Twelve Lectures on the Renaissance of Chinese Culture

This book focuses on the theme of the “Renaissance of Chinese Culture” and addresses the pressing question of how to create a new form of human civilization. With an emphasis on preserving the distinctiveness of Chinese culture， the author systematically examines the intellectual and cultural development of China from modern times to the present. He offers fresh interpretations of major issues and reflects on the future trajectory of human society， concluding that Chinese civilization， founded on Chinese-style modernization， represents a more advanced form of human civilization. The author stresses that if one focuses only on the present， they’ll be distracted by various disturbances; instead， one must understand history and envision the future clearly to discern broader trends —seeing beyond clouds from a higher vantage point.

Guo Jicheng

Guo Jicheng holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Beijing Normal University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in history at the Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture at Northwest University. He is an associate professor at China University of Political Science and Law and a lecturer for the Beijing Municipal Lecture Group. Guo has dedicated himself to research in areas such as comparative studies of Chinese and Western cultures and the promotion of Chinese cultural heritage. Committed to supporting cultural dissemination through academic research and highlighting the value of scholarship through cultural outreach， he has gained wide popularity in recent years through in-person lectures and online videos that share the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

Each generation has its own mission and responsibility， its own role in history. Every person should cherish their nation’s history， write their own biography with purpose， and live up to the times and the vitality of youth.

The suffering found in history largely arises from a failure to recognize the major currents of one’s era and a lack of commitment to one’s responsibilities， which leads to societal decline， cultural decay， and national adversity.

This book reflects on and summarizes the past few centuries of Chinese modern history， intellectual history， and even the broader trajectory of human history， with the aim of learning from the past and paving the way forward.

My postdoctoral research focused on a specific area： the history of Chinese thought. Our nation has over five thousand years of civilization， and those who study history tend to approach issues with a long-term perspective. I believe that we must view problems through the lens of history， avoiding shortsightedness and not being swayed by immediate appearances. Historical research should span centuries， perhaps even longer， describing， perceiving， analyzing， and summarizing historical phenomena within such a broad timeframe. Only then can we gain depth， foresight， and the historical wisdom of “seeing beyond the clouds from a height.”

When we view today’s China through the river of human history spanning thousands of years， it becomes clear that we live in a truly extraordinary era. Why？ In the course of China’s thousands of years， this moment in which the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is within reach is a rarity. Some friends may say that China has seen its share of prosperous times， such as during the Wen-Jing or Zhen-Guan eras， so why describe this era as singular？ The greatness of an era is often linked to the broader context—especially the caliber of adversaries it faces. In history， whether in the Han or Tang dynasties， the adversaries that the Central Plains dynasties encountered were often nomadic peoples， whose overall level of civilization and social governance was relatively lower than that of the Central Plains. Although the victories and flourishing eras established by the Central Plains dynasties were magnificent， they cannot be equated with today’s context. Since modern times， the harshness of the environment and the strength of the adversaries faced by the Chinese nation have been unprecedented in both human and Chinese history. This historical progression is unprecedented， which is why I describe this era as unique.

Each of us is witnessing and creating a remarkable era. We are both observers and makers of history.

Living in such a grand era， we must learn to appreciate it. Of course， any era will have its own set of challenges. Some people fixate on these challenges and become filled with complaints， feeling resentful; others focus on the positive aspects of the times， moving forward with confidence and a constructive mindset.

A great era doesn’t simply fall from the sky; it’s built through the dedication and creativity of countless people. With the attitude of a responsible participant， we can see this era as filled with light， hope， strength， and an unceasing spirit of progress. This era can become a grand epic of our advancement.

Living at this moment in history， we must not disappoint our times; we must remain keenly aware of our responsibilities. This applies especially to young people， who should leave a lasting mark on this era. Opportunities are there for everyone， but to succeed in this time depends on how we strive.

Many people lament the lack of ideal circumstances， but I say， while external support is important， true growth depends more on our own efforts. As the saying goes， “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” Imagine a high-temperature environment full of coal： Some coal burns with great intensity because of its inner energy， shining the brightest. Each of us is like a piece of coal， and whether we ignite our potential to contribute creatively to our era depends on our individual efforts.

This book takes a perspective on modern Chinese history to explore the history of Chinese culture and global thought， aiming to shed light on history and discover the underlying logic that can guide the future. Those with life experience know that one cannot overstate the importance of history. In studying history， we often find that there is little new under the sun， and much of reality mirrors the past. This isn’t to suggest a cyclical view of history but to say that human nature and activities underlie history. Although times evolve， the lessons of governance throughout history are still relevant and instructive today. In all sectors， from business leaders to accomplished public figures， familiarity with history is invaluable. Only by studying history can we see the present clearly and look to the future with confidence. Through this learning， we gain historical awareness and foresight. This knowledge allows us to adopt the outlook of “scaling the heights to survey the mountains，” equipping us to stay steadfast and confident through trials.

Looking over five millennia of history and ahead to the future， our goal should be to create a legacy that lasts for a thousand years. Why on this scale？ Because history is divided into long， thousand-year periods. For example， the Xia， Shang， and Zhou dynasties created China’s first recorded institutional system， which lasted over a thousand years. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods， that system unraveled. From Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of Han to the fall of the Qing Dynasty， the imperial system of unified rule lasted two thousand years. We must draw upon， reflect upon， and learn from history to create a foundation that endures for the ages.

Faced with this enduring legacy， we must ask ourselves， generation after generation： How can we transcend the historical cycles？ How can we ensure the eternal vitality and resilience of the Chinese nation？ And how can we leverage China’s achievements to benefit humanity？

I firmly believe that the Chinese people will provide an answer worthy of both this era and history itself.