QING: Yihetuan (Boxer) Rebellion, 1899-1900, AE charm (7.19g), Zeno-216702 (this example), shui lu ping an // auspicious symbols, Fine, RR, ex Shèngbidébao Collection. The inscription, written in seal script, reads shui lu ping an which literally means may you have peace by land and water or, more simply, I wish you a safe journey. The reverse side has an unusual mix of Chinese charm symbols. Above the square hole are seven dots connected by a zigzag line which represents the star constellation known as the Big Dipper. Below the hole is one of the eight trigrams (bagua). This is the trigram kan which represents water and the direction north. To the left and right of the hole are ancient Chinese blade weapons. The weapon depicted to the left of the square hole has particular significance. It is a guan dao or Green Dragon Crescent Blade. The notch in the blade was to catch and parry the enemys weapon. The weapon to the right of the center hole is known as a Trident. It was primarily used as a hunting weapon, but one which could also be thrown. The Righteous Fists of Harmony became the Righteous Harmony Society and adopted the slogan support the Qing, destroy the Foreign. The group believed that a mixture of the martial arts, spirit possession, and swords would make them invulnerable to guns. This ragtag army became known as the Boxers and the uprising is referred to as the Boxer Rebellion. The rebellion, however, was ultimately put down by the combined forces of eight foreign countries. This Chinese charm dates from this same time period and is believed by some to have been a secret badge carried by members of the Boxers.
