China's industrialization from 1874 to 1927 was driven by internal factors like the weak agrarian economy, not just external influences from Western countries. Statistical analysis shows that China's industrialization was a response to foreign pressures and the need to strengthen its own economy. This challenges the idea that industrialization should follow a specific path, like Rostow's stages of growth theory. The study suggests that China's industrialization was a self-strengthening movement in a colonized economy, highlighting the importance of considering historical context in understanding economic development.