Methodological Consciousness in Consolidating Cultural Subjectivity

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development that for any culture to stand firm, go far, and possess leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity. The Communist Party of China has always attached importance to culture. In the New Era, on the basis of confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system, we have added cultural confidence. Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity. Cultural subjectivity is an important signature concept of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Consolidating cultural subjectivity is an original proposition put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping in accordance with the major tasks of cultural construction, and it must maintain a high degree of methodological consciousness.

习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上指出，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。中国共产党历来重视文化，新时代我们在道路自信、理论自信、制度自信的基础上增加了文化自信。文化自信就来自我们的文化主体性。文化主体性是习近平文化思想的重要标识性概念，巩固文化主体性是习近平总书记依据文化建设的重大任务而提出的原创性命题，必须葆有高度的方法论自觉。

Methodological Premise Consciousness in Consolidating Cultural Subjectivity

巩固文化主体性的方法论前提自觉

Clarifying the premise issues of consolidating cultural subjectivity from the methodological dimension is the ideological foundation for advancing the practice of consolidating cultural subjectivity and also the theoretical foundation for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

从方法论维度上厘清巩固文化主体性的前提性问题，是推进巩固文化主体性实践的思想基础，亦是夯实巩固文化主体性的学理基础。

Determining the context in which cultural subjectivity emerges. As an important signature concept of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, cultural subjectivity has its specific ideological context, historical context, and contemporary context. From the ideological context, cultural subjectivity is a "terminological revolution" [1]1 "Terminological revolution" (术语革命) refers to the creation or redefinition of key concepts to fundamentally shift the framework of a field of study, a term used by Lenin in relation to Marx's critique of political economy. achieved by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture on the basis of inheriting Marxist cultural thought. It is the "theoretical flower" of Marxist cultural thought taking root in Chinese soil, vividly interpreting the continuous development of Marxist cultural thought in the New Era. From the historical context, cultural subjectivity originates from the historical consciousness of the Communist Party of China in leading cultural construction and development. It is the Party's exploration in grasping the mainstream and recognizing the essence in the torrent of history, and it is the intellectual fruit of profoundly distilling the historical experience of cultural construction and development. From the contemporary context, the emergence of cultural subjectivity is a practical requirement for undertaking the new cultural mission of the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the New Era." [2]2 Quotation from Xi Jinping's speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023. To fulfill the new cultural mission, it is necessary to enhance the leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power of Chinese culture, and it is necessary to promote the subjectivity of Chinese culture.

厘定文化主体性的出场语境。文化主体性作为习近平文化思想的重要标识性概念，有其特定的思想语境、历史语境与时代语境。从思想语境来看，文化主体性是习近平文化思想在继承马克思主义文化思想基础上实现的“术语革命”，是马克思主义文化思想根植中国沃土绽放的“理论之花”，生动诠释着马克思主义文化思想在新时代的赓续发展。从历史语境来看，文化主体性源自中国共产党领导文化建设发展的历史自觉，是中国共产党在历史洪流中把握主流、认清本质的探寻，是深刻凝练文化建设发展历史经验的思想果实。从时代语境来看，文化主体性的出场是担负新时代新的文化使命的现实要求。习近平总书记指出，“在新的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，是我们在新时代新的文化使命”。完成新的文化使命必须增强中华文化的引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力，必须弘扬中华文化的主体性。

Clarifying the essential determination of cultural subjectivity. Cultural subjectivity is a judgment and description of the characteristics and value of a cultural subject derived from an understanding of culture. It is the key to grasping cultural autonomous consciousness, conscious ability, self-cognition, and the source of confidence, and it represents the essential attributes of culture. On the one hand, cultural subjectivity is generated in practice, and practicality constitutes the essential determination of cultural subjectivity. Cultural subjectivity originates from the subjectivity of the subject of cultural creation, that is, the real human being. Real human beings exert their own subjectivity through "conscious life activity," [3]3 "Conscious life activity" is a phrase from Marx's *Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844*, distinguishing human labor from animal activity. thereby transforming the objective world and creating human history. Practice is the fundamental basis for the verification of cultural subjectivity. On the other hand, once generated, cultural subjectivity possesses objective independence. The objective independence of culture provides a basic guarantee for the manifestation of cultural subjectivity. Without an objectively independent cultural foundation, so-called cultural subjectivity would only degenerate into an abstract concept without practical content. The objective independence of cultural subjectivity endows a particular cultural subject with autonomous and independent characteristics that distinguish it from other cultures, enabling it to maintain a consciousness of autonomy, self-knowledge, self-awareness, and self-strengthening in the confrontation of different cultural foundations.

澄清文化主体性的本质规定。文化主体性是基于对文化的理解而衍生的关于文化主体特质与价值的判断和描述，是把握文化自主意识、自觉能力、自我认知与自信源泉的关键，表征着文化的本质属性。一方面，文化主体性在实践中生成，实践性构成了文化主体性的本质规定。文化主体性根源于文化创造主体即现实的人的主体性，现实的人通过“有意识的生命活动”发挥自身主体性，从而改造客观世界、创造人类历史，实践是文化主体性得以证实的根本依据。另一方面，文化主体性一经生成就具有客观独立性。文化的客观独立性为文化主体性的彰显提供了基本保障，没有客观独立的文化基群，所谓的文化主体性也只会沦为一种抽象的概念而不具备实际内涵。文化主体性的客观独立性赋予某一文化主体区别于其他文化的自在独立特质，能够在不同文化基群的交锋中葆有自主、自知、自觉与自强意识。

Elucidating the cognitive structure of cultural subjectivity. Cultural subjectivity is a new theoretical term rich in theoretical connotation and practical configuration. Elucidating the cognitive structure of cultural subjectivity from the dual dimensions of concept generation and value expression is the theoretical premise for consolidating cultural subjectivity. From the perspective of concept generation, cultural subjectivity is an important signature concept of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and a vivid manifestation of accelerating the construction of an independent knowledge system of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. To grasp the concept of cultural subjectivity, it is necessary to adhere to the basic positions and methods of the Marxist view of culture, to base it on the practice of cultural development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and at the same time to have a broad vision of world history, measuring and verifying it in the integrated development of the cultures of various nations in the contemporary world. From the perspective of value expression, cultural subjectivity is an important prerequisite for Chinese culture to stand firm, go far, and possess leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power. "With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense; cultural confidence has a fundamental support; the Communist Party of China 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 distinctive cultural characteristics for exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations in the world." [4]4 Quotation from Xi Jinping's speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023.

阐明文化主体性的认知结构。文化主体性是深蕴学理内涵与实践构境的全新理论术语，从概念生成与价值表述双重维度阐明文化主体性的认知结构，是巩固文化主体性的学理前提。从概念生成来看，文化主体性是习近平文化思想的重要标识性概念，是加快构建中国特色社会主义文化自主知识体系的生动展现。对文化主体性概念的把握，既要坚持马克思主义文化观的基本立场与方法，又要立足新时代中国特色社会主义文化发展实践，同时必须具有世界历史的广阔视野，在当代世界各民族文化融通发展中丈量与确证。从价值表述来看，文化主体性是中华文化立得住、行得远，具有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力的重要前提。“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。”

Methodological Stance Consciousness in Consolidating Cultural Subjectivity

巩固文化主体性的方法论立场自觉

On the basis of clarifying the premise issues of consolidating cultural subjectivity, it is necessary to establish a consciousness of the methodological stance for consolidating cultural subjectivity. Consciousness of the methodological stance is the ideological guarantee for clarifying the direction of consolidating cultural subjectivity, realizing the purpose of consolidating cultural subjectivity, and representing the essence of consolidating cultural subjectivity.

在厘清巩固文化主体性前提性问题的基础上，必须确立巩固文化主体性的方法论立场自觉。方法论立场自觉是明确巩固文化主体性方向、实现巩固文化主体性目的、表征巩固文化主体性本质的思想保证。

Adhering to the political stance of the Party's comprehensive leadership. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity. This subjectivity was established by the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese people on Chinese soil." [5]5 Quotation from Xi Jinping's speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023. This important assertion both confirms that the Communist Party of China is the leading subject in consolidating cultural subjectivity and elucidates that adhering to the Party's comprehensive leadership is the political stance and political guarantee for consolidating cultural subjectivity. The Communist Party of China is the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Party's comprehensive leadership is the direction, the strength, and the future of consolidating cultural subjectivity. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has consciously shouldered the mission of building a new culture of the Chinese nation, leading the people to explore and create a development path for socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, [6]6 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in November 2012, marking the beginning of the Xi Jinping era and the formal introduction of the concept of the "New Era." the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics has achieved historic accomplishments, and the Party's understanding of the laws of cultural development has been elevated to a new historical height. Standing at a new historical starting point, only by adhering to and strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership and fully exerting the leading core role of the Communist Party of China can we gather the mighty force for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

坚持党的全面领导的政治立场。习近平总书记指出，“文化自信就来自我们的文化主体性。这一主体性是中国共产党带领中国人民在中国大地上建立起来的”。这一重要论断既确证了中国共产党是巩固文化主体性的领导主体，又阐明了坚持党的全面领导是巩固文化主体性的政治立场和政治保证。中国共产党是中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心，党的全面领导是巩固文化主体性的方向所在、力量所在、前途所在。中国共产党自成立之日起就自觉肩负起建设中华民族新文化的使命，带领人民探索创造了中国特色社会主义文化发展道路。党的十八大以来，中国特色社会主义文化建设取得历史性成就，党对文化建设的发展规律认识提升到全新的历史高度。站在新的历史起点上，只有坚持和加强党的全面领导，充分发挥中国共产党的领导核心作用，才能汇聚起巩固文化主体性的磅礴力量。

Adhering to the people-centered value stance. On the one hand, the people are the practical subject of consolidating cultural subjectivity. The people are the subject of social history and the creators of all material and spiritual wealth. The people are the deepest source of strength for consolidating cultural subjectivity. Adhering to the principal position of the people under the Party's leadership, respecting the people's pioneering spirit, concentrating the people's wisdom and strength, and summarizing the people's practical experience are the practical basis for consolidating cultural subjectivity. On the other hand, the people are the value subject of consolidating cultural subjectivity. All undertakings of the Communist Party of China are for the people, and any culture that is divorced from the people lacks value implications. The Communist Party of China leads the people in establishing and consolidating cultural subjectivity, ultimately to serve the people, to continuously strengthen the spiritual strength of the people with the abundant spirit of the Chinese nation, and to provide lasting spiritual motivation for the people's better life.

坚持以人民为中心的价值立场。一方面，人民群众是巩固文化主体性的实践主体。人民群众是社会历史的主体，是一切物质财富与精神财富的创造者。人民群众是巩固文化主体性最深厚的力量源泉，在党的领导下坚持人民群众的主体地位、尊重人民群众首创精神、集中人民群众智慧力量、总结人民群众实践经验，是巩固文化主体性的现实依托。另一方面，人民群众是巩固文化主体性的价值主体。中国共产党的一切事业都是为了人民，一切脱离人民群众的文化都不具备价值意蕴。中国共产党带领人民建立和巩固文化主体性，归根结底就在于服务人民，以充盈富足的中华民族精神不断增强人民群众的精神力量，为人民群众的美好生活提供持久精神动力。

Adhering to the strategic stance of resolving the "dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West." [7]7 "Dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West" (古今中西之争) refers to a long-standing Chinese intellectual debate over how to reconcile traditional Chinese culture with modernity and Western influences, dating back to the late Qing dynasty. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "After long-term efforts, we are more capable than any previous era of resolving the 'dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West,' and we are also more urgently in need than any previous era of a batch of cultural achievements that fuse the ancient and the modern and connect China and the West." [8]8 Quotation from Xi Jinping's speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023. Resolving the "dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West" is an inherent requirement for the development of cultural construction in the New Era and also a strategic stance that must be established to consolidate cultural subjectivity. Consolidating cultural subjectivity is a systematic project, involving multiple propositions such as tradition and contemporaneity, nation and world in cultural construction and development. Only by adhering to the strategic stance of resolving the "dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West" can we examine the history, reality, and future of cultural subjectivity with an open and inclusive attitude, frame the real field for consolidating cultural subjectivity with world-historical thinking and vision, thereby maintaining strategic focus in cultural development amidst world changes, and elevate the subjectivity of Chinese culture in fierce cultural collisions with a spirit of confidence and self-reliance.

坚持破解“古今中西之争”的战略立场。习近平总书记指出：“经过长期努力，我们比以往任何一个时代都更有条件破解‘古今中西之争’，也比以往任何一个时代都更迫切需要一批熔铸古今、汇通中西的文化成果。”破解“古今中西之争”是新时代文化建设发展的内在要求，也是巩固文化主体性必须确立的战略立场。巩固文化主体性是一项系统工程，关涉文化建设发展中的传统与当代、民族与世界等多重命题。只有坚持破解“古今中西之争”的战略立场，才能以开放包容的态度审定文化主体性的历史、现实与未来，以世界历史思维与视野框定巩固文化主体性的现实场域，从而在世界变局中保持文化发展的战略定力，以自信自立的精神气魄在激烈的文化碰撞中高扬中华文化的主体性。

Methodological Principle Consciousness in Consolidating Cultural Subjectivity

巩固文化主体性的方法论原则自觉

Methodological principles are an important guarantee for carrying out the practice of consolidating cultural subjectivity. Scientifically grasping the principles to be followed in consolidating cultural subjectivity from a methodological height is a necessary prerequisite for consolidating the practical foundation of cultural subjectivity.

方法论原则是开展巩固文化主体性实践的重要保证，从方法论高度科学把握巩固文化主体性的原则遵循，是夯实巩固文化主体性实践基础的必要前提。

Uphold the Two Integrations[9]9 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 fine traditional Chinese culture. This formulation was elevated to a guiding principle for the Party's theoretical and practical work at the 20th National Congress of the CPC in 2022.. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "The 'Integration' has consolidated cultural subjectivity." The Two Integrations are the essential path for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the greatest magic weapon for our Party's success, and a methodological principle that must be adhered to in consolidating cultural subjectivity. As an important measure for advancing the development of cultural construction in the New Era, consolidating cultural subjectivity requires not only upholding the basic positions, viewpoints, and methods of the Marxist view of culture, but also basing itself on the actual development of cultural construction under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and, moreover, actively drawing on the profound nourishment of Chinese civilization. Only by upholding the Two Integrations can the truth of Marxism activate the genes of Chinese civilization, thereby manifesting the cultural heritage of consolidating cultural subjectivity; only thus can fine traditional Chinese culture enrich the cultural life of Marxism, forever preserving the vitality of consolidating cultural subjectivity; and only thus can we always take root in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, consolidating the material foundation for consolidating cultural subjectivity.

坚持“两个结合”。习近平总书记指出，“‘结合’巩固了文化主体性”。“两个结合”是开辟和发展中国特色社会主义的必由之路，是我们党取得成功的最大法宝，是巩固文化主体性必须坚守的方法论原则。作为推进新时代文化建设发展的重要举措，巩固文化主体性既要坚持马克思主义文化观的基本立场、观点和方法，又要立足中国特色社会主义文化建设发展实际，更要积极汲取中华文明的深厚滋养。只有坚持“两个结合”，才能以马克思主义真理之光激活中华文明基因，彰显巩固文化主体性的文化底蕴；才能以中华优秀传统文化充实马克思主义的文化生命，永葆巩固文化主体性的生机活力；才能始终根植于中国特色社会主义伟大实践，夯实巩固文化主体性的物质基础。

Uphold integrity and innovation[10]10 Upholding integrity and innovation (守正创新) is a paired concept in contemporary Chinese political discourse: "upholding integrity" means adhering to fundamental principles (such as Marxism and Party leadership), while "innovation" means adapting and developing theory and practice in response to new conditions.. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "For cultural construction, upholding integrity ensures that we do not lose ourselves or our direction, while innovation enables us to grasp the times and lead the times." Consolidating cultural subjectivity must uphold integrity and innovation. Upholding integrity is the foundation and prerequisite for consolidating cultural subjectivity; it is the "thesis" of consolidating cultural subjectivity. Innovation is the inherent requirement of upholding integrity, contained within the methodological principle of upholding integrity; it is the "synthesis" of consolidating cultural subjectivity. Upholding integrity does not mean being conservative; rather, it means clarifying the fundamental, core, and key aspects of cultural construction and development in the New Era within the process of consolidating cultural subjectivity. Innovation does not mean subversion; rather, it means endowing the consolidation of cultural subjectivity with a powerful source of momentum. The vitality of consolidating cultural subjectivity lies in innovation, and the prerequisite for innovation is upholding integrity. Only by consolidating cultural subjectivity with the righteousness and sharpness of upholding integrity and innovation can we continuously carry forward the historical lineage and write a glorious contemporary chapter.

坚持守正创新。习近平总书记指出，“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”。巩固文化主体性必须坚持守正创新，守正是巩固文化主体性的基础和前提，是巩固文化主体性的“正题”；创新是守正的内在要求，包含于守正的方法原则之内，是巩固文化主体性的“合题”。守正不意味着保守，而是要在巩固文化主体性中澄明新时代文化建设发展的根本所在、核心所在、关键所在；创新不意味着颠覆，而是要赋予巩固文化主体性强大的动力源泉。巩固文化主体性的生命力在于创新，而创新的前提是坚持守正。只有坚持以守正创新的正气和锐气巩固文化主体性，才能不断赓续历史文脉、谱写当代华章。

Uphold confidence and self-reliance. Upholding confidence and self-reliance is the basic norm and spiritual trait of the Party leading the people in exploring the scientific path of cultural development. The successful opening of the path of cultural development under socialism with Chinese characteristics is not a blind adherence to some textbook answer, but the result of the Party leading the people in continuous exploration through their own strength. Consolidating cultural subjectivity is a practical choice for upholding the path of cultural development under socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Only by upholding confidence and self-reliance, neither fearing evil nor yielding to pressure, can we, in the practice of cultural construction and development that consolidates cultural subjectivity, break free from the "master mold," "template," "reprint," and "revised edition," truly establish and elevate the subjectivity of Chinese culture, and display in the exchange of human civilizations the civilizational genes, cultural lineage, and spiritual symbols that belong uniquely to the Chinese nation and the Chinese people.

坚持自信自立。坚持自信自立是党带领人民探索文化发展科学道路的基本准则与精神特质，中国特色社会主义文化发展道路的成功开辟，不是对某种教科书式答案的盲目遵从，而是党带领人民依靠自身力量不断探索的结果。巩固文化主体性是新时代坚持中国特色社会主义文化发展道路的实践选择，只有坚持自信自立，既不信邪又不怕压，才能在巩固文化主体性的文化建设发展实践中跳出“母版”“模板”“再版”“翻版”，真正确立和高扬中华文化的主体性，在人类文明交流中展现独属于中华民族与中国人民的文明基因、文化血脉与精神标识。

(The authors are a professor at the School of Marxism, Zhengzhou University, and a researcher at the Research Center for Core Socialist Values, Zhengzhou University.)

（作者系郑州大学马克思主义学院教授；郑州大学社会主义核心价值观研究中心研究员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧