1900 National Upheaval
Encyclopedia
1900 National Upheaval (Chinese:庚子国变记) is a book published in 1923, written by Li Xishen (1864-1905)(Chinese:李希圣), a Qing Dynasty
author. The book gives a detailed account of major events around the time of the Boxer Rebellion
, and is widely quoted by Chinese historian Hou Yijiat (Chinese:侯宜傑) and Professor Yuan Weishi. The book has been reprinted many times by different publishers throughout the years.
staging a political coup against the Guangxu Emperor
by publicly claiming that the Emperor is gravely ill. As the foreign powers do not trust the Dowager, a western doctor examines the Emperor in the presence of foreign diplomats, and proves the claim is false. After Kang Youwei
and Liang Qichao
went into exile, the Dowager offers a bounty of 100,000 tael of gold for the capture of Kang, who is then protected by the British diplomats. The Dowager resents the interference of the foreign powers, and, feeling threatened, she vows revenge.
Grand Scholar Ganyi and Prince Duan were staunch supporters of Righteous Harmony Society Boxers
, with the support of the Dowager, tens of thousands of Yihetuan boxers began to roam the streets of Peking, and they publicly advocated the hatred towards Christianity, while accusing Guangxu Emperor
as the headman of the Christian Church and the dragon, Prince Qing and Li Hongzhang
the two tigers, all three were on the assassination list of the boxers.
On the 18th day May 1898 (lunar calendar), Yihetuan boxer bandits went inside of Xuan Wu Gate, torching many Churches. The Xuan Wu Gate was closed in the daytime, Peking was plunged into chaos. On the 20th day May 1898 (lunar calendar), boxer bandits burnt 4000 plus shops outside of Zheng Yang Gate, this was the precinct of rich Peking merchants, the pinnacle of hundreds of years of commerce. The city wall was burnt, the fire lighted up the sky for three days and three nights.
On 1898, there were a number of Imperial Court sessions, when debates were conducted among Empress Dowager, Guangxu Emperor, Prince Duan, Gan Yi, and other ministers and Grand Scholars from the six Boards of the Manchu Empire, with Prince Duan and Gan Yi advocating that the Imperial Court should enlist Boxers as a military force to fight against the foreign soldiers, while Guangxu Emperor
was advocating the extermination of the rioting boxers, and he was supported by most of the Board ministers and Grand Scholars. Empress Dowager
then decided to issue Imperial Decree of declaration of war against foreign powers
, despite strong opposition from majority of the ministers.
Viceroy of Liangguang
Li Hongzhang
, Viceroy of Huguang
Zhang Zhidong
, Viceroy of Sichuan
Kuijun, Viceroy of Min-Zhe Xu Yinchao, Viceroy of Liangjiang
Liu Kunyi
, Yuan Shikai
plus other Imperial Court ministers made a joint statement to the Empress: "Do not wager on the rioting boxers, do not trust the cult, do not start a war." Rejecting all these advices, Empress Dowager then appointed prince Zaixun
and Gang Yi to be in the joint commander of the Yihetuan, who were then being fully enlist as an official Imperial military force.
On the 24th day (lunar calendar), the Imperial Court ordered Dong Fuxiang
to lead Qing Dynasty Wuwei Rear Troop
to siege and attack the foreign legations, with minister of Board of War Ronglu
overseeing the operation. At times tens of thousands of Yihetuan boxer rioters were roaming inside Peking City. The siege lasted 50 plus days, Dong Fuxiang
Wuwei Rear Troop
and the Dynasty Troop had 4000 dead soldiers, boxer bandits suffered light casualty. At the same time, Dong Fuxiang
soldiers and the Manchu Imperial soldiers began to loot and burnt houses, many Manchu court officials families were killed.
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
author. The book gives a detailed account of major events around the time of the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, and is widely quoted by Chinese historian Hou Yijiat (Chinese:侯宜傑) and Professor Yuan Weishi. The book has been reprinted many times by different publishers throughout the years.
Synopsis
The book begins with Empress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
staging a political coup against the Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
by publicly claiming that the Emperor is gravely ill. As the foreign powers do not trust the Dowager, a western doctor examines the Emperor in the presence of foreign diplomats, and proves the claim is false. After Kang Youwei
Kang Youwei
Kang Youwei , was a Chinese scholar, noted calligrapher and prominent political thinker and reformer of the late Qing Dynasty. He led movements to establish a constitutional monarchy and was an ardent Chinese nationalist. His ideas inspired a reformation movement that was supported by the Guangxu...
and Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao |Styled]] Zhuoru, ; Pseudonym: Rengong) was a Chinese scholar, journalist, philosopher and reformist during the Qing Dynasty , who inspired Chinese scholars with his writings and reform movements...
went into exile, the Dowager offers a bounty of 100,000 tael of gold for the capture of Kang, who is then protected by the British diplomats. The Dowager resents the interference of the foreign powers, and, feeling threatened, she vows revenge.
Grand Scholar Ganyi and Prince Duan were staunch supporters of Righteous Harmony Society Boxers
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, with the support of the Dowager, tens of thousands of Yihetuan boxers began to roam the streets of Peking, and they publicly advocated the hatred towards Christianity, while accusing Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
as the headman of the Christian Church and the dragon, Prince Qing and Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
the two tigers, all three were on the assassination list of the boxers.
On the 18th day May 1898 (lunar calendar), Yihetuan boxer bandits went inside of Xuan Wu Gate, torching many Churches. The Xuan Wu Gate was closed in the daytime, Peking was plunged into chaos. On the 20th day May 1898 (lunar calendar), boxer bandits burnt 4000 plus shops outside of Zheng Yang Gate, this was the precinct of rich Peking merchants, the pinnacle of hundreds of years of commerce. The city wall was burnt, the fire lighted up the sky for three days and three nights.
On 1898, there were a number of Imperial Court sessions, when debates were conducted among Empress Dowager, Guangxu Emperor, Prince Duan, Gan Yi, and other ministers and Grand Scholars from the six Boards of the Manchu Empire, with Prince Duan and Gan Yi advocating that the Imperial Court should enlist Boxers as a military force to fight against the foreign soldiers, while Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
was advocating the extermination of the rioting boxers, and he was supported by most of the Board ministers and Grand Scholars. Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
then decided to issue Imperial Decree of declaration of war against foreign powers
Imperial Decree of declaration of war against foreign powers
Imperial Decree of declaration of war against foreign powers was a 1900 declaration of war against the colonising powers: Russia, America, England, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, and Holland simultaneously. This declaration of war was one of the direct cause of the Boxer...
, despite strong opposition from majority of the ministers.
Viceroy of Liangguang
Viceroy of Liangguang
The Viceroy of Liangguang , fully referred to as the Governor General of Liangguang and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Manager of Waterways; Director of Civil Affairs , was one of eight viceroys in China proper during the Qing Dynasty of China...
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
, Viceroy of Huguang
Viceroy of Huguang
The Viceroy of Huguang , fully referred to as the Governor General of the Hubei and Hunan Provinces and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Director of Civil Affairs , was one of eight viceroys in China proper during the Qing Dynasty of China. The Viceroy had...
Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong ; Pseudonyms: Xiāngtāo , Xiāngyán , Yīgōng , Wújìng-Jūshì , later Bàobīng ; Posthumous name: Wénxiāng ) was an eminent Chinese politician during the late Qing Dynasty who advocated for controlled reform...
, Viceroy of Sichuan
Viceroy of Sichuan
The Viceroy of Sichuan , fully referred to as the Governor General of the Sichuan Province and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Director of Civil Affairs , was one of eight viceroys in China proper during the Qing Dynasty of China. The Viceroy had jurisdiction over...
Kuijun, Viceroy of Min-Zhe Xu Yinchao, Viceroy of Liangjiang
Viceroy of Liangjiang
The Viceroy of Liangjiang , fully referred to as the Governor General of the two Yangtze Provinces and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Manager of Waterways; Director of Civil Affairs , was one of eight regional viceroys in China proper during the Qing Dynasty of China...
Liu Kunyi
Liu Kunyi
Liu Kunyi was a Chinese official during the Qing dynasty and a native of Xinning, Hunan.-Biography:Liu was a holder the senior licentiate degree in the imperial examination system. He entered the Hunan army in 1855, and worked under Li Hongzhang during the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion...
, Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
plus other Imperial Court ministers made a joint statement to the Empress: "Do not wager on the rioting boxers, do not trust the cult, do not start a war." Rejecting all these advices, Empress Dowager then appointed prince Zaixun
Zaixun
Zaixun was a prince of the Qing Dynasty. His title was Prince Zhuang of the First Rank .-Biography:...
and Gang Yi to be in the joint commander of the Yihetuan, who were then being fully enlist as an official Imperial military force.
On the 24th day (lunar calendar), the Imperial Court ordered Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang , a Chinese, was born Gansu, China. He commanded an army of Chinese Muslim soldiers, which included the later Ma clique generals Ma Anliang and Ma Fuxiang. According to the Western calendar, his birth date is in 1839.- Religion :Conflicting accounts are given about his religion and...
to lead Qing Dynasty Wuwei Rear Troop
Wuwei Troop
Wuwei Troop was the first modern army of the Qing Dynasty consisted of infantry, cavalry and artillery, formed on June 1899 and trained by western military advicers, responsible for security of Peking City and the Forbidden City, with Ronglu as the supreme commander...
to siege and attack the foreign legations, with minister of Board of War Ronglu
Ronglu
Ronglu was a Manchu statesman and general during the late Qing dynasty. Born into the powerful Guwalgiya clan of the Plain White Banner in the Eight Banners, he was cousin to Yehenara Lan, who later became Empress Dowager Cixi...
overseeing the operation. At times tens of thousands of Yihetuan boxer rioters were roaming inside Peking City. The siege lasted 50 plus days, Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang , a Chinese, was born Gansu, China. He commanded an army of Chinese Muslim soldiers, which included the later Ma clique generals Ma Anliang and Ma Fuxiang. According to the Western calendar, his birth date is in 1839.- Religion :Conflicting accounts are given about his religion and...
Wuwei Rear Troop
Wuwei Troop
Wuwei Troop was the first modern army of the Qing Dynasty consisted of infantry, cavalry and artillery, formed on June 1899 and trained by western military advicers, responsible for security of Peking City and the Forbidden City, with Ronglu as the supreme commander...
and the Dynasty Troop had 4000 dead soldiers, boxer bandits suffered light casualty. At the same time, Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang
Dong Fuxiang , a Chinese, was born Gansu, China. He commanded an army of Chinese Muslim soldiers, which included the later Ma clique generals Ma Anliang and Ma Fuxiang. According to the Western calendar, his birth date is in 1839.- Religion :Conflicting accounts are given about his religion and...
soldiers and the Manchu Imperial soldiers began to loot and burnt houses, many Manchu court officials families were killed.
- http://www.observechina.net/info/artshow.asp?ID=21659
See also
- List of 1900-1930 publications on Boxer Rebellion
- Royal Decree of Qing Dynasty of 1900
- Imperial Decree on events leading to the signing of Boxer ProtocolImperial Decree on events leading to the signing of Boxer ProtocolThe Imperial Decree on events leading to the signing of Boxer Protocol is a royal decree issued by the Qing Dynasty in the name of Guangxu Emperor, as an official imperial statement on historical events such as Boxer Rebellion, Eight-Nation Alliance and Battle of Peking and Siege of the...
- HushenyingHushenyingThe Hushenying were a unit of 10,000 Manchu Bannermen under the command of Zaiyi during the Boxer Rebellion.-Summary:Hushenying can be translated as "Tiger and Divine Corps", "Tiger Spirit Division", or "Tiger Spirit Battalion"....
- Nine Gates Infantry CommanderNine Gates Infantry CommanderNine Gates Infantry Commander is a military post of the Qing Dynasty, in charge of safe guarding, and monitoring traffic and the opening times of the nine gates of the Peking City, namely Zhengyangmen, Chongwenmen, Andingmen, Fuchengmen, Xizhimen, Dongzhimen, Xuangwumen, Dehshengmen, Zhaoyangmen...
- Divine Engine DivisionDivine Engine DivisionDivine Engine Division was one of the three elite military divisions of the Ming Dynasty stationed around the capital Beijing. Established in the reign of the Yongle Emperor , its main purpose was the research and training in the use of firearms...
- 1901: The shadow of an Empire
- Divine Boxing: The real Yihetuan