A Comprehensive Understanding of the Basic Approaches to Constructing Chinese Cultural Subjectivity

Cultural subjectivity is a topical issue of the era that inevitably emerges against the backdrop of deepening globalization and the development of world history toward a higher stage. It represents the organic unity of “not forgetting the original,” “absorbing the external,” and “facing the future,” and is crucial to the modernization process of a country and a nation. Over the past forty-plus years of reform and opening up, and especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has formed a clear and definite approach to constructing cultural subjectivity in its historical process of actively integrating into globalization and earnestly pursuing modernization. This has achieved spiritual independence and self-reliance, established the strategic goal of building a culturally strong country, and scientifically planned the synchronous resonance of China’s development and rise with the progress of world civilization amid changes unseen in a century. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture fully manifests the basic approaches to constructing Chinese cultural subjectivity, is the most powerful embodiment of Chinese cultural subjectivity in the New Era, and serves as a powerful ideological weapon and scientific guide for action in shouldering the cultural mission of the New Era and building a culturally strong socialist country with Chinese characteristics. Fully recognizing and deeply understanding the basic approaches to constructing Chinese cultural subjectivity helps to guide the process of Chinese-path modernization with Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the progress of world civilization as a whole.

文化主体性是全球化深度发展和世界历史迈向更高发展阶段背景下必然呈现的时代论题，是“不忘本来”“吸收外来”和“面向未来”的有机统一，对于一个国家和民族的现代化进程至关重要。改革开放四十多年来，尤其是党的十八大以来，中国在积极融入全球化和努力追求现代化的历史进程中形成了明晰而确定的文化主体性建构进路，实现了精神上的独立自主，确立了文化强国的战略目标，为百年未有之大变局下中国发展崛起与世界文明进步的同频共振作出了科学谋划。习近平文化思想是对中华文化主体性建构的基本进路的充分彰显，是新时代中国文化主体性的最有力体现，更是担负起新时代文化使命、建设中国特色社会主义文化强国的强大思想武器和科学行动指南。充分认识和深刻理解中华文化主体性建构的基本进路，有助于以习近平文化思想引领中国式现代化进程，推动实现中华民族伟大复兴和整个世界文明进步。

“Upholding the correct path opens up new prospects”: The Second Integration is the internal main line of constructing cultural subjectivity

“守正道得以开新局”：“第二个结合”是文化主体性建构的内在主线

The century-long struggle of the Communist Party of China in exploring and leading cultural construction is a process of pursuing and constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and of establishing and manifesting the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. It has been consistently permeated and guided by the internal main line of the organic integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture. The integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture is a process of two-way advancement and mutual integration and progress. It embodies the organic unity of history and logic, demonstrates the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in pursuing, revealing, and practicing truth, enriches the ideas for human exploration of modernization, opens up a new realm for the development of scientific socialism, and embarks on a new journey for the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The process of integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture is precisely the process in which the Chinese nation constructs cultural subjectivity by clarifying the origins of its cultural lineage, purging erroneous trends of thought, establishing practical consciousness, and demonstrating historical initiative. This defines the distinctive intrinsic characteristics of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the process of Chinese-path modernization.

百余年来中国共产党探索和领导文化建设的奋斗历程，是追求和建构中华民族现代文明、确立和展现中华民族文化主体性的过程，始终贯穿和渗透着马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化有机结合的内在主线。马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，是一个双向奔赴、互融共进的过程，体现了历史与逻辑的有机统一，展现了马克思主义中国化时代化追求真理、揭示真理、笃行真理的过程，丰富了人类现代化探索的思路，开辟了科学社会主义发展的新境界，开启了中国特色社会主义道路的新征程。马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合的过程，正是中华民族在澄清文脉本源、涤荡错误思潮、确立实践自觉、展现历史主动中建构文化主体性的过程，由此明确了中国特色社会主义道路和中国式现代化进程的与众不同的内在特质。

The great significance of the Second Integration for constructing Chinese cultural subjectivity must be understood from the height of “another ideological emancipation.” For a long time, the introverted and convergent ideological purport of traditional Chinese culture formed a relatively stable narrative system, mode of expression, and discourse characteristics. This laid the foundation for shaping the sense of community of the Chinese nation and establishing a stable social order integrating family and state, but it also, to a certain extent, influenced and constrained the truly future-oriented process of social development. The introduction of Marxism reactivated the unyielding and striving spiritual character of the Chinese nation. In particular, the founding of the Communist Party of China initiated the exploratory process of integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture, raising the great curtain of ideological emancipation for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and constructing China’s genuine cultural subjectivity. On the map of modern world civilization, the Second Integration, as a great ideological emancipation, brought about a historical turning point for the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization from absence to presence, from passive adaptation to active leadership. From this perspective, the Second Integration is the organic fusion and coordination of the historical process, current circumstances, and future plans of the Chinese nation’s development. A high degree of historical consciousness, sober-minded practical spirit, and acute future awareness together confirm the spiritual support, practical creativity, and value guidance that this great ideological emancipation possesses, writing a brilliant chapter of Chinese cultural subjectivity in the Marxist theory of cultural development.

要在“又一次思想解放”的高度上认识“第二个结合”之于中华文化主体性建构的重大意义。长期以来，中华传统文化内敛聚合的思想旨趣形成了相对稳定的叙事体系、言说方式和话语特色，这为中华民族共同体意识的塑造和家国一体的稳定社会秩序的确立奠定了基础，也在一定程度上影响和制约了真正面向未来的社会发展进程。马克思主义的传入重新激活了中华民族不屈奋进的精神品格，尤其是中国共产党的成立开启了马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合的探索历程，为建设中华民族现代文明和建构中国真正的文化主体性拉开了思想解放的伟大序幕。在近现代世界文明版图上，作为伟大思想解放的“第二个结合”实现了中华民族和中华文明由缺席到在场、由被动适应到主动引领的历史转折。由此来看，“第二个结合”是中华民族发展之历史进程、现实境况与未来规划的有机融通与协调一致，高度的历史自觉、清醒的现实精神与敏锐的未来意识共同确证了这场伟大的思想解放所具有的精神支撑力、实践创造力和价值引领力，书写了马克思主义文化发展理论辉煌卓越的中华文化主体性篇章。

The integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture contains the practical wisdom of constructing cultural subjectivity, which internally defines and constitutes a modernization path of “Chinese characteristics based on one’s own national conditions.” General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that continues the ancient civilization, not one that eliminates it; it is a modernization that has grown from the Chinese soil, 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 Chinese nation’s ancient state, which will surely revive the glory of Chinese civilization.” Understanding the great significance of the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture for constructing cultural subjectivity at the level of practical wisdom means understanding how Chinese-path modernization achieves cultural justification in the sense of “Chinese characteristics based on one’s own national conditions,” and understanding the key to why the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics can succeed and possess incomparable advantages.

马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合蕴涵着文化主体性建构的实践智慧，这内在地规定和构成了“基于自己国情的中国特色”的现代化道路。习近平总书记指出：“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。”在实践智慧的层面上理解马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合之于文化主体性建构的重大意义，也就理解了中国式现代化如何在“基于自己国情的中国特色”的意义上实现了文化证成，也就理解了中国特色社会主义道路之所以能够成功并具有无比优势的关键所在。

The basic principles of Marxism and China’s fine traditional culture construct a uniquely Chinese cultural subjectivity through “mutual compatibility” and “mutual achievement.”

马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化在“彼此契合”和“相互成就”中建构了独具中国特色的文化主体性。

“Valuing inheritance enables long-term planning”: Upholding tradition while pursuing innovation is the fundamental proposition of constructing cultural subjectivity

“重传承故能谋长远”：传统文化守正创新是文化主体性建构的基本命题

According to the basic viewpoints of historical materialism, history is generated and develops through the unfolding of material productive life and practice. It inherits the past, constitutes the present, and shapes the future in the organic unity of demonstrating objective laws and subjective initiative. Only by adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground in the interlocking chain of historical inheritance can genuine cultural consciousness be formed and genuine cultural subjectivity be constructed. The construction of Chinese cultural subjectivity is based on the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture, reflecting a strong sense of historical consciousness and historical initiative.

按照历史唯物主义的基本观点，历史在物质生产生活实践的展开中生成和发展，在展现客观规律性和主观能动性的有机统一中承继过往、构成现实、塑造未来。唯有在环环相扣的历史传承中坚持守正创新，才能形成真正的文化自觉，才能建构起真正的文化主体性。中华文化主体性的建构立基于中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展之上，体现出强烈的历史自觉意识和历史主动精神。

Constructing cultural subjectivity through upholding tradition while pursuing innovation requires a scientific and accurate concept of the subject as a prerequisite. Cultural subjectivity means that a specific social life community achieves self-verification of its legitimacy and validity in a relatively self-sufficient sense. The historical and cultural traditions that sustain the continuation, development, and improvement of this community play an important role in this process. Tradition means the ideological engine through which we actively create the present and continuously open up the future while being situated within it. It is the existential horizon in which human social life generates meaning and creates value within the tension between facts and norms. Only when a scientific modern consciousness and a profound traditional concept are compatible and mutually confirming can the cultural foundation for Chinese-path modernization be consolidated, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation be truly built, and strong spiritual motivation and intellectual support be provided for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The process of social modernization is not a rupture or obscuring of cultural tradition, but the activation, reshaping, and rebirth of traditional culture. Amidst the constantly developing historical circumstances and ever-changing conditions of the era, it is necessary to actively promote the “continued discourse” (in Feng Youlan’s words) of China’s fine traditional culture and earnestly continue writing the modern chapters of the history of Chinese civilization.

在传统文化守正创新中建构文化主体性需要以科学准确的主体观念作为前提。文化主体性意味着特定社会生活共同体在相对自足的意义上达成了正当性、合法性的自我确证，作为维系该共同体延续、发展和完善的历史文化传统在其中发挥了重要作用。传统意味着我们置身其中积极创造现实和不断开启未来的思想引擎，是人类社会生活在事实与规范的张力中得以生成意义、创造价值的存在性视域。科学的现代意识与厚重的传统观念相容相洽、相互证成，才能为中国式现代化夯实文化根基，才能真正建设好中华民族现代文明，才能为中华民族伟大复兴提供强大的精神动力和智力支持。社会现代化的过程，不是文化传统的断裂与遮蔽，而是传统文化的激活、重塑与新生。在不断发展的历史境遇中，在不断变化的时代条件下，必须积极推动实现中华优秀传统文化的“接着讲”（冯友兰语），认真续写好中华文明史的现代篇章。

The emphasis on tradition in constructing cultural subjectivity does not mean advocating or adhering to a cultural conservatism or cultural revivalism that is self-satisfied, stagnant, and clinging to outdated remnants. The creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture inherently contains the theme of social progress from the perspective of historical materialism. Only by integrating the problem consciousness of social reality development into it, and adhering to the guidance of historical consciousness and historical initiative, can the national cultural soft power and cultural influence of China in the New Era be vividly demonstrated through rich, diverse, and positive cultural narratives.

文化主体性建构对传统的重视，并不是主张和坚持故步自封、陈陈相因、抱残守缺的文化保守主义和文化复古主义。中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展内涵着历史唯物主义的社会进步主题，只有将社会现实发展的问题意识融入其中，坚持历史自觉意识和历史主动精神的导引，才能以丰富多样、积极向上的文化叙事来生动展现新时代中国的国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力。

The scientific attitude of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is necessary for promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture and constructing Chinese cultural subjectivity.

守正创新的科学态度，是推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展、建构中华文化主体性所必需的。

“Being inclusive enables strength”: Exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is an important field for constructing cultural subjectivity

“善包容方可成其强”：文明交流互鉴是文化主体性建构的重要场域

The construction of Chinese cultural subjectivity cannot be separated from a broad and inclusive mind and a continuous learning consciousness. The long-standing continuity of Chinese culture and the enduring vitality of Chinese civilization lie precisely in their character and traits of broad absorption, comprehensive integration, harmony, and coexistence.

中华文化主体性的建构离不开开放包容的博大胸怀和持续不断的学习意识，中华文化的源远流长和中华文明的历久弥新正在于其具有博纳广融、兼收并蓄、和合共生的品格和特质。

Openness and inclusiveness are the prerequisites and objective requirements for the growth and development of civilization, and are closely related to the deep expansion of universal human interaction. Civilization is the spiritual marker of human social communities moving toward a more perfect and better state. The continuation and development of civilization cannot proceed in a closed and conservative environment; the maturity and strength of civilization are inseparable from a conscious learning awareness and a positive growth attitude. A truly growing civilization must be open, must be inclusive. Only by facing the world and opening itself up can Chinese cultural subjectivity with a clear self-awareness and reflective spirit be formed. The reason why Chinese civilization can have a long and continuous history is largely due to its broad-minded openness and inclusiveness. The construction of Chinese cultural subjectivity in the New Era even more requires a global vision that integrates China and foreign countries and benefits the whole world.

开放包容是文明成长与发展的先决条件与客观要求，与人类普遍交往的深度拓展息息相关。文明是人类社会共同体生活趋向更加完善美好状态的精神标识，文明的延续与发展不可能在封闭保守的环境中进行，文明的成熟与强大离不开自觉的学习意识和积极的成长态度。真正成长性的文明必然是开放的，必然是包容的。面向世界，敞开自身，才能形成具有明确自我意识和反思精神的中华文化主体性。中华文明之所以能够源远流长在很大程度上得益于具有开放包容的博大胸襟，中华文化主体性的新时代建构更需要一种融通中外、兼济天下的世界情怀。

The establishment of cultural subjectivity inherently contains a concept of the "meaningful other," that is, in the context of openness and inclusiveness, the other with whom dialogue and exchange occur is regarded as an important constitutive condition for self-growth and development, rather than a restrictive obstacle. In the current era of the full unfolding of world history and the deep occurrence of universal interaction, the self and the other need to transcend conflictual oppositional rationality and move toward constructive relational rationality, thereby forming a state of a community with a shared future that mutually confirms, blends and coexists, and harmoniously co-exists.

文化主体性的确立内在蕴涵着一种“有意义的他者”观念，也就是在开放包容的语境中将发生对话交流关系的他者视为自我成长发展的重要构成性条件而非制约性障碍。在世界历史全面展开和普遍交往深度发生的当今时代，自我与他者需要超越冲突性的对立理性而迈向建构性的关系理性，由此才能形成相互证成、交融共存、和谐共在的命运共同体状态。

The construction of Chinese cultural subjectivity is a deep cultural justification of Chinese-path modernization in the context of globalization. It thoroughly breaks the myth of "modernization = Westernization" in terms of historical origins, value concepts, narrative systems, and discourse methods, establishes a global consciousness of shared destiny and coordinated progress, and forms the subjective self-awareness of modernization development. Chinese cultural subjectivity inherently contains a sound global consciousness and correct concept of modernization, providing a model and example worthy of reference for breaking away from the homogenizing troubles of Westernization and its hegemonic thinking and colonial logic in the process of new-type globalization and active modernization.

中华文化主体性的建构是在全球化语境中对中国式现代化的深层文化证成，从历史渊源、价值理念、叙事体系、话语方式等方面彻底打破了“现代化＝西方化”的迷思，确立了命运与共、协同共进的全球性意识，形成了现代化发展的主体自觉。中华文化主体性内在蕴涵了健全的全球性意识和正确的现代化观念，为在新型全球化和积极现代化进程中破除西方化及其霸权思维、殖民逻辑的同质化困扰提供了可资借鉴的典范和样板。

Source: *Chinese Social Sciences Digest*, Issue 6, 2024

文章来源：《中国社会科学文摘》2024年第6期

Online Editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆