At the turn of the 20th century, a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising erupted across northern China, pitting martial arts practitioners against the world's greatest imperial powers.
Explore the origins, brutal conflict, and lasting legacy of The Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901). From the devastating Yellow River floods and Western extraterritoriality to Dowager Empress Cixi’s fateful declaration of war and the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, discover how the Yihequan ("Righteous and Harmonious Fists") sparked a crisis that crippled the Qing Dynasty—and why its memory still shapes Chinese foreign policy and the narrative of the "Century of Humiliation" today.
Written by Harry Hughen. Narration by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. Video production by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle, Justin Troyer, and Trevor Johnson. A transcript is available at origins.osu.edu/read/boxer-rebellion#page-content.
This is a production of Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective at the Goldberg Center in the Department of History at The Ohio State University and the Department of History at Miami University. Be sure to subscribe to our channel to receive updates about our videos and podcasts. For more information about Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, please visit origins.osu.edu.
