The Taiping Rebellion is a well-known historical event, while the Boxer Rebellion (also known as the Boxers) is confusing.
This civil organization, which was regarded as a "centrist" by the imperial court, is as complex as any event in history.
Let's take a closer look at the organizational model of the Zhili Boxers. Although they were "Tuan" in the eyes of the Duanwang clique, at the official level, the Boxer was still illegal, called "Fist" rather than "Tuan", and was an underground organization that was not recognized by the imperial court.
To better illustrate its journey, it is tentatively referred to as the "Fist" organization. In the villages, the most basic organization of the Boxer is called "boxing field" or "boxing factory", or simply "field".
The establishment of a boxing stadium in a certain village is called "setting up a field", and later boxers entered Beijing, probably in order to adapt to the royal atmosphere, "field" was renamed "altar", and "setting up a field" was called "opening an altar".
The process of opening the altar is relatively simple, first through singing or temple fairs, etc., to carry out propaganda and momentum, and wait for the arrival of the auspicious day of the zodiac to officially open the altar.
On that day, a "senior brother" will be invited from the village where the altar has been opened to teach some rituals of "séance possession" and related boxing routines.
Then two people with high martial arts and prestige were selected from the village to serve as "senior brothers" and "second senior brothers" respectively, and the other members were called "senior brothers". In this way, the opening of the altar is completed, usually one altar per village, and the larger one has a sub-altar.
The superior unit of each altar is the "general altar", and the superior unit of the general altar is not clear. The main altar has a fraternal unit - another general altar, each of which is parallel in rank and equal in status, and can contact and help each other, but is not subordinate to each other.
This lack of unified leadership has allowed the Boxers to compromise on their overall cohesion, which can grow overnight or disintegrate overnight.
On the other hand, this decentralized form of organization is also conducive to the "flowering" and "development" of the Boxers in various places.
Let us summarize the major interest groups of the imperial court involved in the Boxer Rebellion: First, the Duanwang clique, the core representative of the Manchu Party, hated foreigners, in fact, hated all those who hindered their seizure of power, and were the "main faction" of the Boxers.
The core representatives of the Han Party are Li Hongzhang and Liu Kun.
1. Zhang Zhidong and other governors in the southeast region, they hated the Boxers, were relatively close to foreigners, and were the "main suppression faction" of the Boxers.
Foreigners, who are close to interests, hate those who hinder their interests, and will try their best to expand their interests in the Qing Dynasty, are the absolute "main suppression faction" of the Boxers.
Cixi, she was the "main suppression faction" or "main fu faction" according to the needs of the situation, close to power, hated all those who hindered her control of imperial power, and those who posed a threat to the security of her power, and kept her power at any cost.
These are the major interest groups involved in the Boxer Rebellion, and we need to break down these interest groups in order to better understand the complexity and influence of this movement.
Cixi was the focal point of conflict between the factions, and she held the supreme power of the Qing Dynasty. The Duanwang clique wanted her to lead the Qing dynasty in the other direction, but she feared that if she did, she would have to abolish the monarch.
Both the Han Party and the foreigners hoped that she would push the Qing Dynasty forward, but she feared that this would lead her to return to power. For Cixi, what she wanted was not to move forward or backward, but to maintain the status quo.
However, this conundrum was no longer solvable: in order to consolidate her rule, Cixi had to reuse the Duanwang clique. However, this made the foreigners fear that the Qing Dynasty would turn around, so they put pressure on the imperial court, which in turn threatened Cixi's power.
What worries Cixi even more is whether the foreigners will support Guangxu as a spokesperson, thus forcing her to return to politics. In order to counter this threat, Cixi had to revert to the Duanwang clique (including the Boxers).
Just like the story of the Three Kingdoms period, the major factions have no permanent friends and enemies, only eternal interests.
She, Cixi, was the supreme ruler of the Qing Dynasty and at the same time the most pitiful person; Her power reigns supreme, but she has little sense of security.
February**Dynamic Incentive Plan Although there are many helpers around me, I often feel lonely and helpless; Despite strict security measures, crises often creep in; She enjoys the highest level of life, but at the same time faces multiple contradictions; is supposed to give advice for the prosperity of the country, but he only runs for the selfish desire of power.
In this Qing Dynasty, her union with the Boxers was like adding fuel to the fire and attracting attention.