Bolstering Cultural
Self-Confidence*
Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
All of a nation's pursuits are anchored in its history. The 5,000-year-old
Chinese civilization serves as an inexhaustible fountain of energy for the
Chinese people and the source of our confidence and pride as a nation.
The magnificent and diverse tapestry of
Chinese civilization
EVEN THE HIGHEST TREES GROW FROM
roots, and even the longest rivers flow from a source.
So where are the roots of Chinese nation, and what is
its source? How did the Chinese civilization come to
be, and how has the thread of its history reached today?
Many major discoveries about the origins of the
Chinese nation and civilization have been made since the birth of modern archaeology in China. Some
examples are the Yangshao site in Mianchi, the ruins of Yin in Anyang, the Banpo site in Xi'an, the
Dawenkou site in Tai'an, the Terracotta Army of the
First Emperor of Qin, the Mawangdui tomb in Changsha, the Hemudu site in Yuyao, the Liangzhu site in
Yuhang, the Erlitou site in Yanshi, the Sanxingdui
site in Guanghan, the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in
Suixian, the Taosi site in Xiangfen, the Shimao site in
Shenmu, the Shijiahe site in Tianmen, the Shangshan
site in Pujiang, the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun
in Nanchang, and many more. These achievements
have traced the path of history, increased its reliability, enriched its meaning, and brought it to life.
Illustrating the origins of Chinese
civilization and the historical path of its
development
The birth of civilizations and the emergence of nations are among the most important events in human
history. International scholars have focused on this
topic for some time, putting forward many concepts
and theories. However, for a considerable length of
time, there was a dearth of data and a lack of systematic understanding on the origins and early development of ancient Eastern civilizations represented
by China. Through constant advancement of archaeological work in China, the veil of mystery that shrouded the country's ancient history and prehistory
has gradually been lifted. Archaeological discoveries
* Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 23, 2020. Shortened from the original Chinese version (http://
en.qstheory.cn/2021-03/18/c_603665.htm).
How to cite: Xi, J. (2022). Bolstering cultural self-confidence. BRIQ Belt & Road Initiative Quarterly, 3(4), 24-27.
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Xi Jinping inspected the protection of historical and cultural heritage at Yungang Grottoes in Datong City.
(Xinhua/Liu Bin, 2020)
have proven that China's history includes millions of
years of humanity, 10,000 years of culture, and 5,000
years of civilization. Our country is the cradle of humanity in the East, and along with Africa is where the
earliest humans originated. The Peking Man had the
ability to make fire 500,000 years ago, one of the earliest examples of this in the world. As early as 10,000
years ago, our forebears were planting millet and rice,
meaning that agriculture appeared here around the
same time as it did in West Asia and North Africa.
Chinese inventions such as musical instruments and
dugout canoes, as well as discoveries in fields including hydraulic engineering and astronomy were also
among the earliest in the world. In addition, China's
archaeological efforts have illustrated the processes
of how civilizations began and developed in different
regions and how the Chinese nation and civilization
grew into a pattern of unity amidst diversity, and also
highlighted the values that the survival and development of Chinese society depends upon and the elements of our cultural heritage that we unconsciously
engage with every day. These great achievements have
provided the materials for us to study the history of
Chinese civilization more effectively and to shape the
historical understanding of our entire nation, and
they are therefore extremely important in political,
cultural, social, and historical terms.
Exhibiting the glorious achievements
of Chinese civilization
Archeologists have made some of the following
discoveries about China: 13,000 years ago, pottery
was invented; 10,000 years ago, the world's earliest
rice and millet crops were planted; 9,000 years ago,
jade ware was produced; 8,000 years ago, symbols
were carved on bones and tortoise shells, animals were
domesticated, alcoholic beverages were invented, the
art of lacquer was developed, silk was harvested by
raising silkworms, and herbal medicine was used;
7,000 years ago, the wheel and axle was invented;
6,000 years ago, ceramics fired at high temperatures
were made; 5,000 years ago, the state emerged; and
4,000 years ago, metallurgy was mastered. These
discoveries provide ample evidence that China was
a frontrunner in every period of development of the
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An inscription on the interior of a bronze vessel unearthed at the Tomb of Fu Hao in the ruins of Yin on display at
Anyang Museum in Henan Province. The oracle-bone inscriptions found there was an epoch-making discovery
on the development of both Chinese civilization and human civilization as a whole. (Xinhua/Li An, 2018)
ancient world, from the Neolithic Age, to the Bronze
Age, to the Iron Age, with impressive achievements
in a range of fields including agriculture, animal
husbandry, medicine, astronomy and geography, tool
making, scientific and technological advancement,
state governance, and art and culture. These
great achievements have put the Chinese nation's
enterprising and pioneering spirit of innovation,
advancement, and self-improvement on display. They
contain a limitless wealth of knowledge, wisdom,
and art, and are an important wellspring of firmer
confidence in our culture.
Revealing the Chinese civilization's great
contributions to the world
China is the only civilization in the world that has
carried on unbroken from ancient times to the
present. Over its long history, China was able to
interact with other world civilizations through various
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channels, including the westward spread of millet, the
eastward spread of wheat and metallurgy, and the Silk
Road, and in the process they engaged in reciprocal
exchanges and learned from each other. China
shared its profound system of thought, its abundant
achievements in science, technology, culture, and art,
and its unique institutional innovations with the world,
thereby providing a vigorous push to the progress of
human civilization. The "Four Great Inventions" (the
compass, gunpowder, papermaking, and printing), as
well as distinctly original innovations like lacquerware,
silk, and porcela are examples of the contributions that
China has made to the progress of human civilization
over the course of its long history, which exhibit the
Chinese nation's peaceful disposition, its inclusive
character, and its view of the world as one big family.
The essence of our confidence in our path,
theories, and system is confidence in our culture,
which is based upon China's more than 5,000 years of
heritage. China's archeological efforts have, from their
inception, borne the heavy responsibility of exploring
our country's long history and boosting confidence in
our nation. For many years, archaeological discoveries
have consistently dispelled doubts through mountains
of evidence and verified that the Chinese civilization
is in fact more than 5,000 years old. These efforts have
thus provided support in the form of historical and
scientific evidence for boosting the Chinese nation's
cultural self-confidence.
Carrying forward our great national spirit
and the best of our traditional culture
In late 2017, a television program exploring traditional
Chinese culture called "National Treasure" became an
overnight sensation. It comprehensively discussed
the cultural background of several famous museums,
the stories of numerous precious artifacts, and the
historical footprints of many examples of cultural
heritage, bringing national treasures that had lain
in obscurity for years in museums to life. Since the
program aired, a number of other shows such as
"Every Treasure Tells a Story," activities such as "Meet
at the Museum," and platforms such as online and
digital exhibits have emerged. These new mediums for
presenting cultural artifacts have promoted China's
traditional culture and fostered core socialist values,
bringing the once obscure discipline of archaeology
into the lives of everyday people and shining new light
upon China's precious historical and cultural heritage.
The great national spirit and the fine traditional
culture that the Chinese nation has formed over the
long course of its history are both its undying and
everlasting legacy and a source of strength for driving
its great rejuvenation.
First, make the breakthroughs in
archeology and historical research better
known
Historical artifacts encapsulate a wealth of historical
and cultural information, and can bring historical
scenes to life before our eyes. They are therefore
vibrant materials for teaching people about history.
In-depth historical study should be used to teach
officials, members of the public, and especially
young people to understand and appreciate the
origins and development of Chinese civilization,
its glorious achievements, and its contributions to
human civilization in order to constantly enhance
their cohesiveness and national pride.
Second, effectively communicate China's
history to the world
Archeology has natural strengths in efforts to tell the
world about our country's history. For many years,
members of the archeological field in China have
done excellent work to promote exchanges between
civilizations and cultures and convey China's stories
to the world through methods such as organizing
overseas exhibitions of cultural artifacts, hosting
the Shanghai Archaeology Forum, and inviting
foreign scholarly organizations to participate in
Chinese archeological studies. We must leverage our
breakthroughs in archeology and historical study to
show the international community the depth and
breadth of Chinese civilization, effectively convey
the glorious achievements and great contributions to
humanity that our civilization has made. By seeing
that the world understands China's history and
national spirit, we can cultivate deeper awareness
and understanding of contemporary China, and
foster a positive atmosphere in international
communication.
On this vast land of more than 9.6 million square
kilometers, with the accumulated experience of 5,000
years of civilization, and the combined strength of
more than 1.4 billion people, China is walking its own
path to build a strong and modern socialist country
and to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The breadth of the stage beneath us, the depth of the
history behind us, and the strength of the resolve
driving us forward are all unparalleled.
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