The Opium war of 1839–42 saw the beginning of Western and Japanese invasions and exploitation of China which was humiliating to Chinese thinkers. The late 19th and early 20th century saw Chinese thinkers such as Zhang Zhidong looking to Western practical knowledge as a way to preserve traditional Chinese culture, a doctrine that he defined as "Chinese Learning as Substance and Western Learning as Function" (Zhongti Xiyong)."Modern Chinese Philosophy," by Yih-Hsien Yu, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, , http://www.iep.utm.edu/.
The Opium war of 1839–42 saw the beginning of Western and Japanese invasions and exploitation of China which was humiliating to Chinese thinkers The late 19th and early 20th century saw Chinese thinkers such as Zhang Zhidong looking to Western practical knowledge as a way to preserve traditional Chinese culture a doctrine that he defined as "Chinese Learning as Substance and Western Learning as Function" (Zhongti Xiyong)"Modern Chinese Philosophy" by Yih-Hsien Yu The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy  http//wwwieputmedu/