Clarifying the Origins, Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground — Understanding the Laws Governing the Development of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics

The era is the mother of thought, and practice is the source of theory. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the theoretical summation of the Party’s practical experience in leading cultural work in the New Era. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, in its exploration of the theory and practice of cultural work, has clarified the origins, upheld the fundamentals and broken new ground, reaching a new height in understanding the laws governing the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, reaching a new height in the Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence, and forming and explicitly putting forward Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.

时代是思想之母，实践是理论之源。习近平文化思想是新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央在文化工作理论和实践的探索中，正本清源、守正创新，对中国特色社会主义文化建设规律的认识达到了新高度，在党的历史自信、文化自信上达到了新高度，形成并明确提出了习近平文化思想。

Raising the Banner and Setting the Direction in Clarifying the Origins

在正本清源中举旗定向

At the time of the convening of the 18th National Congress of the CPC, we faced a complex situation in cultural work. On the one hand, after reform and opening up, our Party insisted on grasping both material progress and cultural-ethical progress with both hands and making both hands strong, promoting the flourishing and development of socialist culture, invigorating the national spirit, and consolidating national strength. On the other hand, at that time erroneous trends of thought such as money worship, hedonism, extreme individualism, and historical nihilism appeared from time to time, online public opinion was chaotic, and some leading cadres had vague political stances and lacked a fighting spirit, seriously affecting people’s thinking and the social public opinion environment. How to break the deadlock amid these problems? In August 2013, at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that economic construction is the Party’s central work, and ideological work is an extremely important task for the Party. Only when both material progress and cultural-ethical progress are done well, both the country’s material strength and spiritual strength are enhanced, and the material life and spiritual life of the people of all ethnic groups across the country are improved, can the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics advance smoothly; propaganda and ideological work must consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological domain, consolidate the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of the whole country; Party spirit and people’s character have always been consistent and unified, and we must adhere to the correct political direction, stand firm on the political stance, and steadfastly propagate the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies; we must adhere to unity, stability, encouragement, and positive propaganda as the main focus, adhere to consolidating and strengthening mainstream ideological public opinion, promote the main theme, and spread positive energy; we must grasp innovation in concepts, innovation in means, and innovation in grassroots work, and actively explore new measures and new methods conducive to solving work difficulties; we must conduct propaganda and ideological work under conditions of comprehensive opening up, guide people to understand contemporary China and view the external world more comprehensively and objectively, tell China’s stories well, and spread China’s voice well. This speech put forward many important judgments with the significance of clarifying the origins, and played the role of raising the banner and setting the direction.

党的十八大召开之际，我们在文化工作方面面临复杂的形势。一方面，改革开放以后，我们党坚持物质文明和精神文明两手抓、两手硬，推动社会主义文化繁荣发展，振奋了民族精神，凝聚了民族力量。另一方面，那时的拜金主义、享乐主义、极端个人主义和历史虚无主义等错误思潮不时出现，网络舆论乱象丛生，一些领导干部政治立场模糊、缺乏斗争精神，严重影响人们思想和社会舆论环境。如何在问题中破局？2013年8月，习近平总书记在全国宣传思想工作会议上指出，经济建设是党的中心工作，意识形态工作是党的一项极端重要的工作。只有物质文明建设和精神文明建设都搞好，国家物质力量和精神力量都增强，全国各族人民物质生活和精神生活都改善，中国特色社会主义事业才能顺利向前推进；宣传思想工作就是要巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，巩固全党全国人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础；党性和人民性从来都是一致的、统一的，要坚持正确政治方向，站稳政治立场，坚定宣传党的理论和路线方针政策；要坚持团结稳定鼓劲、正面宣传为主，坚持巩固壮大主流思想舆论，弘扬主旋律，传播正能量；要抓好理念创新、手段创新、基层工作创新，积极探索有利于破解工作难题的新举措新办法；要在全面对外开放的条件下做宣传思想工作，引导人们更加全面客观地认识当代中国、看待外部世界，讲好中国故事，传播好中国声音。这个讲话提出了许多具有正本清源意义的重要论断，起到了举旗定向之效。

During this period, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core convened a series of important meetings, introduced a series of important measures, and put forward a series of new thoughts, new viewpoints, and new judgments, pointing out the path and direction for socialist cultural construction.

这一时期，以习近平同志为核心的党中央召开了一系列重要会议，出台了一系列重要举措，提出了一系列新思想新观点新论断，为社会主义文化建设指明路径方向。

First, strengthening cultural confidence. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. Cultural confidence is a more fundamental, broader, and deeper confidence, and a more basic, deeper, and more enduring force. At the conference celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly put forward “cultural confidence,” and together with “confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system,” formed the “Four Confidences.”

一是坚定文化自信。习近平总书记明确指出：文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂。文化自信，是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信，是更基本、更深沉、更持久的力量。习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立95周年大会上，郑重提出“文化自信”，并与“道路自信、理论自信、制度自信”一起形成了“四个自信”。

Second, firmly grasping the leadership of ideological work. General Secretary Xi Jinping prominently emphasized the extreme importance of ideological work, and clearly defined the responsibility for guarding each important domain. The internet is the main front and main battlefield of ideological work; we must strengthen the construction of internet content, and cultivate a positive, healthy, upward, and good online culture. Philosophy and social sciences have an irreplaceable important position, requiring accelerating the construction of a Chinese philosophy and social science system that embodies inheritance and national character, originality and contemporaneity, and systematicity and professionalism. Party schools and universities are important positions for ideological and political work; we must adhere to the principle that Party schools are for the Party, and consolidate the dominant position of Marxism in the ideological domain of universities.

二是牢牢掌握意识形态工作领导权。习近平总书记突出强调意识形态工作的极端重要性，明确各个重要领域的守土之责。互联网是意识形态工作主阵地主战场,要加强互联网内容建设，培育积极健康、向上向善的网络文化。哲学社会科学具有不可替代的重要地位，要求加快构建体现继承性和民族性、原创性和时代性、系统性和专业性的中国特色哲学社会科学。党校和高校是思想政治工作重要阵地，要坚持党校姓党、巩固马克思主义在高校意识形态领域的主导地位。

Third, cultivating and practicing core socialist values. The 18th National Congress of the CPC innovatively put forward the core socialist values: “prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendship.” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to give full play to the guiding role of core socialist values in what kind of country to build, what kind of society to build, and what kind of citizens to cultivate, to effectively integrate core socialist values into all aspects of social life, to grasp this basic project of consolidating the soul, gathering strength, strengthening the foundation, and consolidating the roots, and to adhere to integration, implementation, and concretization.

三是培育和践行社会主义核心价值观。党的十八大创新性地提出了“富强、民主、文明、和谐，自由、平等、公正、法治，爱国、敬业、诚信、友善”的社会主义核心价值观。习近平总书记强调要充分发挥社会主义核心价值观对建设什么样的国家、建设什么样的社会、培育什么样的公民的引领作用，切实把社会主义核心价值观贯穿于社会生活方方面面，抓住培育和弘扬社会主义核心价值观这个凝魂聚气、强基固本的基础工程，坚持贯穿结合融入、落细落小落实。

Fourth, flourishing and developing socialist literature and art. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that literature and art are the bugle of the times, and socialist literature and art are essentially the literature and art of the people; we must adhere to the people-centered creative orientation. The CPC Central Committee issued the “Opinions on Flourishing and Developing Socialist Literature and Art,” making comprehensive arrangements in terms of guiding ideology, creative orientation, the soul of literature and art, creating fine works, team building, and Party leadership, promoting a brand-new picture of socialist literature and art with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.

四是繁荣发展社会主义文艺。习近平总书记指出，文艺是时代前进的号角，社会主义文艺从本质上讲就是人民的文艺，要坚持以人民为中心的创作导向。中共中央出台《关于繁荣发展社会主义文艺的意见》，从指导思想、创作导向、文艺灵魂、创作精品、队伍建设以及党的领导等方面作出全面部署，推动新时代中国特色社会主义文艺呈现崭新图景。

Comprehensive Advancement in Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground

在守正创新中全面推进

The 19th National Congress of the CPC marked China’s entry into the historical intersection of the “Two Centenary Goals,” and the meeting clearly proposed and established the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core further clarified the important positioning of cultural construction in the overall layout of the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and put forward the goal of building a socialist cultural power. How to continue advancing while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground? In August 2018, at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the “Nine Persistences”: namely, persisting in the

党的十九大标志着中国进入了“两个一百年”奋斗目标的历史交汇期，会议明确提出并确定习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位。以习近平同志为核心的党中央进一步明确了文化建设在中国特色社会主义建设总体布局中的重要定位，提出了建设社会主义文化强国的目标。如何在守正创新中继续前进？2018年8月，习近平总书记在全国宣传思想工作会议上提出“九个坚持”：即坚持党对意识形态工作的领导权；坚持思想工作“两个巩固”的根本任务；坚持用新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装全党、教育人民；坚持培育和践行社会主义核心价值观；坚持文化自信是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信，是更基本、更深沉、更持久的力量；坚持提高新闻舆论传播力、引导力、影响力、公信力；坚持以人民为中心的创作导向；坚持营造风清气正的网络空间；坚持讲好中国故事、传播好中国声音。会上还提出了宣传文化工作举旗帜、聚民心、育新人、兴文化、展形象的使命任务。这些重要论述深刻总结了十八大以来宣传思想工作在实践和理论上的规律性成果，体现了党在宣传思想工作认识上的又一次升华。

During this period, with the implementation of the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CPC as the foundation, cultural work was advanced comprehensively and promoted holistically.

这一时期，以落实党的十九大精神为基轴，文化工作全面发力、整体推进。

First, institutional guarantees. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC [1]1 The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in October 2019, focusing on upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance. summarized the cultural advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, namely, the significant advantage of adhering to common ideals, values, and moral concepts, promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture, and uniting all the people closely together in thought and spirit; it outlined the system for upholding and improving the development and flourishing of advanced socialist culture, namely, the fundamental system of upholding the guiding role of Marxism in the ideological domain, the system of guiding cultural development with core socialist values, the system for safeguarding the people’s cultural rights and interests, the mechanism for improving the guidance of public opinion with the correct orientation, and the establishment and improvement of a cultural creation and production system and mechanism that prioritizes social benefits while integrating social and economic benefits.

一是制度保障。党的十九届四中全会总结了中国特色社会主义的文化优势，即坚持共同的理想信念、价值理念、道德观念，弘扬中华优秀传统文化、革命文化、社会主义先进文化，促进全体人民在思想上精神上紧紧团结在一起的显著优势；擘画了坚持和完善繁荣发展社会主义先进文化的制度，即坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，坚持以社会主义核心价值观引领文化建设制度，健全人民文化权益保障制度，完善坚持正确导向的舆论引导工作机制，建立健全把社会效益放在首位、社会效益和经济效益相统一的文化创作生产体制机制。

Second, outlining the blueprint. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC [2]2 The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in October 2020, where proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and the long-range objectives through the year 2035 were adopted. clearly set the goal of building China into a culturally strong country by 2035 and made specific requirements on how to achieve the main objectives, fully reflecting the dialectical unity and organic integration of adhering to long-term goals and short-term goals, providing a feasible plan for promoting the building of a culturally strong country in the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.

二是擘画蓝图。党的十九届五中全会，明确提出到2035年建成文化强国的目标，并对如何实现主要目标作出具体要求，充分体现了坚持远景目标与近期目标的辩证统一、有机衔接，为在全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程中推动建成文化强国提供了可行方案。

Third, the "Two Integrations." In 2021, at the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed adhering to the integration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, using Marxism to observe the times, grasp the times, and lead the times, and continuing to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century. [3]3 The "Two Integrations" (两个结合) refers to the principle of combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, first formally articulated by Xi Jinping in 2021. Thereafter, the "Two Integrations" were successively written into the "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century" and the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, serving as the greatest magic weapon for our success. [4]4 The "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century" was adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in November 2021.

三是“两个结合”。2021年习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上提出，坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，用马克思主义观察时代、把握时代、引领时代，继续发展当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义。此后，“两个结合”先后写入《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》和党的二十大报告，作为我们取得成功的最大法宝。

In systematic planning, scientific summarization.

在系统谋划中科学总结

The third is the “Two Integrations.” In 2021, at the ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed upholding the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, using Marxism to observe, grasp, and lead the times, and continuing to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century. [3]3 The "Two Integrations" (两个结合) refers to the principle of combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, first formally articulated by Xi Jinping in 2021. Thereafter, the “Two Integrations” were successively written into the *Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century* and the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, as the greatest magic weapon for our success.

党的二十大提出，中国共产党的中心任务就是团结带领全国各族人民全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。文化工作是其中战略性的重要工作，二十大报告明确提出，“推进文化自信自强，铸就社会主义文化新辉煌”。新时代新征程，以习近平同志为核心的党中央在文化工作上进行了重大的理论和实践创新，致力于理论的系统化、学理化。

Scientific Summary in Systematic Planning

在2023年6月召开的文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记深刻阐释了马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合的重大意义和重要内涵，指出在新的历史起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明，要坚定文化自信，秉持开放包容，坚持守正创新。习近平总书记在讲话中明确指出，党的十八大以来，党中央在领导党和人民推进治国理政的实践中，把文化建设摆在全局工作的重要位置，不断深化对文化建设的规律性认识，提出一系列新思想新观点新论断。这些重要观点是新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结，是做好宣传思想文化工作的根本遵循，必须长期坚持贯彻、不断丰富发展。

The 20th National Congress of the CPC proposed that the central task of the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, achieve the Second Centenary Goal, and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. [4]4 The "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century" was adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in November 2021. Cultural work is a strategically important part of this. The report to the 20th National Congress clearly stated, “We will boost our cultural confidence and strength, and secure new successes in developing socialist culture.” On the new journey of the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has carried out major theoretical and practical innovations in cultural work, committed to the systematization and theoretical elaboration of theory.

2023年10月召开的全国宣传思想文化工作会议，明确提出并系统阐述了习近平文化思想。习近平总书记在给此次会议的重要指示中，指明了新的文化使命，指出了文化工作的原则，构绘了“七个着力”文化工作方略。会议指出，习近平总书记在新时代文化建设方面的新思想新观点新论断，内涵十分丰富、论述极为深刻，是新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结，丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，构成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的文化篇，形成了习近平文化思想。习近平文化思想既有文化理论观点上的创新和突破，又有文化工作布局上的部署要求，明体达用、体用贯通，明确了新时代文化建设的路线图和任务书，为做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作、担负起新的文化使命提供了强大思想武器和科学行动指南。习近平文化思想是一个不断展开的、开放式的思想体系，必将随着实践深入不断丰富发展。

At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development held in June 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly expounded on the great significance and important connotations of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture, pointing out that at the new historical starting point, to continue promoting cultural prosperity, building a strong cultural country, and constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must strengthen cultural confidence, uphold openness and inclusiveness, and persist in upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. [5] In his speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee, in leading the Party and the people in advancing the practice of governance, has placed cultural construction in an important position in the overall work, continuously deepened the understanding of the laws governing cultural construction, and put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions. These important viewpoints are the theoretical summary of the Party’s practical experience in leading cultural construction in the New Era, the fundamental guideline for doing a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, and must be adhered to and implemented over the long term and continuously enriched and developed.

（作者分别为中国人民大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院副院长、21世纪中国马克思主义研究协同创新中心主任，中国人民大学马克思主义学院博士生）

The National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology, and Cultural Work held in October 2023 clearly proposed and systematically expounded Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. In his important instructions to this conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out the new cultural mission, indicated the principles of cultural work, and outlined the “Seven Efforts” cultural work strategy. [6] The conference pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions on cultural construction in the New Era are rich in connotation and profound in exposition. They are the theoretical summary of the Party’s practical experience in leading cultural construction in the New Era, enriching and developing Marxist cultural theory, forming the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and giving rise to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture not only has innovations and breakthroughs in cultural theoretical viewpoints but also has deployment requirements in the layout of cultural work. It is clear in its essence and practical application, with substance and function integrated, clarifying the roadmap and task book for cultural construction in the New Era, providing a powerful ideological weapon and scientific action guide for doing a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work on the new journey of the New Era and for shouldering the new cultural mission. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is an

网络编辑：慧慧