Practical learning thought began in the Song Dynasty and reached its climax in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which became the intermediary and bridge between China's ancient thought and modern thought. The ancient pragmatists in China advocated "being practical" and "doing practical things", but opposed to following the script and talking about "Hyunri" without being practical. China's practical learning is full of the reform spirit of "promoting advantages and eliminating disadvantages". Whenever there is a turning point in social development in history, practical learning will inevitably appear.

In history, some politicians with practical learning spirit put forward reform plans in time, launched social reform movements and promoted social development. Although the ancient concept of practical learning has become history, its Yuan Dian spirit is still deeply rooted in the cultural and psychological structure of China people, and it is a sharp ideological weapon for us to study the social development situation realistically and promote the cause of reform and opening up. The theory of "seeking truth from facts" advocated by Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping is closely related to ancient practical learning.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, practical learning, which originated in China, was introduced into Japan, South Korea and Viet Nam, becoming an international academic. Practical learning played a positive role in the economic take-off of modern East Asia. China, Japan, South Korea and other countries have set up practical research societies to organize practical research.