Understanding and Grasping the "Second Integration" through the Grand Historical Perspective

The grand historical perspective is an important ideological method and working method that we must adhere to when understanding and grasping issues of history and reality, theory and practice; the "Second Integration" is a major theoretical innovation of originality and iconic significance within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Understanding and grasping the "Second Integration" through the grand historical perspective is an inevitable requirement for "strengthening the systematic and theoretical research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories." Regarding the "Second Integration," we must adhere to and apply the grand historical perspective, placing it within the long-term course of our Party's practical exploration and theoretical innovation, within the overall strategic layout of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, and within the long river of history, the tide of the times, and global changes, to deeply analyze its formation and development process, its great significance, its internal structure, and its goal orientation, thereby profoundly revealing the principles, theories, and philosophies it contains.

大历史观是我们在理解把握历史与现实、理论与实践问题时必须坚持的重要思想方法和工作方法；“第二个结合”是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想特别是习近平文化思想中具有原创性、标识性的重大理论创新。以大历史观理解把握“第二个结合”，是“加强党的创新理论体系化学理化研究阐释”的必然要求。对于“第二个结合”，必须坚持和运用大历史观，将其放到我们党进行实践探索和理论创新的长期历程中，放到中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局中，放到历史长河、时代大潮、全球风云中，深刻分析其形成发展过程、重大意义、内在结构、目标指向，从而深刻揭示其中蕴含的道理学理哲理。

I. Understanding and Grasping the Formation and Development Process through the Interconnection of Past, Present, and Future

一、在过去、现在、未来相贯通中理解把握形成发展过程

The "grandness" of the grand historical perspective lies first in taking a long-term view. Adhering to understanding and grasping the "Second Integration" through the grand historical perspective requires placing it within the long-term historical period that interconnects the past, present, and future, and deeply examining its overall process from gestation to proposal to development.

大历史观之“大”，首先在于看得长远。坚持以大历史观理解把握“第二个结合”，必须把它放到过去、现在、未来相贯通的长远历史时段中，深刻考察其从孕育到提出再到发展的整体过程。

On July 1, 2021, Xi Jinping clearly stated at the celebration of the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China: "We must uphold the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture." [1]1 The "Second Integration" refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture, as distinct from the "First Integration" with China's specific realities. This marked the formal proposal of the "Second Integration," whereby the "One Integration" was enriched and developed into the "Two Integrations." In November of the same year, Xi Jinping further pointed out in his explanation of the drafting of the Party's third historical resolution: [2]2 The "third historical resolution" refers to the "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party's Centenary Struggle," adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. "The Party's century-long struggle is magnificent, spanning a long period, covering a wide range, and involving many issues that need to be studied." One of these issues is "to deeply study the Party's century-long process of adhering to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, continuously advancing the Sinicization of Marxism, and deepening the understanding and grasp of the Party's innovative theories in the New Era." This assertion provides important guidance for deepening our understanding of the formation and development process of the "Second Integration": any scientific theoretical innovation is not achieved overnight; it always requires the deepening of practical exploration and the precipitation and sublimation of historical experience, and it must undergo a long-term process from quantitative change to qualitative change. This is the general law of the development of scientific theoretical innovation. And "laws exist in the process of historical development"; "without starting from the analysis of the historical development process, laws cannot be clearly explained." [3]3 This is a quotation from Mao Zedong's "Speech at the National Conference on Propaganda Work of the Communist Party of China" (March 1957). Therefore, our understanding and grasp of the formation and development process of the "Second Integration" should not be limited to the specific point in time of its formal proposal but should be placed within the long-term struggle process since the founding of the Party, conducting research and analysis over a long period.

2021 年7月1日，习近平在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上明确指出：“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”。这标志着“第二个结合”的正式提出，由此“一个结合”丰富和发展为“两个结合”。同年11月，习近平在关于党的第三个历史决议起草情况的说明中进一步指出：“党的百年奋斗历程波澜壮阔，时间跨度长，涉及范围广，需要研究的问题多”，其中一个问题就是“深入研究党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，不断推进马克思主义中国化的百年历程，深化对新时代党的创新理论的理解和掌握”。这一论断为我们深化对“第二个结合”形成发展过程的理解提供了重要指引：任何科学理论创新都绝非一日之功，总是需要实践探索的不断深入和历史经验的沉淀升华，需要经历从量变到质变的长期过程，这是科学理论创新发展的一般规律。而“规律存在于历史发展的过程中”，“不从历史发展过程的分析入手，规律是说不清楚的”。因此，我们对“第二个结合”形成发展过程的理解把握，不能仅仅局限在其正式提出的具体时间点上，而应将其放到党成立以来的长期奋斗历程中，作出长远时段的研究分析。

(A) The "Second Integration" was gestated and formed on the basis of unremitting struggle and continuous exploration during the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the period of socialist revolution and construction, and the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization.

（一）“第二个结合”是在新民主主义革命时期、社会主义革命和建设时期、改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期的不懈奋斗和持续探索基础上孕育形成的

Reviewing the Party's struggle process, it can be seen that our Party has always continuously explored and advanced the Sinicization of Marxism, striving to answer the question of how to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities, including China's historical and cultural traditions (mainly embodied in the best of traditional Chinese culture), and has formed many valuable ideological and cognitive achievements.

回顾党的奋斗历程可见，我们党始终持续探索推进马克思主义中国化，力求回答把马克思主义基本原理同包括中国历史文化传统（主要体现为中华优秀传统文化）在内的中国具体实际相结合的问题，形成了许多宝贵思想认识成果。

On the one hand, our Party deeply recognized that the relationship between Marxism and the best of traditional Chinese culture should not be one of either-or but should be mutually integrated. In October 1938, at the Enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee, [4]4 The Enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee was held in Yan'an from September to November 1938, during which Mao Zedong delivered the report "The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in the National War." Mao Zedong, deeply summarizing the Party's positive and negative historical experiences in leading the Chinese revolution, explicitly proposed for the first time the major proposition of the Sinicization of Marxism and profoundly elaborated on the relationship between Marxism and the best of traditional Chinese culture. He pointed out: "We are Marxist historicists; we should not cut off history." "Our nation has a history of several thousand years, has its characteristics, and has many precious treasures." "From Confucius to Sun Yat-sen," we should "use the Marxist method to make a critical summation" and "inherit this precious legacy." The great power of Marxism "lies in its connection with the concrete revolutionary practice of each country." "Marxism must be combined with the specific characteristics of our country and realized through a certain national form." It is necessary to "make Marxism concrete in China, so that in every one of its manifestations it carries the necessary Chinese characteristics." This statement clearly expressed two meanings: first, regarding China's historical and cultural heritage, it should not be cut off but critically inherited; second, Marxism must be combined with "the specific characteristics of our country" and made to carry "Chinese characteristics." On this basis, in May 1943, our Party further proposed: "Chinese Communists are the inheritors of all the best traditions of our nation's culture, thought, and morality, regarding all these excellent traditions as things connected with their own flesh and blood, and will continue to carry them forward." "It is necessary to make Marxism-Leninism, this revolutionary science, further and deeply combine with China's revolutionary practice, Chinese history, and Chinese culture." [5]5 This is from the "Decision on Some Issues in the History of Our Party" adopted by the Central Committee of the CPC in May 1943. This assertion not only clarified the scientific attitude of inheriting and promoting the best of traditional Chinese culture in light of reality but also subdivided the rich connotations of China's specific realities into three levels—practice, history, and culture—and put forward specific requirements for the "deep combination" of Marxism-Leninism with China's revolutionary practice, Chinese history, and Chinese culture at three levels. Subsequently, whether it was the proposal during the period of socialist revolution and construction to "carry out a second integration and find the path to building socialism in China," [6]6 This refers to Mao Zedong's proposal in the mid-1950s to "carry out a second integration" of Marxism with China's specific conditions for socialist construction. or the emphasis during the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization on "combining the universal truth of Marxism with China's specific realities, taking our own path, and building socialism with Chinese characteristics," [7]7 This is a paraphrase of Deng Xiaoping's opening speech at the 12th National Congress of the CPC in September 1982. all were imbued with profound thinking on major issues such as how to Sinicize Marxism, where the Chinese path comes from, and what the relationship is between Marxism and the best of traditional Chinese culture. They contained the inherent meaning of enabling Marxism to take root in China and thereby form Chinese characteristics and better guide Chinese practice through the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with both China's specific realities and the best of traditional Chinese culture.

一方面，我们党深刻认识到马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化之间的关系非但不应非此即彼而且要相互结合。1938年10月，毛泽东在党的扩大的六届六中全会上深刻总结党领导中国革命正反两方面的历史经验，首次明确提出了马克思主义中国化的重大命题，对马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的关系进行了深刻阐述。他指出：“我们是马克思主义的历史主义者，我们不应当割断历史”，“我们这个民族有数千年的历史，有它的特点，有它的许多珍贵品”，“从孔夫子到孙中山”，我们要“用马克思主义的方法给以批判的总结”，“承继这一份珍贵的遗产”。马克思主义的伟大力量，“就在于它是和各个国家具体的革命实践相联系的”，“马克思主义必须和我国的具体特点相结合并通过一定的民族形式才能实现”，要“使马克思主义在中国具体化，使之在其每一表现中带着必须有的中国的特性”。这段论述清晰地表达了两层意思：一是对于中国的历史文化遗产，不能割断而应批判地继承；二是马克思主义必须同“我国的具体特点相结合”并使之带有“中国的特性”。在此基础上，1943年5月，我们党进一步提出：“中国共产党人是我们民族一切文化、思想、道德的最优秀传统的继承者，把这一切优秀传统看成和自己血肉相连的东西，而且将继续加以发扬光大”，“要使得马克思列宁主义这一革命科学更进一步地和中国革命实践、中国历史、中国文化深相结合起来”。这一论断不仅明确了对中华优秀传统文化要结合实际进行传承弘扬的科学态度，而且对中国具体实际的丰富内涵从实践、历史、文化三个层面作了细分，提出了把马克思列宁主义同中国革命实践、中国历史、中国文化进行三个层面“深相结合”的具体要求。此后，无论是社会主义革命和建设时期提出“要进行第二次结合，找出在中国怎样建设社会主义的道路”，还是改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期强调“把马克思主义的普遍真理同我国的具体实际结合起来，走自己的道路，建设有中国特色的社会主义”，也都贯穿着对马克思主义如何中国化、中国道路从何而来、马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化是怎样的关系等重大问题的深刻思考，包含着对通过把马克思主义基本原理既同中国具体实际相结合又同中华优秀传统文化相结合，使马克思主义在中国落地扎根进而形成中国特色、更好指导中国实践的题中之义。

On the other hand, our Party achieved tangible theoretical innovation results in the exploration of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture. For example, during the period of the New Democratic Revolution, our Party used the Marxist principle of the dialectical unity of subject and object, and of knowledge and practice, to transform, refine, and elevate assertions such as "seeking truth from facts" from the *Book of Han: Biography of the Prince of Hejian* [8]8 The *Book of Han* is a historical text covering the Western Han dynasty; the phrase "seeking truth from facts" originally referred to a scholarly attitude of studying ancient texts. and the concept of knowledge and action in ancient Chinese philosophy, forming the essence of the Party's ideological line of "seeking truth from facts." [9]9 "Seeking truth from facts" (实事求是) was adopted by Mao Zedong as the core of the Party's ideological line, emphasizing grounding theory in objective reality. For another example, during the period of socialist revolution and construction, our Party combined the theoretical propositions of Marxism-Leninism on the national question with the historically formed pattern of China's ethnic groups living in mixed communities and small settlements, characterized by diversity in unity, and the tradition of great unity under heaven and the unification of all regions, [10]10 "Great unity under heaven" (六合同风) and "unification of all regions" (四海一家) are traditional Chinese concepts promoting cultural and political unity across diverse regions and peoples. clearly making the major judgment that "China's ethnic groups are better united than divided," [11]11 This judgment was made by Mao Zedong in the context of establishing the system of regional ethnic autonomy in the early 1950s. and explored and established the effective system of regional ethnic autonomy suited to China's national conditions. For yet another example, during the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, our Party combined the relevant requirements of Marxist legal theory with concepts from traditional Chinese legal culture, such as the co-governance of virtue and law, virtue as primary and punishment as supplementary, clarifying virtue and being cautious with punishment, and exalting rites and emphasizing law, [12]12 These are key concepts from traditional Chinese legal thought, emphasizing the complementary roles of moral education (virtue) and legal punishment (law) in governance. and creatively integrated them into the overall policies and institutional designs of China's socialist rule-of-law construction, proposing the governance strategy of combining rule of law with rule of virtue. [13]13 This governance strategy was formally proposed by Jiang Zemin at the 16th National Congress of the CPC in 2002. The achievement of these results strongly demonstrates that the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of traditional Chinese culture is both necessary and feasible in practice.

另一方面，我们党在把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合的探索中取得了实实在在的理论创新成果。比如，新民主主义革命时期，我们党以马克思主义关于主观与客观、认识与实践辩证统一关系的原理，对《汉书·河间献王传》中“修学好古，实事求是”等论断以及中国古代哲学中的知行观，进行改造、提炼和升华，形成了“实事求是”这一党的思想路线的精髓。又如，社会主义革命和建设时期，我们党把马克思列宁主义关于民族问题的理论主张，与历史上形成的我国各民族大杂居小聚居、多元一体的格局以及六合同风、四海一家的大一统传统相结合，明确作出“中国的民族宜合不宜分”的重大判断，探索创立了符合中国国情的、行之有效的民族区域自治制度。再如，改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，我们党把马克思主义法治理论的有关要求同中华传统法律文化中关于德法共治、德主刑辅、明德慎罚、隆礼重法等理念相结合，并创造性地融入到我国社会主义法治建设的总体政策和制度设计中，提出依法治国与以德治国相结合的治国方略，等等。这些成果的取得有力表明，把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合在实践中兼具必要性和可行性。

In short, although our Party had not yet explicitly proposed and formed the thesis of the “Second Integration” during the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the period of socialist revolution and construction, and the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, its understanding of the relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, and its exploration of the question of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, were always ongoing, and many valuable achievements were obtained. These explorations and their achievements provided an important foundation for the Party to summarize historical experience, draw on historical wisdom, and achieve theoretical sublimation in the New Era, thereby creatively proposing the “Second Integration.”

总之，虽然我们党在新民主主义革命时期、社会主义革命和建设时期、改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期还没有明确提出和形成“第二个结合”的论断，但对马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化关系的认识，对把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合问题的探索，始终在进行，并取得了许多宝贵成果。这些探索及其成果，为党在新时代总结历史经验、汲取历史智慧、实现理论升华从而创造性地提出“第二个结合”，提供了重要基础。

(II) The “Second Integration” was gradually proposed on the basis of a series of theoretical innovations and theoretical creations achieved in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics

（二）“第二个结合”是在中国特色社会主义新时代取得的一系列理论创新和理论创造基础上逐步提出的

The proposal of the “Second Integration” in the New Era also underwent a process of continuous accumulation and gradual development. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping has profoundly summarized the Party’s long-term historical experience, especially the fresh experience of the Party’s governance practice in the New Era, continuously pondered how to correctly view the relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, and how to advance major theoretical and practical issues related to theoretical innovation and cultural construction, successively proposing a series of major theses and making a series of important expositions.

“第二个结合”在新时代的提出，同样经历了一个不断积累、逐步发展的过程。党的十八大以来，习近平深刻总结党长期奋斗的历史经验特别是新时代党治国理政实践的新鲜经验，持续思考如何正确看待马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的关系、如何推进理论创新和文化建设等相关重大理论与实践问题，先后提出了一系列重大论断，作出了一系列重要论述。

In December 2012, during an inspection tour in Guangdong, Xi Jinping emphasized that fine traditional Chinese culture is “the ‘root’ and ‘soul’ of our nation; lose this ‘root’ and ‘soul,’ and there will be no foundation,” highly appraising the contemporary value of fine traditional Chinese culture, and clarifying the tone and direction for scientifically treating fine traditional Chinese culture and deepening the understanding of the relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture; in August 2013, at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, he put forward the requirement of “making four things clear,”[14]14 The “four things to make clear” (四个讲清楚) refers to a requirement Xi Jinping put forward in 2013 to clearly explain the historical traditions, cultural积淀, basic national conditions, and the path chosen by the Chinese people, in order to foster understanding of China’s development. revealing that the “Chinese characteristics” of socialism with Chinese characteristics are not water without a source, but are closely related to fine traditional Chinese culture; in February 2014, at the 13th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, he proposed and elaborated the policy of creative transformation and innovative development, providing an important method for correctly treating fine traditional Chinese culture, especially for drawing nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture to advance the Sinicization of Marxism; in September 2014, at the opening ceremony of the International Symposium Commemorating the 2565th Anniversary of Confucius’ Birth and the Fifth Congress of the International Confucian Association, he proposed that “we must be good at organically unifying and closely integrating the promotion of excellent traditional culture with the development of contemporary culture,” clarifying the important principle that Chinese Communists should adhere to in “correctly treating traditional culture and contemporary culture”; in October 2014, at the 18th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, he made the thesis that “fine traditional Chinese culture is the cultural fertile soil in which socialism with Chinese characteristics is rooted,” further revealing the intrinsic connection between socialism with Chinese characteristics and fine traditional Chinese culture; in May 2016, at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, he emphasized that “the Sinicization of Marxism has achieved major results, but it is far from over,” and that it is necessary to “strengthen the excavation and elucidation of fine traditional Chinese culture,” opening up broad space for continuing to advance the Sinicization of Marxism; in May 2018, at the Conference Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Marx’s Birth, he demanded “closely integrating the basic principles of scientific socialism with the specific realities, historical and cultural traditions, and requirements of the times of one’s own country,” further clarifying the scientific attitude and methodological requirements that should be adhered to in treating scientific theories; in October 2019, at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, he proposed that Marxist theory “is in harmony with the excellent historical culture inherited for thousands of years in our country and the values that the broad masses of the people use daily without realizing it,” powerfully responding to the question of whether the basic tenets of Marxism can be integrated with fine traditional Chinese culture; in March 2021, during an inspection tour in Fujian, he proposed that “without the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, where would the Chinese characteristics come from? If not for the Chinese characteristics, how could we have the successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics today?” emphasizing “integrating the promotion of excellent traditional culture with the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method”; at this point, the thesis of the “Second Integration” was already on the verge of being proposed; in July 2021, at the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, he formally proposed the “Second Integration.”

2012 年12月，习近平在广东考察时强调中华优秀传统文化“是我们民族的‘根’和‘魂’，丢了这个‘根’和‘魂’，就没有根基了”，高度评价中华优秀传统文化的时代价值，为科学对待中华优秀传统文化、深化对马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化关系的认识，明确了基调和方向；2013年8月，在全国宣传思想工作会议上提出“四个讲清楚”的要求，揭示了中国特色社会主义的“中国特色”不是无源之水，而是与中华优秀传统文化密切相关；2014年2月，在十八届中央政治局第十三次集体学习时提出并阐述创造性转化和创新性发展的方针，为正确对待中华优秀传统文化，特别是从中华优秀传统文化中汲取养分用以推进马克思主义中国化，提供了重要方法；2014年9月，在纪念孔子诞辰2565周年国际学术研讨会暨国际儒学联合会第五届会员大会开幕会上提出“要善于把弘扬优秀传统文化和发展现实文化有机统一起来，紧密结合起来”，明确了中国共产党人“正确对待传统文化和现实文化”应该坚持的重要原则;2014年10月，在十八届中央政治局第十八次集体学习时作出“中华优秀传统文化是中国特色社会主义植根的文化沃土”的论断，进一步揭示了中国特色社会主义与中华优秀传统文化的内在关联；2016年5月，在哲学社会科学工作座谈会上强调“马克思主义中国化取得了重大成果，但还远未结束”，要“加强对中华优秀传统文化的挖掘和阐发”，为继续推进马克思主义中国化打开了广阔空间；2018年5月，在纪念马克思诞辰200周年大会上要求“把科学社会主义基本原则同本国具体实际、历史文化传统、时代要求紧密结合起来”，进一步明确了对待科学理论应该坚持的科学态度和方法论要求；2019年10月，在党的十九届四中全会上提出马克思主义理论“是同我国传承了几千年的优秀历史文化和广大人民日用而不觉的价值观念融通的”，有力回应了马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化能不能结合的问题；2021年3月，在福建考察时提出“如果没有中华五千年文明，哪里有什么中国特色？如果不是中国特色，哪有我们今天这么成功的中国特色社会主义道路？”强调“把弘扬优秀传统文化同马克思主义立场观点方法结合起来”，此时，“第二个结合”的论断已经呼之欲出；2021年7月，在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上正式提出“第二个结合”。

The formal proposal of the “Second Integration” in the New Era is the result of continuously summarizing practical experience from history and reality, profoundly grasping the inherent laws of Marxist theoretical innovation and the development of socialist culture, gradually putting forward a series of innovative and creative theoretical viewpoints, peeling away the layers like silk, advancing step by step, and moving from quantitative change to qualitative change.

“第二个结合”在新时代的正式提出，是不断总结历史和现实的实践经验，深刻把握马克思主义理论创新与社会主义文化发展的内在规律，渐次提出一系列具有创新性和创造性的理论观点，抽丝剥茧、步步推进、从量变到质变的结果。

(III) The “Second Integration” is continuously enriched and developed on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country

（三）“第二个结合”在全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程上不断丰富和发展

After embarking on the new journey, Xi Jinping’s theoretical thinking on the “Second Integration” has continued to deepen and expand, and the theoretical elucidation of the “Second Integration” has been continuously enriched and developed.

迈上新征程后，习近平对“第二个结合”的理论思考持续深化和拓展，对“第二个结合”的理论阐释不断丰富和发展。

First, at the 39th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping further affirmed our Party’s basic attitude towards the history and traditional culture of the Chinese nation, emphasizing that “our Party has always viewed the history of the Chinese nation from the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism, inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture,” and also put forward the requirement of “promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, establishing the root and casting the soul for national rejuvenation,” emphasizing that it is necessary to both “adhere to the fundamental guiding ideology of Marxism” and “seek the source of living water from fine traditional Chinese culture.” Second, in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, a special chapter was devoted to “Opening Up a New Realm of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times,” which specifically discussed the “Second Integration,” both explaining the necessity of integration, emphasizing that “only by taking root in the fertile soil of the history and culture of one’s own country and nation can the tree of Marxist truth flourish,” and explaining the feasibility of integration, summarizing ten aspects of ideological concepts contained in fine traditional Chinese culture, emphasizing that these ideological concepts “are highly compatible with the value propositions of scientific socialism,” and also explaining the executability of integration, emphasizing “connecting the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, and integrating it with the common values that the masses of the people use daily without realizing it”; during the discussion of the Guangxi delegation at the 20th National Congress, he emphasized that “‘the Two Integrations’ are the originality of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era,” and that “the internal genetic code” of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics we take lies in fine traditional Chinese culture and other important theses, elucidating the historical and cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics from the perspective of the “Second Integration.” Third, after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress, during an inspection tour in Anyang, Henan, he creatively positioned the contemporary value of fine traditional Chinese culture as the “‘root’ of our Party’s innovative theory,” while simultaneously positioning the great significance of the “Two Integrations” as the “fundamental path for advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.” Fourth, at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, with a grand historical perspective and standing at the height of civilization development, he systematically elaborated on the great significance of the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” from five aspects: the prerequisite of “integration” is mutual compatibility, the result of “integration” is mutual achievement, “integration” solidifies the foundation of the path, “integration” opens up space for innovation, and “integration” consolidates cultural subjectivity. Fifth, at the 6th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, he emphasized that “the major proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times itself determines that we must never discard the soul of Marxism, and must never discard the root of fine traditional Chinese culture,” and that “theoretical innovation must speak new words, but we cannot discard our ancestors; forgetting one’s ancestors means cutting off the soul and the root, and will ultimately commit the subversive error of losing the soul and the root,” deepening our Party’s understanding of the laws of theoretical innovation.

一是在十九届中央政治局第三十九次集体学习时，习近平进一步申明我们党对待中华民族历史和传统文化的基本态度，强调“我们党历来用历史唯物主义的立场观点方法看待中华民族历史，继承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化”，而且提出“推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，为民族复兴立根铸魂”的要求，强调既要“坚持马克思主义的根本指导思想”，又要“从中华优秀传统文化中寻找源头活水”。二是在党的二十大报告中，专设“开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界”一章，对“第二个结合”进行了专门论述，既阐释了结合的必要性问题，强调“只有植根本国、本民族历史文化沃土，马克思主义真理之树才能根深叶茂”，又阐释了结合的可行性问题，归纳出中华优秀传统文化中蕴含的十个方面的思想观念，强调这些思想观念“同科学社会主义价值观主张具有高度契合性”，还阐释结合的执行性问题，强调“把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来、同人民群众日用而不觉的共同价值观念融通起来”；在参加党的二十大广西代表团讨论时，强调“‘两个结合’，这是新时代中国特色社会主义原创性的”，“我们走的中国特色社会主义道路，它内在的基因密码”就在于中华优秀传统文化等重要论断，从“第二个结合”的角度对中国特色社会主义道路的历史文化根基进行了阐发。三是在党的二十大结束后到河南安阳考察时，创造性地以“我们党创新理论的‘根’”定位中华优秀传统文化的时代价值，同时以“推进马克思主义中国化时代化的根本途径”定位“两个结合”的重大意义。四是在文化传承发展座谈会上，以宏大历史视野，站在文明发展高度，从“结合”的前提是彼此契合、“结合”的结果是互相成就、“结合”筑牢了道路根基、“结合”打开了创新空间、“结合”巩固了文化主体性五个方面，对“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”的重大意义作出系统阐述。五是在二十届中央政治局第六次集体学习时，强调“马克思主义中国化时代化这个重大命题本身就决定，我们决不能抛弃马克思主义这个魂脉，决不能抛弃中华优秀传统文化这个根脉”，“理论创新必须讲新话，但不能丢了老祖宗，数典忘祖就等于割断了魂脉和根脉，最终会犯失去魂脉和根脉的颠覆性错误”，深化了我们党对理论创新的规律性认识。

In short, the examination of the “Second Integration” should not be a “single point” but rather “a single thread.” This thread runs through the long-term exploration and struggle of the Communist Party of China since its founding, linking together a series of valuable cognitive achievements made by Chinese Communists in different historical periods as they explored and advanced adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, developed advanced culture while simultaneously inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, and handled the relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture. This thread comes from the depths of history, becomes increasingly clear and conspicuous after the leap of the New Era and new journey, and, without doubt, will extend into the future and distance as practice advances.

总之，对“第二个结合”的考察，不应是“一个点”，而应是“一条线”。这条线贯穿于中国共产党成立以来的长期探索和奋斗历程中，串联起中国共产党人在不同历史时期探索推进马克思主义中国化时代化、发展先进文化的同时传承弘扬中华优秀传统文化、处理马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化关系等问题所取得的一系列宝贵认识成果。这条线从历史深处走来，经过新时代新征程的跃升而变得愈加清晰和引人注目，而且毫无疑问，这条线将伴随着实践的推进而伸向未来和远方。

II. Understanding and Grasping the Great Significance in the Extension of Party, State, and World

二、在政党、国家、世界相延展中理解把握重大意义

The “grandness” of the grand view of history also lies in seeing broadly. To adhere to understanding and grasping the “Second Integration” from the perspective of the grand view of history, it must be placed within the broad vision of the extension of Party, state, and world, and the great theoretical and practical significance for the Communist Party of China, for China, and for the world must be deeply recognized.

大历史观之“大”，也在于看得宽广。坚持以大历史观理解把握“第二个结合”，必须把它放到政党、国家、世界相延展的宽广视野中，深刻认识其对中国共产党、对中国、对世界的重大理论和实践意义。

Xi Jinping emphasized: “We must firmly establish a grand view of history, grasp the development context and correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective, recognize the major logic and major trends of our country’s social development and human social development, grasp the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese-path modernization,” and “in the comparison of the fates of Marxist political parties worldwide and the practical tests facing our Party’s long-term governance,” “comprehensively and systematically propose scientific concepts and effective countermeasures to solve practical problems.” The long-standing fine traditional Chinese culture and the profound Marxist ideological theory together have nurtured the broad vision, pattern, and mind of Chinese Communists. The theoretical and practical explorations conducted by our Party are always planned and advanced within the broad spatiotemporal coordinates of the nation and the people, the world and all under heaven. This determines that the theoretical innovation achievements obtained from the Party’s explorations often have significance in multiple dimensions, such as the Party, the state, and the world. Therefore, to understand the great significance of the “Second Integration,” we must not only base ourselves on our Party itself but also keep the nation and the people in mind, and also embrace the world and all under heaven.

习近平强调：“要牢固树立大历史观，以更宽广的视野、更长远的眼光把握世界历史的发展脉络和正确走向，认清我国社会发展、人类社会发展的大逻辑大趋势，把握中国式现代化的历史沿革和实践要求”，“在世界马克思主义政党命运比较和我们党长期执政面临的现实考验中”，“全面系统地提出解决现实问题的科学理念、有效对策”。源远流长的中华优秀传统文化、博大精深的马克思主义思想理论共同涵养了中国共产党人宽广的眼光、格局和胸怀。我们党进行的理论和实践探索，总是在国家和民族、世界和天下的广阔时空坐标中来谋划和推进的，这就决定了党的探索所取得的理论创新成果往往具有政党、国家和世界等多个向度的意义。因此，理解“第二个结合”的重大意义，不仅要立足我们党自身，更要心系国家和民族，还要胸怀世界和天下。

(A) The historical significance of the “Second Integration” for the Communist Party of China is prominently reflected in deepening the answer to the question “What is the Communist Party of China and what does it do,” pointing out the ways and means to establish cultural subjectivity, and further consolidating cultural leadership

（一）“第二个结合”对中国共产党的历史意义，突出体现在深化了对“中国共产党是什么、要干什么”问题的回答，指明了建立文化主体性的途径和方法，进一步筑牢了文化领导权

The Party’s third historical resolution [15]15 The Party’s third historical resolution refers to 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,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. emphasized that “the entire Party must keep in mind the fundamental question of what the Communist Party of China is and what it does.” Regarding this fundamental question, answers can be given from multiple perspectives such as original aspiration and founding mission, nature and purpose, line and policy, goals and tasks, but no matter from which perspective the answer is given, it cannot be separated from a profound understanding and grasp of cultural subjectivity and the “firm self in the cultural sense.”

党的第三个历史决议强调，“全党要牢记中国共产党是什么、要干什么这个根本问题”。关于这一根本问题，可以从初心使命、性质宗旨、路线方针、目标任务等多个角度作出回答，但无论从哪个角度回答，都离不开对文化主体性和“文化意义上坚定的自我”的深刻认识和把握。

Xi Jinping pointed out that our cultural subjectivity “is established through combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture”; “the Communist Party of China is both a firm believer and practitioner of Marxism and a loyal inheritor and promoter of fine traditional Chinese culture”; “now we should do this matter with full confidence and pride, to excavate and integrate fine traditional Chinese culture, and truly realize adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.” These discussions deeply answer the fundamental question of “what the Communist Party of China is and what it does” from the ideological and cultural sense, clarifying the “dual role” that the Communist Party of China, as the historical subject leading the Chinese people in a great social revolution in such a large Eastern country, must assume. Such role positioning jointly shapes the Communist Party of China: firm belief in and practice of Marxism determines the fundamental nature of the Communist Party of China as a Marxist political party; faithful inheritance and promotion of fine traditional Chinese culture determines the distinctive characteristics that the Communist Party of China, as a Marxist political party born and developed in the specific historical conditions and cultural soil of China, possesses. If it can be said that without Marxism there would be no Communist Party of China, then by the same logic it can also be said that “without China, there would be no Communist Party of China,” and the main factor determining what “China” is is fine traditional Chinese culture. For the Communist Party of China, between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, it has never been a single choice of either-or but an indispensable dual choice of both; exploring and solving the problem of combining the two has become a required question. In the process of exploring and solving this required question, our Party has continuously deepened its understanding and grasp of cultural subjectivity, found the important way and effective method of establishing cultural subjectivity through the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” and through this way and method, established and consolidated our cultural subjectivity. “With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense, cultural confidence has a fundamental support, and the Communist Party of China has a powerful cultural force to lead the times.” It is precisely in the historical process of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture meeting and getting to know each other, interweaving and surging, integrating and combining, interacting and advancing together, that we continuously deepen our understanding of the fundamental question “what is the Communist Party of China and what does it do,” deepen our understanding of the laws of constructing cultural subjectivity, thereby fundamentally always mastering and upholding the Party’s cultural leadership, consolidating the Party’s ruling foundation and mass base ideologically, spiritually, and culturally, and ensuring that the Party always stays at the forefront of the times and wins the heartfelt support of the people.

习近平指出，我们的文化主体性“是通过把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合建立起来的”；“中国共产党既是马克思主义的坚定信仰者和践行者，又是中华优秀传统文化的忠实继承者和弘扬者”；“我们现在就是要理直气壮、很自豪地去做这件事，去挖掘、去结合中华优秀传统文化，真正实现马克思主义中国化时代化”。这些论述从思想文化意义上深刻回答了“中国共产党是什么、要干什么”这个根本问题，明确了中国共产党作为领导中国人民在中国这样一个东方大国中进行伟大社会革命的历史活动主体所必须担负的“双重角色”。这样的角色定位共同塑造了中国共产党，始终坚定信仰和践行马克思主义决定了中国共产党作为马克思主义政党的根本性质，忠实传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化决定了中国共产党作为诞生并发展壮大在中国的特定历史条件和文化土壤中的马克思主义政党所具有的与众不同的鲜明特点。如果说，没有马克思主义就没有中国共产党，那么同理也可以说，“没有中国，就没有中国共产党”，而决定何以“中国”的主要因素就是中华优秀传统文化。对于中国共产党来说，在马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化之间从来不是二者择一的单选而是缺一不可的双选，探索解决二者相结合的问题成为一道必答题。在探索解决这一必答题过程中，我们党不断深化对文化主体性的认识把握，找到了通过“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”建立文化主体性这个重要途径和有效方法，并借助这一途径和方法，建立并巩固了我们的文化主体性。“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”。正是在马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相遇相识、交织激荡、融通结合、互动共进的历史进程中，我们不断深化对“中国共产党是什么、要干什么”这一根本问题的认识，深化对文化主体性构建的规律性认识，从而从根本上始终掌握并坚持党的文化领导权，在思想上、精神上、文化上筑牢了党的执政基础和群众基础，确保党始终走在时代前列、得到人民衷心拥护。

(B) The historical significance of the “Second Integration” for China is prominently reflected in deepening the answer to the question “Where does China come from and where is it going,” consolidating the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promoting the life renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization

（二）“第二个结合”对中国的历史意义，突出体现在深化了对“中国从哪里来、走向何方”问题的回答，筑牢了中国特色社会主义道路的文化根基，推动了中华文明的生命更新和现代转型

Xi Jinping pointed out: “Where do we come from? Where are we going? China has reached today; I constantly remind myself to have such a sense of history.” “Where we come from and where we are going” — its essence and deep logic is the question of the path; the path connects the past, present, and future. In its long-term struggle, the Communist Party of China has adhered to combining the basic tenets of Marxism with the specific realities of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, explored and opened up the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the only way to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

习近平指出：“我们从哪里来？我们走向何方？中国到了今天，我无时无刻不提醒自己，要有这样一种历史感。”“从哪里来、走向何方”，其实质和深层逻辑是道路问题，道路连接着过去、现在和未来。在长期奋斗中，中国共产党坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国革命、建设、改革的具体实际相结合，探索并开辟了中国特色社会主义道路这一实现中华民族伟大复兴的必由之路。

After a correct path has been opened up, there remains the question of how to uphold it and continuously expand it. This requires clarifying certain specific issues from the depths of history and the heights of the era: Why did China take this path? Was taking this path accidental or inevitable? Where does the “Chinese characteristic” of this path come from? Where will Chinese civilization head along this path? The “Second Integration” broadens the horizon for answering these specific questions. Within this horizon, the opening up of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics was not accidental but inevitable, and its inevitability stems from the Chinese nation’s “historical inheritance and cultural tradition”; the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics did not fall from the sky, but was groped out under the guidance of Marxism, rooted in the fertile soil of the history of Chinese civilization and fine traditional Chinese culture, through unremitting struggle; only by standing on the magnificent 5,000-plus-year history of Chinese civilization can one truly understand the historical inevitability, cultural connotation, and unique advantages of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; without the 5,000-plus-year Chinese civilization, there would be no Chinese characteristics, and thus no path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; unswervingly taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, does not mean eliminating or severing the ancient Chinese civilization, but rather “promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese civilization” to realize its “renewal of life and modern transformation.” These understandings have greatly deepened and expanded the answers to questions such as “Where does China come from and where is it going?” and “What kind of civilization and what kind of country is China?” It is precisely in this sense that “the ‘Second Integration’ has given the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and deeper historical depth,” allowing this path to be rooted on one end in the splendid history of Chinese civilization and to extend on the other end toward the glorious future of Chinese civilization. Under the guidance of the “Second Integration,” the long-standing and splendid Chinese civilization will surely continue along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, in the journey of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, to write a new chapter of renewing the old with the new and discarding the old for the new.

正确道路开辟后，还有如何坚持并不断拓展的问题。这就需要从历史深处和时代高度厘清一些具体问题：中国为什么会走上这条道路？走上这条道路是偶然的还是必然的？这条道路的“中国特色”从何而来？中华文明沿着这条道路将走向何方？“第二个结合”拓宽了回答这些具体问题的视野。在这一视野下，中国特色社会主义道路的开辟不是偶然而是必然的，其必然性就来自于中华民族的“历史传承和文化传统”；中国特色社会主义道路不是天上掉下来的，而是在马克思主义指导下，植根于中华文明历史和中华优秀传统文化沃土，在不懈奋斗中摸索出来的；只有立足波澜壮阔的5000多年中华文明史，才能真正理解中国特色社会主义道路的历史必然、文化内涵与独特优势，如果没有5000多年的中华文明，就没有中国特色，也就没有中国特色社会主义道路；坚定不移走中国特色社会主义道路，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，不是要消灭和割断古老的中华文明，而是要“推动中华文明创造性转化和创新性发展”，实现其“生命更新和现代转型”。这些认识极大地深化和拓展了对“中国从哪里来、走向何方”“中国是什么样的文明和什么样的国家”等问题的回答。也正是从这样的意义上说，“‘第二个结合’让中国特色社会主义道路有了更加宏阔深远的历史纵深”，让这条道路一头植根于中华文明的灿烂历史，一头延伸向中华文明的光辉未来。在“第二个结合”的引领下，悠久灿烂的中华文明必将沿着中国特色社会主义道路，在以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的征途中续写与古为新、革故鼎新的新篇章。

(III) The historical significance of the “Second Integration” for the world is prominently embodied in deepening the answer to the question “What is wrong with the world and what should we do about it?” enriching the Chinese solutions for addressing global common challenges and solving common human problems, and leading the great practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

（三）“第二个结合”对世界的历史意义，突出体现在深化了对“世界怎么了、我们怎么办”问题的回答，充实了应对全球共同挑战、解决人类共同难题的中国方案，引领着构建人类命运共同体的伟大实践

Xi Jinping points out: “What is wrong with the world and what should we do about it? This is a question the whole world is pondering, and it is also a question I have been constantly pondering.” Faced with such a question of the world and the era, the answer Xi Jinping gives is to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and the “Second Integration” provides important ideological guidance and wisdom support for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

习近平指出：“世界怎么了、我们怎么办？这是整个世界都在思考的问题，也是我一直在思考的问题。”面对这样的世界之问、时代之问，习近平给出的答案是推动构建人类命运共同体，而“第二个结合”为推动构建人类命运共同体提供了重要的思想引领和智慧支撑。

The major initiative of building a community with a shared future for mankind was itself proposed precisely through the “Second Integration,” by combining and integrating Marxist thought on world history and theories on international relations with the ideological wisdom from fine traditional Chinese culture concerning conducting foreign exchanges and handling diplomatic relations, such as the lofty ideal of “a world of great harmony, peace among all nations,” the value orientation of “valuing harmony above all else, harmony in diversity,” the moral concept of “balancing righteousness and benefit, putting righteousness first,” the way of conducting oneself in the world of “being kind and benevolent to neighbors, stressing good faith and amity,” and the principle of interaction of “the strong do not bully the weak, the rich do not insult the poor.” Moreover, to support and implement this major initiative, Xi Jinping has successively proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. In a specific sense, the proposal of these initiatives is also a product of the “Second Integration,” which both runs through the requirements of the Marxist outlook on development, security, civilization, and governance, and draws on the ideological wisdom of Chinese civilization that advocates benevolence, values the people, upholds good faith, esteems justice, promotes harmony, and seeks great harmony, providing Chinese solutions for answering the question of the world and the era. Xi Jinping, on

构建人类命运共同体这一重大倡议本身就是通过“第二个结合”，把马克思主义关于世界历史的思想、关于国际关系的理论与中华优秀传统文化中关于开展对外交往和处理邦交关系的思想智慧，诸如“天下大同，协和万邦”的高远理想、“以和为贵，和而不同”的价值取向、“义利并举，以义为先”的道德理念、“亲仁善邻，讲信修睦”的处世之道、“强不执弱，富不侮贫”的交往原则等，相结合相融通而提出的。不仅如此，为配合和落实这一重大倡议，习近平还相继提出了“一带一路”倡议和全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议、全球治理倡议。从特定意义上说，这些倡议的提出，也是“第二个结合”的产物，其中既贯穿着马克思主义发展观、安全观、文明观、治理观的要求，又汲取了中华文明讲仁爱、重民本、守诚信、崇正义、尚和合、求大同的思想智慧，为回答世界之问、时代之问提供了中国方案。习近平一方面强调“包括儒家思想在内的中国优秀传统文化中蕴藏着解决当代人类面临的难题的重要启示”，另一方面强调“在携手推动构建人类命运共同体的进程中让马克思主义展现出更强大的真理力量”。这两方面要求的关键连接点就在于“第二个结合”。通过“第二个结合”，以马克思主义的世界观和方法论对中华优秀传统文化的思想精华进行改造和转化，拂去传统文化身上沾染的历史尘埃，激活其内在的优秀因子，赋予其新的时代内涵和呈现形式，就可以把“重要启示”转化为“宝贵方案”，从而站在“为人类谋进步、为世界谋大同”的高度，以“从世界社会主义五百年的大视野来看，我们依然处在马克思主义所指明的历史时代”的清醒和自觉，积极开展面向未来的科学理论和社会制度的探索和创新，为应对和解决全球挑战、世界难题，推动构建人类命运共同体，作出更多的中国贡献，让马克思主义的思想伟力与中华文明的智慧之光交相辉映、相得益彰。

Xi Jinping emphasized: “After long-term efforts, we are more capable than any previous era of resolving the ‘ancient-modern and Chinese-Western debate’.” [16]16 “The ancient-modern and Chinese-Western debate” (古今中西之争) refers to a long-standing intellectual controversy in modern Chinese history over how to evaluate traditional Chinese culture versus modern Western culture and how to reconcile them in the context of national rejuvenation. The “Second Integration” is precisely the proactive exploration undertaken by our Party to resolve the “ancient-modern and Chinese-Western debate,” based on a profound grasp of the inherent mechanisms of Marxist innovation, the inevitable laws of the development of Chinese civilization, and the fundamental trends of human social progress. Through a series of highly innovative and scientific assertions and requirements, the “Second Integration” deepens the answers to major questions such as “What is the CPC and what does it aim to do?”, “Where does China come from and where is it heading?”, and “What is happening to the world and what should we do about it?” As history unfolds, its significant meaning and broad influence in the history of the CPC, the history of Chinese civilization, the history of the development of Marxism, the history of the socialist movement, and the history of human civilizational progress will increasingly manifest.

习近平强调：“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’”。“第二个结合”就是我们党基于对马克思主义创新的内在机理、中华文明发展的必然规律、人类社会进步的根本趋势的深刻把握，而作出的破解“古今中西之争”的积极探索。“第二个结合”以一系列极具创新性和科学性的论断和要求，深化了对“中国共产党是什么、要干什么”“中国从哪里来、走向何方”“世界怎么了、我们怎么办”等重大问题的回答，随着历史的发展，其在中国共产党历史、中华文明史、马克思主义发展史、社会主义运动史、人类文明进步史上所具有的重大意义和广泛影响必将日益显现出来。

III. Understanding and Grasping the Internal Structure through the Integration of Standpoint, Perspective, and Method

三、在立场、观点、方法相融通中理解把握内在结构

The “greatness” of the grand historical perspective also lies in its ability to see through clearly. To adhere to the grand historical perspective in understanding and grasping the “Second Integration,” it must be placed within the organic whole where standpoint, perspective, and method are integrated, and its rich connotation and logically self-consistent internal structure must be deeply analyzed.

大历史观之“大”，又在于看得通透。坚持以大历史观理解把握“第二个结合”，必须把它放到立场、观点、方法相融通的有机整体中，深刻分析其内涵丰富、逻辑自洽的内在结构。

Xi Jinping emphasized: “Learning cannot merely stop at memorizing some concepts and formulations. Since the New Era, the Party’s theoretical and practical innovations have been very vivid, and our learning should also be vivid.” This requires that when understanding and grasping the “Second Integration,” we should not view it merely as an isolated concept, a single assertion, or a mechanical requirement. Instead, we should adhere to a systematic perspective, place it within the scientific system of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, connect it with the various components of this thought—especially Xi Jinping’s cultural thought—and combine it with the magnificent course of the Party’s theoretical and practical innovations in the New Era for comprehensive understanding and overall grasp. Understood and grasped according to such requirements, the “Second Integration” is an organic composite composed of a series of important discourses with a clear internal structure. It contains profound elaborations and scientific answers to basic questions related to why and whether the basic tenets of Marxism can be combined with fine traditional Chinese culture, what to combine, how to combine, and what the combination results in. It is an organic whole where standpoint, perspective, and method are integrated.

习近平强调：“学习不能仅停留在记住一些概念和提法。新时代以来，党的理论创新和实践创新是十分生动的，我们的学习也应该是生动的。”这就要求我们在理解把握“第二个结合”时，不能把它只看作一个孤立的概念、一句单一的论断、一项机械的要求，而应坚持系统观念，将其置于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学体系中，联系这一思想的各个构成部分特别是习近平文化思想，结合新时代党的理论创新和实践创新波澜壮阔的历程，进行综合理解和总体把握。按这样的要求来理解把握，“第二个结合”是一个由一系列重要论述构成的、有着清晰内在结构的有机综合体，包含着对马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化为什么结合、能不能结合、把什么结合、怎么样结合、结合成什么等相关基本问题的深刻阐述和科学回答，是立场观点方法相融通的有机整体。

(I) The “Second Integration” Manifests the Distinct Standpoint Adhered to by the CPC in the New Era on the Issue of Socialist Cultural Construction

（一）“第二个结合”彰显着新时代中国共产党人在社会主义文化建设问题上所秉持的鲜明立场

So-called standpoint, broadly speaking, refers to the starting point and foothold from which people view problems. Specifically regarding the “Second Integration,” the standpoint it manifests refers to the angle and the starting point and foothold from which the CPC in the New Era plans and carries out the work of socialist cultural construction.

所谓立场，概括地讲就是人们看待问题的出发点和落脚点。具体到“第二个结合”来讲，其彰显的立场，就是指新时代中国共产党人在谋划和开展社会主义文化建设工作时，是基于什么样的角度、站在什么样的出发点和落脚点上。

This is manifested at multiple different levels. For example, on the issue of inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, it adheres to the stance of historical materialism, emphasizing that “Chinese Communists are neither historical nihilists nor cultural nihilists,” and that traditional culture must be “correctly selected and applied in light of new practices and the requirements of the times, rather than being indiscriminately brought into the present for direct application,” and still less should one exalt the past over the present or use the past to negate the present; one must uphold integrity without being conservative, respect antiquity without restoring it, and always adhere unwaveringly to the fundamental principles of Marxism. For another example, on the issue of conducting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, it holds fast to the stance of Chinese culture, emphasizing that “to observe and understand China, one must look at both its history and its reality,” that China is both “a country with a long-standing civilization” and “a country practicing socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Chinese civilization possesses outstanding continuity; one must “base oneself on the great historical and contemporary practices of the Chinese nation, summarize Chinese experience with Chinese principles, and elevate Chinese experience into Chinese theory,” while at the same time adhering to “intellectual independence and self-reliance,” not losing oneself or one’s direction, actively absorbing and drawing on all beneficial achievements of human civilization, and with the upright spirit and sharpness of upholding integrity and innovating, continue the historical cultural lineage and write a contemporary chapter. For yet another example, on the issue of the guiding orientation for literary and artistic creation, it takes a firm stand on the people’s side, proposing a people-centered creative orientation, emphasizing the need to firmly establish a Marxist view of literature and art, “establish a grand historical view and a grand view of the times,” while at the same time “grasp the relationship between inheritance and innovation, learn from the ancients without being bound by them, break conventions without violating principles, so that fine traditional Chinese culture becomes an important source for literary and artistic innovation,” and strive to create more outstanding works that meet the cultural needs of the people and strengthen their spiritual strength.

这体现在多个不同层面。比如，在传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化问题上，坚持历史唯物主义的立场，强调“中国共产党人不是历史虚无主义者，也不是文化虚无主义者”，对于传统文化要“结合新的实践和时代要求进行正确取舍，而不能一股脑儿都拿到今天来照套照用”，更不能厚古薄今、以古非今，必须坚持守正不守旧、尊古不复古，始终坚持马克思主义基本原理不动摇。又如，在开展文明交流互鉴问题上，坚守中华文化立场，强调“观察和认识中国，历史和现实都要看”，中国既是“有着悠久文明的国家”，也是“实行中国特色社会主义的国家”。中华文明具有突出的连续性，要“立足中华民族伟大历史实践和当代实践，用中国道理总结好中国经验，把中国经验提升为中国理论”，同时坚持“精神上的独立自主”，不迷失自我、不迷失方向，积极吸收借鉴人类文明的一切有益成果，以守正创新、昂扬向上的正气和锐气，赓续历史文脉、谱写当代华章。再如，在文艺创作导向问题上，站稳人民立场，提出以人民为中心的创作导向，强调牢固树立马克思主义文艺观，“树立大历史观、大时代观”，同时“要把握传承和创新的关系，学古不泥古、破法不悖法，让中华优秀传统文化成为文艺创新的重要源泉”，努力创作更多满足人民文化需求和增强人民精神力量的优秀作品。

(II) The “Second Integration” contains the basic viewpoints formed by Chinese Communists in the New Era on understanding and handling the relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture

（二）“第二个结合”包含着新时代中国共产党人在认识和处理马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化关系问题上所形成的基本观点

So-called viewpoints, broadly speaking, are people’s understandings and opinions on issues. Specifically applied to the “Second Integration,” the viewpoints it contains refer to the various understandings and opinions formed by Chinese Communists in the New Era through multi-angle revelations and answers to questions such as what the relationship between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture is and why it is so.

所谓观点，概括地讲就是人们对问题的认识和看法。具体到“第二个结合”来讲，其包含的观点，就是指新时代中国共产党人围绕马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的关系是什么、为什么等相关问题进行多角度揭示和回答而形成的各种认识和看法。

This can be sorted out at multiple levels. For example, it points out that “Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for founding the Party and the country, and for rejuvenating the Party and the country,” “the soul and banner of our Party,” and the “soul vein” of our Party’s theoretical innovation; “to deviate from or abandon Marxism, our Party would lose its soul and lose its direction,” thereby revealing the internal logic of the need to uphold Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain. For another example, it points out that “fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization and essence of the wisdom of Chinese civilization, the root and soul of the Chinese nation, and the foundation for our nation to stand firm amidst the global cultural currents,” and that “a nation that abandons or betrays its own history and culture not only cannot develop but is likely to stage one historical tragedy after another,” thereby clarifying the profound rationale for faithfully inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture. For yet another example, it points out that “Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture have different origins, but there is a high degree of compatibility between them,” and that “mutual compatibility is the prerequisite for organic integration,” and it explains the points of mutual integration, mutual accommodation, and mutual correspondence between the two from the perspectives of social ideals, values, governance concepts, and spiritual pursuits, thereby clarifying the possibility and feasibility of the “Second Integration.” Still further, it points out that “the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics was forged under the guidance of Marxism and also emerged from the more than 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization,” “Why is our socialism different? Why can it be vigorous and full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics. The key to Chinese characteristics lies in the ‘Two Integrations,’” and “‘the Two Integrations’ are the greatest magic weapon for our success,” thereby revealing the key code for where socialism with Chinese characteristics comes from and why it succeeds.

可以分多个层面进行梳理。比如，指出“马克思主义是我们立党立国、兴党兴国的根本指导思想”，“是我们党的灵魂和旗帜”，是我们党进行理论创新的“魂脉”，“背离或放弃马克思主义，我们党就会失去灵魂、迷失方向”，从而揭示出必须坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的内在逻辑。又如，指出“中华优秀传统文化是中华文明的智慧结晶和精华所在，是中华民族的根和魂，是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的根基”，“一个抛弃了或者背叛了自己历史文化的民族，不仅不可能发展起来，而且很可能上演一幕幕历史悲剧”，从而指明了必须忠实传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化的深刻道理。再如，指出“马克思主义和中华优秀传统文化来源不同，但彼此存在高度的契合性”，“相互契合才能有机结合”，并从社会理想、价值观念、治理理念、精神追求等方面阐释二者相融相通相合之处，从而指明了“第二个结合”的可能性和可行性。还如，指出“中国特色社会主义道路是在马克思主义指导下走出来的，也是从五千多年中华文明史中走出来的”，“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’”，“‘两个结合’是我们取得成功的最大法宝”，从而指明了中国特色社会主义来自何处、何以成功的关键密码。

(III) The “Second Integration” runs through the scientific methods proposed by Chinese Communists in the New Era on the issue of promoting theoretical and cultural innovation and creation

（三）“第二个结合”贯通着新时代中国共产党人在推进理论和文化的创新创造问题上所提出的科学方法

So-called methods, broadly speaking, are the ways and means people use to solve problems. Specifically applied to the “Second Integration,” the methods that run through it are the scientific thinking methods and working methods proposed and adhered to by Chinese Communists in the New Era to advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, inherit and promote fine traditional Chinese culture, and cultivate and create socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.

所谓方法，概括地讲就是人们解决问题的方式和办法。具体到“第二个结合”来讲，其中贯通的方法，就是新时代中国共产党人为推进马克思主义中国化时代化、传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化、培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化而提出和坚持的科学思想方法和工作方法。

If the “Second Integration” is viewed as a whole, it itself belongs to the scientific method for advancing the Party’s theoretical innovation. And under this method, there are many specific methods. For example, adhering to making the past serve the present and using the past to illuminate the present, discarding the outdated and bringing forth the new, upholding integrity and innovating, “treating with discrimination and inheriting with critical selection,” carrying out creative transformation and innovative development, and achieving an organic connection between tradition and modernity. This method is mainly applicable to how to inherit and promote fine traditional Chinese culture. For another example, adhering to the use of comprehensive means such as excavating, activating, endowing, and injecting, that is, “under the guidance of Marxism, comprehensively excavate the treasure trove of China’s more than 5,000 years of civilization, use Marxism to activate the vital and excellent factors in fine traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new contemporary connotations, and inject the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation more deeply into Marxism,” catalyzing a profound “chemical reaction” between Marxism and Chinese civilization and fine traditional Chinese culture. This method is mainly applicable to how to “effectively integrate the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture,” thereby “coalescing into new theoretical advantages.” For yet another example, upholding confidence and self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness, incorporating things of diverse nature and drawing on a wide range of sources, learning from others’ strong points to offset one’s weaknesses, selecting the good and following it, discarding the dross and selecting the essential, and “promoting the localization of foreign cultures.” This method is mainly applicable to how to handle the relationship between the “original” and the “foreign,” making foreign things serve China and integrating Chinese and foreign elements.

如果把“第二个结合”看作一个整体，其本身就属于推进党的理论创新的科学方法。而在这一方法之下，又包含许多具体方法。比如，坚持古为今用、以古鉴今，推陈出新、守正创新，“有鉴别的对待、有扬弃的继承”，进行创造性转化、创新性发展，实现传统与现代有机衔接。这一方法主要适用于如何传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化。又如，坚持采用挖掘、激活、赋予、注入等综合手段，即“以马克思主义为指导对中华5000多年文明宝库进行全面挖掘，用马克思主义激活中华优秀传统文化中富有生命力的优秀因子并赋予新的时代内涵，将中华民族的伟大精神和丰富智慧更深层次地注入马克思主义”，催生马克思主义与中华文明、中华优秀传统文化之间发生深刻的“化学反应”。这一方法主要适用于如何“有效把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来”，从而“聚变为新的理论优势”。还如，秉持自信自立、开放包容，兼收并蓄、博采众长，取长补短、择善而从，去粗取精、去伪存真，“促进外来文化本土化”。这一方法主要适用于如何处理“本来”与“外来”的关系，做到洋为中用、汇通中外。

Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Study the Party’s basic theory, master the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method, and use them as the telescope and microscope in political matters.” The “Second Integration” and the stance, viewpoint, and method it embodies and runs through belong, in essence, to the category of the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method. They are the product of Chinese Communists in the New Era flexibly applying the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method to creatively answer and solve specific problems encountered in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work under new historical conditions, radiating and manifesting the ideological brilliance and truth power of Marxist theory.

习近平强调：“学习党的基本理论，掌握马克思主义立场观点方法，以此作为政治上的望远镜和显微镜。”“第二个结合”及其所体现和贯穿的上述立场观点方法，从本质上看都属于马克思主义立场观点方法的范畴，是新时代中国共产党人灵活运用马克思主义立场观点方法，创造性回答和解决新的历史条件下宣传思想文化工作遇到的具体问题的产物，散发和彰显着马克思主义理论的思想光辉和真理力量。

IV. Understanding and Grasping the Goal Orientation in the Progressive Layers of Theory, Culture, and Civilization

四、在理论、文化、文明相递进中理解把握目标指向

The “grandness” of the grand historical view also lies in seeing deeply. To adhere to understanding and grasping the “Second Integration” through the grand historical view, it must be placed within the multi-layered dimensions of theory, culture, and civilization in progressive sequence, and its broad and profound goal orientation must be deeply explored.

大历史观之“大”，还在于看得深切。坚持以大历史观理解把握“第二个结合”，必须把它放到理论、文化、文明相递进的多层维度中，深刻探究其意蕴广深的目标指向。

Xi Jinping points out: “The ‘Second Integration’ is our Party’s profound summary of the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and a profound grasp of the laws of the development of Chinese civilization. It shows that our Party’s understanding of the Chinese path, theory, and system has reached a new height, shows that our Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height, and shows that our Party’s consciousness in promoting cultural innovation while inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture has reached a new height.” This statement profoundly indicates that the goal orientation of the “Second Integration” is multi-dimensional, encompassing not only the dimension of theoretical innovation and the dimension of cultural innovation, but also the dimension of civilizational evolution formed by the combined effect of multiple factors such as path, theory, system, and culture on the basis of practice.

习近平指出：“‘第二个结合’，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。”这段论述深刻表明，“第二个结合”的目标指向是多维度的，既包括理论创新维度，也包括文化创新维度，还包括实践基础上道路、理论、制度、文化等多种因素综合作用而形成的文明演进维度。

(I) From the dimension of theoretical innovation, the goal orientation of the “Second Integration” is to draw more extensively and deeply on the nutrients and wisdom from the ideological essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and enrich and develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century.

（一）从理论创新维度看，“第二个结合”的目标指向，就是更广泛更深刻地从中华优秀传统文化的思想精华中汲取营养和智慧，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，丰富和发展当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义

Xi Jinping pointed out: “The fundamental path for us to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the ‘Two Integrations’.” [19]19 The “Two Integrations” refers to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. The “Second Integration” is the latter. Reviewing the course of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, our Party has adhered to the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” profoundly refining and fully tapping the ideological essence and wisdom insights contained in fine traditional Chinese culture in terms of ideas, humanistic spirit, and moral norms, paying attention to drawing beneficial nutrients and finding effective carriers from it, and combining new era conditions and practical requirements, carrying out targeted identification, sublation, transformation, and innovation, continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in both content and form, constantly enriching and expanding the ideological connotations and cultural life of Marxism, forming a series of theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times that are rich in Chinese wisdom and Chinese spirit, embody national form and national charm, and manifest Chinese style and Chinese manner. These theoretical achievements are the product of the Chinese Communists adhering to the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” to theoretically answer various specific problems encountered in the course of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, greatly enriching and developing the theoretical treasury of Marxism. Among them, the latest theoretical achievement, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, “is the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the twenty-first century, the essence of the times of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit,” realizing a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and opening up a new realm of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

习近平指出：“我们推进马克思主义中国化时代化的根本途径是‘两个结合’。”回顾马克思主义中国化时代化的历程，我们党坚持“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”，深刻提炼和充分挖掘中华优秀传统文化在思想观念、人文精神、道德规范等方面蕴含的思想精华和智慧启示，注意从中汲取有益养分、寻找有效载体，并结合新的时代条件和实践要求，有针对性地进行鉴别、扬弃、转化、创新，从内容和形式上持续推进马克思主义中国化时代化，不断充实拓展马克思主义的思想意涵和文化生命，形成了一系列富含中国智慧和中国精神、体现民族形式和民族韵味、彰显中国风格和中国气派的马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果。这些理论成果是中国共产党人坚持“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”从理论上回答中国革命、建设、改革进程中遇到的各种具体问题的产物，极大丰富和发展了马克思主义的理论宝库。其中的最新理论成果习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，“是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华”，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃，开辟了马克思主义中国化时代化新境界。

Practical development is endless, and advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is also endless. On the new journey, it is necessary to adhere to and deepen the “Second Integration,” both upholding the soul of Marxism and upholding the root of fine traditional Chinese culture, daring to engage in theoretical innovation on the basis of practice, being adept at guiding practice with new theoretical achievements, strengthening historical confidence and cultural confidence, more profoundly refining the inherent elements of convergence between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, more consciously organically combining and effectively integrating these convergent elements, constantly endowing scientific theory with more distinct Chinese characteristics, deepening the ideological and cultural connotations of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and writing a new chapter in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

实践发展永无止境，推进马克思主义中国化时代化也永无止境。新征程上，必须坚持并深化“第二个结合”，既坚守马克思主义这个魂脉，又坚守中华优秀传统文化这个根脉，勇于进行实践基础上的理论创新，善于以新的理论成果指导实践，坚定历史自信、文化自信，更加深刻地提炼马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的内在契合元素，更加自觉地把这些契合元素有机结合和有效融通起来，不断赋予科学理论更加鲜明的中国特色，深化马克思主义中国化时代化的思想文化内涵，谱写马克思主义中国化时代化新篇章。

(II) From the dimension of cultural innovation, the goal orientation of the “Second Integration” is to always adhere to the guidance of Marxism, scientifically treat one’s own historical and cultural heritage, and continue the Chinese cultural lineage through creative transformation and innovative development.

（二）从文化创新维度看，“第二个结合”的目标指向，就是始终坚持马克思主义的指导，科学对待自己的历史文化遗产，在创造性转化和创新性发展中赓续中华文脉

Xi Jinping pointed out: The “Second Integration” makes “fine traditional Chinese culture become modern, and makes the new culture formed through ‘integration’ become the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.” Our Party, throughout its journey, has adhered to the fundamental guiding ideology of Marxism, profoundly grasped the important role of culture in leading direction, uniting people’s hearts, and inspiring spirit in the process of achieving national rejuvenation, formulated and issued corresponding cultural construction policies and measures according to the situation and tasks faced at different historical stages of China’s development, from “establishing a new culture of the Chinese nation” to building “modernized culture and science,” from “building a culture with Chinese characteristics of socialism” to “promoting the great development and flourishing of socialist culture,” from “developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics” to “developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era,” from “building a socialist cultural power” to “completing” the building of a socialist cultural power, forging a path for the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and achieving brilliant accomplishments in cultural construction. In this process, our Party has especially focused on applying the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, correctly handling relationships such as tradition and modernity, essence and dross, inheritance and innovation, scientifically treating the historical traditions and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, dedicating itself to the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, promoting its adaptation to China’s social development, progress, and changes in the conditions of the times, realizing its modern transformation, enabling it to be faithfully inherited and widely promoted under new era conditions, thereby continuously continuing the Chinese cultural lineage and advancing the “cultural rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

习近平指出：“第二个结合”，让“中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，让经由‘结合’而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态”。我们党一路走来，坚持马克思主义的根本指导思想，深刻把握文化在实现民族复兴进程中所具有的引领方向、凝聚人心、振奋精神的重要作用，根据中国不同历史发展阶段面临的形势任务，制定和出台相应的文化建设方针政策，从“建立中华民族的新文化”到建设“现代化的文化和科学”，从“建设有中国特色社会主义的文化”到“推动社会主义文化大发展大繁荣”，从“发展中国特色社会主义文化”到“发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化”，从“建设社会主义文化强国”到“建成”社会主义文化强国，走出了一条中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，取得了文化建设的辉煌成就。在这一进程中，我们党尤其注重运用辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的立场观点方法，正确处理传统与现代、精华与糟粕、继承与创新等关系，科学对待中华民族的历史传统和文化遗产，致力于中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展，推动其与中国社会的发展进步和时代条件的变化调整相适应，实现其现代化转化，使其在新的时代条件下得到忠实传承和广泛弘扬，进而不断赓续中华文脉，推进“中华民族文化复兴”。

“Poetry and prose follow the fortunes of the times; there is no day without a trend toward the new.” [20]20 A classical Chinese saying from the Qing dynasty poet Zhao Yi, emphasizing that literature and art must keep pace with the changing times. The vitality of culture lies in innovation and creation. On the new journey, it is necessary to adhere to and deepen the “Second Integration,” under the guidance of Marxism, further promote fine traditional Chinese culture to adapt to the requirements of the New Era, deeply implement the project for the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, strengthen the excavation and elucidation of the ideological connotations and spiritual symbols of fine traditional Chinese culture, promote the cultural spirit that transcends time and space, transcends national boundaries, possesses eternal charm, and has contemporary value, conform to the development trend of information technology, further activate the vitality of cultural innovation and creation, “improve the cultural management system and production and operation mechanisms,” integrate the inheritance of revolutionary culture, the development of advanced socialist culture, and the promotion of fine traditional Chinese culture as a whole, continuously “develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era that has strong ideological leadership, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence,” better construct the Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength, and solidly advance the construction of a socialist cultural power.

“诗文随世运，无日不趋新”，文化的生命力在于创新创造。新征程上，必须坚持和深化“第二个结合”，在马克思主义指导下，推动中华优秀传统文化进一步同新时代的要求相适应，深入实施中华优秀传统文化传承发展工程，加强对中华优秀传统文化思想内涵和精神标识的挖掘和阐发，把跨越时空、超越国界、富有永恒魅力、具有当代价值的文化精神弘扬起来，顺应信息技术发展潮流，进一步激活文化创新创造活力，“完善文化管理体制和生产经营机制”，把继承革命文化、发展社会主义先进文化、弘扬中华优秀传统文化三者统筹贯通起来，不断“发展具有强大思想引领力、精神凝聚力、价值感召力、国际影响力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化”，更好构筑中国精神、中国价值、中国力量，扎实推进社会主义文化强国建设。

(III) From the dimension of civilizational evolution, the goal orientation of the “Second Integration” is to open up, uphold, and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, initiate, advance, and expand Chinese-path modernization, and create, enrich, and develop a new form of human civilization.

（三）从文明演进维度看，“第二个结合”的目标指向，就是开辟、坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，开创、推进和拓展中国式现代化，创造、丰富和发展人类文明新形态

Xi Jinping pointed out: “Opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound foundation of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, the only way is to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture”; the “Second Integration” “enables us to fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture in a broader cultural space, exploring theoretical and institutional innovations oriented toward the future.” In the arduous struggle of leading the people in the great social revolution, our Party has carried forward the historical initiative spirit and historical creative spirit, actively explored and adhered to the “Two Integrations,” especially the “Second Integration,” profoundly grasped the dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and the historical logic of the continuous development of Chinese civilization, deeply perceived the inherent laws of the inheritance and development of human civilization and the inherent requirements of the development and progress of Chinese civilization, through persistent and unremitting efforts, opened up, upheld, and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoted the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization, forged the path of Chinese-path modernization, created a new form of human civilization, realized the historic leap of Chinese civilization from tradition to modernity, developed the modern form of Chinese civilization, promoted the resurgence of Chinese civilization’s glory, and provided a new choice for developing countries to move toward modernization.

习近平指出：“在五千多年中华文明深厚基础上开辟和发展中国特色社会主义，把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合是必由之路”；“第二个结合”“让我们能够在更广阔的文化空间中，充分运用中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源，探索面向未来的理论和制度创新”。在领导人民进行伟大社会革命的艰苦奋斗中，我们党发扬历史主动精神、历史创造精神，积极探索和坚持“两个结合”特别是“第二个结合”，深刻把握马克思主义中国化时代化的理论逻辑与中华文明赓续发展的历史逻辑的辩证统一，深刻洞察人类文明传承发展的内在规律和中华文明发展进步的内在要求，经过持之以恒、久久为功的努力，开辟、坚持和发展了中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，走出了中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态，实现了中华文明从传统到现代的历史性跨越，发展出了中华文明的现代形态，推动中华文明重焕荣光，为发展中国家走向现代化提供了全新选择。

Today, the changes unseen in a century in the world are accelerating, the characteristics of changes in the world, the times, and history are more pronounced, human society once again stands at a historical crossroads, exploring better social systems and promoting a new leap in human civilization are timely, and the “Second Integration” opens up new space for exploration and creation. On the new journey, it is necessary to adhere to and deepen the “Second Integration,” profoundly grasp the historical laws and inevitable trends of the evolution of human civilization, keep in mind and coordinate the “two overall situations,” [21]21 The “two overall situations” refers to the overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the overall situation of changes unseen in a century in the world. adhere to not forgetting the original, absorbing the foreign, and facing the future, more deeply and creatively integrate the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times with the cultural achievements of the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, actively promote theoretical innovation, practical innovation, institutional innovation, cultural innovation, and other innovations, further activate and promote “the common values of all mankind contained in Chinese civilization,” make the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics broader and broader, make the light of civilization of “Chinese-path modernization as a new form of human civilization” increasingly brilliant, and contribute more Chinese wisdom and Chinese strength to further resolve the “dispute between the ancient and the modern, China and the West,” and “for mankind to explore modernization paths and better social systems.”

当今世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，世界之变、时代之变、历史之变特征更加明显，人类社会又一次站在历史的十字路口，开展对更好社会制度的探索、推动人类文明实现新的跃迁正当其时，而“第二个结合”则打开了探索和创造的新空间。新征程上，必须坚持和深化“第二个结合”，深刻把握人类文明演进的历史规律和必然趋势，胸怀和统筹“两个大局”，坚持不忘本来、吸收外来、面向未来，把马克思主义中国化时代化的理论成果与中华优秀传统文化进行创造性转化和创新性发展的文化成果更深层更有创造性地融会贯通起来，积极推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新、文化创新以及其他各方面创新，进一步激活和弘扬“中华文明蕴含的全人类共同价值”，让中国特色社会主义道路越走越宽广，让“中国式现代化作为人类文明新形态”的文明之光越来越璀璨，为进一步破解“古今中西之争”，“为人类探索现代化道路和更好社会制度”，贡献更多中国智慧和中国力量。

The three dimensions mentioned above expand sequentially and follow an orderly pattern, each with its own emphasis while mutually supporting one another, collectively delineating the multi-dimensional goal orientation of the “Second Integration.” Among them, the dimension of theoretical innovation is the most fundamental and primary, corresponding to the theoretical form that the “Second Integration” seeks to achieve, and it plays the role of an ideological guide; the dimension of cultural innovation is an extension of the dimension of theoretical innovation, serving as an intermediate link connecting theoretical innovation and the dimension of civilizational evolution, corresponding to the cultural form that the “Second Integration” seeks to achieve, and it plays the role of spiritual nourishment; the dimension of civilizational evolution is the fundamental foothold and deep-seated pursuit of the dimensions of theoretical innovation and cultural innovation, corresponding to the civilizational form that the “Second Integration” seeks to achieve, and it plays the role of value guidance.

上述三个维度依次拓展、因循有序，各有侧重、相互支撑，共同标注了“第二个结合”的多维目标指向。其中，理论创新维度是最基本也是首要的维度，对应的是“第二个结合”所要实现的理论形态，起着思想指南的作用；文化创新维度是理论创新维度的拓展，是连接理论创新和文明演进维度的中间环节，对应的是“第二个结合”所要实现的文化形态，起着精神滋养的作用；文明演进维度是理论创新和文化创新维度的根本落脚点和深层次追求，对应的是“第二个结合”所要实现的文明形态，起着价值引领的作用。

Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Only in the long river of the entire development of human history can one see through the essence of historical movements and the direction of the times”; “Without a sense of historical depth to grasp the work we are doing now and to set our goals, we cannot do today’s work well.” [22]22 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March of the Red Army” (October 21, 2016), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping’s Works*, vol. 2, Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2017, p. 62. To understand and grasp the “Second Integration” from the perspective of the grand view of history, the most crucial requirement is to stand high, see far, and grasp accurately, using a “sense of historical depth” to comprehend the essence and direction. Only by adhering to historical materialism, “raising the historical telescope,” [23]23 A metaphor used by Xi Jinping, derived from his speech at the Central Conference on Work Related to Foreign Affairs (June 22-23, 2018), where he called for “raising the historical telescope” to discern the direction of the times. standing at the historical height of “another ideological emancipation,” [24]24 A reference to Xi Jinping’s statement at the symposium on cultural heritage (June 2, 2023) that the “Second Integration” is “another ideological emancipation,” following the first ideological emancipation at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in 1978. observing the past, examining the present, and looking toward the future, basing ourselves on China, looking out at the world, and embracing the world with a broad mind, summarizing historical experience, grasping historical laws, conforming to historical trends, and seeing the essence through phenomena, can we thoroughly understand the principles, theories, and philosophies contained in the “Second Integration,” thereby further comprehending the grand framework and myriad phenomena of the New Era.

习近平强调：“只有在整个人类发展的历史长河中，才能透视出历史运动的本质和时代发展的方向”；“没有一种历史的纵深感来把握现在做的事情和制定我们的目标，就做不好今天的工作”。以大历史观来理解把握“第二个结合”，最关键的要求是要站得高、看得远、把得准，以“历史的纵深感”把握本质和方向。只有坚持历史唯物主义，“端起历史望远镜”，站在“又一次的思想解放”的历史高度，观过去、察现在、望未来，立足中国、放眼世界、胸怀天下，总结历史经验、把握历史规律、顺应历史大势，透过现象看本质，才能透彻理解“第二个结合”中蕴含的道理学理哲理，从而进一步读懂新时代的宏大格局和万千气象。

(Author’s bio: Gao Changwu, Researcher at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee)

（作者简介：高长武，中共中央党史和文献研究院研究员）