Abstract

For a long time, when we discuss the rise of China, we always measure it mainly at the material level. As all previous experiences of the rise of great powers have proven, the rise of a country needs to be considered not only at the material and institutional levels, but also at the ideological level. Great power can hardly be regarded as truly rising without the accompanying rise of its own ideas. The importance of this phenomenon for a rising power is indisputable.

First, our ideas must explain what has been achieved so far and answer the question “Why has it been possible for China?” China's achievements since the reform and opening up have not been reflected at the ideological level. Not only have we failed to summarize and refine our successful practical experiences into concepts and theories, but we continue to judge our practical experiences by Western concepts and theories, which has led to a lack of soft power in our domestic and foreign affairs.

Second, our ideas should argue for the legitimacy of the current institutional system. The survival and development of an institutional system require both hard power, in terms of economic and technological development, and soft power, in terms of thoughts. As the German thinker, Hegel said, every age must have its own voice. This voice is both a reflection of the development of the times and the most powerful argument for the legitimacy of that development. If there is no ideological argument, then the most powerful hard force in the minds of the people will also be weak.

Third, our ideas should guide future development. In the midst of the unprecedented changes not seen in a century, with the world in turmoil and the country entering a new stage of development, we urgently need ideas that can guide the future, both in domestic and foreign affairs. The thoughts that will guide the future are not utopian but should come from China's successful and practical modernization experience. The reason that Chinese civilization has not been interrupted for thousands of years is that the tradition of Chinese thought has never been permanently disrupted, and even with a temporary interruption, it eventually reemerges. At a time of chaos, the ideas of Chinese civilization are not only necessary for the development of China’s new era, but can also provide an option for the next stage of the world's development.

Historically, Chinese civilization has experienced three rises of thoughts since ancient times: the first was during the Warring States Period (770 BC–221 BC) when “a hundred flowers bloomed and a hundred schools of thought contended”; the second was during the Tang and Song Dynasty (618 AD-1279 AD) when Neo-Confucianism rose; and the third was Sinicization of Marxism in modern times. Today, we have already made material preparations for the fourth rise, and all that is missing is the subjective effort. This report discusses how to realize the fourth rise based on a brief discussion of the three previous rises.