Boxer Rebellion
Beginning in 1898 peasants in China
began to band together and form a secret society known as the “I-ho ch’uan”.
This was also known as “Righteous and Harmonious Fists.” Members practiced
secretly the activities such as boxing and callisthenic rituals, thus giving
the group its name of “The Boxers”. The group believed that by practicing these
rituals, especially boxing, it would make them bullet-proof.
At
first the Boxers wanted to take down the Ch’ing dynasty, which had ruled for
over 250 years, and get rid of all foreign affairs which influenced China. This
would save the Chinese culture in which they though were being destroyed. In
late 1899 they massacred Christian missionaries and Chinese Christians.
By May
of 1900 an international force of about 2,100 U.S., U.K., Russian, French,
Italian and Japanese soldiers were sent to subdue the rebellion. In June of that
year, Emperess Dowager ordered all foreigners to be killed. Ultimately the
rebellion weakened the Ch’ing dynasty and made China a republic before
diminishing.
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