Around 1800 the signs of impending crisis in the Qing imperial order were beginning to be evident. After the mid-century a combination of immensely destructive internal conflict and humiliating foreign intrusion began to convince some intellectuals and statesmen that at least some elements of foreign learning had to be imported and used. This lecture looks at subsequent attempts to import science and technology from the west, and discusses the nature and varying degrees of success of the new institutions that were created for this purpose.Nike