The Way to Treat National Traditional Culture — On the Theoretical Similarities and Differences between Cultural Nationalism and China's Cultural Confidence

Abstract

In the 18th century, the German philosopher Herder, faced with the division of the German nation and the encroachment of French thought on German culture, put forward the theory of Cultural Nationalism, pointing out that the establishment of a unified nation should be based on traditional culture. China's theory of Cultural Confidence similarly emphasizes drawing sustenance from traditional culture to promote the construction of a strong social and cultural nation while enhancing national self-confidence. It can be said that both the theory of Cultural Nationalism and Cultural Confidence regard traditional culture as the key to unify the national spirit and resolve the difficulties of national reality. On the basis of sorting out the theoretical connotation, this thesis explores the ways of treating traditional culture in the new era by comparing the specific practices of the two in treating traditional culture.