Wei Yuan

Wei Yuan was a prominent Chinese scholar and reformer in the 19th century, known for advocating modernization and self-strengthening efforts during a period of internal decline and external pressure. He emphasized the importance of learning from Western countries, especially their technology and military advancements, to strengthen China. Wei Yuan promoted collecting accurate knowledge about the world, including sciences and industry, to help China modernize and defend itself better against foreign influence. His ideas laid important groundwork for later reform movements aiming to modernize China's economy, technology, and institutions.