“Are our teachings, then, in vain?”
Subject(s): Boxer Rebellion (China : 1899-1901), China, Confucius, International relations, Jesus Christ, Sin
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Confucius and Jesus Christ stand together on a cloud atop a mountain looking down at the confrontation between the Boxers and the forces of the eight nation alliance during the Boxer Rebellion in China. The Boxers carry a banner with a quote from Confucius and the international alliance carries a banner with a quote from Jesus Christ, both expressing the same concept.
Comments and Context
The crux of this cartoon is not merely to criticize the violence committed by religious followers in a colonial conflict that grew to the Boxer Rebellion. The specific irony is that the most prominent face of Westerners in China — the head of the spear of what followed as trade and resource exploitation — were Christian missionaries. The Chinese flag reads: “Do not do unto others what you would not that others should do unto you,” attributed to Confucius. The missionary’s banner reads, ” Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,” Jesus’s words from Matthew 7:10.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1900-10-03
Creator(s)
Period
Governor of New York (October 1898-1900)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
“Are our teachings, then, in vain?”. [October 3, 1900]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275640. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. “Are our teachings, then, in vain?”. [3 Oct. 1900]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275640.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1900, October 3]. “Are our teachings, then, in vain?”.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275640.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
