During the last 70 years of the Qing Dynasty, the armies of Imperial China faced both a chronic state of internal rebellion and repeated incursions by Western and Japanese forces. Although well over a half million strong, Chinese armies were very diverse in their armament, leadership, appearance, and military value. This book describes how, in one of the most turbulent periods in its history, the Chinese Army went through a painful period of modernisation, finally emerging as the New Army at the dawn of the twentieth century. The text is illustrated with prints and rare photographs, and with eight meticulous colour plates showing uniforms, insignia, weapons, equipment and flags.

Includes maps of: [China].