through the blending of political culture and ethnic culture will ensure identity in terms of direction and roots, enabling ethnic cultures to possess a more open and comprehensive national perspective, preventing them from turning toward a biased, narrow, and self-enclosed side, and realizing creative transformation and innovative development. Along with the expansion of political culture and its transformation of the cultures of all ethnic groups, the overall framework of Chinese culture will cover the single paradigm of the cultures of all ethnic groups, becoming an important content for shaping national character and the character of the citizenry. The political integration of inter-ethnic cultures can dilute and dissolve differences between the cultures of different ethnic groups, thereby promoting the nation’s unification of ethnic groups. Under the influence of political culture, the characteristics of national cultural integration are prominent, the national image occupies the subject position, and national consciousness replaces ethnic sentiment as people’s primary cognition. The embedding of political culture also promotes the national culture’s transfusion and reconstruction of the cultures of all ethnic groups, advancing the centripetal force of Chinese culture. For example, in recent years, the Party and the state have placed the traditional festival cultures of minority ethnic groups within the national cultural system through policy legislation, protection and research, education and scientific research, and dissemination and development, which both demonstrates the protection and development of minority ethnic traditional festivals and, invisibly, boosts the epochal role of minority ethnic cultures in promoting social development and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The shaping and guidance of national political culture causes the development of the cultures of all ethnic groups to transcend the individual characteristics of ethnicity, locality, and tradition, turning toward common characteristics such as comprehensiveness, publicness, and innovativeness, becoming an important cultural resource in the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

当政治文化内嵌入各民族文化中，各民族文化开始转向国家文化，偏重从国家主位思考民族文化的发展方向，实现与国家政治的主动融合，形成共同政治文化。以政治文化与民族文化交融的方式塑造各民族文化，将保障方向上、根源上的认同性，使各民族文化具备更开放、更全面的国家视野，避免其转向偏颇、狭隘、自我封闭的一面，实现创造性转化和创新性发展。伴随着政治文化的扩展及其对各民族文化的改造，中华文化的整体脉络将覆盖各民族文化的单一范式，成为塑造国家特性、国民特性的重要内容。族际文化的政治整合可以淡化、消解不同民族文化之间的差异，以此推动国家统合民族。在政治文化的熏陶下，国家文化整合的特性显著，国家形象居于主位，国家观念代替民族情感成为人们的首要认知。政治文化的嵌入也推动着国家文化对各民族文化输血、再造，推进中华文化的向心力。如近年来，党和国家通过政策立法、保护研究、教育科研、传播发展等方式将少数民族传统节日文化置于国家文化体系中，既彰显了对少数民族传统节日的保护与发展，又在无形中助推了少数民族文化促进社会发展、实现中华民族伟大复兴的时代作用。国家政治文化的塑造与引领，使各民族文化发展超越民族性、地域性、传统性的个性特征，转向综合性、公共性、创新性等共性特点，成为中华民族现代文明建设中的重要文化资源。

The combination of political culture with the cultures of all ethnic groups means that the cultures of all ethnic groups are influenced and regulated by political consciousness, generating new emotions and cognitions toward the overall national culture, and forming a national culture that transcends cultural differences. Nationalization becomes the common pursuit of the development of the cultures of all ethnic groups; the traditional, spontaneous mode of development changes accordingly, and the cultures of all ethnic groups become a public culture imbued with the attributes of mainstream value culture.

政治文化与各民族文化的结合意味着各民族文化受政治意识的影响和规约，而对整体的国家文化产生新的情感与认知，形成超越文化差异的国民文化。国家化成为各民族文化发展的共同追求，传统的自在的发展方式随之改变，各民族文化成为一种内蕴主流价值文化属性的公共文化。

(3) The Blending and Sharing of Ethnic Cultures Shapes a New Form of Chinese Culture

（三）民族文化的交融与共享塑造中华文化新形态

In the process of the cultures of all ethnic groups moving from independent, closed regional cultural systems to Chinese culture, blending and sharing are indispensable. Blending and sharing break down the boundaries and barriers between the cultures of all ethnic groups, promote the generation of common elements, enhance the sharing of culture and thought among all ethnic groups, and thereby shape a new form of Chinese culture that is diverse and integrated. It can be said that the blending and sharing of the cultures of all ethnic groups is an important driving force for constructing Chinese culture, and is even more so a solid foundation for creating the common spiritual home of the Chinese nation. With the blending and interaction of different ethnic cultures, common cultural elements intertwine, shared values converge, and diverse ethnic cultures are forged into a unified Chinese culture.

各民族文化从独立的封闭的区域文化体系走向中华文化的过程，交融与共享是必不可少的。交融与共享打破了各民族文化的边界与壁垒，促进了共同性元素的生成，增进了各民族在文化和思想上的共享性，从而塑造起了多元一体的中华文化新形态。可以说，各民族文化的交融与共享是构筑中华文化的重要动力，更是缔造中华民族共有精神家园的坚实基础。随着不同民族文化的交融与互动，共性的文化元素交织一体，共识的价值观念汇聚一处，多元的民族文化熔铸于统一的中华文化之中。

Without the brilliant blending of the cultures of all ethnic groups, there would be no splendid and colorful Chinese culture as it is today. The blending and sharing of diverse cultures is the foundation for the formation of Chinese culture, from King Wuling of Zhao adopting the clothing and cavalry of the Hu peoples to the reforms of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei; from “every household in Luoyang learns Hu music” to “ten thousand Qiang people all sing Han songs”; from “upper garment and lower skirt,” “elegant songs and Confucian robes” to “upper garment and lower trousers,” “Hu clothing and Hu hats,” the cultures of all ethnic groups shine with mutual radiance, fully displaying the inclusive and broad-minded tolerance of Chinese culture. The blending and sharing of ethnic cultures means that all ethnic groups commonly recognize a certain thought, symbol, or cultural body, and is a manifestation of the diverse aggregation and harmonious unity of Chinese culture. The blending and mutual learning of ethnic cultures is a general law of the formation and development of Chinese culture; in borrowing and integrating other cultural elements, the cultures of all ethnic groups construct a multi-ethnic, internally connected, shared, and holistic Chinese cultural structure. With the blending of the cultures of all ethnic groups, differing elements will increasingly fade, shared cultural content will become more dazzling and outstanding, and a cultural ecology of “beauty in diversity” [11]11 “Beauty in diversity” (美美与共) is a phrase popularized by the Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong, referring to an ideal state where different cultures appreciate each other’s beauty and coexist harmoniously. will gradually take shape. As one scholar has noted, “the borrowing and absorption of cultural traits from other cultures often breaks the original order and relatively balanced state of one’s own culture, seeking out the commonalities that exist between two different cultures.” Cultural blending and sharing is the inevitable path for the cultures of all ethnic groups to gradually move from diversity to unity.

没有流光溢彩的各民族文化交融就没有如今绚丽多姿的中华文化。多元文化的交融与共享是中华文化形成的基础，从赵武灵王胡服骑射到北魏孝文帝改革；从“洛阳家家学胡乐”到“万里羌人尽汉歌”；从“上衣下裳”、“雅歌儒服”到“上衣下裤”、“胡衣胡帽”，各民族文化珠辉玉映，尽显中华文化海纳百川的包容气度。民族文化的交融与共享意味着各民族共同认可一种思想、符号或者文化体，是中华文化多元聚合、合和同一的体现。各民族文化的交融与互鉴是中华文化形成发展的一般规律，各民族文化在借用、融合其他文化元素中，构筑起一个多民族内在联系的、共享的、整体的中华文化结构。随着各民族文化的交融，差异的成分将越来越归于暗淡，共享的文化内容越来越夺目出彩，美美与共的文化生态日渐成型。正如有学者提到，“对异文化的文化特质进行借用与吸纳往往会打破本文化原有秩序及其相对平衡的状态，寻找出两种不同文化之间存在的共性。”文化交融与共享是各民族文化从多元逐渐走向一体的必由之路。

The cultures of all ethnic groups have never been pure or isolated; a stable connection has always been maintained between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture. Cultural blending and sharing is an indispensable link in the formation and development of Chinese culture, and is the root of confidence in Chinese culture. We should deeply summarize historical experience and view the cultures of all ethnic groups within the context of cultural integration.

各民族文化从来就不是纯粹的、隔绝的，各民族文化与中华文化之间始终保持着稳定的联系。文化的交融与共享是中华文化形成与发展过程中不可或缺的一环，是中华文化自信的根源。应该深入总结历史经验，在文化融通的情境中，看待各民族文化。

Cultural heritagization, as a set of norms and orders commonly recognized by all humanity, allows different types of culture to each express their strengths and jointly form a cultural collection. The cultures of all ethnic groups are cultural forms and experiential wisdom created by ethnic subjects through long-term life practice; as an important component of Chinese cultural heritage, these contents run through social cognition and memory, determining the profound influence of ethnic cultures. Heritagizing the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups serves to carry and transmit the epochal character of Chinese culture, promoting the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

文化遗产化作为一套全人类共同认可的准则与秩序，它使不同类型的文化各抒优长，共同组建起一个文化集合。各民族文化是民族主体通过长期生活实践创造出来的文化形式以及经验智慧，这些内容作为中华文化遗产的重要组成部分，贯穿于社会的认知与记忆，决定着民族文化深刻的影响力。将各民族优秀文化遗产化，以承载并传递中华文化的时代性，推动中华民族现代文明建设。

The cultural heritage of all ethnic groups marks the historical process of these groups moving from diversity to unity, preserving the epochal memory of the integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups. The heritagization of ethnic cultures not only gives the cultures of all ethnic groups an aggregate in dissemination, but also connects them with Chinese culture, jointly creating the Chinese civilization system. Many ethnic cultural heritages (tangible and intangible cultural heritage) have entered the ranks of culture shared by the entire people through the World Heritage List, China’s heritage lists, and provincial, municipal, and county-level heritage lists, gaining widespread attention, recognition, and dissemination by the Chinese people; their exclusive ethnic cultural character gradually transforms, generating a collective concept of Chinese culture. For example, the Hani Rice Terraces are an agricultural culture created by the local Hani people and people of all ethnic groups based on the geographical environment; it is a cultural expression of an ethnic group’s production and life practice. But since being inscribed on the World Heritage List, its local ethnic cultural color has gradually faded, becoming a representative of the wisdom of intensive and meticulous Chinese agricultural civilization. Through heritage lists or institutionalized cultural arrangements, the cultures of all ethnic groups have already transcended tradition, becoming a new cultural achievement, and guiding the innovative development of the cultures of all ethnic groups with their tangible cultural phenomena and status. When the cultures of all ethnic groups enter the national cultural system in the form of heritage, their reproductive capacity far exceeds their traditional influence, and the nature of cultural heritage becomes their main characteristic. It can be said that the heritagization of the cultures of all ethnic groups is also a way to manifest the self-awareness of Chinese civilization; within the value system of Chinese civilization, the cultures of all ethnic groups realize the “beauty in diversity” of Chinese culture through their own “each culture appreciating its own beauty, and appreciating the beauty of others.”

民族文化遗产标识了各民族从多元走向一体的历史进程，存续了各民族文化融为一体的时代记忆。民族文化的遗产化不仅使各民族文化在传播中有了聚合体，也使各民族文化与中华文化相连接，共创中华文明体系。很多民族文化遗产（物质与非物质文化遗产）通过世界遗产名录、中国遗产名录以及省市县级遗产名录进入了全民共有的文化行列，被国人普遍关注、认可和传播，其民族文化的专有性逐渐蜕变，日渐生成了中华文化的集体概念。如哈尼梯田是当地哈尼族及各族人民基于地理环境而创造的农耕文化，它是一种民族的生产生活实践的文化表达，但自其被列入世界文化遗产名录后，其地方民族文化的色彩逐渐淡化，成为展示精耕细作的中华农耕文明智慧的代表。通过遗产名录或者文化的制度化安排，各民族文化已然超越了传统，成为一种新的文化成果，并以其切实的文化现象及其地位引导着各民族文化的创新发展。各民族文化以遗产的形式进入国家文化体系，其再生产能力远远超过了传统的影响力，文化遗产的性质也成为其主要特色。可以说，各民族文化的遗产化也是彰显中华文明自觉的一种方式，在中华文明的价值体系下，各民族文化以其“各美其美，美人之美”的方式实现了中华文化的“美美与共”。

The cultures of all ethnic groups are not only regional ethnic cultures, but also manifestations of rich and colorful Chinese culture. The heritagization of the cultures of all ethnic groups elevates the original ethnicity and locality of culture to the epochal character of the culture of the Chinese nation; the blending and holistic nature of Chinese culture that it manifests becomes mainstream, and the inheritance and development of the cultural heritage of all ethnic groups is an important testimony to the flourishing of Chinese culture. Therefore, the heritagization of ethnic cultures is also an important way for the organic integration and effective connection between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture. Through the adjustment of heritagization, the content of the cultures of all ethnic groups is reconstructed, the value of common culture is explored, and the guiding direction of Chinese culture becomes clearer.

各民族文化不仅是一种区域性的民族文化，也是丰富多彩的中华文化的体现。各民族文化的遗产化使文化原本的民族性、地域性上升为中华民族文化的时代性，其彰显的中华文化的交融性、整体性成为主流，对各民族文化遗产的传承与发展是中华文化枝繁叶茂的重要见证。所以，民族文化遗产化也是各民族文化与中华文化有机融合、有效衔接的重要方式。借助文化遗产化的调试，各民族文化的内容被再造，共同文化的价值被发掘，中华文化的导向性更加明确。

3. Path Choices for Strengthening the Trunk Character and Leading Role of Chinese Culture

三、增强中华文化主干性与引领性的路径选择

Chinese culture is the product of the aggregation of the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups, the result of the joint creation of all ethnic groups. However, some people mistakenly separate Chinese culture from the cultures of all ethnic groups, which often stems from the insufficient explicit connection between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture, often manifested in the difficulty of seeing the trunk character of Chinese culture within the cultures of all ethnic groups. This requires paying attention to the developmental direction of the cultures of all ethnic groups, starting from the cultures of all ethnic groups, seeking the commonality and Chinese character within them, in order to corroborate the master theme that Chinese culture is the comprehensive synthesis of the cultures of all ethnic groups.

中华文化是各民族优秀文化聚合的产物，是各民族共同创造的结果。但也有人错误地将中华文化与各民族文化割裂开来，这多源于各民族文化与中华文化的显性连接性不够，往往表现在各民族文化中不易看到中华文化的主干性。这就需要重视各民族文化的发展方向，从各民族文化入手，寻找各民族文化中的共同性与中华性，以佐证中华文化是各民族文化的集大成这一母题。

(I) Actively Guide the Creative Transformation of the Outstanding Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

（一）积极引导各民族优秀文化创造性转化

“‘Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation’ means that, between ‘multiple ethnic groups’ and ‘one state,’ we must further strengthen the consciousness of the Chinese national community as a collectivity of nationals and citizens, and cultivate and reinforce a general, cross-ethnic, cross-regional overall national identity.” [12]12 The authors are quoting from a Chinese scholarly source; the internal quotation marks are retained. In cultural terms, this means enhancing the wholeness of Chinese culture, transcending ethnic and regional differences, and building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation where hearts converge and spirits depend on one another.

“‘铸牢中华民族共同体意识’就是要在‘多个民族’和‘一个国家’之间，进一步增强中华民族共同体这一国民集合体、公民集合体的意识，培养和加强普遍的、跨越民族差异、区域差异的整体国民认同。”体现在文化方面，就是要增强中华文化的整体性，超越民族与地域的差异性，构筑起人心归聚、精神相依的中华民族共有精神家园。

Because the environments in which the cultures of all ethnic groups arise differ, they naturally generate pluralistic characteristics. Yet in the course of their development, influenced by factors such as politics and economy, these cultures also form common memories and shared content. Nurtured by the political ideal of great unity [13]13 “Great unity” (大一统, *dayitong*) is a traditional Chinese political ideal emphasizing the unification of the realm under a single, centralized authority., the cultures of all ethnic groups gradually moved from difference toward sameness, thereby realizing a cultural turn toward “the integration of Hua and Yi.” [14]14 “Hua and Yi” (华夷) is a classical Chinese distinction between the civilized “Hua” (Chinese) and the barbarian “Yi” (non-Chinese peoples). The phrase “integration of Hua and Yi” refers to the historical process by which these categories blurred. Hence, the intervention of state power and the intervention of state policy can make possible the creative transformation of ethnic cultures. At present, the cultural heritage of all ethnic groups is being inscribed on the national lists of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and on the World Heritage List. This arrangement of cultural policy gives direction to the development and dissemination of the cultures of all ethnic groups, so that much content originally belonging to the sphere of a particular ethnic culture ascends to the level of national culture and becomes a constituent element bearing Chinese culture. Its cultural image thereby moves from the ranks of ethnic culture and regional culture into the ranks of the commonality of Chinese culture. For example, the epic *Gesar* [15]15 *Gesar* (格萨尔) is a Tibetan epic cycle, one of the longest in the world, recounting the deeds of King Gesar. has been transformed from a regional culture of the western plateau into a culture shared by the Chinese nation and even praised by the world, precisely because of the state’s policy protection and guidance of traditional culture. It is the intervention of state power that has shifted the *Gesar* epic from spontaneous dissemination and natural development on the western plateau to a mode of dissemination and direction of development as a culture shared by the Chinese nation. Especially after its content was translated into the standard spoken and written Chinese language, the path of its dissemination underwent a fundamental change. In many such cases, through the intervention and guidance of state policy, ethnic cultures gradually cross ethnic and regional boundaries, become outstanding Chinese culture aligned with the core socialist values, and take up the era’s mission of spreading Chinese civilization. For this reason, through policy intervention and guidance, we must excavate the wholeness and Chinese character of the cultures of all ethnic groups, highlight their common content, enable ethnic cultures to transcend their own ethnic particularities and be accepted, recognized, and shared by other ethnic groups, and make ethnic cultures compatible and connected with the construction of Chinese culture, so that they become an important component of the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

各民族文化由于其产生的环境不同，自然而然地生成了多元特性，但各民族文化在发展的过程中，受政治经济等要素的影响，进而形成了共同记忆和共性内容。在大一统政治理念熏陶下，各民族文化逐渐从差异走向同一，从而实现了“华夷一体”的文化转向。故而，国家力量的介入、国家政策的干预可以为促成民族文化的创造性转化提供可能。当前，各民族文化遗产被列入国家物质、非物质文化遗产名录以及世界文化遗产名录，这一文化政策的安排就使得各民族文化的发展和传播有了导向性，诸多属于本民族文化范畴的内容上升为国家文化的层面，成为承载中华文化的构成体，其文化形象也从民族文化、地域文化的行列进入中华文化共同性的行列。如《格萨尔》史诗从西部高原的地域文化转变为中华民族共享的乃至为世界称赞的文化，就源于国家对传统文化的政策性保护与导向。正是国家力量的介入使得《格萨尔》史诗从过去在西部高原自发传播、自然发展转向中华民族共享文化的传播方式和发展方向，尤其是其内容被翻译成国家通用语言文字后，传播的路径发生了根本性转变。诸如此类，很多民族文化经由国家政策的干预和引导，逐渐跨越民族与地域的边界，成为与社会主义核心价值观相契合的中华优秀文化，肩负起中华文明传播的时代重任。为此，通过政策性的干预和引导，挖掘各民族文化的整体性及中华性，彰显其共同性的内容，使各民族文化超越本民族特性，为其他民族所接受、认可和共享，使各民族文化与中华文化建设相适应、相衔接，成为中华民族现代文明建设的重要组成部分。

Through state policy, we must further make overall plans for the development direction of the cultures of all ethnic groups, revolve around the main line of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation, make sound top-level design, strengthen guidance, do a good job of the work on “commonality” and “the trunk,” [16]16 “Commonality” (共同性) and “the trunk” (主干性) are terms used in Chinese policy discourse on ethnic relations. “Commonality” refers to shared elements across ethnic groups; “the trunk” refers to the overarching, unifying Chinese culture as the main stem to which ethnic cultures are branches. ensure the correct direction of the development of the cultures of all ethnic groups, advance the construction of Chinese culture, and build a shared, holistic Chinese cultural system and an image of the Chinese nation.

通过国家政策进一步对各民族文化的发展方向做出统筹规划，围绕铸牢中华民族共同体意识主线，做出合理的顶层设计，加强引导，做好“共同性”、“主干性”工作，保证各民族文化发展的正确方向，推进中华文化建设，构建共享的、整体的中华文化体系和中华民族形象。

(II) Vigorously Tell the Story of the Chinese Nation Well

（二）大力讲好中华民族的故事

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “We must tell well the stories of the Party, the stories of the revolution, the stories of the base areas, the stories of heroes and martyrs, strengthen revolutionary tradition education, patriotic education, and ideological and moral education for young people, pass on the red基因 well, and ensure that the red rivers and mountains never change color.” [17]17 Xi Jinping’s remark, quoted from a speech, uses “red基因” (red genes) as a metaphor for revolutionary heritage. “Red rivers and mountains” (红色江山) is a metaphor for the socialist state founded by the CPC. The regions of all ethnic groups are important bases storing rich historical and cultural resources. In the great torrent of the development of the Chinese national community, all ethnic groups have exchanged and helped one another, producing numerous stories of ethnic unity and common struggle. These stories are precisely the testimony to the development and flourishing of Chinese culture. Telling these stories well should highlight the trunk character of Chinese culture.

习近平总书记指出，“要讲好党的故事、革命的故事、根据地的故事、英雄和烈士的故事，加强革命传统教育、爱国主义教育、青少年思想道德教育，把红色基因传承好，确保红色江山永不变色。”各民族地区是储存丰富历史文化资源的重要基地。各民族在中华民族共同体的发展洪流中，交流、互助，产生了众多民族团结、共同奋斗的故事，这些故事正是中华文化发展、繁荣的见证，讲好这些故事应突显中华文化的主干性。

History and reality prove that the development of any ethnic group cannot be achieved independently of other ethnic groups. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, a history of China is a history of the integration of all ethnic groups into a pluralistic and integrated Chinese nation, a history of all ethnic groups jointly creating, developing, and consolidating the unified great motherland. [18]18 This is a paraphrase of a well-known formulation by Xi Jinping, often cited in official discourse on ethnic unity. Over the long course of history, there have emerged many stirring and tragic stories of all ethnic groups working together with one heart, uniting as one, and jointly resisting humiliation. These stories not only record the interactions and exchanges among ethnic groups but also narrate the growth process of the Chinese nation. Telling well the historical stories of all ethnic groups jointly opening up territory, jointly writing history, jointly creating culture, and jointly cultivating spirit is an important way to manifest the history of interactions among the Chinese nation and the history of the development of Chinese civilization. Vigorously telling these stories of the Chinese nation circulating in local areas is conducive to activating the wholeness of Chinese culture and凝聚 a powerful driving force for Chinese culture. At the ninth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping also emphasized the need to tell the story of the Chinese nation well and vigorously promote the sense of community for the Chinese nation. [19]19 The ninth collective study session of the 20th Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee was held on October 27, 2023, focusing on ethnic work and the forging of a sense of community for the Chinese nation. At the local level, we must tell well the story of the Chinese nation, especially the contributions made by all ethnic groups in the formation of the Chinese nation and the development of Chinese civilization, and clarify the historical origins and internal relationships between ethnic groups and the Chinese nation, and between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture. By narrating the ethnic history, heroic deeds, and advanced stories of each region, we incorporate the cultures of all ethnic groups into the system of Chinese culture, construct an expression system for Chinese culture, and cultivate among the masses of all ethnic groups a sense of identification with Chinese culture, thereby strengthening confidence in Chinese culture and enhancing the trunk character of Chinese culture. For example, such historical tales as Wang Zhaojun’s marriage beyond the frontier, Zhang Qian’s mission to the Western Regions, Princess Wencheng’s entry into Tibet, the Liangzhou Alliance, Lady Wa’s resistance against the倭寇, the Torgut’s eastward return, and the Xibe’s long-distance garrisoning of the frontier, [20]20 These are historical episodes of cross-ethnic interaction: Wang Zhaojun (Han dynasty) married a Xiongnu chieftain; Zhang Qian (Han dynasty) explored Central Asia; Princess Wencheng (Tang dynasty) married a Tibetan king; the Liangzhou Alliance (1247) was a pact between the Mongol Empire and Tibetan Buddhist leaders; Lady Wa (Ming dynasty) led Zhuang troops against Japanese pirates; the Torgut Mongols returned from Russia to China in the 18th century; the Xibe people were relocated to Xinjiang in the 18th century for garrison duty. as well as such modern moving stories as the three thousand orphans entering Inner Mongolia, building Baotou Steel with concerted effort, Alipa Alimahun, Kurban Tulume, and Laqini Bayika, [21]21 These are modern stories of ethnic unity: “three thousand orphans entering Inner Mongolia” refers to children from famine-stricken areas being adopted by Inner Mongolian families in the 1960s; “building Baotou Steel with concerted effort” refers to the multi-ethnic construction of a major steel plant; Alipa Alimahun and Kurban Tulume are Uyghur figures celebrated for patriotic acts; Laqini Bayika was a Tajik border guard who died saving a child from a frozen river in 2021. are all true portrayals of the Chinese national elements contained in the cultures of all ethnic groups. These stories have already been deeply cast into the hearts of people of all ethnic groups and have become expressions of the common spirit of the Chinese nation. Telling these stories well will converge the cultures of all ethnic groups into the trunk of Chinese culture and is conducive to forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation.

历史和现实证明，各民族的发展无法脱离其他民族而独立实现，正如习近平总书记指出，一部中国史，就是一部各民族交融汇聚成多元一体中华民族的历史，就是各民族共同缔造、发展、巩固统一的伟大祖国的历史。在历史长河中，产生了诸多各民族齐心协力、团结一致、共同御辱的可歌可泣的故事，这些故事不仅记载着各民族间的交往与互动，也讲述着中华民族的成长历程。讲好各民族共同开拓疆域、共同书写历史、共同创造文化、共同培育精神的历史故事，是彰显中华民族交往史、中华文明发展史的重要方式。大力讲好地方上流传的这些中华民族的故事，有利于激活中华文化整体性，凝聚起强大的中华文化的驱动力。习近平总书记在中共中央政治局第九次集体学习时也强调，要讲好中华民族的故事，大力宣介中华民族共同体意识。在地方上，讲好中华民族的故事，尤其是各民族在中华民族形成过程中、中华文明发展中所做的贡献，明晰各民族与中华民族、各民族文化与中华文化之间的历史渊源与内在关系。通过讲述各地区的民族历史、英雄事迹、先进故事等，将各民族文化纳入中华文化的系统中，构建中华文化的表达体系，培育各族群众对中华文化的认同意识，从而坚定中华文化自信，增强中华文化的主干性。如昭君出塞、张骞出使西域、文成公主入藏、凉州会盟、瓦氏夫人抗倭、土尔扈特东归、锡伯族万里戍边等历史佳话以及三千孤儿入内蒙、齐心协力建包钢、阿里帕·阿力马洪、库尔班·吐鲁木、拉齐尼·巴依卡的现代感人故事等，都是各民族文化中蕴涵的中华民族元素的真实写照，这些故事已经深深地熔铸到各族人民的内心深处，成为中华民族共同精神的表达。讲好这些故事，将使各民族文化汇聚到中华文化的主干中，有利于铸牢中华民族共同体意识。

To correctly handle the relationship between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture, we must vigorously tell the story of the Chinese nation well, pass on the Chinese culture jointly created by all ethnic groups, so that, nourished by Chinese culture, the cultures of all ethnic groups form a spiritual belonging to the Chinese nation and remember the collective wisdom of the Chinese nation. In the process of telling the story of the Chinese nation well, we can use tools such as text, video, images, and online media to present more intuitively and effectively the stories of all ethnic groups jointly creating Chinese culture, and truthfully reflect the process by which the cultures of all ethnic groups participate in the shaping of Chinese culture.

正确处理各民族文化与中华文化的关系要大力讲好中华民族的故事，传承好各民族共创的中华文化，使各民族文化在中华文化的滋养下，形成对中华民族的精神归属，铭记中华民族的集体智慧。在讲好中华民族故事的过程中，可以借助文字、视频、图片、网络媒体等工具，更加直观、有效地将各民族共创中华文化的故事呈现出来，真实地反映各民族文化参与中华文化塑造的过程。

(III) Promote the Modernization of the Cultures of All Ethnic Groups

（三）推动各民族文化的现代化

The cultures of all ethnic groups have characteristics different from those of other ethnic groups. However, with the progress of social development, some of these characteristics are lagging behind and cannot adapt to the current rapidly changing social development and modernization process. Therefore, the cultures of all ethnic groups must, through continuous innovation and transformation, achieve conscious cultural development, so that they can better converge into the mainstream of Chinese cultural development and consolidate and strengthen the deep-seated internal correlation between the cultures of all ethnic groups and Chinese culture. Promoting the modernization of the cultures of all ethnic groups is, in essence, an important way to develop Chinese culture and pass on Chinese civilization.

各民族文化有着不同于其他民族的特性，但随着社会的发展进步，其中的一些特性是滞后的，无法适应当前日新月异的社会发展与现代化进程。因此，各民族文化要通过不断创新与转型，实现文化的自觉发展，才能更好地汇入中华文化的发展主流，巩固和增强深层次上各民族文化与中华文化的内在关联性。推动各民族文化的现代化从本质上说是发展中华文化、传承中华文明的重要方式。

“Transcending one’s own cultural context does not mean erasing ethnic and regional differences; rather, on the premise of fully attending to individual and local particularities, it emphasizes the civilizational character within different ethnic groups and regions, and rethinks the connections among ethnicity, nation, and culture.” The development of the cultures of all ethnic groups must both respect the history and traditions of their cultural inheritance and promote the integration of modern elements. By means of cultural innovation, it should drive the cultures of all ethnic groups to manifest their unique charm on the basis of conforming to the direction of current social development, thereby adding interest and significance to the construction of modern Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, “Chinese civilization is a civilization that discards the old and introduces the new, that shines with renewed radiance day by day… Continuity is not stagnation, still less ossification, but a historical process of progress supported by innovation… Chinese civilization possesses a prominent character of innovation.” The development of the cultures of all ethnic groups should also discard the old and bring forth the new, highlighting innovativeness, and drive the transformation of the cultures of all ethnic groups from the perspective of innovative development, rather than blindly clinging to old ways and resting on one’s laurels. This requires the cultures of all ethnic groups to maintain the pace of keeping up with the times, creatively transform their own cultural achievements in accordance with the characteristics and requirements of the times and social development, inherit excellent traditional culture, reform and renovate outdated and obsolete cultural forms, supplement, expand, and perfect their content with new contemporary discourse, enhance their contemporaneity, and manifest the characteristics of Chinese civilization contained within them. On the one hand, by utilizing modern new knowledge and technology, the humanistic values and connotations embedded in the cultures of all ethnic groups should be extracted and industrialized, achieving multi-dimensional interaction and multi-directional integration through forms such as leisure, entertainment, commerce, and exhibitions, while simultaneously promoting the publicization and popularization of the cultures of all ethnic groups through the form of intangible cultural heritage industries. On the other hand, under the guidance of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, cultural works with themes of ethnic unity and the great family of the Chinese nation should be created, relying on the cultural resources of all ethnic groups, and the deep implications of Chinese cultural identity behind the cultures of all ethnic groups should be disseminated through specific venues or platforms.

“超越自身文化语境并不意味着抹去民族和地区差异，而是在充分关注个体和地方特性的前提下，强调不同民族和地区内的文明性，重新思考民族、国家、文化的联系。”各民族文化的发展既要尊重其文化传承的历史和传统，也要推动现代化元素的融入，以文化创新的方式推动各民族文化在符合当前社会发展的方向的基础上彰显各民族文化的独特魅力，为中华民族现代文明建设增添意趣。习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上强调，“中华文明是革故鼎新、辉光日新的文明……连续不是停滞、更不是僵化，而是以创新为支撑的历史进步过程……中华文明具有突出的创新性。”各民族文化的发展也应推陈出新，突出创新性，以创新发展的视角推动各民族文化的转型，而不是一味地因循守旧，固步自封。这就需要各民族文化保持与时俱进的步伐，按照时代与社会发展的特征和要求，创造性地转化自身的文化成果，传承优秀的传统文化，改造、革新陈旧的、过时的文化形式，以新的时代话语补充、拓展、完善其内容，增强其时代性，彰显蕴涵其中的中华文明特性。一方面，利用现代新的知识技术，提炼各民族文化中内蕴的人文价值与内涵，使之产业化，借助休闲、娱乐、商贸、会展等多种形式实现多维互动和多向融合，同时以非遗文化产业的形式推动各民族文化的公共化和大众化。另一方面，在铸牢中华民族共同体意识引领下，依托各民族的文化资源创作以民族团结、中华民族大家庭为主题的文化作品，借助特定的场域或平台传播各民族文化背后的中华文化认同的深层意蕴。

The modernization of culture has shaped its open and inclusive characteristics. The innovation and transformation of the cultures of all ethnic groups can break through the limitations of traditional contexts, enabling the cultures of all ethnic groups to pay more attention to real society, conform to the needs of the times, adapt to the context of modern civilization, and thereby highlight the characteristics of commonality, trunk-like nature, and contemporaneity. The cultures of all ethnic groups shape themselves according to the standards of Chinese civilization, becoming an important content for enhancing cultural confidence and constructing the discourse system of Chinese culture.

文化的现代化塑造了其开放、包容的特征，各民族文化的创新与转型得以突破传统语境的局限，使各民族文化更加关注现实社会、顺应时代需求、适应现代文明语境，进而突出共同性、主干性和时代性的特点。各民族文化以中华文明的标准打造自身，成为增强文化自信、构建中华文化话语体系的重要内容。

Correctly handling the relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups, so that the cultures of all ethnic groups effectively connect to the “trunk” of Chinese culture, is an important pathway for currently strengthening the “Five Identifications” [22]22 The “Five Identifications” (五个认同) refer to identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics., especially identification with Chinese culture, and for building the common spiritual home of the Chinese nation. Accurately grasping the intrinsic relationship between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups, clarifying the internal logic of the integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups into Chinese culture, and promoting the convergence of the cultures of all ethnic groups toward Chinese culture, is not only a matter of strengthening the subjectivity of Chinese culture and promoting the construction of modern Chinese civilization, but also an important link in advancing the construction of a culturally strong country in the New Era. Cultural construction concerns the spiritual lifeline of a country. Against the current background of taking forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line, strengthening the commonality construction of Chinese culture and promoting the open, inclusive, innovative, and contemporary transformation of the cultures of all ethnic groups, incorporating the cultures of all ethnic groups into the framework of national culture is conducive to further enhancing the confidence in Chinese culture, consolidating the ideological foundation for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and promoting the construction of the discourse system of Chinese culture.

正确处理中华文化和各民族文化的关系，使各民族文化有效接入中华文化“主干”，是当前增强“五个认同”，尤其是中华文化认同，构筑中华民族共有精神家园的重要途径。准确把握中华文化与各民族文化的内在关系，厘清各民族文化融入中华文化的内在逻辑，促进各民族文化向中华文化的汇聚，既是强化中华文化主体性，促进中华民族现代文明建设，也是推进新时代文化强国建设的重要一环。文化建设关乎一个国家的精神命脉，在当前以铸牢中华民族共同体意识为主线的时代背景下，加强中华文化的共同性建设，促进各民族文化的开放性、包容性、创新性、时代性转化。将各民族文化纳入国家文化的框架，有利于进一步增进中华文化自信，夯实铸牢中华民族共同体意识的思想基础，推动中华文化话语体系的构建。

(Author bios: Ma Hui, postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Wang Yanzhong, researcher at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, chief expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Research Base for Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation, and professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Sociology and Ethnic Studies, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者简介：马慧，中国社会科学院民族学与人类学研究所博士后；王延中，中国社会科学院民族学与人类学研究所研究员、中国社会科学院铸牢中华民族共同体意识研究基地首席专家，中国社会科学院大学社会与民族学院教授、博士生导师）

Online editor: Tongxin

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