Deeply grasp the spiritual characteristics of the supreme leader’s cultural thought, integrity and innovation
Adhering to integrity and innovation is an important "password" for scientific theory to keep its vitality forever. In the new era, the Communist Party of China (CPC) people regard "upholding integrity and innovation" as a scientific method to promote theoretical innovation, which opens up a new realm of the modernization of Marxism in China. Culture is the soul of a country and a nation, and it is the field that needs to be upright and innovative most. The cultural thought of the supreme leader is the theoretical achievement of innovation and development in keeping integrity, which embodies the spiritual characteristics of keeping integrity and innovation. Under the guidance of the supreme leader’s cultural thought, our party and people have strengthened their cultural self-confidence and made historic achievements in promoting cultural construction. Focusing on the new cultural mission of the new era, we must persist in recognizing ourselves by being upright, be firm in our direction, grasp the present and meet the future with innovation, and strive to contribute to the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
The cultural thought of the supreme leader is a great achievement of keeping integrity and innovation.
A history of the modernization of Marxism in China is the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) people promoting the new development of Marxism in the process of innovation. Marxism is not only a scientific theory, but also a developing and open theory. In the extraordinary course of more than a hundred years, our Party has repeatedly stressed that the basic principles of Marxism must be observed, and at the same time, it has to "write new works and form new theories" to promote the continuous development of Marxism as a sacred duty and constantly write a new chapter in the modernization of Marxism in China. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our Party has put forward and adhered to the fundamental approach of "two combinations", enriched and developed Marxism with brand-new ideological content, founded Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in a new era, and achieved a new leap in the modernization of Marxism in China. As the cultural chapter of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, the Supreme Leader’s cultural thought is an important theoretical achievement of upholding integrity and innovation.
"Keeping the right" means sticking to the truth and the right path. The "correctness" of the supreme leader’s cultural thought is embodied in his persistent adherence to Marxist cultural theory and socialist cultural direction. This thought always adheres to the Marxist cultural ideal and value pursuit, insists on observing and thinking about cultural issues with historical materialism, and clearly opposes historical nihilism and cultural nihilism; Efforts should be made to consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field and adhere to the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s cultural leadership and the fundamental direction of socialist cultural development. The "integrity" of the supreme leader’s cultural thought is also reflected in the conscious inheritance of Chinese excellent traditional culture. This thought puts forward and adheres to the fundamental requirements of "two combinations", summarizes and refines the outstanding characteristics and cultural essence of Chinese civilization, and emphasizes the consolidation of the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation in consolidating the foundation, cultivating the source and dredging the flow, which has laid a solid cultural foundation for the development and progress of contemporary China and polished the distinctive cultural characteristics of Chinese civilization’s exchanges with the world.
"Innovation" means the courage to explore and open up new horizons. The "innovation" of the supreme leader’s cultural thought is embodied in his creative revelation of the law of socialist cultural construction and his innovative guidance of contemporary China’s cultural development practice. This thought keenly grasps the new development of the times and the new changes of the world situation and national conditions, and puts forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints and new conclusions around major theoretical and practical issues in the field of cultural construction, such as theoretical armed forces, public opinion propaganda, ideological and moral construction, cultural literature and art, network construction and management, and foreign propaganda work, which has enabled our party to reach a new height in its understanding of the laws of cultural construction in Socialism with Chinese characteristics.
"Correctness" and "innovation" complement each other and are dialectical unity. The cultural thoughts of the Supreme Leader not only adhere to the "ancestors", but also speak a lot of "new words". On the basis of the present, they integrate history and focus on the future, condensing the essence of Chinese culture and China spirit, and have made original contributions to enriching and developing Marxist cultural theory and inheriting and developing Chinese excellent traditional culture.
The spirit of integrity and innovation runs through the cultural thought of the supreme leader.
At the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader emphasized three aspects on how to continue to promote cultural prosperity, build a cultural power and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new starting point, namely, strengthening cultural self-confidence, upholding openness and tolerance, and persisting in integrity and innovation. Here, upholding integrity and innovation is not only one of them, but also the foothold of the three. To shoulder the new cultural mission in the new era is, in the final analysis, to create new glory of socialist culture in the process of integrity and innovation. It can be said that keeping integrity and innovation is not only the spiritual background of the formation and establishment of a series of original achievements in the cultural thought of the supreme leader, but also the spiritual characteristics that run through all aspects of the cultural thought of the supreme leader.
The spirit of keeping integrity and innovation is embodied in the clear emphasis on cultural mission. The Communist Party of China (CPC) is a political party with a strong sense of cultural mission, and has always made unremitting efforts to build a new culture of the Chinese nation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has repeatedly stressed the need to shoulder new cultural missions and create new glories of socialist culture. At the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, the Supreme Leader further pointed out that "the best inheritance of history is to create a new history, and the greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization". "It is our new cultural mission to continue to promote cultural prosperity, build a cultural power and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new starting point." The spirit of being upright and innovative is embedded in the cultural mission we are shouldering: the culture we are committed to today is a new organic and unified cultural life formed by the combination of Marxist scientific theory and Chinese excellent traditional culture genes, and the cultural power and modern civilization of the Chinese nation we are committed to building are the continuation of ancient culture and civilization and the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditions. "Although Zhou was an old state, his life was reformed." Only by upholding the spirit of integrity and innovation can we deeply understand and consciously shoulder this new cultural mission and promote the rejuvenation of Chinese culture and civilization.
The spirit of keeping upright and innovating is embodied in the perseverance of the cultural road. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed: "It is the only way to open up and develop Socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound foundation of Chinese civilization for more than 5,000 years, and to combine the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete reality of China and the excellent traditional Chinese culture." Cultural construction is an important part of the overall layout of Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s career, and "two combinations" is also the only way to build a socialist cultural power and create a new glory of Chinese culture. The fundamental path of "two combinations" itself clearly embodies the characteristics and requirements of being upright and innovative. "Combination" has laid a solid foundation for our way forward and given Socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and far-reaching historical depth for its cultural development. "Combination" also gives us a cultural space for innovation, which enables us to master the ideological and cultural initiative, make full use of the valuable resources of Chinese excellent traditional culture and explore future-oriented cultural innovation.
The spirit of keeping upright and innovating is embodied in the repeated exposition of cultural spirit. The spirit of integrity and innovation is an essential spiritual trait to support and lead a cultural system to move forward and flourish, and it is also an important content repeatedly mentioned and emphasized by General Secretary of the Supreme Leader when discussing cultural spiritual issues. Looking back at history, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader profoundly revealed the spirit of integrity and innovation contained in Chinese culture and civilization, emphasizing that "the Chinese nation is a nation of integrity and innovation" and that "Chinese civilization has the cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality of self-development, responding to challenges and creating new opportunities"; Chinese civilization has outstanding innovation, which "fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation to be upright and not conservative, to respect the ancient and not to go back to the ancient". Based on the present and looking forward to the future, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader attaches great importance to the cultivation and promotion of the spirit of upholding integrity and innovation, emphasizing that "when I propose upholding integrity and innovation, I mean that I will not take the old road of being closed and rigid, nor will I take the evil road of changing my flag". "Cultural workers in the new era must continue the historical context and write contemporary Chinese chapters with the righteousness and spirit of upholding integrity and innovation". These important conclusions profoundly reveal the internal causes of Chinese culture and civilization from the perspective of keeping integrity and innovation, and provide important guidance for the cultivation and promotion of cultural spirit in the new era.
The spirit of keeping upright and innovating is embodied in the practical requirements for all fronts in the cultural field. The cultural thought of the supreme leader is a systematic and complete scientific system. Adhering to integrity and innovation is not only an important thinking method of the supreme leader’s cultural thought, but also an important working method. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader emphasized that "for cultural construction, being upright can keep you from losing yourself and your direction, and innovation can keep you abreast of the times and lead the times", highlighting the significance of persisting in being upright and innovative. When the Supreme Leader General Secretary led the work in specific fields of cultural construction, he repeatedly emphasized the principles and requirements of upholding integrity and innovation. For example, he emphasized that propaganda and ideological work in the new era should "persist in striving for progress while maintaining integrity and innovation", and hoped that literary and art workers would "grasp the relationship between inheritance and innovation, learn from the past and break the law, so as to make Chinese excellent traditional culture an important source of literary and artistic innovation" and exhorted cultural industry practitioners to "firmly grasp the correct orientation, persist in upholding integrity and innovation, and ensure the cultural industry. It can be said that the spirit of integrity and innovation runs through all aspects of the party’s deployment and promotion of propaganda and ideological and cultural work in the new era.
Being upright and innovating is a distinctive feature of cultural construction practice in the new era.
General Secretary of the Supreme Leader profoundly pointed out: "The theoretical leap is not reflected in the originality of words and expressions, nor in the self-consistency and self-proof of logic. In the final analysis, it should be reflected in answering practical questions and leading the development of practice." As an important theoretical achievement of upholding integrity and innovation, the supreme leader’s cultural thought integrates the spiritual characteristics of upholding integrity and innovation into all aspects of cultural practice in guiding the cultural development in the new era, leading to a breakthrough in promoting the construction of a cultural power.
Stick to the soul of Marxism and write a new chapter in ideological work in the process of radical reform. Ideology determines the nature and direction of culture, which concerns the future and destiny of the party and the country. At the same time, China’s ideological field is facing new situation requirements, and it is necessary to focus on strengthening the cohesion and leading force of socialist ideology in the process of maintaining integrity and innovation. In practice, our party has established and adhered to the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological field, insisted on promoting the modernization of Marxism in China with "two combinations", and promoted the party’s innovative theory in the new era with rich and diverse forms, paths and methods. Firmly defend the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s cultural leadership, fully implement the ideological work responsibility system, promote the construction and innovation of communication means, improve the communication power, guidance, influence and credibility of news and public opinion, and keep the Internet as the main position, main battlefield and forefront of ideological struggle to create a clear cyberspace; Promote the construction of discipline system, academic system and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics, adhere to the problem orientation, respond to the call of the times, and accelerate the construction of China’s independent knowledge system. In the unremitting efforts to break through simultaneously, stir up turmoil and promote the Qing Dynasty, the ideological situation in China has undergone an overall and fundamental change, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the whole society have been greatly improved, effectively consolidating the common ideological foundation of the United struggle of the whole party and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country.
Adhere to the roots of Chinese excellent traditional culture and create new glory of Chinese culture in the process of bringing forth the old and bringing forth the new. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Communist Party of China (CPC) people have taken a strong historical responsibility to vigorously carry out the inheritance and development project of Chinese excellent traditional culture, deepen the project of exploring the source of Chinese civilization, make full use of the new technologies and means brought by the development of modern science and technology to protect the roots of civilization, and strive to revitalize the strong vitality of Chinese excellent traditional culture; Carry forward the spiritual pedigree of the Communist Party of China (CPC) people with the great spirit of party building as the source, carry out the study and education of party history and the "four histories", innovate and carry out commemorative activities, commend national feats, and continue the red gene and red blood; Adhere to the people-centered creative orientation, guide literary and art workers to vividly reflect the changes of the times, the progress of China and the call of the people, promote the all-round development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, carry out the project of benefiting the people through culture, and strive to meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the people. The series of measures focus on linking Chinese excellent traditional culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, promoting the prosperity and development of Socialism with Chinese characteristics culture in the new era, promoting the widespread promotion of socialist core values in the whole society, significantly enhancing the cultural self-confidence of the whole party and the people of the whole country, and condensing more active spiritual strength for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Adhere to the right path of human civilization development and show the new image of Chinese civilization in exchanges and mutual learning. The era background of the accelerated evolution and deep interaction of the "two overall situations" puts forward higher requirements for us to do a good job in cultural exchange and mutual learning of civilizations in the process of defending integrity and innovation. Our party is committed to seeking great harmony for the world, conforming to the general trend of the evolution of human civilization, based on the practice of Chinese modernization, adhering to the position of Chinese culture, proposing and practicing the concept of a community of human destiny, proposing global civilization initiatives, carrying forward the common values of all mankind, and dedicating its achievements in cultural innovation and creation to the world; Accelerate the construction of China discourse and China narrative system, speed up the construction of international communication ability, tell the story of China to the world and spread the voice of China; We will expand ways for civilized exchanges and mutual learning, strengthen international cultural exchanges with the help of public products such as the Belt and Road Initiative, and hold sports and cultural events such as the Winter Olympics and the Asian Games to provide a broad stage for world cultural exchanges and mutual learning. At present, China’s national cultural soft power and Chinese cultural influence have been significantly improved. China’s wisdom, China’s ideas and China’s spirit have been widely spread in the world, which have been understood, respected and shared by more and more people and made important contributions to the development and progress of human civilization.
Being upright and innovating is the fundamental law to create a new culture worthy of our new era.
Under the background of the accelerated evolution and deep interaction of the "two overall situations", cultural construction is facing new situations and new tasks. We must earnestly enhance our ideological recognition and action consciousness of leading the practice of cultural construction in the new era and new journey with the cultural thought of the supreme leader, take on new cultural missions with the integrity and spirit of being upright and innovative, and promote the cultural construction work to constantly show new weather and new actions.
The first is to explore cultural practice with the spirit of integrity and innovation. All human social life is practical in essence. It is the foundation and premise to realize cultural prosperity and development to develop cultural practice in keeping integrity and innovation. On the basis of profoundly grasping the essential law of cultural change and adhering to the correct direction of cultural development, we should further carry forward the enterprising spirit of pioneering and innovation and the fearless character of bravely accepting new things, focus on deepening the reform of cultural system in practice, constantly explore new ways, models and methods of cultural practice, and continuously enhance cultural cohesion, enhance cultural creativity and expand cultural radiation. The great creation of the people is an inexhaustible source of cultural innovation. To develop cultural practice in innovation, we must always adhere to the principle of "walking with the people in the same direction", firmly base ourselves on the people’s vivid production and life practices, vigorously tap the wisdom and strength contained in the broad masses of people, respect the people’s initiative, and fully stimulate the people’s cultural creativity.
The second is to cultivate cultural products with the spirit of integrity and innovation. Whether you can produce and create excellent cultural works is an important yardstick to test the cultural creativity of a country and a nation. Cultural masterpieces must be deeply rooted in the rich heritage of national culture. Without keeping the "righteousness" of historical context and losing national characteristics, it is impossible to produce cultural masterpieces that directly reach people’s hearts. At the same time, the cultivation of high-quality works should closely follow the tide of the times, and it is impossible to reflect the "change" of the development of the times with new content and new forms, and it is impossible to form vivid and vivid cultural products. As cultural workers in the new era, we should strengthen our historical and cultural self-confidence, persist in making the past serve the present and bring forth the new, make full use of new technologies and new means to stimulate creative inspiration, enrich cultural connotations, express thoughts and feelings, strive for perfection and innovation, and strive to form excellent works worthy of the nation and the times, so that the cultural tree rooted in historical context and bathed in brilliance in the era will blossom brilliantly.
The third is to develop cultural theory with the spirit of integrity and innovation. Theory originates from practice and actively reacts to practice, blossoming and bearing fruit in close interaction with practice, and constantly blooming new vitality. The cultural thought of the supreme leader is an open, scientific and systematic ideological system, which will be enriched and developed with the gradual deepening of practice. We should strengthen the research and interpretation of the supreme leader’s cultural thought based on the practice of contemporary China’s cultural construction, deeply grasp its core essence, spiritual essence, rich connotation and practical requirements, and profoundly expound the generating logic and internal relationship of the principled theoretical achievements in this thought. "Marxism does not exclude all truth, no matter when and where it comes from, as long as it is truth, it can be used as a nutrient to enrich and develop itself." Enriching and developing cultural theory in the innovation of upholding integrity also requires us to face the world and the future, learn from others’ wisdom and make dialectical choices in the "sum of human knowledge" under the premise of firmly adhering to the "upholding integrity" of "two combinations", so as to promote the continuous enrichment and development of China-oriented and modernized Marxist cultural theory.
(Author: Shen Zhuanghai Liu Shuijing, both professors of Marxism College of Wuhan University)