It was the year 1900, the Chinese dragon under the Qing had long bent under the boot of western imperialism. The empires of Britain, France, Portugal, Germany, Russia, The United States and Japan had already carved up areas of influences in the Chinese mainland. Most of the Western influence was restricted to the Chinese coast. European powers were also given rights to preach anywhere in China which insulted the staunchly religious Chinese. The whole period of Qing submission to foreign powers is referred to by various scholars as “The century of humiliation.” Britain and Portugal were the first European nations to establish influence over China. Britain having already established control over another ancient civilization next door, had fought two wars with Qing China over opium trade which resulted them in gaining control over Hong Kong and trading rights in various port cities.
European countries were largely successful in doing so due to their superior military technology, having invested resources into developing better firearms, ships and military tactics. Chinese failure in repelling such external forces can be largely attributed to governmental corruption and incompetence. The Qing military although large in number was far too behind in terms of technology, tactics, doctrine etc. With rampant corruption within military high command, the Middle Kingdom had become ripe for European exploitation. The year, 1898 was a rough one for the Chinese people, during which they experienced the flooding of the yellow river and various droughts, for which they blamed the Christian missionaries and foreign influence. Coupled with the 1895 invasion of Korea by Japan, resentment against foreign powers came to its boiling point. The Chinese people, having witnessed their great ancient civilization falling prey to western barbarians, had understandably grown resentful of western powers playing geopolitical chess in their homeland. One such group were The Righteous and Harmonious Fists, who were given the name “Boxers” by American Christian missionaries, due to their form of martial arts.
At first glance, they seemed like a motley crew of misfits, practitioners of martial arts, blending their training with ancient rituals. But beneath their seemingly unconventional exterior lay a deep-rooted conviction—an unwavering desire to defend Chinese traditions and eradicate foreign influence. Their fists, fuelled by patriotic fervour, rose as a symbol of resistance. As tensions escalated, the Boxers’ influence spread like wildfire, engulfing the populace in a wave of nationalistic pride. Their charismatic leaders, such as Princess Dowager Cixi, the Empress of China, exploited their growing popularity to further their agenda, uniting the disenchanted masses against the encroaching forces of imperialism. By declaring an imperial decree stating war against the foreigners, she effectively divided the Chinese military.
The rebellion found its epicentre in Beijing, where foreign embassies stood as symbols of Western domination. The Boxers, driven by an intoxicating mix of passion and desperation, set their sights on expelling the "foreign devils" from Chinese soil. Their actions were audacious, their intentions resolute—China for the Chinese. The summer of 1900 bore witness to the climax of the rebellion. The Boxers, armed with their fierce determination and a conviction that bordered on religious fanaticism, laid siege to the legations quarter—a fortified enclave housing foreign diplomats. Within those hallowed walls, a battle of wills raged, as Western powers and their Chinese allies stood united against the onslaught. For fifty-five grueling days, the world held its breath as the embattled diplomats clung to hope, their survival uncertain. The Boxers, fueled by their unyielding spirit, refused to be deterred, employing ancient techniques and mystical beliefs to bolster their cause. But as the siege dragged on, the weight of foreign firepower began to shift the tides. An eight-nation alliance was formed relieve this siege, consisting of 20,000 troops. The intervention of Western military forces proved to be the turning point. Empowered by superior weaponry and reinforced by their compatriots, the foreign troops launched a counter-offensive that shattered the Boxers' dreams of victory. The rebellion, once a fervent flame, now flickered on the brink of extinguishment.
As the smoke settled and the dust cleared, China stood at a crossroads once more. The foreign powers after ordeal, formed the boxer protocol, where all the military and governmental officials who had sided with the boxers were executed. The eight-nation alliance forced the Qing government to provide provisions for the stationing of foreign troops, to prevent such an event in the future. The Qing government reluctantly signed a contract to pay close to 450 million silver currencies to compensate for the supposed losses, which was more than its annual revenue.
The Boxers, though defeated militarily, had left an indelible mark on the nation's consciousness. Their resistance had rekindled the fire of nationalism, exposing the weaknesses of an empire lost in transition and galvanizing its people to seek a new path forward. The Boxer Rebellion served as a catalyst for change. It exposed the inadequacies of a stagnant empire and sowed the seeds of a revolutionary spirit that would later sprout during the Xinhai Revolution, leading to the establishment of the Republic of China. The rebellion became a testament to the enduring power of identity and the unyielding spirit of a people united in the face of adversity. Therefore, we can conclude that the Boxer rebellion was an instrumental event in Chinese and East Asian history.
Today, the Boxer Rebellion stands as a reminder of the complexities of history.
Comments