The picture shows the memorial monument of the compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese army invading China. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
On December 13, 1937, the city of Nanjing experienced family disasters, city robberies, and national martyrdom, which was a dark page in the history of world civilization.
84 years have passed, and the darkest hour has not been forgotten. Under the refraction of black and white light and shadow, the vein of the memorial is becoming clearer and clearer. Survivors, overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese, Chinese and foreign scholars, volunteers and other groups have "salvaged" this memory in different ways, sending out the same voice: we want peace.
Talking about how this dark history has entered the vision of mainstream Western society, Zhang Chunru can't avoid it.
On September 9, 2005, in the memorial hall of the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese invasion of China, Zhang Shaojin (first from left) and Zhang Yingying (second from left) unveiled a sculpture of their daughter Zhang Chunru. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
On December 12, at the Zhang Chunru Memorial Hall in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, a cloud connection with the theme of "Don't Forget History and Memory Inheritance" crossed the Pacific Ocean, connecting night and day. Overseas Chinese in Canada, the United States and other places jointly inherit their memories and pray for peace.
"The memory of the Nanjing Massacre is particularly important to pass on the memories of the Nanjing Massacre between generations, both in China and overseas." Zhang Chunru's mother, Zhang Yingying, explained the significance of inheriting historical memory through video. It was through her parents that Zhang Chunru learned about the Nanjing Massacre for the first time.
In July 1995, Zhang Chunru traveled to Nanjing alone from the United States and wrote the book "Nanjing Atrocities: The Forgotten Massacre". The book describes the details of the Japanese army raping, abusing, and killing a large number of Chinese civilians in Nanjing, changing the status quo of the Nanjing Massacre in the Western world for a long time.
In 2004, Roque, a German who was studying in the United States, read Zhang Chunru's book on the recommendation of teacher Chinese, and was shocked by the tragedy described in the book. Roark did not expect that he would use it as a research topic in the future.
The picture shows the former residence of Rabe in Xiaofanqiao, Nanjing. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
"The world knows a lot about the Jewish Holocaust during World War II, but little is known about the Nanjing Massacre. I want to delve deeper into this topic. Today, Roque is a UNESCO Chair in Peace Studies at Nanjing University.
Historical truth crosses the continent and the ocean, across the darkness and the day.
By 2015, this national memory had risen to become a World Memory Heritage Site. The shadow left by time, with the efforts of everyone, gradually turned into a warm light, illuminating the road ahead of peace.
As a staff member of the Nanjing Victims Assistance Association for the Japanese Invasion of China, December is Li Xueqing's busiest day every year.
Li Xueqing wants to help the living old man to keep this memory, and even more to soothe the soul that has experienced disasters. Whenever the surviving old people mention this tragic history, they often burst into tears, but in the end they will repeat: "To be peaceful, there must be peace."
The picture shows an old man visiting outside the memorial hall of the compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese army invading China. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
In the memorial hall of the compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese invasion of China, the younger generation is using the network "time planter" to condense this dark history into a white light symbolizing peace and sprinkle it all over the world.
Zhao Meina, a member of the "post-95s" staff, is one of them, and she tries to use the Internet to tell people around the world the truth of history and seek a path to peace. "There are no borders to spreading the idea of peace, and building a peaceful environment takes a long time."
Under the black and white light, the sound of sacrifice was constantly sounding.
For the Nanjing Massacre survivors, every year at this time, there are mixed feelings. The past is not like smoke.
"I'm old, but as long as I can move, I must stand up and tell this history." Nanjing Massacre survivor Ge Daorong said.
Pictured here is Ge Daorong, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre born in 1927. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
Ge Daorong, who was born in 1927, is now in his nineties and has a full house of children and grandchildren. At the age of 10, his uncle and two uncles, three people, were brutally killed by the Japanese army. His right leg was stabbed with bayonets by Japanese soldiers, leaving permanent scars.
Ge Daorong said that he had no property left to his descendants, but the memory of this "heirloom" should be passed down from generation to generation. The old man practiced what he preached, insisted on participating in various testimonial activities, and told more people about this family memory with pain.
The picture shows the memorial hall of the compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese army invading China holding a national memorial ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
According to statistics, as of now, only 61 survivors are registered in the Nanjing Victims' Assistance Association for the Japanese Invasion of China. As survivors wither, survivors' descendants are becoming a major force in spreading memories.
On January 28 this year, survivor Yang Cuiying passed away. Yang Huaiqing, the daughter of Yang Cuiying, told the China News Service that a month before her mother's death, she had solemnly handed over the relevant materials to the younger generations of the family. "I know, it's a big trust. How do children today remember this history? It is our responsibility to tell the children of the present day both the indictment of war and the call for peace! ”
The picture shows the descendants of the survivors of the Nanjing Massacre participating in the family sacrifice activities in the memorial hall of the compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre of the Japanese army invading China. (File photo) China News Service reporter Yang Bo photo
For survivors and their descendants, at this time of year, it is a sacrifice, but also a memorial; it is a family sacrifice and a national sacrifice.
On the occasion of the Eighth National Day of Commemoration for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre, the intertwined memories of this period of home and country were picked up again and recited repeatedly: Zhao Zhao's past events, more tirending future generations; only by learning from the past can we pray for peace together.
Source: China News Network Client