The origins of the Boxer Uprising

Joseph Esherick's study analyzes the grassroots and local factors that produced the Boxer Uprising, challenging simplistic or purely ideological explanations.

He emphasizes socio-economic distress, local factionalism, and the role of ritual, secret societies, and popular culture in shaping the movement.

Esherick situates the uprising within the collapse of local governance and the intrusion of foreign power and missions.

The book draws on local records, testimonies, and regional studies to reconstruct how the Boxers emerged and spread.

It remains an important work for understanding the complexity and contingency of the Boxer movement's origins.