小刀会

小刀會

Xiǎodāohuì

popculture

Meanings

1 Small Sword Society
2 anti-Qing secret society active in the mid-19th century, best known for the 1853-1855 Shanghai uprising

Characters

society / association

Examples

小刀会在上海起义，占领县城近一年半。

Xiǎodāohuì zài Shànghǎi qǐyì, zhànlǐng xiànchéng jìn yī nián bàn.

The Small Sword Society rose up in Shanghai and held the walled city for nearly a year and a half.

小刀会的旗号是反清复明。

Xiǎodāohuì de qíhào shì fǎn Qīng fù Míng.

The Small Sword Society's banner was 'oppose the Qing, restore the Ming'.

Tips

history

A Triad-affiliated society of southern migrants (mostly Fujianese and Cantonese) in Shanghai. Their 1853 seizure of the Chinese-administered walled city is famous because it forced the Qing customs office to close, leading directly to foreign powers setting up the Imperial Maritime Customs Service — a turning point in modern Chinese sovereignty.

In Pop Culture

小刀会序曲 Xiǎodāohuì Xùqǔ

The Small Sword Society Overture

Famous 1959 ballet score by Shang Yi (商易); the orchestral overture is a staple of Chinese symphonic repertoire.

Stroke Order

小 xiǎo

刀 dāo

会 huì