Culture is a nation’s backbone and soul that shape its mindset and quality. With cultural confidence, a nation will stand firm in the community of nations. When the people have ideals, their country will have strength, and their nation will have a bright future. While cultural confidence is a paramount element to realize these goals.
Fine traditional Chinese culture came into being in a long history of 5,000 years by incorporating excellent traditional cultures of 56 ethnic groups. There are both the essence and the dross in any cultures. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core stressed that we should carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture instead of all traditional culture. However, “fine” has been removed in many internet articles when referring to carrying forward “fine” traditional culture. We should have an accurate understanding and expression upon this.
It is an historical mission of all ethnic groups to carry forward fine Chinese culture. Every ethnic group has its own positive elements for humanity and social development, which need to be summarized intently and integrated into contemporary socialist culture as a source of strength to promote cultural prosperity and development. In terms of cultural heritages listed into United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage List, there are ten ethnic minority projects, including “Tibetan Opera” (a traditional local opera), “Regong Arts” (including paintings-murals and scrolls called thangka in Tibetan) and “Gesar” (King Gesar’s epic) of Tibetan ethnic, Kirgiz’s “Manas” (traditional poem Epic), Mongolian Urtin Duu or the “Long Tune” (a historical Mongolian folk song) and “Hoomii” (Mongolian throat singing performances), “Grand Song” of the Dong ethnic group, “Farmer’s Music-Dance” of Korean ethnic group and “Muqam Art” (a kind of Islamic music) of Uygur minority of Xinjiang. All of these have demonstrated strong cultural creativity of ethnic minorities in China.
It is imperative for all ethnic groups to step up great efforts to figure out how do we promote the creative evolution of Chinese civilization. Each of ethnic groups must sort out the wheat from the chaff in their own culture heritage to carry forward fine traditional culture. We should discard the dross and integrate fine traditional culture of all ethnic groups into advanced socialist culture, making it radiate new vigor in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and play a more important role.
Secretary General Xi Jinping put forward in the Nineteenth CPC National Congress Report that to develop socialist culture for our nation-a culture that is sound and people-oriented, that embraces modernization, the world, and the future, and that both promote socialist material wellbeing and raises socialist cultural-ethical standards. In developing this culture, we must follow the guidance of Marxism, base our efforts on Chinese culture, and take into account the realities of contemporary China and the conditions of the present era.
The Chinese nation has nurtured a diverse and splendid Chinese civilization. But all 56 ethnic groups should take a firm stance on Chinese culture, namely cultural protection, continuity and development should be carried out to serve the goal of building a strong and prosperous Chinese nation with peaceful development and influential cultural values. Fei Xiaotong once depicted a diversified Chinese nation as a whole that has become impossible to separate as Chinese people of all ethnic groups are so interdependent to each other in a long history of exchanges that contribute to national development and social progress. Each of them should have a strong sense of identity with Chinese culture, and develop a great Chinese civilization through mutual complement and integration.
In order to take a firm stance on Chinese culture, it is imperative to carry forward excellent genomes of Chinese civilization and keep its essence in mind. The inclusiveness serves as a key factor in developing a unified Chinese culture. Colourful cultures of all ethnic groups enable them to learn from each other. All 56 ethnic groups need to protect and carry forward their own excellent traditional culture on one hand; on the other hand they need to humbly learn from each other to nurture clear-cut cultural awareness and see a trend of diversified culture co-existing peacefully.
In carrying forward and developing ethnic cultures, a lofty national goal should be set for not only committing to its own prosperity and development but also developing a holistic view. Ethnic culture must be developed with values conductive to Chinese nation’s development and prosperity.
When the people have ideals, their country will have strength, and their nation will have a bright future. Xi said in the report that we will help our people raise their political awareness and moral standards, foster appreciation of fine culture, and enhance social etiquette and civility. We will undertake extensive public awareness activities to help the people develop firm ideals and convictions, build their awareness of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese Dream, foster a Chinese ethos and readiness to respond to the call of our times, strengthen the guiding role of patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, and see that the people develop an accurate understanding of history, ethnicity, country, and culture. We will launch a civic morality campaign to raise public ethical standards, and enhance work ethics, family virtues, and personal integrity. We will encourage our people to strive for excellence and to develop stronger virtues, respect the elderly, love families, and be loyal to the country and the people. We will improve and strengthen our ideological and political work, and launch initiatives to raise the public’s cultural-ethical standards.we will promote the spirit of science and make scientific knowledge widely attainable; we will work to see the back of outdated social mores and to promote good and up-to-date practices and trends; and we will resist the corrosive influence of backward and decadent culture. We will promote credibility building, institutionalize volunteer services, and heighten people’s sense of social responsibility, awareness of rules, and sense of dedication.
This is Party’s new requirement for ideological work in the new era. We should take advantage of positive positive factors for the above-mentioned goals among various fine ethnic cultures. By sorting out these fine ethnic cultures, we will delve into their rich connotations, such as philosophical thoughts, concepts, moral norms and ecological ethnic, so as to contribute to China’s national development.
There are 55 ethnic minority groups in our country, who have formed unique cultural advantages and values in a long history of development, some of which refers to ecological ethics of pursuing the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature; some of which have been demonstrated in family ethics of gender equality, respecting the elderly and caring for the young as well as social distribution; some of which are seen as dealing with relations across family and villages; some of which have been demonstrated in social ethics of practising trustworthy and recognizing honor and disgrace. When building the stance of Chinese civilization and values, We need to draw upon fine cultures of all ethnic minorities and learn from them regardless of their population. As Fei Xiaotong, a renowned Chinese sociologist, envisioned a world in which countries treasure their own distinct heritages and appreciate other cultures.
Cultural confidence represents an enduring power for the development of a country and a nation. Our country will thrive only if our culture thrives, and our nation will be strong only if our culture is strong. Cultural confidence represents a fundamental and profound force that sustains the development of a country and a nation.
Besides, we need to not only be aware of, respect and be proud of Chinese culture but also embrace the world and the future to absorb all fine. human civilizations. Basing fine traditional Chinese culture and taking a firm stance on China, we need to be open and inclusive to draw upon all excellent civilizations in the world, and foster solid and vigorous spirits and qualities of Chinese civilization for its lasting creative development.