Yan Fu introduced the thought by his translation, titled "天演論" (translation of "Evolution and Ethics" by T.H. HUXLEY) (published in 1898), and it dominated China in end of the century making phrases such as 'The best always win' (弱肉強食), 'the survival of the fittest' (適者生存)' and 'struggle for existence' (優勝劣敗) famous.
厳復が『天演論』（1898年刊）というタイトルで翻訳紹介したこの思想は、瞬く間に世紀末の中国を席巻し、「弱肉強食」「適者生存」「優勝劣敗」ということばが流行語となった。