The organization was founded in 1850 during the upheavals leading to the
Taiping Rebellion, it was founded in Guangdong and Fujian. (), in
Xiamen,
Fujian Province, many among its leadership being Chinese. It was one of a number of rebel groups to arise during this period, either affiliated with or proclaiming support for the Taiping administration. The society consisted mainly of natives from
Guangdong and
Fujian, including Li Shaoqing, Li Xianyun and Pan Yiguo, directors of some of the
huiguan or native place associations of Shanghai. The Small Swords Society was a variant of the Heaven and Earth Societies (
Tiandihui) that organised the
Red Turban Rebellion in
Guangdong province, and used their symbolism. The Society succeeded in seizing
Xiamen,
Tong'an,
Zhangzhou, and
Zhangpu in Fujian province, but was forced to withdraw after heavy fighting, continuing resistance at sea until 1858. While in Xiamen, they allied with forces of the
Red Turban Rebellion in
Humen to seize the city of
Huizhou, near
Guangzhou,
Guangdong province, helping to galvanise that insurrection. In 1851 the Society occupied the
Chinese city of Shanghai without invading the foreign concessions. The
circuit intendant was forced to flee. Large numbers of Chinese refugees from surrounding areas flooded into the foreign concessions in this period, dramatically increasing the population there and giving rise to the prevalent
longtang or
shikumen-style housing which came to dominate
Shanghai by the early 20th Century. The Small Sword Society in Shanghai initially declared the re-establishment of
Da Ming Guo (), the
Great Ming State, and elected Liu Lichuan as leader, who wrote to the Heavenly King of the
Taiping Tianguo to join his rebellion, subsequently adopting the Taiping Tianguo name. The society took steps to issue currency, encourage trade and stabilise the food supply. Conflict broke out between the Fujian and Guangdong factions. At first, the British and American authorities remained neutral, while the French supported the imperial government. When the French troops were sent in to support Qing imperial troops. The British and American authorities then declared The Small Sword Society actions illegal and joined in support for the imperial armies. The society's forces tried to break out from the siege but was annihilated in 1855. The Society's headquarters were in the
Yu Garden of Shanghai, at the heart of the old city and today a popular tourist attraction and shopping district. There is a small museum displaying artefacts of the Society in the gardens. == References ==