"The Society of Righteous Human Fists" 1900 (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

The title of this thread refers to the name of the insurgency against foreigners and Christian missionaries that occurred in China during the summer of 1900. This group of Chinese insurgents is better known to us by their Western name: Boxers and the event in question was known as the Boxer Rebellion. With the tacit approval of the Dowager Empress this group tried to rid China of the 'imperial' presence of these other nations. This secret Chinese brotherhood attacked and killed hundreds of Westerners in China and ultimately lay siege to the foreign legation in Peking. The latter event has been popularized for modern audiences by the motion picture 55 DAYS AT PEKING starring Charlton Heston.

Here is a drawing by a Western artist dating from 1900 showing what the typical Boxer insurgents looked like:

 

[PolarBear]

Here is a recreation of a battle between the Boxers and the armies of the foreign nations involved in the conflict:

 

[PolarBear]

Ironically the nations that were allied against the Chinese insurgents would eventually find themselves in conflict, first during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905 and subsequently in World War I (1914-1918).

Here is a Japanese print from 1900 showing the nations involved against the Chinese. The flags of the naval forces represent from left to right: Italy, the United States, France, Austria-Hungary, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Imperial Russia:

 

[PolarBear]

Other forms of visual media record the Boxer Rebellion, including postcards published by the Germans whose forces were stationed in China at the time.

Postcard #1 German sailors fight with Boxers

 

[PolarBear]

Postcard # 2 Other Nations fighting the Chinese

 

[PolarBear]

Postcard #3 China as a boxer ready to use its "fists" to drive away the warships of the foreign devils

 

[PolarBear]

Among the forces in China was the Imperial Japanese Army.

Here is a Japanese print from 1900 showing the Imperial Japanese Army in their blue and blue/white winter uniforms:

 

[PolarBear]

Beau Geste has commemorated the Boxer Rebellion in a series that includes the Imperial Japanese Army.

Here is Set # BG 115 D showing them in their blue winter uniforms:

 

[PolarBear]

Here is set BG 115C showing the white summer uniforms of the Imperial Japanese Army:

 

[PolarBear]

Here are an infantryman and officer from set BC 115C in their white summer uniforms. They are displayed against the flag of the Imperial Japanese Army:

 

[PolarBear]

3 Views of officer:

 

[PolarBear]

3 Views of Infantryman:

 

[PolarBear]

Two Osprey books useful for study of the conflict:

 

[Russell]

Randy,
Maybe I'm just forgetting some of your other pictorial posts, but, I think, this one is the best. Makes me feel like getting some Beau Geste figures.

Thanks again

 

[PolarBear]

Randy,
Maybe I'm just forgetting some of your other pictorial posts, but, I think, this one is the best. Makes me feel like getting some Beau Geste figures.

Thanks again

Russell

Glad you liked it. You can order single Beau Geste figures from Treefrog
To me they are like getting the W. Britain Classics such as the Redcoats line.
$24 for single figures
$30 for Standard Bearers, drummers, and musicians
$82 for mounted

Just email Shannon or Mandi with your request
shannon@treefrogtreasures.com
mandi@treefrogtreasures.com

 

[Dickbuttons]

Randy: thanks allot for the posting. Really enjoyed it -- and like all your others -- very informative.

Dick