Several of the most popular areas of research, such as the encroachment of Western imperialism on China, Christianity in China, Chinese political philosophy and the spread of education were all aimed at gaining a quick understanding of modern China, and areas not related to contemporary China were neglected.
幾個最「流行」的論題，像是西方帝國主義如何侵略中國、基督教在中國、中國傳統的政治哲學和平民教育… … 等，無一不是為了能盡快瞭解「現代中國」，至於和現代中國無關的論題，就難免被視為冷門，乏人問津。