Iron and Blood Centennial Commemoration (Record of the Eight-Nation Alliance's Invasion of China)

Author: Sun Qihai
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-04-01
Features: This book was written on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the invasion of China by the Eight-Nation Alliance, which holds special significance. The author uses simple, profound, and sincere language to reveal, through a wealth of little-known historical facts, the inner workings of the unprecedentedly large-scale, brutal, and barbaric war of imperialist powers against foreign aggression and plunder in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It exposes the Eight-Nation Alliance, which disguised its actions under the guise of civilization and reason, committing the most savage and violent crimes, inflicting "a thousand strange and terrifying harms and humiliations" on the Chinese people. It describes the relentless burning, killing, and looting of the capital, which embodies the essence of a thousand years of cultural heritage, bringing the Chinese nation to an unprecedented catastrophe and disaster. The book contains both a heartfelt accusation filled with blood and tears, as well as a righteous expose and denunciation, while also analyzing the corruption and incompetence of the Qing government, the intrigue within the imperial family, and the political machinations of officials. It explores the military aspects of the victories and defeats in battles from a military perspective. It also exposes and critiques the boasts, sophistry, and self-confessions of the invaders. The book provides a detailed account of the Boxers and patriotic Qing soldiers who fought bravely against the strong enemy, demonstrating their unwavering will to uphold national dignity. Readers can see a brilliant spiritual force in the tragedy, and in the anger, sorrow, and reflection, it ignites sparks of hope. This book is an excellent textbook for patriotism. It may leave readers with a sense of shame, but shame is a fire—it will surely kindle the indomitable spirit of the descendants of Yan and Huang to strive and achieve. A nation that does not forget its shame is a nation with hope. Only a standing nation has the right to write a history of a nation that once knelt.