The self-strengthening reformists suffered a severe setback following China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, shattering their aspirations for implementing self-strengthening educational ideologies. Nevertheless, the impetus for “learning from the West” persisted and continued to vigorously challenge “Chinese learning”, which was regarded as the essence of Chinese education. Calls for institutional reforms, the Hundred Days’ Reform, and national salvation emerged as the dominant discourses of the era. Educational thoughts of rejuvenation, which represented the interests of the emerging bourgeoisie, emerged within this historical context.