A fragile handwritten public proclamation has cast fresh light on the impact of a bloody rebellion on Scottish Presbyterians in China over 100 years ago.

The document was issued by the Court of Emperor Kuang Hsu after the Boxer Uprising ended in 1901.

More than 300 Protestant Christians and thousands of Chinese Christians were killed by a secret organisation called the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists, who were opposed to the spread of Western and Japanese influence, during the 1899-1901 rebellion.

The uprising ended when an international force from eight nations – the UK, USA, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia – overwhelmed the rebels.

The proclamation appeals for peace between religious believers and civilians, and authorises the resumption of Christian evangelism, ordering the reopening of all churches in the north-east of the country.

The document, which was discovered in an archive in the church’s central offices in Edinburgh last year, was translated by Liza Qian of the North East Theological Seminary in China.

Sandy Sneddon, Asia Secretary of Church of Scotland World Mission Council, said:

“When the document from the Court of Emperor Kuang Hsu came to light we immediately knew it was something special.

“The beautiful calligraphy is striking and when we had it translated we realised this was of considerable historic significance.

“Our partners in China explained that the proclamation showed the respectful relationship the Scottish missionaries had built up with the Chinese authorities.

“After the violence and destruction of the Boxer Rebellion – Dongguan Church, founded by John Ross in 1889 was destroyed – the missionaries were free to resume their work of sharing the Gospel.”