What was the common reason behind the Boxer and Taiping rebellions?

1 Answer
Sep 26, 2016

Both originated with religious movements and were a consequence of extensive foreign interference in China.

Explanation:

The Taiping Rebellion began when Qing government authorities began to suppress the "God Worshipping Society" the leader of which was Hong Xiuquan, who presented himself as the younger brother of Jesus. Hong was sincere in his belief but the Tiaping movement's war against the Qing government convulsed central China killing about 20 to 30 million people making the most lethal war in the 19th century. The Christian nature of the belief pointed to powerful influence of western ideas.

http://www.bookofhorriblethings.com/

The Boxer Rebellion was also a religious movement "The Righteous and Harmonious Fists" that was fed by local unrest and focused against foreign Christian missionaries in China. It was a nationalist movement fighting the foreign imperialists.

The Boxer Rebellion lasted only a short time and was not as deadly as the Taiping Rebellion but was still bloodily suppressed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_Rebellion#Origins_of_the_Boxers