In the same way that sinology developed in Europe, the foundation for China studies in the U.S. was aided by missionaries, who began arriving in China in 1830.
正和歐洲漢學發展的模式一樣，真正為美國漢學研究奠下根基的，是「無孔不入」、傳佈福音的傳教士們。從西元一八三○年開始，以裨治文（ElijahColeman Bridgman）為首的傳教士們陸陸續續抵達中國。