In a recent discussion on the intersection of culture and national identity, the importance of cultural confidence was highlighted as a crucial issue concerning the destiny of a nation, cultural security, and the independence of national spirit. Building robust cultural confidence requires ongoing, in-depth research into our country’s cultural development. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics originates from the excellent traditional culture nurtured over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, forged through the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the Party leading the people through revolution, construction, and reform, and is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” As we embark on a new journey, it is essential that we deepen our understanding of the historical context, essence, and practical significance of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to strengthen cultural confidence and advance cultural development.
Culture is a complex, diverse, and interconnected organic whole that has continuously accumulated and evolved over the course of history. Cultural research is characterized by its diachronic, empirical, and systematic nature. The diachronic aspect emphasizes the study of the origins, development, and changes in culture throughout history, tracing the flow of national spirit. The empirical aspect requires solid research methodologies to establish a fundamental understanding of what culture is. Lastly, the systematic aspect links cultural studies with political, economic, and social contexts, analyzing various factors that influence cultural development while seeking to discover and summarize the laws governing cultural evolution. To enhance our cultural research, we must prioritize these characteristics and consistently tackle new questions, construct new theories, and create innovative paradigms.
A commitment to deeply understanding and implementing Xi Jinping’s cultural thought will help us form scientific research methodologies. China, with its rich historical cultural heritage, possesses an unparalleled array of cultural legacies that have thrived continuously. Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has actively led and practiced advanced Chinese culture while faithfully inheriting and promoting excellent traditional culture. In recent years, General Secretary Xi has introduced a series of new thoughts, viewpoints, and assertions in cultural development, culminating in Xi Jinping’s cultural thought. This rich and profound framework serves as a fundamental guideline for enhancing cultural research. For instance, General Secretary Xi’s innovative concept of the “two combinations,” particularly the “second combination,” represents a significant ideological breakthrough that guides cultural research. Additionally, his advocacy for the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional culture provides key insights on how to properly embrace our cultural heritage while adapting it for contemporary relevance.
By adhering to a problem-oriented approach, we can build an autonomous knowledge system for cultural research. Innovation begins with identifying and addressing original questions within cultural studies. Current pressing issues in the field—such as the integration of Marxist principles with excellent traditional Chinese culture, the origins and development of Chinese civilization, the evolution of regional cultures, and the defining characteristics of the Chinese spirit—warrant thorough investigation. Tackling these topics will be significant as we assume new cultural responsibilities in today’s era. We aim to maintain a problem-oriented approach, facilitating dialogue between ancient and modern, East and West, while distilling key concepts and categories that lead to new understandings and perspectives.
To deepen our analysis, we must uncover the profound meanings of culture. While cultural evolution can be described, its deeper significance needs comprehensive analytical interpretation. We should not limit our research to merely understanding social and cultural phenomena; we must explore their underlying meanings. By conducting thorough explanations behind social activities, we can reveal the deeper significance of cultural endeavors and appreciate the values they embody. A robust analytical framework should incorporate methods of cultural analysis, interpretation, and significance to probe social life phenomena effectively—addressing what they are, why they occur, and their hidden cultural implications.
Updating our research paradigms is crucial for enhancing our interpretive capabilities. Research paradigms consist of specific perspectives, concepts, and propositions that form a theoretical framework. Revamping these paradigms involves shifting research standards and perspectives—moving from causal analysis to significance interpretation, investigating cultural phenomena through the lens of cultural construction, and extracting the cultural meaning from historical events. Modernizing research paradigms will undoubtedly expand the field of cultural studies and enhance our interpretative capacity.
To advance integrated development, it is essential to capitalize on the synergies of multidisciplinary collaboration. Given the multifaceted nature of the cultural research object, collaboration across disciplines is necessary. Interdisciplinary approaches can dismantle academic silos and enable a comprehensive examination of culture through the lenses of economics, politics, history, society, and ecological civilization. By merging concepts, theories, and methodologies from fields such as history, political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, and psychology, we can carve out new research domains and provide fresh explanatory avenues, fostering innovative developments in research perspectives and methodologies.
(Author: Zuo Yuhua, Researcher at the Historical Theory Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
《People’s Daily》(October 14, 2024, Page 09) 【Editor: Zhang Ziyi】
