Divine Soldiers: the Boxers and their religious universe

Abstract

ABSTRACT The author argues that the Boxers of 1900 should be understood from the mainstream religious culture of that time, rather than in terms of sectarian traditions as is still common, especially in Chinese language scholarship. This culture was expressed in narrative form in theatre, storytelling and ritual practices, and some of the best known vernacular novels of the sixteenth century. Their narrative and ritual contents formed part of the larger religious culture that shaped and motivated the Boxers. Threats to human society and imperial rule had to be addressed through demonological measures, including the performance of the maze or labyrinth which is not only a prominent part of some of these novels, but also was a common practice around the Lantern Festival in the first lunar month. The texts produced by the Boxers show clearly the importance of the demonological narrative, with a special role for Lord Guan or Guan Yu and his superior the Jade Emperor. In order to deal with the special threats of that time, including Christian missionaries and technological change from the West, these divinities ordered vast armies of Divine Soldiers to suppress these threats. The Boxers saw themselves as these Divine Soldiers.