Deeply Understanding “Upholding the Cultural Subjectivity of the Chinese Nation”

So-called cultural subjectivity refers to the capacity of a culture, when encountering foreign cultures, to be both self-aware and self-reflective, and also self-respecting and self-dignified, and on this basis to generate positive adaptability and creativity. The issue of the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation concerns the status and fate of Chinese culture in the process of modernization, and concerns China’s self-positioning, developmental direction, and national identity as an ancient civilization in the tide of globalization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership., the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has deeply recognized the significance of cultural subjectivity, placing cultural development in a prominent position in the governance of the country. Among a series of historic achievements in the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, the continuous consolidation of the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation is one important aspect.

所谓文化主体性，是指一种文化在与外来文化相遇时，既能自觉自省，又能自尊自重，且在此基础上产生积极的适应性与创造性。中华民族文化主体性问题关涉中国文化在现代化进程中的地位和命运，关涉中国作为一个文明古国在全球化浪潮中的自我定位、发展路向和民族认同。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央深刻认识文化主体性的重要意义，将文化建设摆在治国理政的突出位置。在新时代中国特色社会主义文化建设的一系列历史性成就中，中华民族文化主体性的持续巩固就是其中一个重要方面。

The Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation and the Cultural Subjectivity of the Chinese Nation

中华民族伟大复兴与中华民族文化主体性

Since the Opium War of 1840 [2]2 The Opium War (1839–1842) was a military conflict between the Qing Empire and Britain, often seen as the start of China’s “century of humiliation” by semi-colonial powers., realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become the greatest dream of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and it has also been the clear theme of all the struggles, all the sacrifices, and all the creations carried out by the CPC uniting and leading the Chinese people over the past century. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, the Chinese nation has ushered in a historic leap from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong, and culture must assume greater responsibilities and missions. It is in this sense that General Secretary Xi Jinping examines the status and role of cultural subjectivity from the strategic height of realizing national rejuvenation. The importance of upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation has been elevated to an unprecedented degree, manifesting the CPC’s clear cognition and accurate grasp of the general trend of historical development, and possessing significant contemporary value.

自1840年鸦片战争以来，实现中华民族伟大复兴就成为中国人民和中华民族最伟大的梦想，也是一百年来中国共产党团结带领中国人民进行的一切奋斗、一切牺牲、一切创造的鲜明主题。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中华民族迎来了从站起来、富起来到强起来的历史飞跃，文化要承担起更大的责任和使命。正是在这个意义上，习近平总书记从实现民族伟大复兴的战略高度审视文化主体性的地位与作用，高扬中华民族文化主体性的重要性空前提高，彰显了中国共产党对历史发展大势的清晰认知和准确把握，具有重要时代价值。

At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development [3]3 The Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development was a meeting convened by Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 2, 2023, to discuss the preservation and promotion of Chinese traditional culture., General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that for any culture to stand firm and go far, to have guiding power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity. With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense; cultural confidence has a fundamental support; the CPC has a powerful cultural force to lead the times; the Chinese nation and the Chinese people have a solid cultural foundation for national identity; and Chinese civilization has distinct cultural characteristics for exchange and mutual learning with other world civilizations. Cultural tradition is the bloodline and gene of a nation, the spiritual marker that distinguishes one nation from others. A nation’s attitude toward its cultural tradition is the main criterion for judging whether its cultural subjectivity is established. Upholding cultural subjectivity must be based on a clear cognition of one’s own cultural tradition. Cultural subjectivity helps to consolidate national centripetal force, ensure cultural independence and security, and is a prerequisite for realizing the spiritual independence of the Chinese nation. Without cultural subjectivity, the basis for the Chinese nation to be the Chinese nation would cease to exist, and national rejuvenation would naturally be out of the question. To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it is necessary to uphold the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation.

在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记强调，任何文化要立得住、行得远，要有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力，就必须有自己的主体性，有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上坚定的自我，文化自信就有了根本依托，中国共产党就有了引领时代的强大文化力量，中华民族和中国人民就有了国家认同的坚实文化基础，中华文明就有了和世界其他文明交流互鉴的鲜明文化特性。文化传统是一个民族的血脉和基因，是一个民族区别于其他民族的精神标识。一个民族对文化传统的态度是判断其文化主体性是否确立的主要标准。高扬文化主体性要以对自身文化传统的清晰认知为基础。文化主体性有助于凝聚民族向心力、确保文化的独立与安全，是实现中华民族精神独立的前提。离开了文化主体性，中华民族之成为中华民族的依据将不复存在，民族复兴自然也就无从谈起。要实现中华民族的伟大复兴，就必须高扬中华民族的文化主体性。

The fine traditional Chinese culture, with the lofty national spirit it displays, once provided powerful spiritual impetus for the Chinese nation’s struggle for national salvation from extinction. Embarking on the new journey [4]4 “New journey” refers to the period after the completion of the First Centenary Goal (building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2021) and the start of the march toward the Second Centenary Goal (building a modern socialist country by 2049)., the role of cultural subjectivity in invigorating the national spirit, maintaining national identity, and promoting economic and social development and the all-round development of people is becoming increasingly important. Realizing national rejuvenation must be premised on adhering to the Chinese cultural position. The closer we get to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the more necessary it is to consolidate and uphold the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation, to activate the vitality of the fine traditional Chinese culture, and to gather a mighty force for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

中华优秀传统文化以其所展现出来的崇高民族精神曾经为中华民族的救亡图存提供了强大的精神动力。踏上新征程，文化主体性在振奋民族精神、维系国家认同、促进经济社会发展和人的全面发展等方面的作用愈发重要。实现民族伟大复兴必须以坚守中华文化立场为前提，越是接近实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标，越需要巩固并高扬中华民族的文化主体性，激活中华优秀传统文化的生命力，为中华民族伟大复兴汇聚磅礴力量。

Creating a New Form of Human Civilization and the Cultural Subjectivity of the Chinese Nation

创造人类文明新形态与中华民族文化主体性

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that because each country and nation has different historical traditions, cultural accumulations, and basic national conditions, their development paths must necessarily have their own characteristics. This clarifies the significance of the bloodline gene that serves as the foundation of the Chinese nation, and of the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation, across time and space. 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” [5]5 This resolution was adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC in November 2021. states that the Party has led the people in successfully blazing the path of Chinese-path modernization, creating a new form of human civilization, expanding the ways for developing countries to achieve modernization, and providing a completely new choice for those countries and nations that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their own independence. This profoundly elucidates that upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation and flourishing and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics have already had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on the development process of human civilization.

习近平总书记指出，每个国家和民族的历史传统、文化积淀、基本国情不同，其发展道路必然有着自己的特色。这就明确了作为中华民族底色的血脉基因、中华民族的文化主体性之于中华民族的跨越时空的意义。《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》指出，党领导人民成功走出中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态，拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的途径，给世界上那些既希望加快发展又希望保持自身独立性的国家和民族提供了全新选择。这就深刻阐明了高扬中华民族的文化主体性，繁荣发展中国特色社会主义文化，已经并必将继续对人类文明发展进程产生深远的影响。

Engels pointed out: “Every advance in culture is a step towards freedom.” [6]6 This quotation is from Friedrich Engels, *Anti-Dühring* (1878). Viewing Chinese-path modernization and the new form of human civilization through the historical telescope, from the coordinates of Chinese civilization and world civilization, we will find that Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that continues an ancient civilization, not one that destroys it; it is a modernization that grows out of the land of China, not one that copies other countries; it is the result of civilizational renewal, not the product of civilizational rupture. Chinese-path modernization is the new mission of the ancient Chinese state [7]7 “New mission of the ancient Chinese state” (旧邦新命) is a classical allusion to the *Book of Songs* (诗经), often used to mean a rejuvenation of an ancient civilization with a new historical mission., and will surely propel Chinese civilization to regain its glory. The best way to inherit history is to create new history; the greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. It can be said that, in the cultural sense, Chinese-path modernization is different from that “universal” modern civilization which has cancelled cultural subjectivity. Rather, it is a modern civilization with its own cultural subjectivity, one in which the Chinese nation, based on its own cultural tradition and national conditions, adheres to, consolidates, and upholds the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation, and while drawing on the achievements of world civilizations, walks its own path. It contains a new cultural life form created through the comprehensive integration of socialism, modernization, and Chinese civilization. The new form of human civilization it creates is a Chinese picture of the integrated innovation of socialist civilization and ancient Chinese civilization. It provides answers to China’s questions, the world’s questions, the times’ questions, and the people’s questions about where world civilization is headed—answers based on addressing one’s own development issues, adhering to one’s own cultural subjectivity, and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of the fine traditional Chinese culture in the process of modernization. To help other countries and nations understand the new form of human civilization, it is necessary to clearly explain the principles of “harmony in diversity” and “harmony generates new things, while sameness leads to no continuation” [8]8 “Harmony in diversity” (和而不同) is from the *Analects of Confucius*; “harmony generates new things, while sameness leads to no continuation” (和实生物，同则不继) is from the *Guoyu* (Discourses of the States), a classical text., to explain the deeper adherence to cultural subjectivity behind it, and to explain that it can only be a modern civilization that upholds each one’s own cultural subjectivity, not one that cancels its own subjectivity. Only in this way can different civilizations maintain a sober awareness of cultural independence and self-determination, learn from each other’s strengths to offset weaknesses, and use their unique cultural endowments to respond to the blending and confrontation among global multiculturalisms; while maintaining their own cultural independence in dialogue and exchange with other civilizations, they can absorb nutrients from other civilizations; while realizing their own innovative development, they can make new contributions to the progress of human civilization. It is in this sense that General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese civilization, to activate its vitality, and to let Chinese civilization, together with the colorful civilizations created by the people of all countries, provide correct spiritual guidance for humanity.

恩格斯指出：“文化上的每一个进步，都是迈向自由的一步。”我们以历史的望远镜，从中国文明、世界文明的坐标观望中国式现代化和人类文明新形态会发现，中国式现代化是赓续古老文明的现代化，而不是消灭古老文明的现代化；是从中华大地长出来的现代化，不是照搬照抄其他国家的现代化；是文明更新的结果，不是文明断裂的产物。中国式现代化是中华民族的旧邦新命，必将推动中华文明重焕荣光。对历史最好的继承，就是创造新的历史；对人类文明最大的礼敬，就是创造人类文明新形态。可以说，在文化的意义上，中国式现代化不同于那种取消了文化主体性的“普世”的现代文明，而是中华民族立足自身文化传统和国情，坚守、巩固、高扬中华民族文化主体性，在借鉴世界文明成果的同时走出自己道路的、具有自身文化主体性的现代文明。它内蕴着社会主义、现代化与中华文明综合创造的新的文化生命体。它创造的人类文明新形态，是社会主义文明与古老中华文明融合创新的中国图景，对世界文明向何处去的中国之问、世界之问、时代之问、人民之问给出了立足自身发展问题，坚持自身文化主体性，推动中华优秀传统文化在现代化进程中实现创造性转化、创新性发展的答案。帮助其他国家和民族理解人类文明新形态，就要讲清楚“和而不同”“和实生物，同则不继”的道理，讲清楚其背后更深层次的对文化主体性的坚守，讲清楚它只能是高扬各自文化主体性而非取消自身主体性的现代文明。唯其如此，不同文明才能保持清醒的文化独立自主意识，取长补短，以独有的文化禀赋应对全球多元文化间的交融交锋；在与其他文明的对话交流中保持自身文化独立性的同时，汲取他文明的养分；在实现自身的创新发展的同时，为人类文明进步作出新的贡献。正是在这个意义上，习近平总书记强调，要推动中华文明创造性转化、创新性发展，激活其生命力，让中华文明同各国人民创造的多彩文明一道，为人类提供正确精神指引。

Grasping the Cultural Subjectivity of the Chinese Nation from the Perspective of the Two Integrations

从“两个结合”把握中华民族文化主体性

The philosophy of each era must pay attention to and reflect on the major issues of its historical period. To pursue a scholarly inquiry into the major issues of an era is not only the task of philosophy but also provides fundamental methods and pathways for deeply understanding and grasping the era. Marx said that problems are “the public and unconcealed voice of the age, the age’s message to itself, its actual state of mind expressed in practical terms” [9]9 This quotation is from Karl Marx, “A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: Introduction” (1844).. The proposal of the Two Integrations [10]10 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of China’s traditional culture, a key theoretical formulation under Xi Jinping Thought. means, on the one hand, that we have formed a high degree of consciousness and confidence in refining the connotation and unique stipulations of the Chinese path from the perspective of culture and civilization; on the other hand, it provides us with the methodological pathway for upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation.

每个时代的哲学都要关注和思考其所属历史时期的重大问题。对一个时代的重大问题进行学理性追索，既是哲学的任务，亦可以为深入理解和把握时代提供根本的方法和路径。马克思说，问题“是公开的、无所顾忌的、支配一切个人的时代之声”“是时代的格言，是表现时代内心状态的最实际的呼声”。“两个结合”的提出，一方面，意味着我们已经形成对从文化、文明角度提炼中国道路的内涵与独特规定性的高度自觉和自信；另一方面，为我们提供了高扬中华民族文化主体性的方法路径。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: Why is our socialism different? Why can it be vigorous and full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics, and the key to Chinese characteristics lies in the “Two Integrations” [11]11 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of China’s traditional culture.. This is our Party’s profound summary of the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, a profound grasp of the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization. It shows that our Party’s understanding of the Chinese path, theory, and system has reached a new height, that our Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height, and that our Party’s consciousness in promoting cultural innovation while inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture has reached a new height. The subject of the “Two Integrations” is always China, that is, the so-called “taking ourselves as the mainstay and using others for our own purposes.” Chinese characteristics are rooted in Chinese autonomy; only with subjectivity can one have one’s own characteristics; only by adhering to the “Two Integrations” can cultural subjectivity be consolidated; only by upholding subjectivity can the “Two Integrations” be continuously advanced. The old path of closed-door rigidity and the evil path of changing the banner [12]12 “Changing the banner” (改旗易帜) is a standard Party phrase referring to abandoning socialism for capitalism, often paired with “the old path of closed-door rigidity” (封闭僵化的老路) to reject both Soviet-style dogmatism and Western-style liberalization. are both dead ends precisely because these two paths are paths that suffocate or abandon subjectivity, paths of “de-mainstreaming,” “de-valuation,” “de-Sinicization,” “de-ideologization,” and “de-historicization.”

习近平总书记指出：我们的社会主义为什么不一样？为什么能够生机勃勃充满活力？关键就在于中国特色，中国特色的关键就在于“两个结合”，是我们党对马克思主义中国化时代化历史经验的深刻总结，是对中华文明发展规律的深刻把握，表明我们党对中国道路、理论、制度的认识达到了新高度，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度，表明我们党在传承中华优秀传统文化中推进文化创新的自觉性达到了新高度。“两个结合”的主体始终是中国，即所谓“以我为主，为我所用”。中国特色植根于中国自主性，有了主体性，才能有自己的特色；坚持“两个结合”，才能巩固文化主体性；高扬主体性，才能不断推进“两个结合”。封闭僵化的老路、改旗易帜的邪路之所以都是死路，就是因为这两条路是窒息或者放弃了主体性之路，是“去主流化”“去价值化”“去中国化”“去思想化”“去历史化”之路。

The soul of Marxism and the root of fine traditional Chinese culture are the foundation and prerequisite for theoretical innovation, and theoretical innovation is also for the purpose of better adhering to this soul and root. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “For cultural construction, upholding the right path is necessary to avoid losing oneself and losing direction, and innovation is necessary to grasp the times and lead the times. Upholding the right path means upholding the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, upholding the fundamental requirement of the ‘Two Integrations,’ and upholding the Chinese Communist Party’s cultural leadership and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. Innovation means creating new ideas, new discourses, new mechanisms, and new forms. Under the guidance of Marxism, we must truly make the past serve the present, make foreign things serve China, make dialectical choices, and bring forth the new from the old, achieving an organic connection between tradition and modernity.” The construction of China’s independent knowledge system is a manifestation of this organic connection. The construction of China’s independent knowledge system is the core of building a culturally strong nation. “Accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics ultimately boils down to constructing China’s independent knowledge system.” The proposal of this major strategic proposition is a sign of maturity, a symbol of strength, an embodiment of confidence, and an inevitable requirement and realistic path for upholding the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. We must take contemporary Chinese Marxism as our guide, take China as the reference and the times as the reference, base ourselves on China’s actual conditions, solve China’s problems, systematically and deeply explore the “logic of China,” consciously take answering China’s questions, the world’s questions, the people’s questions, and the times’ questions as our academic mission, continuously promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously advance knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation, and methodological innovation, and clearly explain the principles, theories, and philosophies of achieving and enhancing spiritual independence and self-reliance.

马克思主义的魂脉、中华优秀传统文化的根脉是理论创新的基础和前提，理论创新也是为了更好坚守这个魂和根。习近平总书记强调，“对文化建设来说，守正才能不迷失自我、不迷失方向，创新才能把握时代、引领时代。守正，守的是马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，守的是‘两个结合’的根本要求，守的是中国共产党的文化领导权和中华民族的文化主体性。创新，创的是新思路、新话语、新机制、新形式，要在马克思主义指导下真正做到古为今用、洋为中用、辩证取舍、推陈出新，实现传统与现代的有机衔接”。建构中国自主的知识体系即是这一有机衔接的体现。中国自主知识体系的建构是建设文化强国的核心。“加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学，归根结底是建构中国自主的知识体系”，这一重大战略命题的提出，是成熟的标志，是实力的象征，是自信的体现，也是高扬中华民族文化主体性的必然要求和现实路径。我们要以当代中国马克思主义为指导，以中国为观照、以时代为观照，立足中国实际，解决中国问题，系统化、深层次地探寻“中国之理”，自觉以回答中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问为学术己任，不断推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，不断推进知识创新、理论创新、方法创新，讲清楚实现并提升精神上的独立自主的道理、学理、哲理。

(The author is the Executive Vice Dean of the School of Marxism (Weihai) at Shandong University and a Distinguished Researcher at the Shandong Provincial Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.)

（作者系山东大学马克思主义学院（威海）常务副院长、山东省习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心特约研究员）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧