Chang Chien (1853-1926) was a Chinese industrialist and social reformer who was chiefly concerned with finding a means to strengthen the Chinese nation at a time when it was threatened by foreign imperialism. His pragmatic reforms offered an alternative to the political methods of others.

On July 1, 1853, Chang Chien was born in the province of Kiangsu in central China. His ancestors had long been illiterate farmers. His father, however, acquired some education, and he enabled his sons to study for the civil service examinations. Chang passed the first of these trilevel examinations at the relatively early age of 15. But then his fortune changed, for despite repeated attempts he did not succeed in the third and last examination until 1894, when he was 41 years old. In that examination, however, he was ranked the highest--a distinction that brought him fame throughout the nation and promised him opportunities to rise to the...