Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Rebellion, Boxer Uprising or Yihetuan Movement was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising which took place in China towards the end of the Qing dynasty between 1899 and 1901. It was initiated by the Militia United in Righteousness (Yihetuan), known in English as the "Boxers", and was motivated by proto-nationalist sentiments and opposition to imperialist expansion and associated Christian missionary activity. The Great Powers intervened and defeated the Chinese forces.

The uprising took place against a background of severe drought and the disruption caused by the growth of foreign spheres of influence. After several months of growing violence against the foreign and Christian presence in Shandong and the North China plain in June 1900, Boxer fighters, convinced they were invulnerable to foreign weapons, converged on Beijing with the slogan "Support Qing government and exterminate the foreigners." Foreigners and Chinese Christians sought refuge in the Legation Quarter. In response to reports of an armed invasion to lift the siege, the initially hesitant Empress Dowager Cixi supported the Boxers and on June 21 declared war on the foreign powers. Diplomats, foreign civilians and soldiers as well as Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter were placed under siege by the Imperial Army of China and the Boxers for 55 days.

The Boxer Rebellion (band)

The Boxer Rebellion is an international indie band formed in London, United Kingdom around 2001, consisting of Tennessee-native Nathan Nicholson (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Andrew Smith (lead guitar), and Englishmen Adam Harrison (bass guitar) and Piers Hewitt (drums). They have so far released an eponymous EP, four studio albums, Exits (2005), Union (2009), The Cold Still (2011) and Promises (2013), as well as a compilation album, B-Sides & Rarities Collection, Vol. 1 & 2 (2012). The Boxer Rebellion's third studio album, The Cold Still (2011) was mixed and produced by Ethan Johns at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios. The album was released on iTunes on 1 February 2011 in the United States. It was released digitally on iTunes and physically in the UK, Europe, and around the world 7 February 2011, and in France 1 March 2011. The band released a compilation album of rare b-sides and unreleased songs entitled B-Sides & Rarities Collection, Vol. 1 & 2 on 7 November 2012. They are currently finalizing plans for their 2013 North American tour in support of their fourth studio album, Promises, which was released on 14 May 2013.