The Westernization Movement, also known as the self-help movement, lasted from 186 1 (the end of the tenth year of Xianfeng) to1894 (the 1960s to 1990s of19), which was launched after the signing of the Beijing Treaty in the Second Opium War.

According to different goals, sports can be divided into two stages: early stage and late stage. In the early days of the Westernization Movement, officials of the Westernization School in the Qing Dynasty held the aim of "learning from foreigners to control foreigners" and the slogans of "self-improvement" and "seeking wealth" to launch industrial movements nationwide. Later, the civil industrial sector added the slogan of "seeking wealth".

Officials of the Westernization School, represented by Li Hongzhang, Zeng Guofan, Zuo and Zhang Zhidong, advocated learning from western industrial technology and business model, and developing modern industry through official operation, official supervision and commercial operation, so as to acquire powerful military equipment, increase national financial revenue and safeguard the rule of the Qing court.