The Tientsin Massacre - 1870
Many Chinese scholars and followers of China's many religions resented the white
Christian missionaries who had flocked to China in the mid-19th century, and to
stir up the common people they frequently circulated rumors that the foreigners
were sorcerers. The French Sisters of Charity at their orphanage in the city of
Tientsin (Tianjin) used top give small cash rewards to people who brought in homeless
or unwanted children, which gave rise to the rumor that children were being abused,
kidnapped, and used for witchcraft. On June 21, 1870, an angry Chinese crowd led
by a local magistrate stood outside the orphanage; the French consul ordered his
guards to fire on the mob to disperse it. Enraged by this, the Chinese stormed and
sacked the orphanage, killing in the process 18 foreigners, including the consul
and 10 nuns. A storm of protest issued from both Paris and Rome, and Western naval
ships sailed to Tientsin. France demanded severe punishment for those responsible;
16 Chinese were executed, and China officially apologized to France.
Shanghai's First Riot - 1874
"The first riot in Shanghai occurred in 1874 in the French Concession, and originated
in the following way. A portion of the Chinese population who had their homes in Ningpo
had erected a Guild House toward the back of the French Concession, with a mortuary hall
for the deposit of coffins, to be sent later to their ancestral homes, and with a
cemetery for the burial of those whose families were too poor to send the coffins back.
In 1863 this area had been included in the extension of the French Concession. The French
Municipal Council drew up plans for the making of new roads, one of which was to run
through the cemetery, and in 1874 it was decided to begin the construction. The Ningpo
Guild on January 27th, 1874, made representations, objecting to the opening of the road
through the cemetery, pointing out that the ground should be regarded as sacred, and that
it would offend the Chinese people to have the bodies removed and the spirits of the
departed disturbed. The Council, perhaps not realising how much Chinese susceptibilities
would be injured was determined to carry out its purpose. A discussion was held between
the Taotai and the Consul, but both parties remained obdurate. Subsequently the populace
became more and more excited and on May 3rd, a riot broke out.
In the settlement of claims for damages, it was arranged that the Chinese authorities for the cost of damage to foreign property, a sum of Tls. 37,000, while the French should pay Tls. 7,000 to, the families of the Chinese who were killed. One unscrupulous foreigner attempted to get rich by claiming that Tls. 10,000 was due him on account of a bruise received on the head and the loss of two teeth!
It was agreed that the Ningpo Joss House and cemetery should remain the property of the Guild forever and that no roads or drains should be made through the burial ground. As we shall see, the agreement was broken in 1898, at a time when the Chinese were less able to resist than in 1874, and the road was then constructed.
We have dwelt at length upon this first riot, as it is a good example of difficulty arising between two peoples on account of their different points of view. To the Westerner, with his desire for that which is useful, it seemed absurd that the construction of a road should be held up by the unwillingness of the Chinese to remove some graves. To the Chinese it seemed that the Westerner was wanting in respect for the dead, the strongest cult in China." - F.L. Hawks Potts
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Short Stories of the North West Frontier