Zhang Jian (1853-1926), styling himself as Ji Zhi, also known by his literary name Se Weng, is a patriotic politician, industrialist, educator and pioneering innovator in modern China.
In 1950s, Chairman Mao Zedong said: “When we talk about the national industries of China, we should never forget four persons… in the area of textile and light industries, we should not forget Zhang Jian.”
Zhang Jian was born in 1853 (i.e., the third year of the Xian Feng Emperor) in Changle Town, Haimen County, Jiangsu Province. Exceptionally intelligent and talented, he could recite Qian Zi Wen1 even at the age of 3. One day at his 12, his private school teacher tested him by doing couplet matching. The teacher offered, “Riding a white house, a person is going from the gate;” Zhang Jian responded immediately, “Driving a golden turtle, I am coming from the sea.” Zhang Jian’s responding was wonderfully paralleled in structure and rhyme to the teacher’s according to Chinese couplet, thus the story became a popular topic among the people for quite a long time.
Zhang Jian began to take part in the imperial examination at the age of 15, which was rough and bumpy all the way from then on.
When he was 21, Zhang Jian’s family suffered hard times. With the help of Sun Yunjin of the Jiangning Taxation Bureau, Zhang Jian worked as a secretary in the bureau where he became acquainted with many teachers and friends with high reputation and began to show his talent. At the age of 23, Zhang Jian joined the command staff of Wu Changqing of the Huai Troops as a secretary in charge of confidential documents. During the time as an official aide, Zhang Jian went along to Korea with the troops, which were sent there to put down a riot. His ability and insight presented were very much appreciated by Weng Tonghe, a minister of the government of Qing Dynasty. Later, a teacher-student relationship was even established between the two.
In 1894 (the twentieth year of the Guang Xu Emperor), the government of Qing Dynasty granted an “En Ke”2 imperial examination. Following the direction of his father, Zhang Jian went to Beijing to take the examination. In the final examination held at the Imperial Palace, Zhang Jian won the first place, claiming the title of “Zhuang Yuan”, and was conferred the position of editor in the Imperial College, from there he entered the official circle. Soon thereafter, the Sino-Japanese war of 1894 broke out. Thirty-five persons of the Imperial College presented a petition to the emperor, which is known as the Petition for a Punishment on Li Hongzhang. Zhang Jian also submitted a petition to the emperor himself. This is known as the Petition Concerning the Prevention of Future Disasters on the Base of Finding out Reasons for Defeat and Li Hongzhang’s Removal from Beiyang. In the petition, Zhang Jian stated that inadequate preparation for the war is sure to result in a defeat, and a blind avocation for peace will inevitably endanger the country, thus initiating his concept of “saving the country by developing industry and education”.
In 1895, the government of Qing Dynasty signed the “Treaty of Shimonoseki” with the Japanese government, which allowed foreign businesses to open factories in the interior of China. Zhang Jian felt angry and worried: “The foreigners make money by selling us what we donate them. Is this any different than feeding a tiger with a person’s blood and follow up with his flesh? There is no protection against the interest of our country; our people are getting poorer and poorer. What are the sources for us to depend on?” Zhang Jian insisted that national industry be developed to resist the economic invasion of imperialist powers. Supported by Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Hunan and Hubei Province, Zhang Jian founded in Nantong, his hometown, Da Sheng Cotton Mill. This started his lifelong practice of “saving the country by developing industry”. Zhang Jian fully realized that “the prosperity of a country is based on the talented, and the talented derives from the development of education.” After obtaining a certain amount of profits, Zhang Jian devoted his great efforts to the development o f education, initiating his idea that “education is father and industry is mother” to develop the country and make the people prosperous. Establishing Nantong as a base, Zhang Jian developed a systemic theory and practice of regional autonomy, which he proposed to spread throughout Jiangsu Province and even all over the country.
In 1903, at the invitation of the Japanese consul in Jiangning (now Nanjing), Zhang Jian visited the Fifth National Industrial Exposition in Japan, and conducted an on-spot investigation meanwhile into Japan’s agriculture and education during his 70-day stay, which produced very positive results. In addition, the trip to Japan reinforced his idea of political reform. After his return, he actively devoted himself to the constitutional movement and became one of its leaders.
In 1911, Sun Yet-sen led the “1911 Revolution”. Zhang Jian followed the historical trend and determinedly switched from the constitutionalism to the republicanism. On January 1st, 1912, the Interim Government of the Republic of China was founded. Sun Yat-sen became the Interim President and appointed Zhang Jian the Minister of Industry.
In 1913, in order to realize his long cherished goal to strengthen the country and enrich its people, and carried out his “Deal of Cotton and Iron”, Zhang Jian accepted his post as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce of the Beiyang Government, and acted as President of the Water Conservancy Bureau at the same time. During a two-year period, Zhang Jian was in charge of agriculture, forestry, industry and commerce for the whole country. There were about 20 laws and regulations being issued under his command, concerning about industry, commerce, mining, agriculture, forestry, water resources, commercial fishing, animal husbandry, weights and measures, banking, securities and the introduction of foreign investment. This greatly developed national capitalist industry and commerce of the country.
In 1915, Yuan Shikai’s scheme to crown himself emperor was unmasked. Zhang Jian, after his failure in dissuading Yuan, resigned in anger and returned to Nantong. Thereafter, Zhang Jian devoted all himself to the development of industry, education, social culture and charities, and the practice of regional autonomy as well.
In 1916, Zhang Jian was elected the Chairman of the Shareholders’ Association of China Bank. In 1918, the Association for Equality of International Tax Laws was founded in Shanghai, Zhang Jian was made the Chairman of the Association. In 1920, Zhang Jian acted as the Chairman of China Mineralogy Association as well as the Chairman of China Engineers’ Association. In 1922, Zhang Jian was elected the President of Bank of Communication.
On August 24, 1926, Zhang Jian passed away and was buried in the southern suburbs of Nantong City. His tomb bears no name or inscription. Before his death, Zhang Jian prepared himself a couplet for the tomb door, which says, “By my death I have roughly finished all missions of my life; from my death I will willingly accompany the spirit of Five Hills.” Zhang Jian was hard working throughout his life. He was ambitious and strong willed, devoting all his life to the mission of “saving the country by developing industry and education”. The industry development is the foundation of his life-long career. With Da Sheng Cotton Mill as a center, he founded Tong Hai Cultivation Company, Da Da Stream Navigation Company, Fu Xin Flour Mill, Zi Sheng Iron Works, and Nantong Huai Hai Industrial Band, etc. He also invested in the Railway Company of Jiangsu Province and Zhenjiang Da Zhao Electric Light Plant. In the field of education, he set up Tong Zhou Normal School, Nantong Institute of Agriculture, Nantong Institute of Textile, Embroidery Training School, Nantong Museum, and Nantong Library, etc. His theories and practice of education played a significant role in the modern education history of China. Zhang Jian respected science, cherished the talented, supported the academic associations, advocated the policy that science should serve the social economy, and established lasting friendships with a lot of scientists. Associating the drama reform with social reform also proved Zhang Jian’s forethought. He established Nantong Drama School and Geng Su Theater. His friendship with Mei Lanfang and Ouyang Yuqian became a well-known story of the coupling efforts by both industrialists and performing artists to enlighten the society. Mr. Hu Shi once commented: “Mr. Zhang Jizhi is a great hero in the modern history of China. He independently explored countless new procedures, acted as a pioneer for thirty years… he brought benefit to one single place, but his influence extended to the whole country.”
Zhang Jian, always having the people in his mind and working whole heartedly for them, practiced all the way his idea of “saving the country by developing industry and education”, His ideas and practice are of great significance and influence even today.

1 Qian Zi Wen refers to a 1000-character essay, which was a popular studying material in the old time.
2 An “En Ke” imperial examination, in contrast with the regular imperial examinations administered every three years in Qing Dynasty, is a special imperial examination granted by the emperor in the occasions such as grant ceremonies or events of the imperial family so as to show the imperially bestowed bounties.

* Copyright: Zhang Jian, edited by Zhang Xuwu, China Industry and Commerce Publishing House