Xi's Use of Traditional Chinese Culture

For Xi Jinping, as for Mao Zedong, culture is instrumental to the needs of the Party. Politics is primary; culture’s purpose is to serve socialism and the masses.

XI'S SPEECH AT THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY AND SPRING OPENING CONVOCATION OF THE CPC PARTY SCHOOL (3/1/2013)

“Chinese culture helps people establish a correct view of the world, life, and values. Leaders and party cadres should learn Chinese literature to cultivate their moral character and develop their appreciation for life.”

“中国传统文化博大精深，学习和掌握其中的各种思想精华，对树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观很有益处……领导干部还应该了解一些文学知识，通过提高文学鉴赏能力和审美能力，陶冶情操，培养高尚的生活情趣。”

THE 1ST PLENARY SESSION OF THE 12TH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (3/17/2013)

The Chinese nation has a continuous history of more than 5,000 years and has created a great and profound Chinese culture, which has made contributions to human advancement that cannot be effaced.

Our efforts to build our homeland and to cultivate our national spirit bind the 56 Chinese ethnic groups and the 1.3 billion Chinese people together. We share common ideals and beliefs.

中华民族具有5000多年连绵不断的文明历史，创造了博大精深的中华文化，为人类文明进步作出了不可磨灭的贡献。经过几千年的沧桑岁月，把我国56个民族、13亿多人紧紧凝聚在一起的，是我们共同经历的非凡奋斗，是我们共同创造的美好家园，是我们共同培育的民族精神，而贯穿其中的、更重要的是我们共同坚守的理想信念。

XI'S ADDRESS TO FACULTY AND STUDENTS AT PEKING UNIVERSITY (5/5/2014)

“Traditional Chinese culture has become part of the Chinese people’s genes, is rooted in Chinese people’s hearts and has imperceptibly influenced the way Chinese people think and act.”

“中华优秀传统文化已经成为中华民族的基因，植根在中国人内心，潜移默化影响着中国人的思想方式和行为方式。”

XI'S SPEECH AT THE 13TH POLITBURO MEMBER GROUP STUDY MEETING (2/26/2014)

“We need to absorb the ideological and moral essence of traditional Chinese culture, promote the spirit of the Chinese people in this era, and explore and elucidate traditional Chinese values, in order to make traditional Chinese culture a key source for socialist core values.”

“要认真汲取中华优秀传统文化的思想精华和道德精髓，大力弘扬以爱国主义为核心的民族精神和以改革创新为核心的时代精神，深入挖掘和阐发中华优秀传统文化讲仁爱、重民本、守诚信、崇正义、尚和合、求大同的时代价值，使中华优秀传统文化成为涵养社会主义核心价值观的重要源泉。”

XI'S SPEECH AT THE ARTIST SYMPOSIUM (10/15/2014)

“Traditional Chinese culture is fundamental to China’s status in the surge of world’s cultures. In order to develop Chinese socialist culture and art, we need to learn from other countries and bring together Chinese and Western elements.”

“中华优秀传统文化是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的坚实根基…我们社会主义文艺要繁荣发展起来，必须认真学习借鉴世界各国人民创造的优秀文艺。只有坚持洋为中用、开拓创新，做到中西合璧、融会贯通，我国文艺才能更好发展繁荣起来。”

“Literature and art should not lose their direction in the market economy and should not be mistaken as to whom it serves. Literature and art need to serve the people and socialism.”

“文艺不能当市场的奴隶，在市场经济大潮中迷失方向，不能在为什么人的问题上发生偏差；文艺要反映好人民心声，就要坚持为人民服务、为社会主义服务的根本方向。”

SPEECH AT THE COMPREHENSIVELY DEEPENING REFORM SEMINAR FOR PROVINCIAL LEADERS (2/17/2014)

“We need to disseminate contemporary Chinese culture, which not only inherits traditional Chinese culture but also promotes the spirit of the era, and is both grounded in China and embraces the world.”

“把继承优秀传统文化又弘扬时代精神、立足本国又面向世界的当代中国文化创新成果传播出去。”

Whether or not contemporary Chinese culture can attract foreign admirers remains to be seen. Chinese culture has had scant attractive power since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.

XI JINPING'S SPEECH AT THE 1ST CONFERENCE OF NATIONAL MODEL FAMILIES (12/12/2016)

"Households should nurture and practice socialist core values and encourage all family members, especially the younger generation, to love the Party, the motherland, the people and the Chinese nation."

"要在家庭中培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，引导家庭成员特别是下一代热爱党、热爱祖国、热爱人民、热爱中华民族。"

For more information, please contact the Kissinger Institute at china@wilsoncenter.org