Tao Shu was a prominent statesman and economic reformer during the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns of the Qing dynasty. His theories and practices in areas such as grain transport, salt administration, fiscal policy, and currency reform had a profound impact on modern Chinese economic thought and the country’s early modernization efforts. This paper, grounded in a global perspective, systematically reviews the current state of research on Tao Shu’s economic thought, with particular attention to Chinese scholarship regarding his theoretical contributions, policy initiatives, and historical role. More importantly, it offers the first concentrated presentation of Western academic perspectives on Tao Shu and his reforms, aiming to highlight the multidimensional value of his thought on an international stage. Through this, the study seeks to expand the global reach of Chinese economic intellectual history and promote renewed recognition of traditional Chinese economic thought within the broader world intellectual system.
S. P. Hu (Mon,) studied this question.