The grandson of John Maggie, the only video recorder of the Nanjing Massacre: Remembering History and Cherishing Peace

December 13 this year marks the eighth National Day of Commemoration for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The Nanjing Massacre 84 years ago has become a pain in the hearts of the people of Yongka. In Nanjing at that time, a group of international righteous soldiers stepped forward to save Chinese civilians at their own risk and ignite a touch of humanity for that dark winter. 84 years later, their descendants still have their hearts set on Nanjing. Among them, chris Maggie, the only video recorder of the Nanjing Massacre and the grandson of American John Maggie, and his adopted daughter of Chinese descent lit a white candle on the eve of the public day to commemorate the deceased.

84 years ago, John Magee, then chairman of the Nanjing Committee of the International Committee of the Red Cross, secretly captured a 105-minute picture with a 16-millimeter camera, which became ironclad evidence of the atrocities of the Japanese army. "His deeds have inspired generations in our family, and I hope that even in stormy times, we will not forget to lend a helping hand to each other and cherish lasting peace!" Chris Magee said.

In August this year, Nandu and N Video launched a series of reports on "Searching for the Descendants of International Friends of the Chinese Communist Party", and Chris Maggie was one of the respondents. In an interview, he said, "We may not be able to replicate the deeds of our grandfathers today, but I believe that any kindness, respect and love that is released in ordinary life will eventually affect the world." ”

Chris Maggie (left) and his Adopted Daughter of Chinese Descent.

"My grandfather regarded Nanjing as his second home, and documenting the atrocities of the Japanese army was his way of fighting back."

"84 years ago, my grandfather stayed in Nanjing, in the midst of war, helping many Chinese refugees and risking his life with a camera to record the dynamic images of the Nanjing Massacre. The films he left behind helped the world understand the cruelty of war, and his humanitarian spirit and fearlessness inspired generations of our family. I hope that even in the stormy times, everyone will not forget to lend a helping hand to each other and cherish lasting peace! ”

Nandu reporter noted that recently, Chris Maggie and his adopted daughter of Chinese descent left a group photo in front of the lit white candle and made the above statement. This is the fifth time that Chris Magee has participated in the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, and although he is far away from the ocean, his heart still resonates with Nanjing.

In an interview in August, Chris Magee told Nandu that he had never met his grandfather and that his family would not specifically talk to him about his experience in Nanjing when he was a child. Later, as he grew older, he pieced together a history that had been almost forgotten by the Western world at that time from the 8 rolls of film sealed in the basement of his home, as well as the narration of his father and uncle.

In 1912, John Magee traveled to China as an American Episcopal priest to China, settled in Nanjing, and began to build schools and preach. "In the first 20 years, he met many Chinese friends, and Nanjing has gradually become his second hometown." Chris Maggie told Nandu reporters.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse in 1937, when the Japanese invading China approached Nanjing that winter. Under the black cloud, embassies of various countries have issued warnings for the evacuation of overseas Chinese, demanding that foreigners in Ningbo leave. However, more than 20 international friends, including John Magee, eventually chose to stay and form the Nanjing Security Zone International Committee, using their neutral status to establish a "safe zone" in Nanjing, providing shelter and medical emergency to Chinese who were too late to evacuate as much as possible.

However, the barbarism of the Japanese army exceeded everyone's imagination. At the same time, in order to cover up the atrocities, the Japanese army blocked the information channels, whitewashed the Taiping in the international community, and Nanjing completely became an isolated city, and any international practice recognized by the civilized world became a blank piece of paper. "My grandfather felt powerless to watch the atrocities happening around him, so he picked up a camera and secretly recorded the atrocities of the Japanese army, which was also his way of fighting back." Chris Magee said.

During the Nanjing Massacre, John Magee captured a total of 105 minutes of footage and ventured to transport it out of the city under heavy japanese scrutiny. In 1946, during the trial of Japanese war criminals at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, John Magee presented to the court as a witness the atrocities he had witnessed in Nanjing. In early 1947, when the Nanjing Military Tribunal was trying Gu Shoufu and other war criminals of the Nanjing Massacre, the court broadcast the footage taken by John Maggie as ironclad evidence of the slaughter of the city.

"I have retraced the path of my grandfather's photography, hoping that more people will understand the preciousness of peace"

Chris Maggie once told Nandu reporters that his life has many indissoluble relationships with China. He moved to Hong Kong with his family when he was three years old, where he lived for ten years, from snacking Chinese food to becoming the best friend with his Chinese classmates. As an adult, he traveled to China several times and adopted two daughters in Changsha and Hangzhou. "It's hard to say if these connections to China are related to my grandfather, but I believe his story holds me in the dark." Chris Magee said.

In 2017, at the invitation of a filmmaker, Chris Maggie, a professional photographer, came to Nanjing to retrace his grandfather's shooting path. He selected buildings, streets, etc. from his grandfather's 1937 Nanjing Massacre film film film to shoot images of the same place 80 years later. "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." Chris Magee said.

Recalling this shooting experience, Chris Magee used "stunning" to describe the impression left by Nanjing to the Nandu reporter. "It's full of bustling commercial centres and modern landmarks, and there are also many quaint buildings interspersed with them, adding a unique human touch to the city."

What makes Chris Maggie even more unforgettable is the most direct feedback given to him by the people of Nanjing. He told the Nandu reporter that during the filming, the people of Nanjing, who often did not know him, came to shake his hand and thanked him for everything his grandfather had done. This made Chris Maggie feel a strong connection with his grandfather even more, and he also unconsciously developed a family-like affection for the people living in the city.

On that occasion, Chris Magee also interviewed survivors of the Nanjing Massacre. He described to the Nandu reporter, "When the four eyes meet, 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." ”

In the same year, the city of Nanjing awarded the Purple Grass International Peace Medal to Chris Magee, a descendant of John Magee, to express the gratitude and respect of the people of Nanjing for John Magee's selfless rescue of refugees during the massacre 80 years ago.

In this regard, Chris Maggie once said to the Nandu reporter in the interview, "Looking back at 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. ”

Producer: Nandu Instant

Written by: Nandu trainee reporter Weng Anqi