Reform Edict of 1839

The Reform Edict of 1839 was a law enacted in China aiming to modernize the country’s education system. It encouraged the replacement of traditional Confucian exams with new curricula that included Western sciences and technologies. The goal was to prepare students better for participating in a changing world influenced by Western ideas and industrial progress. This reform marked a shift towards more practical and diverse educational content, reflecting China’s efforts to balance traditional values with modern innovations for national development.