Zhang Jingsheng was a Chinese philosopher and sexologist born in Raoping County, Guangzhou. He came from a merchant family and attended Whampoa Military Primary School, where he supported the Tongmenghui revolutionaries. After being expelled from Whampoa, Zhang met Sun Yat-sen and enrolled at the Imperial University of Peking. Zhang was known for promoting European theories such as social Darwinism, scientific racism, and eugenics in China. He was involved with the Beijing Tongmenghui group but chose not to take a political role after the 1911 Revolution, opting instead to continue his studies in France.