Definition
Spiritualcivilizationistheprogressthatpeoplehavemadeinthesubjectiveworldintheprocessoftransformingtheobjectiveworld,whichismainlymanifestedinthedevelopmentofeducation,science,andculturalknowledgeandpeople’sthinking,Theimprovementofpoliticalandmoralstandards.Thesocialistspiritualcivilizationandthespiritualcivilizationinhistoryhavebothhistoricalconnectionsandessentialdifferences.SocialistspiritualcivilizationisguidedbyMarxism.Itsdevelopmentrequiresmaterialcivilizationtoprovidematerialconditionsandpracticalexperience.Itsdevelopmentprovidesspiritualpower,intellectualsupportandideologicalguaranteeforthedevelopmentofmaterialcivilization.ThesocialistspiritualcivilizationisanimportantfeatureofasocialistsocietyandanindispensableaspectofasocialistsocietywithChinesecharacteristics.Aftertheentirepartyshifteditsfocustomodernization,theCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinahasrepeatedlypointedout:Whilebuildingahigh-levelmaterialcivilization,wemustworkhardtobuildahigh-levelsocialistspiritualcivilization.Thisisastrategicpolicyforbuildingsocialism.
Developmentprocess
TheearliestclearproposaltobuildsocialistspiritualcivilizationwasattheFourthPlenarySessionoftheEleventhCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaheldfromSeptember25to28,1979.YeJianyingpreparedtoProposedinaspeechatthecelebrationofthe30thanniversaryofthefoundingofthePeople’sRepublicofChina.Inthisspeech,YeJianyingsaidthatwhilebuildingahigh-levelmaterialcivilization,wemustraisethelevelofeducation,science,cultureandhealthofthewholepeople,establishloftyrevolutionaryidealsandrevolutionarymorals,developanobleandcolorfulculturallife,andbuildahigh-levelsociety.Philosophyofspiritualcivilization.Theseareallimportantgoalsofoursocialistmodernization,andtheyarealsonecessaryconditionsfortherealizationofthefourmodernizations.AttheCentralWorkingConferenceheldonDecember20,1980,theconstructionofspiritualcivilizationwaslistedasanimportanttopicforresearchanddiscussion.DengXiaopingpointedoutinhisspeechentitled"ImplementingtheAdjustmentPolicyandEnsuringStabilityandUnity":"Thesocialistcountrywewanttobuildmustnotonlyhaveahighdegreeofmaterialcivilization,butalsoahighdegreeofspiritualcivilization.""Thereisnosuchspiritualcivilization."Howcanwebuildsocialismwithoutcommunistideologyandcommunismmorality?”“Theso-calledspiritualcivilizationnotonlyreferstoeducation,science,andculture(whichisabsolutelynecessary),butalsoreferstocommunistthoughts,ideals,andbeliefs.,Morality,discipline,revolutionarypositionsandprinciples,comradeshiprelationsamongpeople,etc."
InJune1981,theSixthPlenarySessionoftheEleventhCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinareviewedandapprovedthe"AbouttheParty"ResolutionsonCertainHistoricalIssues"alsosummarizedtheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationasoneofthetenkeypointsoftheroadtosocialistmodernization,andforthefirsttimesummarizedtheparty’sgoalinthenewhistoricalperiodasbuildinga"modern,Ahighlydemocraticandhighlycivilizedsocialistpower."
InApril1982,DengXiaopingdiscussedthe"DecisionsoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaandtheStateCouncilonCombatingSeriousCriminalActivitiesintheEconomicField"atthePolitburooftheCentralCommittee.Hedeliveredaspeechentitled"ResolutelyCombatingEconomicCrimes",andforthefirsttimeproposedthattheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationisoneofthe"fournecessaryguarantees"foradheringtothesocialistroad.InJulyofthesameyear,DengXiaopingclarifiedthefundamentaltaskoftheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationinhisspeechattheforumoftheMilitaryCommission:Themainthingistomakeourpeopleofallethnicgroupsbecomeideal,ethical,educated,anddisciplined.Thepeople.InSeptemberofthesameyear,HuYaobangmadeacomprehensivediscussiononsocialistspiritualcivilizationinhisreportattheParty’s12thNationalCongress,pointingoutthatsocialistspiritualcivilizationisanimportantfeatureofsocialismandanimportantmanifestationofthesuperiorityofthesocialistsystem.Taketheconstructionofahigh-levelsocialistspiritualcivilizationasanaspectofourparty'sgoal.Itisastrategicpolicyofthepartytobuildahighlevelofspiritualcivilizationwhilebuildingmaterialcivilization.Healsopointedoutthatwhetherornottoadheretosuchapolicywillhaveabearingontheriseandfallofsocialismandthesuccessorfailureofsocialism.Thereportsummarizesthecontentofsocialistspiritualcivilizationintotwomajoraspects:ideologicalconstructionandculturalconstruction.Itpointsoutthatbuildingsocialistspiritualcivilizationisthetaskofthewholepartyandthecommontaskofallfronts;theideologicalconstructionoftheCommunistPartyissocialistspiritualcivilization.Pillarsofconstruction.
WhenDengXiaopingmetwithU.S.SecretaryoftheTreasuryDonaldReganonNovember17,1981,DengXiaopingsaid:Theso-called"highlycivilizedmeansthatpeoplemusthaveidealsandpersonalinterestsmustbesubordinatetotheentirecountryandnation.Wemustbedisciplined,ethical,andadheretoourtraditionaltraditionofhardwork.Otherwise,ourcareerwillbehopeless.
InOctober1984,theThirdPlenarySessionoftheTwelfthCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaadoptedthe"DecisionsoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaonEconomicSystemReform",whichputthecivilized,healthyandscientificlifestyleformedinthewholesociety,Toinspireapositive,upward,andenterprisingmentalstateasanimportantpartoftheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilization.
InSeptember1986,theSixthPlenarySessionofthe12thCentralCommitteeofthePartypassedthe"ResolutionoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaontheGuidelinesfortheConstructionofSocialistSpiritualCivilization."Theresolutionfurtherclarifiedthestrategicposition,fundamentaltasksandbasicguidelinesoftheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationinaccordancewiththeprincipleofcombiningthebasicprinciplesofMarxismwiththerealityofChina,andpointedoutthatthesocialistspiritualcivilizationguidedbyMarxismisasocialistsociety.AnimportantfeatureoftheChineseCommunistPartyisanindispensableandimportantaspectofasocialistsocietywithChinesecharacteristics.Buildingasocialistspiritualcivilizationisarequirementforresolvingthemaincontradictionsinasocialistsocietyandrealizingthefundamentalgoalofsocialism.Itisoneofthemostimportantguaranteesforustosticktothesocialistroadandcarryoutmodernization.Oursocialistspiritualcivilizationconstructionshouldpromotesocialistmodernization,promotecomprehensivereformsandopentotheoutsideworld,whichisconducivetoadheringtothefourbasicprinciples.Thefundamentaltaskoftheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationistomeettheneedsofsocialistmodernization,cultivateideal,moral,educated,anddisciplinedsocialistcitizens,andimprovetheideological,moral,andscientificandculturalqualitiesoftheentireChinesenation.InJanuary1996,theCentralCommitteedeterminedthattheconstructionofspiritualcivilizationismainlytheconstructionofideology,moralityandcultureasthemaintopicoftheSixthPlenarySessionofthe14thCentralCommittee.InOctober1996,theSixthPlenarySessionofthe14thCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinareviewedandpassedthe"ResolutionoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaonSeveralImportantIssuesConcerningStrengtheningtheConstructionofSocialistSpiritualCivilization."The"Resolution"clearlypointedoutthattheguidingideologyfortheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationis:guidedbyMarxism,Leninism,MaoZedongThoughtandDengXiaoping'stheoryofbuildingsocialismwithChinesecharacteristics,adheretotheparty'sbasiclineandbasicpolicy,andstrengthenideologicalandmoralconstructionDevelopeducation,scienceandculture,armpeoplewithscientifictheories,guidepeoplewithcorrectpublicopinion,shapepeoplewithanoblespirit,inspirepeoplewithexcellentworks,andcultivatesocialistcitizenswithideals,morals,culture,anddiscipline,Improvetheideologicalandmoralqualityandscientificandculturalqualityofthewholenation,uniteandmobilizethepeopleofallethnicgroupstobuildourcountryintoaprosperous,democratic,andcivilizedmodernsocialistcountry.
Guidingideology
The"Resolution"putsforwardthemaingoalofspiritualcivilizationconstructioninthenext15yearsis:tofirmlyestablishthecommonidealofbuildingsocialismwithChinesecharacteristicsinthewholenation,andfirmlyestablishtheadherencetothepartyUnshakableandfirmbeliefinthebasiclineofthePeople’sRepublicofChina;toachieveasignificantimprovementinthequalityofcitizenswithideologicalandethicalaccomplishment,scientificeducationlevel,andtheconceptofdemocracyandlegalsystemasthemaincontent,andasignificantimprovementinthequalityofculturallifewiththemainrequirementsofbeingactive,healthy,colorful,andservingthepeopleImproved,thelevelofurbanandruralcivilizationmarkedbysocialatmosphere,publicorder,andlivingenvironmenthasbeensignificantlyimproved;agoodsituationofcoordinateddevelopmentofmaterialcivilizationconstructionandspiritualcivilizationconstructionhasbeenformednationwide.
TheSixthPlenarySessionofthe14thCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaproposedthatthegoalofimprovingthequalityofcitizensandthelevelofurbancivilizationshouldbecarriedouttocreateacivilizedcity;thegoalistoimprovethequalityoffarmers,developawell-offsociety,andbuildanewsocialistcountryside.Carryoutactivitiesforcreatingcivilizedvillagesandtowns;forthepurposeofservingthepeopleandcontributingtosociety,carryoutactivitiesforcreatingcivilizedindustries.Itisnecessarytovigorouslypublicizetheadvancedcollectivesandadvancedfiguresthathaveemergedinthemodernizationdrive,andformanatmosphereofadvocatingandlearningadvancedinthewholesociety.Allactivitiesforthecreationofspiritualcivilizationmustseekpracticalresultsandresolutelyopposeformalism.TheplenarysessionalsodecidedtoestablishtheCentralMentalCivilizationConstructionSteeringCommittee.Allprovinces,autonomousregions,andmunicipalitiesdirectlyundertheCentralGovernmentmayestablishcorrespondinginstitutions.
AccordingtoaseriesofguidelinesandpoliciesoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaontheconstructionofspiritualcivilization,alarge-scalemassactivityfortheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilizationhasbeengraduallycarriedoutthroughoutthecountry.
OnFebruary25,1981,9unitsincludingtheAll-ChinaFederationofTradeUnions,theCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistYouthLeague,theAll-ChinaWomen’sFederation,andtheAll-ChinaFederationofLiteraryandArtFederationsjointlyissuedthe"ProposalonCarryingoutCivilizedandPoliteActivities"tothepeopleofthewholecountry,especiallytheyouth,Carryoutthe"fivestressesandfourbeauties"civilizedandpoliteactivitiesthatfocusoncivilization,politeness,hygiene,order,moralityandspiritualbeauty,languagebeauty,behaviorbeauty,andenvironmentalbeauty,sothatthesocialatmosphereandmoraloutlookofmycountry'surbanandruralareashaveafundamentalfoundation.Change.Subsequently,amassactivitytobuildsocialistspiritualcivilizationwith"fivestressesandfourbeauties"asthemaincontentwassoonlaunchedacrossthecountry.OnFebruary14,1982,theGeneralOfficeoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaforwardedthe"ReportontheIn-depthDevelopmentofthe"FiveEmphasisandFourBeauties"Activities"bytheCentralPropagandaDepartment,anddesignatedMarcheachyearas"NationalCivilizationandCourtesyMonth."OnMarch30,1983,theCentralCommitteefor"FiveStresses,FourBeautiesandThreeLoves"wasformallyestablished.
In1995,thePropagandaDepartmentoftheCentralCommitteeandtheMinistryofAgriculturecarriedoutactivitiestocreatespiritualcivilizationinruralareas,focusingonthecreationofcivilizedfamilies,civilizedvillagesandtowns,andcivilizedtownshipenterprises.Inthefourthquarterof1996,tenmajor"windowindustries"anddepartmentsincludingrailways,civilaviation,transportation,postandtelecommunications,health,domestictrade,electricpower,publicsecurity,construction,andfinancetooktheleadinimplementingthethemeof"ServingthePeopleandBuildingaNewTrendintheIndustry"Forthecreationofcivilizedindustryactivities,morethan150measurestoimproveservicesandmorethan300civilizedservicedemonstrationwindowunitshavebeensuccessivelyintroduced,whichhavereceivedgeneralattentionandenthusiasticsupportfromallwalksoflife.InJanuary1997,thepressannounced41spiritualcivilizationdemonstrationunitsinthenationalnewssystem,andthePressandPublicationAdministrationandChinaPublishersAssociationjointlyannounced10spiritualcivilizationdemonstrationunitsinXinhuaBookstoresacrossthecountry.InMayofthesameyear,tenmajorindustries,includingcivilaffairs,industryandcommerce,tourism,justice,andwaterconservancy,alsoannouncedtothesocietycivilizedservicedemonstrationunits,servicestandardsandsupervisionmeasures.
InMarch1997,thedemonstrationsitesforthecreationofcivilizedcitiesandcivilizedvillagesandtownswereofficiallylaunched.TheCentralPropagandaDepartmentannounced100demonstrationsitesforthecreationofcivilizedcitiesand200demonstrationsitesforthecreationofcivilizedvillagesandtowns.Thecivilizedcitydemonstrationsiteshave55communities,44streetsand3urbanareas.Thedemonstrationsitesofcivilizedvillagesandtownsinclude50counties,50townshipsand100villages.Sofar,thethreemajoractivitiesofcreatingcivilizedcities,civilizedvillagesandtowns,andcivilizedindustrieshaveformedanetworkofdemonstrationsites,andtheworkofdemonstrationsiteshasbeenfullyrolledout.
Intheprocessoftheconstructionofsocialistspiritualcivilization,heroessuchasJiangZhuying,LuoJianfu,ZhuBoru,KongFansen,LiSuli,LiGuoan,ZouYanling,ZhangjiagangCity,JinanTrafficPoliceDetachment,andXuzhouCityhaveemergedonvariousfrontsacrossthecountry."FourSewers"andotheradvancedmodelsofthecreationofspiritualcivilization.
InJuly1997,the"SpeakingofCivilizationandBuildingaNewStyle"activitydeployedbytheCentralMentalCivilizationConstructionSteeringCommitteewasvigorouslycarriedoutthroughoutthecountry,indicatingthatthemassspiritualcivilizationcreationactivitiesaremovinginawiderrangeanddeeper.Expandandadvanceatthelevel.
Strategicposition
Highlydevelopedspiritualcivilizationisanimportantstrategicgoalofsocialistmodernizationandanimportantstrategiclinkintheconstructionofsocialistspiritualmodernization.Spiritualcivilizationisanimportantguaranteeforthedevelopmentofmaterialcivilizationandmodernizationintherightdirection.Thematerialproductionofsocietyisalwaysinseparablefromcertainsocialproductionrelations,andisalwaysaffectedandrestrictedbycertainsocialpoliticalthoughtsandmoralconcepts.Modernizationcannotdeviatefromthedirectionofsocialism.Thesocialistspiritualcivilizationprovidesstrongspiritualpowerandintellectualsupportforreform,openingup,andmodernization.Thecauseofsocialismmustgivefullplaytoandrelyontheenthusiasmandcreativityofthepeople.Inordertoachievethis,inadditiontocontinuouslysatisfyingthepeople'smaterialinterestsandrequirements,italsorequireseducationinideals,beliefs,andmorals.Thesocialistspiritualcivilizationcreatesagoodandstablesocialenvironmentandsocialorderformodernization.Theformationofsolidarity,mutualassistance,equalityandfraternityinthewholesociety,theestablishmentofthelegalsystem,andthecrackdownonvariousillegalcrimesareconducivetocreatingagoodatmosphereforeconomicconstruction.ThesocialistspiritualcivilizationisalsoanimportantspiritualconditionforsocialistChinatowintheadvantagecomparedwithcapitalism,andtorealizetheChinesenation'stake-offintheworld.Throughtheconstructionofspiritualcivilization,vigorouslydevelopculturalandeducationalundertakings,acceleratethescientificmodernizationprocess,improvethequalityofworkers,andcultivatealargenumberoftalentsurgentlyneededinmodernizationconstruction,wecanensurethesmoothrealizationofourmodernizationstrategygoals.