Editor's note: A hundred years of hard work, the road is not alone. On July 1, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the conference celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the people and friends of all countries who live in friendship with the Chinese and people and care for and support the cause of China's revolution, construction and reform!" From now on, Nandu and N Video launched a series of reports on "Searching for the Descendants of International Friends of the Communist Party of China" to listen to them tell the stories of friendly exchanges between their relatives and the Chinese Communist Party, as well as what they see as China today.
"I can't imagine the despair my grandfather experienced at the time, but he insisted on staying, not for any fame, wealth, or order. He's just doing what he thinks is right. Recently, Chris Magee, the grandson of John Magee, an American who personally experienced the Nanjing Massacre, was interviewed by the Southern Metropolis Daily and N video reporters.
John Magee was an American Anglican missionary, and during the Nanjing Massacre, John Magee resolutely stayed in Nanjing, providing humanitarian assistance to Chinese civilians and risking to film the atrocities committed by the Japanese army, leaving the only moving image of the Nanjing Massacre. Later, the camera used by John Magee was preserved in the Memorial Hall of compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese invasion of China.
As a professional photographer, Chris Maggie came to Nanjing in 2017 to revisit his grandfather's path of shooting. "I think we will never be able to resolve our differences on all issues, but we should learn to communicate on an equal footing and treat people with kindness." He told Nandu and N video reporters.
Chris Maggie.
【Interview with Chris Maggie】
"Picking up a camera to document the atrocities of the Japanese army was his way of fighting back"
Nandu: How much do you know about your grandfather's story in China?
Chris Magee: In 1912, my grandfather John Magee traveled to China as an American Anglican missionary to China, settled in Nanjing, and began building schools and preaching. During the more than 20 years he lived in China, he met many Chinese friends. Nanjing has gradually become his second hometown.
In 1937, when the news came that the Japanese army was about to invade Nanjing, many Westerners in Nanjing left, and only more than 20 people chose to stay, including my grandfather. I believe it was a rather difficult decision — my grandfather had his own family, and he sent his family back to China on the eve of the Japanese invasion of China breaking through the Nanjing line, and he chose the latter between going back to take care of the family and staying behind to help the people of Nanjing.
John Maggie.
Together with other Westerners stationed in Nanjing, he used his neutral status to establish a "safe zone" in Nanjing, providing as much shelter and medical emergency as possible to Chinese who were too late to evacuate. He put on a black priest's uniform and hung a prominent Red Cross emblem on the outside of the hospital he built to keep the Japanese soldiers out as much as possible.
But he clearly underestimated the barbarism of the Japanese army. In order to cover up the atrocities, the Japanese army blocked all information channels, and Nanjing became an isolated island, where any international practice recognized by the civilized world became a dead letter. Watching the atrocities happening around him, my grandfather felt powerless for himself, so he picked up the camera and took great risks to record the atrocities of the Japanese army, which was also his way of fighting back.
Nandu: What do you think of what your grandfather did for the people of Nanjing?
Chris Magee: My grandfather died of illness before I was born, and I haven't seen him. Most of everything about my grandfather came from my father and uncle, and of course the 8 volumes of sealed film. In middle school, I began to study Chinese history at school, but it did not involve the Nanjing Massacre. In fact, apart from the stories and films left by my grandfather, that history seemed to have been forgotten by the Western world at that time, but that stimulated my curiosity even more.
John Magee photographs of Nanjing Massacre survivor Li Xiuying receiving treatment that year. Image source: Memorial Hall of compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese invasion of China
Just through the black and white pictures left by my grandfather, I can't imagine the despair he experienced at that time. As a later generation, we can understand what happened at that time through the history books, but he can only see the cruel scene in front of him, and he doesn't even know if he can get out of there alive. But he still insisted on staying, not for any fame or fortune or order, he was just doing what he thought was right.
"I hope more people will understand this history and appreciate the preciousness of peace"
Nandu: When did you start to understand China?
Chris Magee: When I was three years old, I went to Hong Kong with my family and lived there for ten years. My parents are very respectful and knowledgeable about Chinese culture, I was able to eat Chinese food at home since I was a child, and my best friend at school was also Chinese. When I grew up, I traveled to China twice and adopted my two precious daughters in Changsha and Hangzhou, both of whom now live with me. It's hard to say if these connections to China in my life are related to my grandfather, but I believe his story has taught me in the dark.
Nandu: In 2017, you came to Nanjing to retake your grandfather's path, what does this mean to you?
Chris Magee: In 2017, a filmmaker from New York approached my uncle, my grandfather's youngest son, and invited him to Nanjing to work on a documentary. Although my uncle wanted to leave immediately, due to his advanced age, he was no longer suitable for long-term shooting work, and was eventually stopped by the doctor. When my uncle expressed the hope that I could go to Nanjing in his place, I couldn't believe it. I've always wanted to go to Nanjing, and now I'm finally waiting for my chance.
I selected some buildings, streets, rivers, etc. from the Nanjing Massacre film film film left by my grandfather, found the same place in Nanjing, and took photos. I hope that through this set of photos spanning 80 years, China and the West will be connected, so that more people can understand and remember the history of the Nanjing Massacre, and realize the preciousness of peace from it.
"Any kindness, respect and love will eventually affect the world"
Nandu: What impression did that trip to Nanjing leave on you?
Chris Magee: The impression of Nanjing on me can be described as "stunning". It's dotted with bustling commercial centres and modern landmarks, while also offering quaint architecture that adds a unique touch to the city.
During the filming, people who often did not know me came to shake my hand after learning my identity, and thanked me for everything my grandfather did, and the shock and emotion they brought to me are still unforgettable to me. This made me feel a strong connection with my grandfather and also developed a family-like affection for the people who lived in the city.
The camera used by John Maggie. Image source: Memorial Hall of compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese invasion of China
Sometimes I find this very incredible. 80 years later, the pain and suffering of that year have passed away with that generation, but the friendship and good causes planted by my grandfather here have blossomed and finally enriched his descendants.
Nandu: What do you think we can learn from the deeds of John Maggie today?
Chris Magee: A few years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to survivors of the Nanjing Massacre. When looking at each other, I feel that the differences between countries, regions, and races all disappear at that moment, and we who are in the same space are carrying out the most natural and simple communication between hearts and minds. I think the same can be true of exchanges between countries, and while we will never be able to resolve our differences on all issues, we should at least learn to communicate on an equal footing and treat others with kindness.
Looking back more than 80 years ago, my grandfather used his meager strength to give that cold and cruel history a moment of warmth, and thus praised by future generations. We may not be able to replicate that kind of story as we live today, but I believe that any kindness, respect, and love that comes out of ordinary life will eventually affect the world.
【Character Background】
In 1937, when the Invading Japanese Army approached Nanjing, under the black cloud, the embassies of various countries issued warnings for the evacuation of overseas Chinese, demanding that foreigners in Ningbo leave. However, more than 20 international friends, including American missionary John Magee, eventually chose to stay and form the Nanjing Security Zone International Committee, which rescued more than 200,000 innocent Chinese civilians.
After the Japanese army captured Nanjing, it carried out the tragic Nanjing Massacre, and at the same time, it was whitewashed in the international community in an attempt to cover up the crime. During this time, John Magee secretly captured 105 minutes of footage with a 16mm camera, which became ironclad evidence for the later exposure of Japanese atrocities.
In 1946, when the International Military Tribunal for the Far East tried Japanese war criminals, Maggie presented to the court as a witness the various atrocities he had personally experienced in Nanjing; in early 1947, when the Nanjing Military Tribunal tried Gu Shoufu and other War Criminals of the Nanjing Massacre, the court played MaJi's documentary as ironclad evidence of the slaughter of the city.
In October 2002, John Magee's son, David Magee, donated the cameras and other cultural relics his father used that year to the Memorial Hall of the Compatriots Killed in the Nanjing Massacre.
On December 13, 2014, Xi Jinping mentioned in his speech at the National Memorial Ceremony for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre that it was touching that in those bloody days of the Nanjing Massacre, our compatriots watched out for each other and supported each other, and many international friends also took risks to protect the people of Nanjing in various ways and record the brutal acts of the Japanese invaders. Among them were John Rabe of Germany, Bernhall Sindberg of Denmark, and John Magee of the United States. Their humanitarian spirit and fearless righteousness will never be forgotten Chinese people.
In 2017, Nanjing awarded the Purple Grass International Peace Medal to Mr. Chris Maggie, the grandson of John Maggie, to express the gratitude and respect of the people of Nanjing for John Maggie's selfless rescue of refugees during the massacre 80 years ago.
"Searching for the Descendants of International Friends of the Chinese Communist Party" series
Chief planner: Rong Mingchang
Executive Planner: Wang Jia
Coordinator: Nandu reporter Xiang Xueni
Chief Writer: Nandu reporter Yu Yijing
Written by: Nandu reporter Yu Yijing trainee reporter Weng Anqi