The Boxers China And The World

In 1900, China chose to take on imperialism by fighting a war with the world on the parched north China plain. This multi-disciplinary volume explores the causes behind what is now known as the Boxer war, examining its particular cruelties and its impact on China, foreign imperialism in China, and on the foreign imagination. The Boxers have often been represented as a force from China's past, resisting an enforced modernity. Here, expert contributors argue that this rebellion was instead a wholly modern resistance to globalizing power, representing new trends in modern China and in international relations. This volume will appeal to readers interested in modern Chinese, East Asian, and European history as well as the history of imperialism, colonialism, warfare, missionary work, and Christianity.

A concise history of an uprising that took down a three-hundred-year-old dynasty and united the great powers. The year is 1900, and Western empires are locked in entanglements across the globe. The British are losing a bitter war against the Boers while the German kaiser is busy building a vast new navy. The United States is struggling to put down an insurgency in the South Pacific while the upstart imperialist Japan begins to make clear to neighboring Russia its territorial ambition. In China, a perennial pawn in the Great Game, a mysterious group of superstitious peasants is launching attacks on the Western powers they fear are corrupting their country. These ordinary Chinese—called Boxers by the West because of their martial arts showmanship—rise up seemingly out of nowhere. Foreshadowing the insurgencies of our recent past, they lack a centralized leadership and instead tap into latent nationalism and deep economic frustration to build their army. Many scholars brush off the Boxer Rebellion as an ill-conceived and easily defeated revolt, but in The Boxer Rebellion and the Great Game in China, the military historian David J. Silbey shows just how close the Boxers came to beating back the combined might of the imperial powers. Drawing on the diaries and letters of allied soldiers and diplomats, he paints a vivid portrait of the war. Although their cause ended just as quickly as it began, the Boxers would inspire Chinese nationalists—including a young Mao Zedong—for decades to come.

Chinese peasants chafed against the foreign technologies and ideas that the imperialists introduced. Then a new movement-mystical, materialistic, and virulently anti-Christian-began to spread among them like wildfire. The foreigners laughed at the peasants' martial-arts routines and nicknamed them "the Boxers"-never imagining that the group, with the backing of China's empress dowager, would soon terrorize the world...This acclaimed account of the Boxer Rebellion, by an Oxford-trained historian, is an important new addition to every shelf of high-quality, highly accessible history.

In the summer of 1900, bands of peasant youths from the villages of north China streamed into Beijing to besiege the foreign legations, attracting the attention of the entire world. Joseph Esherick reconstructs the early history of the Boxers, challenging the traditional view that they grew from earlier anti-dynastic sects, and stressing instead the impact of social ecology and popular culture.

In the summer of 1900, bands of peasant youths from the villages of north China streamed into Beijing to besiege the foreign legations, attracting the attention of the entire world. Joseph Esherick reconstructs the early history of the Boxers, challenging the traditional view that they grew from earlier anti-dynastic sects, and stressing instead the impact of social ecology and popular culture.

Excerpt from China and the Boxers: A Short History on the Boxer, Outbreak, With Two Chapters, on the Sufferings of Missionaries Aries and a Closing One on the Outlook After being forced to leave his work in China, the author felt compelled to publish in popular form a reliable book on the "Boxers," their origin, outrages and the world-wide commotion they have caused. As there had been many wild and groundless reports, he tried to ascertain the real facts and give to his readers the thrilling events as they occurred in order. The Boxer movement has been one of the greatest crimes of the nineteenth century. It has paralyzed not only China, but the world. Nor is the end yet in view. Every one should study to know the real cause of the present trouble, and so watch with interest future developments. There is now no doubt but that there was planned in Peking by the heads of the Chinese Government one of the most fiendish conspiracies to drive out or exterminate all foreigners and Western civilization, and also stamp out every trace of Christianity from among the natives. Their plans were kept secret for a long time, but documents have been secured which implicate the highest officials. Instances were found where Governors and Viceroys offered and even paid for the heads of foreigners from $30 to $100 per head. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Immerse yourself in naval history with The World's Navies in the Boxer Rebellion (China 1900) by Charles Cabry Dix. This informative work provides a detailed account of naval operations during one of China's most tumultuous periods. Dix's expert analysis and vivid descriptions bring to life the strategies, conflicts, and heroics of the world's navies during the Boxer Rebellion. The World's Navies in the Boxer Rebellion (China 1900) is a fascinating read for anyone interested in naval warfare and history. Embark on a historical journey with The World's Navies in the Boxer Rebellion (China 1900). Order your copy today and delve into the compelling history of naval operations.