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Confucianism in the Sinicization of Marxism under Xi Jin-ping.
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Abstract
Under Xi Jin-ping, the inheritance and promotion of traditional Chinese culture, particularly Confucian elements, have become an important component of the Sinicization of Marxism. However, the mechanisms through which Confucianism has been reinterpreted and integrated into the ideological framework of the Communist Party of China (CPC) remain insufficiently explored. This article examines how the CPC, with Xi Jinping as its core leader, has reinterpreted, integrated, and applied Confucian elements during the period from 2013 to 2026. Employing a qualitative research design, the study combines qualitative content analysis, historical-comparative analysis, and policy analysis based on 22 official speeches and documents by Xi Jin-ping, together with Party documents, legal texts, and related materials. The findings show that Confucian values have been selectively reinterpreted within the framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics and gradually institutionalized in the fields of law, education, social governance, and foreign affairs. The study argues that this process represents a form of selective integration that expands the cultural resources of the CPC’s ideological system while strengthening its political legitimacy.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Keywords
Confucianism, legitimacy, Marxism, Sinicization, Xi Jinping
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