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The so-called '''Boxer Rebellion''' occurred in [[China]] in 1899-1900. The uprising was prompted by [[xenophobia|xenophobic]] resentment of the increasing numbers of [[Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] in north China and from popular outrage at the failure of the [[Qing]] court to effectively resist the depredations of foreign powers in China (which had been increasing in scope since the [[Opium War]] of 1839-42). The lack of openness to the Christian message on the part of the Chinese authorities - both imperial and commmunist - has been a source of much misfortune to the population of that country throughout history.

The so-called '''Boxer Rebellion''' occurred in [[China]] in 1899-1900. The uprising was prompted by [[xenophobia|xenophobic]] resentment of the increasing numbers of [[Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] in north China and from popular outrage at the failure of the [[Qing]] court to effectively resist the depredations of foreign powers in China (which had been increasing in scope since the [[Opium War]] of 1839-42).  

The Boxer movement was known in Chinese as the 'Society of Righteous (or Harmonious) Fists', and it practiced a martial art which appeared much like sparring to western observers, hence its western name. It built upon a tradition of secret society activity among the lower orders of society and dispossessed intelligentsia, and initially adopted the slogan 'destroy the Qing, restore the Ming' (the Qing being the non-[[Han]] Chinese 'Manchu' dynasty; the [[Ming]], predecessors of the Qing, being ethnic Han Chinese). The Boxer movement arose at a time of division and faction in the Qing court, and anti-Western courtiers believed that it could be harnessed as a means of overcoming foreign influence. Slowly a new slogan prevailed among the Boxers, 'Support the Qing, destroy the foreigners'.  

The Boxer movement was known in Chinese as the 'Society of Righteous (or Harmonious) Fists', and it practiced a martial art which appeared much like sparring to western observers, hence its western name. It built upon a tradition of secret society activity among the lower orders of society and dispossessed intelligentsia, and initially adopted the slogan 'destroy the Qing, restore the Ming' (the Qing being the non-[[Han]] Chinese 'Manchu' dynasty; the [[Ming]], predecessors of the Qing, being ethnic Han Chinese). The Boxer movement arose at a time of division and faction in the Qing court, and anti-Western courtiers believed that it could be harnessed as a means of overcoming foreign influence. Slowly a new slogan prevailed among the Boxers, 'Support the Qing, destroy the foreigners'.