We must never do away with China's great cultural legacy. On the contrary, we must carry on and foster our heritage, as it represents the "root" and "soul" of Chinese nation. If the "root" and "soul" are lost, then we are left without a foundation on which to stand.

— Speech given by Xi Jinping during his inspection visit to Guangdong Province, December 7-11, 2012

The “Root” and “Soul” of the Chinese Nation

—Preserving and fostering China’s great cultural heritage

The words "root" and "soul" occur frequently in the Chinese language. The former is another way of describing an object's origin, and the latter refers to the spirit or essence of an entity, whether it be an individual person or entire state or nation. Xi Jinping has used the words "root" and "soul" to drive home the vital importance of preserving and fostering China's great cultural legacy in relation to national development and rejuvenation.

The Chinese people have created a rich and expansive culture over more than five thousand years of history. Chinese culture serves as a repository of the people's deepest spiritual pursuits. It codifies the spiritual genotype of the Chinese people, and it is the most distinctive emblem of the Chinese spirit. China's traditional culture has provided the vital nourishment for its people to live and thrive. The culture has survived generation upon generation of dynastic change and foreign invasion, and stands today as the only unbroken civilization in the history of mankind.

Chinese culture is the very lifeblood of its people. For instance, in terms of family relations, "filial piety is the first of all virtues" and "a harmonious family shall prosper in all things." In terms of society, honesty, trustworthiness, and benevolence toward one's fellow man are highly desired traits. In terms of the state, patriotism and a focus on the public interest are noble pursuits. In terms of nature, emphasis is put on maintaining reverence and harmony. In terms of personal character, stress is given to integrity and fraternal love. Chinese culture has begotten many generations of Chinese offspring, and its impact has been felt across all of East Asia and the rest of the world.

The great cultural legacy of the Chinese people is more than just our "root" and "soul." It is a source of strength that has proven indispensable in the development of world civilization. That is the confidence that we ought to bring to the table as we further China's cultural legacy. That said, however, Chinese culture has obviously fallen on hard times. During the modern era, Western invasion shattered China's sense of national pride. Men of vision in China began to take notice of China's shortcomings, which set the stage for a new trend of learning from the West. Before long, full-fledged Western studies became the order of the day.

In the midst of such change, some Chinese began to eye their own culture with skepticism, and for a time Chinese studies were replaced by all things Western. With the founding of the People's Republic of China, China once again regained faith in itself and came to appreciate the value of its traditional culture. During the Cultural Revolution, however, the campaign to "destroy the Four Olds" (i.e., old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits) cast a dark shadow over the fate of Chinese culture. Later, order was re-established and Chinese culture emerged intact when China adopted its policy of reform and opening up. Nevertheless, the ideological winds of Western culture along with a massive influx of foreign commerce caused some to succumb again to a disoriented state. A wave of blind xenophilia swept through the land. Even today, there are people who continue to be fixated on and ideologically tethered to things Western.

If we look down upon our culture and fail to embrace and develop it, we will fall into peril. This will strip us of our spiritual bearings and may even pose a threat to national security. In the modern world, "cultural soft power" and "cultural smart power" have become important staples in a nation's political resources and are playing an increasingly important role in foreign relations. Currently, international competition is present not only in terms of the economy and military but also in terms of culture. The world as we know it is characterized by an intense ongoing bout of cultural tug-of-war. The Western world, with the U.S. at its helm, is seeping into Chinese culture in all kinds of ways. If we do not carefully preserve and foster China's cultural legacy, it will be difficult to maintain resilience in the current zeitgeist, and the great rejuvenation of China will be deprived of its "root" and "soul." Thus, the preservation of China's cultural legacy is of urgent necessity for the sake of the development and rejuvenation of China.

Preserving and fostering China's cultural heritage is a systematic endeavor. It requires the joint efforts of all Chinese offspring, including those overseas. We must believe in our culture, for without such confidence we will have neither the presence of mind nor the motivation to carry it forward. Indeed, it is only with an ample measure of confidence in our national culture that we can remain conscientious in thought and action and effectively carry on China's great cultural legacy.

Preserving and fostering China's cultural heritage also demands a certain degree of cultural introspection. Chinese culture is not perfect. It is admittedly a work in progress. It must remain in step with the times. It needs to be critically engaged. It needs to be more open with respect to assimilating the positive elements of other cultures. In a word, it needs to be confident but not conceited; unassuming but not self-degrading. The Chinese people have furnished a culture with a remarkably long history. There is no question, then, that amid all of the cultural exchange, amalgamation, and even confrontation, China can usher in a new era of cultural virtue as we follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(An excerpt from XI JINPING: WIT AND VISION -- SELECTED QUOTATIONS AND COMMENTARY, published by FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS in 2015)