In the process of technological change and the development of a media society, the interaction and functional evolution between media and society are gradually intensifying. Interpreting the relationship between media, society, and people from the perspective of structural function is an important path for modern social media practice and theory. The function of Chinese media is constructed and developed in the process of the Chinese path to modernization, which is not completely equivalent to Western definition of media function and value, but has its own connotation, characteristics, and reference. Based on this basic position, based on rethinking western functionalism and developing communication science, this paper proposes to return to the real world and reveal the formation mechanism and core performance of social functions of Chinese media in China's specific social context, in the context of China's long history and culture, the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and the historical process of Chinese path to modernization. Based on the social system theory as the fundamental theoretical perspective and empirical materials, it is found that the social function of Chinese media is formed and constructed in a system of “unity and isomorphism” between the state, society, people, and media. Its unique function is mainly manifested in two aspects: 1) serving the country and social governance, providing systematic government services; 2) shaping modern lifestyles and promoting human modernization.