My Jian for interest

[David R]

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

If I recall, fom historical images, the masses typically just carried crude clubs with fewer having cold steel at hand.

Boxers, aka "Society of the Harmonious Fist" were members of a nationalist martial arts group, you are thinking of urban rioters. A lot to unpack in that era, and don't go by Western propaganda.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by David R

Boxers, aka "Society of the Harmonious Fist" were members of a nationalist martial arts group, you are thinking of urban rioters. A lot to unpack in that era, and don't go by Western propaganda.

Absolutely.

I made the comment based on this historical photo.
https://www.thoughtco.com/chinas-box...-photos-195618

The book which the image is on the cover
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520...boxer-uprising
It offers a very detailed history of the forces behind the scenes within various secret societies, how they developed and what ultimately played out...

[David R]

I think we are in danger of serious digression from the main subject of Jian here, but here is a link to a very informed discussion, and a photo of a "Boxer" with his Oxtail Dao.... and there I will leave it.

https://chinesemartialstudies.com/?s=boxer+rebellion