Imperial Decree on events leading to the signing of Boxer Protocol
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The Imperial Decree on events leading to the signing of Boxer Protocol is a royal decree issued by the Qing Dynasty
in the name of Guangxu Emperor
, as an official imperial statement on historical events such as Boxer Rebellion
, Eight-Nation Alliance
and Battle of Peking and Siege of the International Legations , detailing instructions given to Prince Qing and Li Hongzhang
as the full representatives of the Royal Court in negotiating a peace treaty with the Foreigner Powers, prior to the official signing of the Boxer Protocol
on 7 September 1901. This Royal Decree was officially issued in the name of Guangxu Emperor, bearing his official Royal Seal, who was in reality under house arrest, ordered by Empress Dowager Cixi
at that time, as the full administrative power was in the hand of the Empress.
, the Manchu Imperial Court had issued many decrees in the name of Guangxu Emperor
, but historically all political decisions came from Empress Dowager
.
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
in the name of Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
, as an official imperial statement on historical events such as Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, Eight-Nation Alliance
Eight-Nation Alliance
The Eight-Nation Alliance was an alliance of Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States whose military forces intervened in China to suppress the anti-foreign Boxers and relieve the siege of the diplomatic legations in Beijing .- Events :The...
and Battle of Peking and Siege of the International Legations , detailing instructions given to Prince Qing and Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
as the full representatives of the Royal Court in negotiating a peace treaty with the Foreigner Powers, prior to the official signing of the Boxer Protocol
Boxer Protocol
The Boxer Protocol was signed on September 7, 1901 between the Qing Empire of China and the Eight-Nation Alliance that had provided military forces plus Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands after China's defeat in the intervention to put down the Boxer Rebellion at the hands of the...
on 7 September 1901. This Royal Decree was officially issued in the name of Guangxu Emperor, bearing his official Royal Seal, who was in reality under house arrest, ordered by Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
at that time, as the full administrative power was in the hand of the Empress.
Background
In the times leading to the signing of Boxer ProtocolBoxer Protocol
The Boxer Protocol was signed on September 7, 1901 between the Qing Empire of China and the Eight-Nation Alliance that had provided military forces plus Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands after China's defeat in the intervention to put down the Boxer Rebellion at the hands of the...
, the Manchu Imperial Court had issued many decrees in the name of Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
, but historically all political decisions came from Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
.
- Decree on Day Tenth of May(lunar calendar), Empress Dowager stressed that:" No matter they are christian converts or boxer association members, they are all patriots, the Imperial Court treat them as equal, christian and boxers are the same".
- Decree on Day Nineteen of May(lunar calendar), on this day, a total of five decrees were issued. Decree No1:" I hereby order Nine Gates Infantry CommanderNine Gates Infantry CommanderNine Gates Infantry Commander is a military post of the Qing Dynasty, in charge of safe guarding, and monitoring traffic and the opening times of the nine gates of the Peking City, namely Zhengyangmen, Chongwenmen, Andingmen, Fuchengmen, Xizhimen, Dongzhimen, Xuangwumen, Dehshengmen, Zhaoyangmen...
to command various Imperial soldiers, plus ShenjiyingDivine Engine DivisionDivine Engine Division was one of the three elite military divisions of the Ming Dynasty stationed around the capital Beijing. Established in the reign of the Yongle Emperor , its main purpose was the research and training in the use of firearms...
, Tiger Gods DivisionHushenyingThe Hushenying were a unit of 10,000 Manchu Bannermen under the command of Zaiyi during the Boxer Rebellion.-Summary:Hushenying can be translated as "Tiger and Divine Corps", "Tiger Spirit Division", or "Tiger Spirit Battalion"....
, with Horse cavalry, in addition of Wuwei Middle TroopWuwei TroopWuwei Troop was the first modern army of the Qing Dynasty consisted of infantry, cavalry and artillery, formed on June 1899 and trained by western military advicers, responsible for security of Peking City and the Forbidden City, with Ronglu as the supreme commander...
, to suppress these bandits, to intensify searching patrol; to arrest and execute immediately all criminals with weapons who advocate killing. ". Again on decree No4 of the same day, another Imperial order was given to RongluRongluRonglu was a Manchu statesman and general during the late Qing dynasty. Born into the powerful Guwalgiya clan of the Plain White Banner in the Eight Banners, he was cousin to Yehenara Lan, who later became Empress Dowager Cixi...
, the supreme commander of Nine Gates Infantry CommanderNine Gates Infantry CommanderNine Gates Infantry Commander is a military post of the Qing Dynasty, in charge of safe guarding, and monitoring traffic and the opening times of the nine gates of the Peking City, namely Zhengyangmen, Chongwenmen, Andingmen, Fuchengmen, Xizhimen, Dongzhimen, Xuangwumen, Dehshengmen, Zhaoyangmen...
:"Ronglu is to send an efficient troops of Wuwei Middle TroopWuwei TroopWuwei Troop was the first modern army of the Qing Dynasty consisted of infantry, cavalry and artillery, formed on June 1899 and trained by western military advicers, responsible for security of Peking City and the Forbidden City, with Ronglu as the supreme commander...
swiftly, to the Peking Legation Quarter, to protect all the diplomatic buildings, no errors are to be tolerated." - Decree on Day Twenty Fourth of May(lunar calander), on this decree, Empress Dowager was requesting military and financial assistance from viceroys of the South Eastern provinces, at the same time, the Empress was ordering viceroys to form a joint military force to launch military attacks against foreigners. This decree was rejected by Li HongzhangLi HongzhangLi Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
and other viceroys. - Dynasty Royal Decree of declaration of war against foreign powers , this decree was the Qing DynastyQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
's official declaration of war against 11 foreign powers. However, according to Lanxin Xiang:
This decree was issued one week after the Declaration of war when Imperial soldiers were ordered to fight the foreigners, showing that the Imperial Court was serious about protecting the legation staff, and the chief commander in charge of protection is Grand Scholar RongluRongluRonglu was a Manchu statesman and general during the late Qing dynasty. Born into the powerful Guwalgiya clan of the Plain White Banner in the Eight Banners, he was cousin to Yehenara Lan, who later became Empress Dowager Cixi...
.
Synopsis
The Imperial Decree begins with events in Summer of 1900, when Price QingYikuang, Prince QingYikuang, the Prince Qing , was a Manchu prince of the late Qing Dynasty, who was the first premier of China...
and Li HongzhangLi HongzhangLi Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
being given the mandate of full attorney to negotiate with the Foreign Powers diplomats for a cease fire and a peace treaty, blaming the boxers bandits for the rebellion which plunged Peking into total chaos, while Guangxu and Empress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
took refuge to the western provinces for a "hunting trip". Guangxu EmperorGuangxu EmperorThe Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
then instructed the two attorney:, then went on to state:
The Imperial Decree then stated that it was conflicts and disputes between Boxers and Chinese Christians converts that started the disaster, resulting in Guangxu EmperorGuangxu EmperorThe Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
and Empress DowagerEmpress DowagerEmpress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
"were frightened and in danger... extreme confusion, sadness and pain", so much so that they were ready to die for the country, (Original Chinese text: 朕與皇太后誓欲同殉社稷，上謝九廟之靈). In this context, the Decree then argues that it was wrong to accuse the Imperial Court for supporting the Boxer Bandits, because the Court had issued many decrees with orders to offer protection for the Chinese catholic, at the same time to ban and eliminate the rioting boxers, to stop them from "continue to create chaos that will plunge the country into extinction". (Original Chinese text: 既苦禁諭之俱窮，復憤存亡之莫保)"
The Decree then place the full blame on boxer bandits for the upheaval:
County magistrates were accused of being bias in dealing with Christians related disputes, and princes and ministers "were jealous of the military might of the foreigners, did not understand their own shortcomings, were taken in by the devils and the fake. Believing in the magic power of the Boxers", they began to provide boxers with rations and weapons, while the Emperor's specific orders to capture the leaders of boxer bandits went unanswered.
The Decree then emphasizes on the peace treaty, points out:"the Manchu Empire sovereignty is kept intact, no territorial land annexation had been requested", reminding the Royal subjects that unlike many other Unequal treaty of the past, when there was usually land annexation, though the Royal Court is:"resentful of (boxer bandits) ignorant violent acts, in retrospect, a mix of regret and anger." and also emphasizes on "several decrees were directed at the Zongli YamenZongli YamenZongli Yamen was the government body in charge of foreign affairs in imperial China during the late Qing dynasty. It was established by Prince Gong in 1861, following the Convention of Peking. It was abolished in 1901 and replaced with a Foreign Office of ministry rank.The former site of the...
, requesting ministers to go and stop any aggressive attacks and offer solace to the diplomats,".
The Decree provides an answer to the all important historical question: Why didn't all the foreigners been killed in this siege of nearly two months?
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