The Blue Dragon: A Tale of Recent Adventure in China

In Short

This narrative follows the unlikely friendship between an American boy, Rob Hinckley, and a Chinese youth, Jo, as they traverse a China on the brink of profound change. Set against the backdrop of the Boxer Rebellion, the story tracks the boys from a small American town to the besieged legations of Peking. Part travelogue and part historical adventure, the book serves as a plea for cross-cultural understanding, advocating for the development and education of China rather than its exploitation by foreign powers, all while charting a harrowing path toward family reunion.

The Story

The story opens in a quiet American village, where young Rob Hinckley encounters Jo, a Chinese student. Despite the prejudice Jo faces from local "muckers," Rob defends him, and the two become inseparable. Their bond is tested when Rob receives word that his father is missing in China. Driven by loyalty, Rob embarks on a journey that takes him across the Pacific, through Hawaii and the Philippines, and finally to the Chinese mainland, where he seeks news of his parents.

As the political climate in China grows volatile due to the rise of the Boxer movement—a reaction against the encroachment of Western powers—Rob and Jo find themselves in a race against time. They navigate a landscape of burned bridges and hostile mobs, often relying on their wits and disguises to survive. During their trek, they endure a harrowing escape from a walled city, using a massive dust drift as a cushion to jump from a fifty-foot parapet. Their journey culminates in the besieged city of Peking. Here, amidst the chaos of the Boxer Rebellion, they navigate the dangerous streets where foreign residents are being targeted.

In the midst of the siege, the boys serve as vital links for the trapped legations. Rob, utilizing his ingenuity, manages to pass messages to and from the outside world, while Jo uses his connections to provide aid, including securing food and signaling the defenders from the shadows of the city walls. They manage to survive the intense violence, including the assassination of a foreign diplomat, and ultimately reunite Rob with his mother, who had been trapped in the city.

The resolution finds the families safe and established in Shanghai. Rob, recognized for his courage and resourcefulness during the harrowing journey, secures a position on a new railway project, while his father accepts a medical role in China. The story concludes with the two families planning a future trip to the United States for the St. Louis World's Fair, marking a transition from the dangers of the conflict to a hopeful, modern future built on the friendship the boys forged in the face of prejudice and war.

How It Unfolds

The encounter in Hatton Rob meets Jo, a stranger in a strange land, and protects him from an abusive mob. Their developing friendship centers on mutual learning, as Rob gains an appreciation for Chinese culture while helping Jo adapt to American life.

A call to adventure Rob receives a sudden, urgent message concerning his father’s disappearance in China. With his parents’ support and blessing, he leaves his schooling behind to undertake a journey across the world to find them.

Navigating a nation in revolt Rob and Jo traverse a landscape increasingly hostile to foreigners, moving through provinces where the Boxer movement is actively destroying infrastructure. They employ disguises, including priestly robes, to pass through dangerous territories toward the capital.

The siege of Peking The boys reach the center of the conflict, where they maneuver between the besieged legations and the surrounding chaos. They become essential conduits for information, risking their lives to ensure the survival of those trapped within the city walls.

The final reunion Following the lifting of the siege and the restoration of order, the families are reunited in Shanghai. The experience leaves the characters permanently altered, setting them on new professional paths within a rapidly modernizing China.

The People

Rob Hinckley is the determined, optimistic protagonist. Motivated by filial love and a sense of justice, he moves from a sheltered student to a seasoned traveler who navigates geopolitical hazards with calm pragmatism. He ends the story as a young man of international experience, bridge-building between cultures.

Jo is the intellectual and cultural anchor for Rob. Initially a displaced student suffering from the prejudice of others, he remains profoundly loyal to his heritage while embracing the necessity of progress. His growth is seen in his evolution from a passive observer of his country’s plight to an active agent in ensuring his friend’s safety and the success of the foreign mission.

Together, they represent a cooperative ideal. Their friendship is the book’s primary engine, proving that individuals can defy the deep-seated resentments between their respective nations through personal integrity and mutual reliance.

In Its Own Voice

"As the dragon is believed to be big enough and strong enough to overcome and devour all the other wicked genii who continually vex Chinese life, the wise men of the 'Black-haired People' thought it best to have him on their side, and consequently accorded him the highest honor in their power to bestow."

This passage introduces the symbolic significance of the title, equating the national emblem of China with the American eagle as a reflection of cultural values.

"With them, more than with any other people, even including the Chinese themselves, will rest the decision, whether China shall remain a nation, open to the unobstructed commerce of the world, or become a series of petty colonial possessions devoted only to the interests of their several ruling powers."

The author addresses the reader directly, framing the story as a moral challenge for young Americans to consider the ethical implications of global imperialism.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is a critique of the "Great Game" of colonialism. It argues that China’s resentment is not born of inherent malice, but is a justified reaction to the systematic despoiling of its territory by Western powers. The narrative posits that the path to a peaceful future lies in "education and development" rather than aggression. Beneath the action, the book asks a difficult question: how can a young nation reconcile its own identity with the encroaching demands of a globalized world? It suggests that the responsibility for a "wise and just solution" to this tension rests with the next generation, whose capacity for empathy will determine whether the world chooses commerce or conquest.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical adventure will find a compelling, if occasionally earnest, look at a pivotal moment in the 20th century. The book is written with an unmistakable warmth, and its descriptions of travel—from the sights of Honolulu to the dusty plains of Northern China—are vivid and transportive.

However, modern readers should approach the text with an awareness of its era. The author writes from a 1904 perspective, which includes period-typical attitudes and a paternalistic tone toward the "Middle Kingdom." The use of dialect and the portrayal of the "muckers" in the early chapters reflect the prejudices of the time, though the author uses these moments as a foil for the boys' later growth. Despite these dated elements, the book is remarkably sincere in its desire to foster international friendship. What stays with the reader is the genuine, high-stakes bond between Rob and Jo, which serves as a sturdy emotional tether through the increasingly chaotic historical landscape. It is a piece of historical curiosa that invites you to see how early-20th-century Americans grappled with their country’s burgeoning role on the global stage.