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The ' Society of Right and Harmonious Fists' (); was a society in China that executed the unsuccessful Boxer Rebellion in the closing years of the 19th century. They were anti-foreign (originally against the Qing government, but eventually turning against Christian converts and colonizing foreign powers). The society's slogan then was "support the Qing and destroy the foreigners".
There are two theories about how they acquired their western nickname "The Boxers". According to one, it's from their unique style of kung fu. They believed that they could, through training, diet, martial arts, and prayer, perform extraordinary feats, such as flying and being immune to their enemies' bullets. Such training was called "boxing" which encompasses many aspects of martial science. More likely, though, they got the name when their Chinese name was mistranslated as 'Fists of Righteous Harmony' (), which still appears in western encyclopediae. Also, according to Small Planet communications, the society was started in the Northern Shandong province . Desperate people soon supported the society, and believed that peace would free them from hunger. Another name used to refer to the Boxers was "spirit soldiers".
The 55-day Boxer Rebellion consisted of thousands of Boxers chanting while surrounding the legation area in Beijing with the emperor inside. Although the Boxers looted Beijing, the rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful and was later defeated by the Eight-Nation Alliance.
The movement was somewhat supported by Empress Cixi.
The movement has many striking similarities to the Ghost Dance cult of American Indians, another reaction of a defeated people.
There was also a similar group, named the Red Lanterns, made up entirely of women. They believed they also had supernatural powers, such as the ability to fly and control the wind.