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Chinese Forces, the Boxer Rebellion

Infantryman, Kansu Braves

The Rear Division of the Chinese Guards Army (Wu wei chün) provided the majority of the Imperial troops in and around Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. Most of the Rear Division was made up from units of the rung, or Brave Ones, from Kansu Province in western China. As they were recently raised from units of the Brave Ones, many of these soldiers had not yet been issued with the ‘standard’ Imperial uniform of blue jacket trimmed with yellow lace and black silk 'Mandarin’ hat. Instead, the men still wore their rung uniforms.
The low turban was made of dark red cloth with a pattern printed on it in darker red and black. The jacket is primarily red with a wide band of yellow down the right front and around the collar. Separating the red from the yellow is blue trim and piping. The black Chinese characters appearing on the man’s chest identify him as being from the 'centre section of the bodyguard of the officer commanding the army’ (in other words, General Tung Fu-hsiang’s personal guard). The jacket has full, loose sleeves and extends well below the waist-belt. Under the jacket is worn a sort of apron which has two long lobes extending down the sides of the legs. These lobes are yellow with a red panel inserted and trimmed with blue lace. In the centre of the red panel is a white disc bearing the Chinese character rung (Brave), which identifies this man as being from a unit of the Brave Ones.
This particular soldier is carrying a Martini-Henry rifle with socket bayonet. His cartridge-belt is of the woven webbed pattern, similar to the US Mills belts. He carries a large supply of ammunition as it is quite possible that when he runs out of cartridges, he will discard his rifle and pick up another one from a dead enemy or comrade.

Boxer

As all of the Boxers were civilians, they wore no real uniform; the closest thing to a uniform was a piece of red cloth somewhere on their person. This piece of red cloth could be a turban, apron or waist sash. Some men embroidered Chinese characters on the fronts of their jackets. Many, like this man, chose to wear the character rung (Brave). If the turban was not worn, a straw 'coolie’ hat would have been the usual replacement. The Boxers could be barefoot or could wear slippers or sandals. Boxers disliked Western weapons. Their movement preached the overthrow of 'foreign devils’ through the use of the martial arts and traditional Chinese weapons. Most Boxers preferred to carry swords, spears and halberds. The swords were wide-bladed chopping weapons, some requiring two-handed use. The spears had long curved blades, while the halberds were of purely Chinese design and did not resemble the halberds of medieval Europe. Some men carried wicker or brass shields.

Manchu Teri nai (Tiger-man)

The Ten nai; or Tiger-men, were an integral part of most of the formations of the Pa chi, or Manchu Bannermen. The Ten nai were used as skirmishers in the Manchu battle formations. Armed with a long sabre and a grappling hook on a chain, they were intended to break up cavalry charges. The Tiger-man wears a sleeveless jacket with wide stripes alternating yellow-orange and black, apparently imitating tiger skin. The shirt and pants are of light blue cloth. This man wears a yellow cloth turban, but a straw 'coolie’ hat could also be worn. The side aprons, similar to those worn by the Brave Ones, were dark blue with yellow trim around the edge.
The bright uniform of the Ten nai, combined with loud yelling, was intended to scare away enemy cavalry. If these tactics did. not work, the Tiger-men were supposed to break up the enemy cavalry charges with their sabres and grappling hooks. The painted shield which this man carries bears a brightly painted face with the Chinese character Wang (king) above the face’s forehead. 'King’ is a lesser title which has probably been presented to the commander of this particular unit of the Ten nai by the Emperor.

Chinese Forces, the Boxer Rebellion

Infantryman, Kansu Braves

The Rear Division of the Chinese Guards Army (Wu wei chün) provided the majority of the Imperial troops in and around Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. Most of the Rear Division was made up from units of the rung, or Brave Ones, from Kansu Province in western China. As they were recently raised from units of the Brave Ones, many of these soldiers had not yet been issued with the ‘standard’ Imperial uniform of blue jacket trimmed with yellow lace and black silk 'Mandarin’ hat. Instead, the men still wore their rung uniforms.
The low turban was made of dark red cloth with a pattern printed on it in darker red and black. The jacket is primarily red with a wide band of yellow down the right front and around the collar. Separating the red from the yellow is blue trim and piping. The black Chinese characters appearing on the man’s chest identify him as being from the 'centre section of the bodyguard of the officer commanding the army’ (in other words, General Tung Fu-hsiang’s personal guard). The jacket has full, loose sleeves and extends well below the waist-belt. Under the jacket is worn a sort of apron which has two long lobes extending down the sides of the legs. These lobes are yellow with a red panel inserted and trimmed with blue lace. In the centre of the red panel is a white disc bearing the Chinese character rung (Brave), which identifies this man as being from a unit of the Brave Ones.
This particular soldier is carrying a Martini-Henry rifle with socket bayonet. His cartridge-belt is of the woven webbed pattern, similar to the US Mills belts. He carries a large supply of ammunition as it is quite possible that when he runs out of cartridges, he will discard his rifle and pick up another one from a dead enemy or comrade.

Boxer

As all of the Boxers were civilians, they wore no real uniform; the closest thing to a uniform was a piece of red cloth somewhere on their person. This piece of red cloth could be a turban, apron or waist sash. Some men embroidered Chinese characters on the fronts of their jackets. Many, like this man, chose to wear the character rung (Brave). If the turban was not worn, a straw 'coolie’ hat would have been the usual replacement. The Boxers could be barefoot or could wear slippers or sandals. Boxers disliked Western weapons. Their movement preached the overthrow of 'foreign devils’ through the use of the martial arts and traditional Chinese weapons. Most Boxers preferred to carry swords, spears and halberds. The swords were wide-bladed chopping weapons, some requiring two-handed use. The spears had long curved blades, while the halberds were of purely Chinese design and did not resemble the halberds of medieval Europe. Some men carried wicker or brass shields.

Manchu Teri nai (Tiger-man)

The Ten nai; or Tiger-men, were an integral part of most of the formations of the Pa chi, or Manchu Bannermen. The Ten nai were used as skirmishers in the Manchu battle formations. Armed with a long sabre and a grappling hook on a chain, they were intended to break up cavalry charges. The Tiger-man wears a sleeveless jacket with wide stripes alternating yellow-orange and black, apparently imitating tiger skin. The shirt and pants are of light blue cloth. This man wears a yellow cloth turban, but a straw 'coolie’ hat could also be worn. The side aprons, similar to those worn by the Brave Ones, were dark blue with yellow trim around the edge.
The bright uniform of the Ten nai, combined with loud yelling, was intended to scare away enemy cavalry. If these tactics did. not work, the Tiger-men were supposed to break up the enemy cavalry charges with their sabres and grappling hooks. The painted shield which this man carries bears a brightly painted face with the Chinese character Wang (king) above the face’s forehead. 'King’ is a lesser title which has probably been presented to the commander of this particular unit of the Ten nai by the Emperor.

1900s

Art

chinese army

Boxer Rebellion

Theme: boxer Rebellion

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