This essay uses quantitative methods to examine the origins of the modern Chinese concept of revolution in late Qing and early Republican China. In this research the term geming (revolution) in modern Chinese political texts is quantitatively analyzed. This investigation is presented as a case study to illustrate the advantages of the use of databases in the study of the history of ideas. The author recognizes the effectiveness of the new research tools in the examination of the hypotheses and theories of the origins of ideas.