水墨纸本 镜心 123.5 × 62cm.?(48 ? × 24 ? in.) 臣林则徐敬书。 钤印：「林则徐印」、「少穆」、「解脱三昧」 鸦片战争之后，国门被打开，社会矛盾加重。然而思想上开始西化，向西方学习的新思想开始萌芽。这一时期，涌现了林则徐、魏源、龚自珍等一批放眼看世界的能臣。时道光皇帝还迷惑不解地讯问英军俘虏：「英吉利与俄罗斯是否接壤？」「英吉利与新疆各部有无旱路可通？」等可笑的问题，而此时的林则徐作为为放眼看世界的第一人。夜以继日地研究探求西方世界，「日日使人刺探西事，翻译西书，又购其新闻纸」，广泛招揽人才，「所得夷书，就地翻译」组织人翻译了英国人慕瑞的<世界地理大全>一书，命名为<四洲志>。并亲自学习英语。魏源同林则徐一样，既坚决反抗侵略，又重视了解和学习西方的科学技术。提出了「师夷长技以制夷」的口号。根据<四洲志>为基础编写了<海国图志>。此书传播了近代自然科学知识，开辟了近代中国向西方学习的时代新风气。以龚自珍为代表的文人士大夫开始觉醒，他是中国改良主义运动的先驱人物，他清醒地看到了清王朝已经进入「衰世」，是「日之将夕」；批判封建统治的腐朽，揭露封建社会没落趋势、呼唤改革风雷的风气。
同治皇帝当政时期，又出现了同治中兴。政治上出现了一个和谐时期，下开洋务运动。这时又涌现了一批洋务实干的人才。如曾国藩、李鸿章、张之洞等。在李鸿章的主持下，江南机器制造总局、金陵制造局、福州船政局、天津机器局等一批大型近代化军事工业相继问世。短短几年中，中国就已经具备了铸铁、炼钢以及机器生产各种军工产品的能力。为中国国防事业作出重要的贡献。这些洋务运动时期的实干家都为中国近代工作奠定了基础，为之后中国近代工业的春天铺平了道路。
The light beams through the darkness
It was after the First Opium War in 1842 that the horizon of the Chinese government has been broadened. Though the conflicts between various classes were fierce than ever. Nevertheless, the idea of imitating western culture emerged. At this period of time, ministers like Lin zexu, Wei yuan and Gong zizhen, became the first group of people who could see the benefits of learning from western people. Their thoughts were in the lead at that time. While the emperor in Qing Dynasty was still confusing by basic questions, Lin and his fellows have already been exploring the progress made by the western world. He recruited a great bunch of talents and scholars, by whom to translate the original language books. Under his instructions, “the Encyclopaedia of Geography” written by Hugh Murray was translated into Chinese for the very first time. They were resistant at western’s invasion while made a significant contribution to the revolution of Chinese culture, came up with “Subdue the enemies by learning from their advantages.” They Published “Atlas and Annals of Overseas Countries” based on the translation of “the Encyclopaedia of Geography”. They realized that the Qing government’s reign has come to an end and revealed a new chapter of China.
When emperor Tongzhi was in reign, a group of talents like Zeng guofan, Li hongzhang, Zhang zhidong started operating “Jiangnan Construction Center”, “Fuzhou ship-building Bureau”. A group of military-industrial complex emerged in China, which equipped China with abundant productive forces. These complexes made a remarkable contribution towards Chinese history, which laid a profound and solid foundation for China’s industrial construction.
