Grasping the “Six Dimensions” to Advance the New Development of Socialist Culture

Xi Jinping’s cultural thought is the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory and is the theoretical summation of the practical experience of the Communist Party of China in leading cultural construction in the New Era. Deeply elucidating the connotations and significance of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought helps to better carry out the work of propaganda, ideology, and culture in the New Era, helps to promote the continuation and inheritance of the Chinese cultural lineage, and helps to build a socialist cultural power, thereby strengthening the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation.

习近平文化思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的文化篇，丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，是新时代中国共产党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结。深入阐释习近平文化思想的内涵和意义，有助于更好地开展新时代宣传思想文化工作，有助于促进中华文脉的赓续与传承，有助于建设社会主义文化强国，从而坚定中华民族的文化自信。

Highlight the leading role of culture and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership over cultural work. Culture is a reflection of politics and economy and possesses distinct ideological attributes. The proletariat must establish its own new culture to serve revolutionary practice, and the inheritance and development of culture must adhere to the Party’s leadership to ensure the correct direction of development. The Communist Party of China has always attached importance to leading cultural work; the new-democratic culture formed during the revolutionary war years was a cultural form through which our Party dedicated itself to the vigorous development of the revolutionary cause and to serving the masses of the people. Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed great emphasis on cultural construction, consolidating the Party’s mass base of governance on the basis of enhancing ideological unity and solidarity. From the perspective of cultural leadership, Xi Jinping’s cultural thought enriches the cultural factors with which the Communist Party of China defends the ideological front, emphasizing the building of a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power. It provides scientific guidance for our country to consolidate the ideological foundation of a cultural power, fortify the cultural foundation of social stability, and strengthen the spiritual foundation of cultural identity amidst the complex and volatile international situation.

突出文化引领作用，加强党对文化工作的全面领导。文化是政治和经济的反映，具有鲜明的意识形态属性。无产阶级必须建立属于自己的新文化以服务革命实践，文化的传承与发展必须坚持党的领导以确保正确的发展方向。中国共产党始终重视对文化工作的领导，革命战争年代形成的新民主主义文化就是我们党致力于革命事业蓬勃发展、服务人民群众的文化形态。进入新时代，习近平总书记高度重视文化建设，在增强思想团结统一的基础上夯实党执政的群众基础。习近平文化思想从文化领导权的视角丰盈了中国共产党捍卫意识形态阵地的文化因子，强调建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，为我国在错综复杂的国际形势中巩固文化强国的思想基础、筑牢社会稳定的文化基础、夯实文化认同的精神根基，提供了科学的指导。

Grasp the “Second Integration” and profoundly discern the developmental laws of Chinese civilization. At the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly elaborated on the great significance of the “Two Integrations.” [1]1 The “Two Integrations” refers to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. The “Second Integration” is the latter. The “Second Integration” points the way for cultural development in the New Era, opposing cultural blind obedience and cultural inferiority complexes that “take foreign things as beautiful,” highlighting the value status of our own nation’s excellent traditional culture, removing ideological obstacles for the path of Chinese-path modernization, and representing another ideological emancipation. First, the prerequisite for “integration” is mutual compatibility. The people-centered governance philosophy upheld by Chinese Communists is compatible with the idea of “the people as the foundation of the state” in excellent traditional Chinese culture; the beautiful blueprint of communism proposed by Marxism is compatible with the concept of “Great Harmony” in excellent traditional Chinese culture. Second, the result of “integration” is mutual achievement. Marxism has extended its cultural life through the enrichment of excellent traditional Chinese culture, while excellent traditional Chinese culture has been creatively transformed through activation by the scientific truth of Marxism, giving rise to the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. Third, “integration” consolidates the foundation of the path. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics embodies Chinese strength and possesses Chinese style; it did not fall from the sky but has a profound foundation in Chinese culture. It is a mutually reinforcing integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with excellent traditional Chinese culture, a product of their mutual compatibility, and the continuation and renewed glory of an ancient civilization. Fourth, “integration” opens up space for innovation. Innovation in the path, theory, and system is a major achievement of “integration.” The political system created by the Communist Party of China has a profound connection with the political wisdom in Chinese culture. Fifth, “integration” consolidates cultural subjectivity. Chinese culture fully absorbs and inherits the essence of excellent traditional Chinese culture, manifests humanity’s assiduous pursuit of the basic principles of scientific socialism, integrates the essences of the cultures of various nations worldwide, and absorbs the beneficial achievements of world civilizations. It is a correct expression that unifies scientificity and nationality.

把握“第二个结合”，深刻洞悉中华文明的发展规律。在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记深刻阐述了“两个结合”的重大意义。“第二个结合”为新时代的文化发展指明了方向，反对“以洋为美”式的文化盲从、文化自卑心态，突出强调本民族优秀文化的价值地位，为中国式现代化道路破除了思想障碍，是又一次的思想解放。第一，“结合”的前提是彼此契合。中国共产党人坚持的人民至上的执政理念和中华优秀传统文化中的“民为邦本”思想相契合，马克思主义提出的共产主义的美好蓝图与中华优秀传统文化中的“大同”理念相契合。第二，“结合”的结果是互相成就。马克思主义经由中华优秀传统文化的丰富延续了文化生命，中华优秀传统文化也经由马克思主义这一科学真理的激活得到了创造性转化，中国式现代化的文化形态应运而生。第三，“结合”筑牢了道路根基。中国特色社会主义道路凝聚中国力量，具有中国气派，它不是从天而降的，而是有着深刻的中华文化底蕴，是马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相得益彰的结合，是二者相互契合的产物，是古老文明的赓续和荣光重焕。第四，“结合”打开了创新空间。道路、理论和制度的创新是“结合”的重大成果。中国共产党开创的政治制度与中华文化中的政治智慧具有深刻的关联。第五，“结合”巩固了文化主体性。中华文化充分吸收、继承中华优秀传统文化之精华，彰显人类对于科学社会主义基本原则的孜孜追求，融合了世界各民族文化精髓，吸收了世界文明有益成果，是科学性与民族性相统一的正确表述。

Strengthen cultural confidence and promote the innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture. Culture concerns the foundation of the nation and its destiny. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the power of innovation and development contained within culture, emphasizing that the power of culture is the “booster of economic development, the navigation light of political civilization, and the adhesive of social harmony.” On the one hand, excellent traditional Chinese culture is the “root” and “soul” of the Chinese nation and the source of confidence in our culture. With a broad strategic vision and profound cultural sentiment, General Secretary Xi Jinping places great emphasis on the protection, inheritance, dissemination, and development of Chinese culture in the New Era, and has put forward a program rich in connotation concerning the inheritance and development of excellent traditional Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly elucidated the rich connotations deeply embedded in excellent traditional Chinese culture, elevated the value of traditional culture in many aspects such as governance, educating people through culture, national unity, and exchange and mutual learning, and pointed out the realistic path for the development of excellent traditional Chinese culture. China’s historical and cultural heritage is extremely rich; safeguarding cultural heritage means safeguarding the spiritual source of the Chinese people. Behind this rich historical and cultural heritage lies the manifestation of the Chinese nation’s struggle, unyielding spirit, and aesthetic taste—this is the source of our cultural confidence. On the other hand, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture guide our direction forward and are the inexhaustible driving force of cultural confidence. Revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture are excellent cultures with unique national characteristics, created by the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese people, which inspire people to forge ahead. These cultures contain heroic figures, revolutionary events, revolutionary sites and relics, and revolutionary spirit, coalescing the spiritual backbone of the Chinese nation as it forges ahead and strives constantly for self-improvement. They are the spiritual foundation for the Chinese nation to stand proudly among the nations of the world.

坚定文化自信，促进中华优秀传统文化创新发展。文化关乎国本国运。习近平总书记高度重视文化所蕴含的创新发展力量，强调文化的力量是“经济发展的‘助推器’、政治文明的‘导航灯’、社会和谐的‘黏合剂’”。一方面，中华优秀传统文化是中华民族的“根”和“魂”，是文化自信的底气所在。习近平总书记以宏阔的战略眼光、深邃的文化情怀高度重视中华文化在新时代的保护、传承、传播与发展，并提出了内涵丰富的关涉中华优秀传统文化传承发展的纲领。习近平总书记深入阐明了中华优秀传统文化所深蕴的丰富内涵，高扬了传统文化在治国理政、以文化人、民族团结、交流互鉴等诸多方面的价值，指明了中华优秀传统文化发展的现实路径。中国历史文化遗产极其丰厚，守护好文化遗产，就是守护中国人民的精神之源，在这些厚重的历史文化遗产背后，是中华民族奋斗历程、不屈精神、审美情趣的彰显，这是我们的文化自信之源。另一方面，革命文化和社会主义先进文化引领我们前行的方向，是文化自信的不竭动力。革命文化和社会主义先进文化是中国共产党带领中国人民创造的独具民族特色的、催人奋进的优秀文化。这些文化内含英雄人物、革命事件、革命遗迹遗址、革命精神，凝聚起中华民族砥砺前行、自强不息的精神脊梁，是中华民族屹立于世界民族之林的精神根基。

Adhere to culture for the people and dedicate the best spiritual nourishment to the people. The question of standpoint is a fundamental question. Culture originates from the practice of the people, and culture belongs to the people—this is an echo of history and a topic of the times. Cultural construction must meet the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life. Entering the New Era, we must fully leverage the role of culture in educating people through culture, revitalize cultural resources, and enrich the people’s spiritual and cultural life. Xi Jinping’s cultural thought embodies a realistic concern for the people’s needs for a better life, requiring us to increase the degree of attention to cultural value, adhere to the coordinated development of economic growth and cultural continuity, and safeguard the spiritual roots of Chinese civilization. We must create a culture that cares for the people’s welfare, always insist that cultural construction focuses on the people and lands on the people, consolidate the cultural foundation for cultivating and practicing the core socialist values, and meet the people’s new expectations for a better life. Cultural construction is, in the final analysis, for the masses of the people, to enhance the people’s cultural literacy and enrich their spiritual world. In the great historical practice of cultural inheritance, we must create more high-quality cultural products that are loved, recognized, and shared by the masses, allowing the people to be nurtured and immersed, and continuously accumulate the spiritual strength for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

坚持文化为人民，把最好的精神食粮奉献给人民。立场问题是根本问题。文化源于人民实践，文化属于人民，这是历史的回响，更是时代课题。文化建设要满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要。进入新时代，要充分发挥文化以文化人的作用，让文化资源活起来，以丰富人民的精神文化生活。习近平文化思想体现着对人民美好生活需要的现实关切，要求我们提高对文化价值的重视程度，坚持经济发展与文化赓续的协调发展，守护中华文明的精神之根脉。要创造情系人民福祉的文化，始终坚持文化建设着眼于人民、落脚于人民，夯实培育和践行社会主义核心价值观的文化根基，满足人民过上美好生活的新期待。文化建设归根结底是为了人民群众，为了提升人民群众的文化素养、丰富人民精神世界。在文化传承的伟大历史实践中要打造更多为人民群众喜爱、认同、共享的高质量文化产品，让人民受到熏陶、浸润，不断积聚实现中华民族伟大复兴的精神力量。

Focus on the goals of cultural development and build a socialist cultural power. The foundation of a nation’s prosperity and strength must necessarily be the mutual promotion, mutual nourishment, and symbiosis of hard power and soft power. A cultural power is an inherent part of a great modern socialist country. A cultural power means that a country possesses strong cultural strength, which is manifested not only in highly cultivated citizens and a developed cultural industry but also in strong cultural soft power. General Secretary Xi Jinping has elucidated the realistic path for enhancing China’s cultural soft power in the contemporary era. The construction of a cultural power must be based on the moral and ethical construction of citizens. This requires promoting the core socialist values throughout society, fostering a cultural atmosphere of striving for goodness and upward mobility, building a harmonious society, and focusing on enhancing the moral cultivation of every citizen. Excellent traditional Chinese culture is the historical foundation for building a cultural power. It is necessary to deepen the study and research of traditional culture, profoundly comprehend the civilizational connotations contained within traditional culture, and thicken the foundation of a cultural power on the basis of activating the vitality of Chinese culture. It is necessary to profoundly comprehend the role of culture and enhance the spiritual power of a cultural power. Culture is an important fulcrum for economic development, containing the driving force for promoting economic growth; culture is an important magic weapon for governance, and the ideas on governance in traditional culture still have reference significance for the present. Only by profoundly discerning the important value of culture can we continuously meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the people and transform the immense power of culture into a driving force for economic development.

聚焦文化发展目标，建设社会主义文化强国。国家繁荣昌盛的基础必然是硬实力和软实力的共促共进、互哺共生。文化强国是社会主义现代化强国的题中之义。文化强国是指一个国家具有强大的文化力量，这种力量不仅表现为具有高度素养的国民和发达的文化产业，更表现为强大的文化软实力。习近平总书记阐明了当代增强中华文化软实力的现实路径。文化强国建设要以公民思想道德建设为基础，这就需要在全社会弘扬社会主义核心价值观，在全社会营造向上向善的文化氛围，建设和谐社会，着眼于每一个公民道德素养的提升。中华优秀传统文化是文化强国建设的历史基础，要深化对传统文化的学习和研修，深刻领悟传统文化所包蕴的文明内涵，在激活中华文化生命力的基础上厚植文化强国的基础。要深刻领悟文化的作用，增强文化强国的精神伟力。文化是经济发展的重要支点，蕴藏着推动经济发展的动力源泉；文化是治国理政的重要法宝，传统文化中的治国理政思想对当代仍旧具有借鉴意义。只有深刻洞悉文化的重要价值，才能不断满足人民群众日益增长的精神文化需求，将文化的磅礴力量转换为经济发展的助推力量。

Advance cultural dissemination, enhance the communication power and influence of Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “To raise national cultural soft power, we must strive to showcase the unique charm of Chinese culture.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 18th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,” December 30, 2013. First, advance cultural dissemination so that the world can better understand China as it develops. Through mutual learning among civilizations, the cultural identity of the Chinese people can be enhanced, the appeal of Chinese culture can be strengthened, and a Chinese discourse system can be constructed. Second, advance cultural dissemination, construct a Chinese narrative system, and tell China’s stories well. To tell the stories of Chinese culture well, it is necessary to strengthen the building of international communication capacity based on superb interpretive skills and deep-level communication force, to influence the people of the world with the values of Chinese culture, to create a precise communication pattern, and to ensure that the whole world can hear and clearly understand China’s voice, presenting a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China. Third, advance cultural dissemination, and use literature and art to promote mutual learning among civilizations. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Literary and art workers must tell China’s stories well, spread China’s voice well, elucidate the Chinese spirit, and display China’s style.” Creating literary and artistic works that embody the aesthetic taste and spiritual outlook of the Chinese people helps the world to better understand China. Through cultural dissemination, the world will better understand a China committed to peaceful development and seeking common good for the world, [3]3 “Common good for the world” (为世界谋大同) is a phrase from Xi Jinping’s discourse on China’s global vision, derived from the classical Confucian concept of “Great Harmony” (大同). which will make the people of the world realize that China has no gene for militarism, aggression, or expansion, and the treasure house of world civilization will be all the richer and more colorful because of Chinese culture.

推进文化传播，增强中华文明的传播力与影响力。习近平总书记指出，“提高国家文化软实力，要努力展示中华文化独特魅力”。第一，推进文化传播，让世界更好地了解发展中的中国。通过文明互鉴，可以提升中国人民的文化认同，增强中华文化的感召力，也可以构建中国话语体系。第二，推进文化传播，构建中国叙事体系，讲好中国故事。讲好中华文化故事，必须加强基于高超的阐释技巧、深层的传播力度的国际传播能力建设，以中华文化价值观影响世界人民，打造精准传播格局，让全世界都能听到并听清中国声音，展现可信、可爱、可敬的中国形象。第三，推进文化传播，以文艺推动文明交流互鉴。习近平总书记强调：“文艺工作者要讲好中国故事、传播好中国声音、阐发中国精神、展现中国风貌。”创造出体现中国人民审美情趣、精神风貌的文艺作品，有助于世界更加了解中国。通过文化传播，世界将更加了解一个致力于和平发展、为世界谋大同的中国，将使世界人民认识到中国没有穷兵黩武、侵略扩张的基因，世界文明的宝库也将因中华文化而更加丰富多彩。

(The author is a professor at the School of Marxism, Hebei University)

（作者系河北大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧