III. Rational Thoughts about China’s Cultural Modernization

There’s no great nation in this world that doesn’t have its unique culture, and no developed countries that don’t absorb foreign culture. The Chinese people is one of the world nations, and it’s traditional Chinese convention to learn and to create, and Chinese quality to respect the history and pursue the peace. The Chinese people before the 18th century was a creator of agricultural culture. The Chinese between the 18th and 20th centuries was a learner of industrial culture. And the Chinese in the 21st century will not persist in traditional culture, or blindly follow foreign cultures, but become a pioneer of advanced culture. When Chinese culture is highly developed, China will become stronger. So cultural modernization is a strategic requirement of cultural re-flourish and national revival. The strategic selection of cultural modernization concerns cultural re-flourish and the result of national revival.

1. History and current situation of Chinese cultural modernization

The starting of Chinese cultural modernization was about 100 years later than the world cultural modernization. The starting and development of Chinese cultural modernization were both affected by foreign cultures. The process of Chinese cultural modernization is a complex interaction process between traditional culture and modern culture, and national culture and foreign cultures. The historical stages of Chinese cultural modernization are basically consistent with the historical stages of Chinese modernization, roughly divided into 3 stages: the starting of cultural modernization (1840/60～1911) , partial cultural modernization (1912～1949) and all-round cultural modernization (from 1949 till now). Currently, China has not yet finished the first cultural modernization, but has contained many elements of the second cultural modernization; the modernization level of its cultural life has achieved the world primarily developed level, and its cultural competitiveness has catch up with the level of world medium powers.

Chinese cultural modernization cannot be divorced from traditional culture or international interaction. Firstly, Chinese culture has a long standing with marvelous achievements. For instance, the contention of a hundred schools of thought in B.C. 500 has laid a foundation for the Chinese culture; the cultural prosperity during Tang and Song Dynasties consolidated the position of Chinese culture in the world—in the agricultural era, Chinese culture had been at a leading position in the world for more than a thousand years. Secondly, the international exchanges of Chinese culture have never stopped. Liang Qichao believed that there were two high tides in Sino-foreign cultural exchange. The first tide referred to the exchange of religious culture in Han and Tang Dynasties, including the introduction of Buddhism into China and the sinicization of Buddhism; the second tide was Sino-western cultural exchange since the reign of Emperor Wanli in Ming Dynasty, including the introduction of western culture and natural science into China. Thirdly, some scholars believed that the modernization of Chinese culture can be dated back to middle or late Ming Dynasty. During middle and late Ming Dynasty (about the 16th to 17th century), the civil literature rose and early enlightenment thoughts emerged, with capitalism sprouting in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River; the progressive culture at this period was almost equal to the European Renaissance (Zhang Dainian and Fang Keli, 2004). 5 classical works of science and technology showed up in middle and late Ming Dynasty, namely, “Compendium of Materia Medica” by Li Shizhen (1578), “Complete Treatise on Temperament” by Zhu Zaiyu (1603), “Complete Treatise on Agriculture” by Xu Guangqi (1639), “Xu Xiake’s Travelogue” by Xu Xiake, and “Exploitation of the Works of Nature” by Song Yingxing (1637). Fourthly, the degradation of Chinese culture started in about the 17th century. In 1644, with Qing Dynasty replacing Ming, Chinese civilization witnessed another change of dynasty, almost leaving cultural innovation static. In the 17th century, scientific revolution and the Enlightenment took place in the Europe, leading to the gushing of new sciences and thoughts, thus making the Europe take the lead of entering the new era of industrial culture; however, China was still staying with agricultural culture at that time, making a greater gap between Chinese and western cultural progress. Fifthly, the 18th century was the watershed of the world cultural modernization, leading to greater and greater lag of Chinese culture. During the 100 years of the 18th century, the western world successively saw the happening of the Enlightenment (1680～1820), British Industrial Revolution (about 1763～1850), the American Revolution (1775～1783), and French Revolution (1789～1799), surely bringing about the booming cultural modernization; but at the same time, Qing Dynasty in China was jailing or executing authors when the imperial court believed them writing something offensive, and tried every means to keep to the feudalist culture and snuff out any act of cultural innovation. Thus, the western science and industrial culture were rising high and fast, while Qing Dynasty had reached the verge of perishing by persisting to its feudalist and agricultural culture. Sixthly, the two Opium Wars woke up Chinese civilization, but Chinese culture was still continuing its relative degradation. During the 19th century, Chinese cultural modernization had just started with great difficulty, while the western cultural modernization was growing in a leaping way. During the 200-odd years of the industrial civilization era, Chinese culture had lagged far behind the world advanced level, costing it remarkably.

Late Qing Dynasty was the starting phase of cultural modernization, when Chinese culture began to transform. First, progress in knowledge: introduction and dissemination of modern knowledge and science and technology, and development of Chinese science and technology. Second, progress in ideas: to raise progressive thoughts like learning strengths from foreign invaders, to apply western knowledge to Chinese situations, to enlighten the mass and to develop the country with industries. Third, progress in system: to establish modern systems, such as abolishing the imperial exams, setting up new-style schools, sending students to study abroad, building modern incentive and patent systems, and so on. Fourthly, cultural change: to abolish stereotyped writing and advocate colloquial writing, to advance reforms of characters and writing styles, and to develop modern cultural groups. Fifth, cultural transformation: to establish modern cultural facilities (press issuance, library and museum), modern publishing organizations and modern communication facilities (like post office and telegraph), to introduce western corporate culture and to establish modern enterprises. However, all these developments were quite limited.

The Republic of China was a stage of partial cultural modernization, and Chinese cultural modernization had a high tide then. First, progress in idea: New Culture Movement that advocated democracy and science, spread Marxism and carried out Three Principles of the People. Second, progress in system: to overturn the feudalist autocracy and set up the republic government, and to establish modern education and technology system. Third, progress in knowledge: developments of modern science and technology in China, including developments in astronomy, maths, physics, meteorology, geography, biology and engineering technology. Fourthly, cultural change: development of new literature, revolutionary literature and people’s art, and development of Chinese arts, new culture and science groups. Fifth, cultural transformation: cultural revolution against feudalism and autocracy; development of modern music and movies, and establishment of news agencies, broadcasting stations, modern organizations of scientific research and modern publishing organizations. The Chinese culture at that time was still focused on traditional culture.

The New China was the stage of all-round cultural modernization, seeing both ups and downs. First, progress in knowledge: Chinese science and technology achieved all-round development, with obvious enhancement of knowledge scientification and the national scientific quality. Second, progress in idea: implementation of new democracy, emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts; people had been greatly impressed by progressive thoughts like scientific and democracy, reform and opening-up, human-orientation, and granting different thoughts free expression and contention. Third, progress in system: system scientification, with gradual establishment of the market economy system, modern corporate system, and modern science and technology, education, information, culture and travel systems. Fourthly, cultural change: promotion of simplified characters and mandarin; development of people’s literature, public culture and online literature, as well as of cultural organizations and groups; changes in social culture, like marriage, family, garment, architecture, transportation, etiquette, tourism and leisure culture. Fifth, cultural transformation: establishment and completion of modern culture and system of science and technology facilities; cultural professionalization and industrialization; TV culture, Internet culture, urban culture and ecological culture; “the Great Cultural Revolution” having damages to traditional culture; rational protection of cultural heritages and cultural diversity.

In the past 100-odd years, Chinese cultural change mainly meant the change from agricultural culture to industrial culture, which falls into the category of the first cultural modernization. In late 20th century, China powerfully advanced informatization and ecologization. Currently, Chinese culture has contained the intension of the second cultural modernization, forming the pattern of co-existence of twice cultural modernizations.

In 2005, the international status of Chinese cultural modernization was roughly like this: among 131 countries, the modernization index of Chinese cultural life ranked the 57th, with the human development index ranking the 56th, both figures at the level of primarily developed countries; China’s cultural competitiveness index ranked the 24th, in the class of world medium powers; China’s cultural influence index ranked the 7th, in the class of world powers.

If we regard the 16th century as the budding of Chinese cultural modernization, the 17th and 18th centuries the halt, and the 19th century the starting, then the 20th and 21st centuries must be the all-round expansion of cultural modernization. If counting from the 19th century, Chinese cultural modernization would be a historical course that lasts for 3 centuries (from 19th to 21st century). If cultural modernization can be achieved in the 21st century, Chinese culture will return to the world leading position, and make new contributions to the progress of human civilization.

In the first half of the 21st century, Chinese cultural modernization will face both internal and external challenges. First, to try every method to meet all citizen’s demands in cultural life. Second, to raise the cultural creativity of the Chinese nation. Third, to enhance cultural competitiveness. Fourthly, to manage the non-profit organization of public cultural facilities. Fifth, marketization of cultural industries. Sixth, reasonable protection and utilization of cultural heritages. Seventh, to accelerate the healthy development of Internet culture. Eighth, to strengthen cultural exchange and protect cultural rights and interests. Ninth, rational understanding and treatment of cultural diversity. And protection of cultural diversity should not become the hindrance of cultural progress. Tenth, objective understanding of traditional culture and correct attitude toward traditional culture.

The Chinese nation has been standing in the east of the world for 5000 years, creating the Chinese culture. Although the Chinese culture has undergone rises and falls, it has persisted till today. It can sufficiently show that Chinese culture must bear some supreme traditions. Since the 16th and 17th centuries, the science and technology of China has lagged, so that China couldn’t create modern science by its own. It can also prove that there are some shortcomings in Chinese culture. The lag of Chinese culture in modern times must be attributed to political and economic factors, as well as ideological ones (Zhang Dainian, 2006). Strengths in Chinese culture build the spiritual pillar for the Chinese nation to live and grow for 5000 years; defects in Chinese culture are important factors to the alternation of China’s ancient dynasties; and shortcomings in Chinese culture make a significant internal factor to the fall of China in modern times. Chinese cultural modernization in the 21st century requires inheritance and development of strengths in Chinese culture, and integration of excellences from world cultures to create an advanced culture for the knowledge era, so that all Chinese people can enjoy world advanced level of cultural life and diversified cultural lifestyles. We shall be cautious of selecting developmental strategy to achieve this objective.

2. Strategy selection for Chinese cultural modernization

In selecting the strategy for Chinese cultural modernization, we should abide by basic principles of cultural modernization, refer to the historical experience of world cultural modernization, and comply with the basic situations and international environment of China. There’ve been abundant studies and rich fruits about the strategy analysis of Chinese cultural modernization in the 21st century, done by scholars in studies of culture and cultural policies. From the aspects of science and modernization, this report stresses the analysis of the quantitative objectives, basic routes and strategic measures for the strategy of Chinese cultural modernization, so that it can be used as a supplement to previous work. Related contents here are just academic discussions but not empirical analysis, and the academic viewpoints here can only reflect the current knowledge level of the research group, just for public discussions.

(1) Strategic goal of China’s cultural modernization

According to the “Three-Step Strategy” raised by Deng Xiaoping, the national objective of China in 2050 is: to achieve the level of world moderately developed countries and basically fulfill modernization. It can thus be inferred that the national objective of China by the end of the 21st century is: to achieve the world advanced level and fully complete modernization. Cultural modernization is part of national modernization. So the strategic objective of cultural modernization should comply with the overall objective of national modernization. Corresponding to the national objective, the strategic objective of Chinese cultural modernization includes: around 2050, the modernization of cultural life should achieve the level of world moderately developed countries; by the end of the 21st century, the world advanced level should have been reached. But surely, it’s just a perspective, not the whole of the strategic objective.

After overall consideration, the strategic objective of Chinese cultural modernization in the 21st century can contain two periodic objectives. The first periodic objective is: before 2050, the modernization of cultural life should achieve the level of world moderately developed countries, with the first cultural modernization fully completed and the second cultural modernization started. The second periodic objective is: before 2100, the modernization of cultural life should achieve the world advanced level, with the second cultural modernization completed and cultural modernization fulfilled.

Quantitative objectives of the strategy of Chinese cultural modernization include the quantified objectives like the cultural life modernization index, cultural competitiveness index, cultural influence index, 24 cultural evaluation indicators and 30 cultural monitoring indicators. Detailed objectives include periodic objectives (for 2010, 2020 and 2050) and the overall objective for 2100.

(2) Route choice for Chinese cultural modernization

Generally, the routes of cultural modernization should correspond to the routes of national modernization. According to the suggestions of “China Modernization Report 2003”, the general modernization theory indicates that Chinese modernization should not simply follow the steps of western countries or try to catch up with them, but adopt canal route and canal strategy to promote twice modernizations coordinately, then gradually catching up with the advanced level of developed countries.

Canal route is a visualized expression of the integrated modernization route. It’s so called because it’s like digging a “modernization canal” between industrial and knowledge civilizations, industrial and knowledge societies, and industrial and knowledge economies; by following this canal, we can aim at the future world advanced level to promote twice modernizations coordinately, and catch up with the expected level. So after overall consideration, Chinese cultural modernization can adopt the canal route.

The basic idea of integrated cultural modernization route is: In the first half of the 21st century, we can apply principles of integrated cultural modernization and canal route to, in harmony, promote two cultural modernizations, as well as industrial culture, Internet culture, ecological culture, innovation culture, harmony culture, cultural industries and protection of cultural heritages, and further develop knowledge culture and enhance cultural creativity and competitiveness, so as to achieve the level of world moderately developed countries in the modernization of cultural life, and basically achieve cultural modernization; in the second half of the 21st century, we should make every effort to boost the second cultural modernization and catch up with the world advanced level of cultural life modernization, having cultural creativity and competitiveness ranking top in the world and fully realizing cultural modernization.

(3) The road map of Chinese cultural modernization

The road map of cultural modernization is a strategic planning to realize strategic objectives, and a systematic integration of strategic objective, basic route and strategic measures of cultural modernization. The road map of Chinese cultural modernization in the 21st century consists of 7 parts: the strategic objective, the basic task, the basic route, the monitoring indicator system, the cultural life monitoring, the cultural competitiveness monitoring, and the strategic measures.

Firstly, strategic objective. Cultural modernization should be basically realized before 2050, with the cultural life modernization reaching the level of world moderately developed countries in the year, the cultural life modernization index ranking among top 40 of the world, and the cultural competitiveness achieving the class of world powers. Before 2100, cultural modernization should be fully realized, with the cultural life modernization reaching world advanced level, the cultural life modernization index ranking among top 20 of the world, and cultural competitiveness coming top of the world.

Secondly, basic task. The modernization level of Chinese cultural life should leap over two steps, namely, developing from the primarily developed level to moderately developed level, then upgraded to the world advanced level. Chinese cultural competitiveness should also advance by two steps, namely, growing from a world medium power to a world power, then listed among the top powers of the world. The world rank of Chinese cultural life modernization index should be advanced by about 40 places; for the first half of the 21st century, it should be pushed on by about 20, then another 20 for the second half of the century.

Thirdly, basic route. Based on cultural modernization principles, to apply integrated cultural modernization route to promote twice cultural modernizations coordinately, accelerate the transformation to knowledge culture, and catch up with the world advanced level of cultural modernization.

Fourthly, monitoring indicator system. The monitoring indicators include indexes of two categories, namely, cultural life modernization and cultural competitiveness monitoring. There’re 6 sub-categories for each category, and each sub-category holds 5 indicators The monitoring indicator system is made up of 3 layers, 2 categories, 6 sub-categories and 30 indicators.

Fifthly, cultural life monitoring. The process monitoring for cultural life modernization is mainly focused on the developments in 3 aspects: cultural production, consumption and facilities, having 15 monitoring indicators in total. Cultural production supplies contents for cultural life, cultural facilities offers tools to cultural life, and cultural consumption directly reflects the level of cultural life.

Sixthly, monitoring of cultural competitiveness. Emphasis is placed mainly on 3 aspects for this purpose: cultural resource, cultural industry and cultural trading, holding 15 monitoring indicators altogether. Cultural resource is the foundation of cultural competitiveness, cultural industry is the entity of cultural competition, and cultural trading represents the market competitiveness of culture.

Seventhly, strategic measures. In view of “people orientation” and modernization, in the future 50 years, Chinese cultural modernization can be focused on cultural life, cultural contents, cultural system and cultural idea, among which the modernization of cultural life should hold the top priority, with modernization of cultural contents and cultural competitiveness promoted at the same time.

In the aspect of cultural life modernization, importance should be attached to enhancing promotion of the modernization of cultural idea, cultural supply and cultural consumption, including 8 measures and 48 policy proposals. The measures for the modernization of cultural supply include: promotion of cultural production modernization to lay the foundation of cultural supply; promotion of cultural dissemination modernization to broaden channels of cultural supply; promotion of cultural service modernization to expand the selectivity and participation possibility; promotion of modernization of cultural policy to enhance satisfaction about cultural supply. Measures for the modernization of cultural consumption are: promotion of cultural demand modernization to cultivate healthy cultural consumption concepts; promotion of the modernization of cultural consumption mode to enhance the quality of culture life; promotion of professional culture modernization to create the professional credit in the knowledge era; promotion of the modernization of behavioral culture to form a state of politeness in the knowledge era.

In the respect of cultural contents modernization, this report discusses 3 strategies, 10 measures and 52 policy proposals, concerning the three aspects of traditional culture, cultural creation and cultural exchange. There’re 4 measures included in the cultural inheritance strategy: the project of traditional culture identification, the project of cultural heritage protection, the project of national culture inheritance, and the project of national culture re-formation. 3 measures were raised for the strategy of cultural innovation: implementation of the national “cultural innovation program”, building of cultural innovation system, and promotion of 6 action plans of cultural innovation. The cultural reciprocity strategy consists of 3 measures: the project of world culture identification, the project of world culture collection, and the project of world culture transformation.

As for the cultural competitiveness, this report analyzes 3 strategies, 9 measures and 56 policy proposals. The strategy of cultural talents includes 3 measures: cultural talent cultivation, civil cultural quality and cultural ecology building. The strategy of cultural industries holds 3 measures: modernization, marketization and internationalization of cultural industries. The strategy of cultural trading boasts 3 measures: cultural trading strategy, cultural export strategy and cultural import strategy.

The cultural life modernization in today’s China requires observing basic principles for cultural modernization and the people-centered scientific outlook on development, and meeting the need of building a harmonious society. ① The modernization of cultural life is both a world trend and a cultural choice. If we choose the modernization of cultural life, we can possibly catch up with the world advanced level of the modernization of cultural life. If we don’t choose cultural modernization we may adhere to the traditional culture or the old cultural lifestyle, thus leaving greater gap between our and the world advanced level in the modernization of cultural life. ② Cultural choice is a natural right of a person, which should be fully respected and protected by law. ③ The cultural choice of any individual should not violate national regulations and social criteria, or affect the cultural choice and cultural rights and interests of others. ④ Individuals have the right to cultural choice; individuals have to take on the consequence of cultural choice; individuals cannot shift the consequence of their own choice to others or to the society. ⑤ There’re two requirements about social progress: to encourage individuals to choose modernization of cultural life and to protect cultural heritages and cultural diversity; governmental management should shoulder two responsibilities: promotion modernization of cultural life and promotion of cultural progress and harmony. ⑥ As for individuals and groups that choose modernization of cultural life, the society and the country may take active measures to enhance the level of modernization of cultural life. ⑦ As for individuals and groups that don’t choose modernization of cultural life, the society and the government may respect their choice. ⑧ As to individuals and groups who retain the traditional culture, if this complies with the policy of protecting cultural heritages and cultural diversity, measures for cultural heritage protection can be taken; if it accords with regulations about social welfare policy, the measure of social welfare can be taken; and their basic living standards should be guaranteed and gradually promoted.

3. Policy proposal for Chinese cultural modernization

According to basic principles of cultural modernization and based on the historical experience of the world cultural modernization, China may choose the route of integrated cultural modernization and implement the strategy of road map for cultural modernization for its cultural modernization in the 21st century, so as to catch up with the world advanced level of cultural life. The road map of Chinese cultural modernization adopts the strategic layout of “one body and two wings”. The body is modernization of cultural life, with modernization of cultural content and enhancement of cultural competitiveness as two wings, featuring 27 strategic measures and more than 150 policy proposals (some proposals overlap). From the aspect of their operation, these proposals can be categorized as: civil cultural quality, Chinese culture re-flourish and Chinese culture protection. The policy outlines for the 3 aspects are listed below. For details, please refer to Section 4 of Chapter 3 in this report.

1. Implementation of “National Cultural Literacy Agenda” to enhance the quality of cultural life

(1) To continue with the implementation of “Outline of National Scientific Literacy Action Plan” to enhance the civil scientific cultural literacy;

(2) To discuss about the implementation of “Outline of National Humane Literacy Action Plan” to enhance the civil humanistic cultural literacy;

(3) To carry out the project of professional culture formation to enhance the quality of professional culture and build up the professional credit for the knowledge era;

(4) To implement the project of building a state of politeness to promote the quality of behavioral culture and build up the behavioral civilization for the knowledge era;

(5) To set up the system of free and open summer cultural festivals to enrich urban cultural life and enhance cultural competitiveness;

(6) To set up the system of free visit to urban cultural facilities to enrich the public cultural life and add to the urban attraction;

(7) To establish the system of government procurement of cultural services to supply them to the countryside for free and enhance the regional equilibrium of cultural life;

(8) To build up a pluralistic cultural investment mechanism to enhance the proportion of cultural expenses in the government, reaching 1% to 3%.

2. Implementation of the “Re-flourish Strategy of Chinese Culture” to enhance cultural competitiveness

(1) To implement the strategy of cultural inheritance by publishing the “Encyclopedia of Chinese Cultural Heritages” to build up a power of cultural resources;

(2) To implement the strategy of cultural innovation and start up the national “Project of Cultural Innovations and build up the cultural innovation system and a power of cultural innovation;

(3) To implement the cultural reciprocity strategy, to accommodate cultural cream, create cultural essence to build up a nation of cultural charm.

(4) To implement the strategy of strengthening China with cultural talents, enhance cultural creativity and build up a power of cultural talents;

(5) To implement the strategy of strengthening China with cultural industries, enhance the competitiveness of cultural industries and build up a power of cultural industries.

(6) To implement the strategy of strengthening China with cultural trading, enhance the competitiveness of cultural trading and build up a power of cultural trading.

3. Implementation of the “Project of Essences of Chinese Civilization” to enhance cultural influence

(1) To implement the project of the Yangtze River Culture Reservation Belt to protect a historical miniature of the human civilization;

(2) To implement the project of the Yellow River Culture Reservation Belt to protect a historical epitome of Chinese ancient civilization;

(3) To implement the project of theme parks of Chinese civilization, to set up theme parks for the civilizations of 8 dynasties (Zhou, Chin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing);

(4) To implement the project of Digitalization of Chinese Civilization to build up a three-dimensional digital reproduction of Chinese civilization and online theme parks.

The building of Chinese cultural modernization is a complicated system project that can never be accomplished in an action. Different people must have different opinions about the strategic analysis and policy measures for Chinese cultural modernization, but different viewpoints can be complementary. If we look at this from the aspect of science and modernization, the road map of cultural modernization can be made a strategic choice. If we follow the strategic conception of the road map of cultural modernization, at late 21st century, China can possibly catch up with the level of developed countries at that time and realize modernization of cultural life in an all-round way. The bright future of Chinese culture is looming before our eyes.