The Yihetuan movement in the diaries of Russian Sinologists

The aim of this research is to ascertain the attitudes of individuals from diverse social strata within Russian society, who either resided in or traveled through China during the period of 1900-1908, toward the Boxer Uprising (also known as the Yihetuan Movement, 1900-1901). The progression of the uprising, alongside its underlying causes, is documented in both the diaries of eyewitnesses (D. M. Pozdneev, V. V. Korsakov) and the accounts of Russian travelers who visited the country in the aftermath of its suppression (N. V. Kravchenko, V. M. Alekseev). D. M. Pozdneev, an employee of the Russo-Chinese Bank's Beijing branch, and V. V. Korsakov, a physician attached to the Russian diplomatic mission, spent nearly two months within the besieged foreign legations, meticulously recording daily occurrences in their diaries. The artist N. V. Kravchenko and the sinologist V. M. Alekseev, a graduate of St. Petersburg University, visited China after the conclusion of the uprising, but, like the eyewitnesses, sought to connect the uprising's origins to the religious beliefs of the Chinese populace. The novelty of this study lies in its initial exploration, within the field of Russian sinology, of the descriptions of the Boxer Uprising events in the diaries and travelogues of Russian sinologists from the first decade of the 20th century, thus becoming the object of scientific scrutiny. The results indicate that the authors of the diaries endeavored to provide an unbiased assessment of the political developments in China, referencing various factors, inclusive of religious influences.