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One of my strong interests is Asian history and particularly the history of the culture clashes and colonial conflicts of the 19th and early 20th Century. Another is wargaming and modelling miniature figures. Therefore it's only natural that I combine the two.
The so-called "Boxer Rebellion" was a conflict between China and several colonial powers in the year 1900. It stemmed from resistance to outside influence by the Chinese as well as the direct effects of colonial powers seizing control of parts of Chinese territory during the nineteenth century. When a secret society with mystical teachings and a belief in their own mystical powers and invulnerability rose up and began destroying foreign technology such as telegraph lines and railroad tracks as well as massacring foreign missionaries and their Chinese converts, several nations sent troops to put an end to the uprising. (The Chinese government itself, early on, sent troops to put down this movement, although later the government supported them.)
This secret society was known as Yi-he-chuan (義和拳) which translates as "The Fists of Harmonious Righteousness" or Yi-he-tuan (義和團) "The Society of Harmonious Righteousness." It's members studied martial arts although historians question how skilled they actually were and how much of their style was based in fact and how much in fantasy. (not an uncommon problem for all martial artists in all periods of history and all countries, by the way.) Because of their martial arts training, Westerns called them "Boxers" as they were said to be practicing "Chinese boxing," the common term at the time for what we now refer to as "kung fu."
When the Boxers surrounded and besieged the foreign embassy complex in Beijing, a complex whose presence, by the way, had been imposed on the Chinese against their will, and the Chinese military assisted them in this siege, a large relief expedition was sent.
US 6th Cavalry -a regiment of US troops participated in the conflict |
American infantry, marines and artillery. A battery of artillery known as "Riley's Battery" participated in the conflict with honors. They also fought in the Philipines. |