Race and Class in Chinese Historiography

Abstract

When the Manchus came [to China] they killed our ancestors, violated our women, occupied the territory of Han race, made their vile, comtemptible race into a noble class, for generations enfeoffed kings and what's more sent some of their base race to be stationed in strategic spots in each of the provinces which they called garrisons, and they guarded us Han people as one would guard thieves—this was indeed despicable, and still they craved to be parasites! In addition the covetous and greedy officials they loosed upon us collect and levy [exhorbitant] taxes for them, and thus disappointment and sorrow is reaped; if what we have freely given them is not enough perhaps they will add a penalty or deprive us of our lives. Furthurmore, until now with the imperial principles in a state of anarchy, they only look after the foreigners, and give us up to the foreigners to act as third class slaves. In addition, as for our land, today one piece is severed and given away to this [foreign country]; tomorrow another piece will be cut off and given away to that [foreign country].... Therefore our revolution first must revenge our ancestors and secondly must be planned quickly in order to avoid the extinction of our decendants; how much more then is this a glorious and true cause?!