Abstract: Chinese modernization and Western modernization exhibit numerous distinctions. To genuinely grasp the essence of these distinctions and the historical inevitability of their emergence, it is imperative to conduct an analysis of the philosophical foundations of both models of modernization. Modern Western rationalism provides the philosophical theoretical basis for Western modernization, whereas Chinese modernization takes Marxist historical materialism as its philosophical foundation. The most significant distinction lies in the former’s adherence to the logic of capital supremacy and the latter’s commitment to the logic of putting people first. Chinese modernization is characterized by an emphasis on integration at all levels, which stands in stark contrast to the pervasive confrontation inherent in Western modernization. Furthermore, there exists a profound divergence in perspectives regarding humanity’s capacity to eliminate the various negative effects arising in the course of modernization. All these distinctions can be explained by the differing philosophical foundations they uphold-namely, that Western modernization is grounded in modern rationalism, while Chinese modernization is founded upon historical materialism.

Key words: Chinese modernization, putting people first, philosophical foundations, modern Western rationalism, historical materialism