On an ordinary morning in 1784, a Japanese farmer was ploughing the soil.
At first sight, the inscription is blurred, but the handwriting is faintly visible.
News soon spread throughout nearby Kumamoto Castle, where a well-read Sinology master, Mr. Kamei, lived.
When Kamei saw this important weapon of the country, he was immediately interested.
I couldn't wait to write a letter and offer the high price of ten taels of gold to the Kyobei, wanting to keep it for my own personal collection.
That's a farmer's huge amount of money that is rare in a century.
In the face of this astronomical figure, Shibei couldn't help but feel a little moved.
The villagers advised him to think twice:
"Kamei is so coveted, he must be the treasure of treasures, and his rash actions may lead to endless disasters, so it is better to hand them over to the lord in exchange for some money and reward, and he can also save the whole family. ”
After much deliberation, the farmer finally handed over the treasure to the local lord carefully.
After repeated careful scrutiny by experts.
Originally
Since then, this precious artifact has been listed as a National Treasure of Japan.
Who would have thought that this small island country would have bad intentions and repeatedly invade China's territory after many years.
A period of heart-wrenching years
The heart-wrenching years seem to be able to feel the smoke of war.
The First Sino-Japanese War, the Occupation of Lushun, the September 18 Incident, the Lugou Bridge Incident, the Nanjing Massacre, ......
What was once a hot land is constantly being ravaged.
Everywhere there was a scene of killing, burning, and looting.
Under the iron hooves is the wailing of innocent people.
In the firelight, our homes were burned to ashes.
What's even more infuriating is that
There is also the notorious Unit 731, which also indiscriminately used all kinds of heinous biological and chemical weapons under man-made disasters.
That's not what a civilized nation should do!
The atrocities of the Japanese aggressors are like sharp knives that deeply pierce our national memory.
However, the greater the suffering, the more it can inspire the heroism of the nation.
During the eight-year War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, there were heroic sons and daughters in every inch of land.
Brave the rain of bullets and bloodied enemies to drive the invaders out!
After the war, although Japan submitted its instrument of surrender, it never admitted its mistake in the dark history of wantonly invading other countries and committing heinous crimes.
However, the hard truth is not distorted because of one-sided words.
We cannot afford to write it off just because the passage of time has passed.
Because this is not only the pain of the Chinese people, but also the shame of all mankind.
A unique "island mentality"
So why is Japan keen on aggression?
The geographical environment determines and influences the character and destiny of a nation to a certain extent.
As a small island surrounded by the sea, Japan's geographical environment is destined to be resource-poor and living space.
The narrow landscape of the country makes it look like a small boat, floating in the vast sea.
In addition, the frequent attacks of volcanic earthquakes have also made Japan restless.
This psychology has an extremely obvious contradiction:
On the one hand, geographical factors make them eager to absorb fresh cultures from the outside world;
But on the other hand, the geographical separation of island countries makes them have a deep sense of wariness and alienation from foreign things.
For a long time, this ambivalence has bred a wave of "exclusivity".
In the depths of their hearts, a strong impulse to rule and conquer foreign nations is brewing.
This is undoubtedly a distortion of the national psyche.
In addition to the lack of resources and strange emotions, there is actually a special reason.
The view of the "inverted map".
We usually see a map of China.
This kind of illustration is undoubtedly from the perspective of China.
It highlights the huge disparity in territory and strength between the two countries.
But
When we turn the map of China upside down 180 degrees, Japan, once a seemingly insignificant island nation, sits above China.
What's even more surprising is that
In particular, in some Japanese military reports, the practice of reversing the map is even more blatant.
In that report, titled "Japan's Defense," the map of China was clearly turned upside down.
In this perspective, Japan is placed in the upper left of China, and Russia, which is supposed to be in the northeast of China, is also placed below China.
In fact
On the other hand, we must also be soberly aware that the coastal terrain of Chinese mainland is not conducive to defense.
From the northeast to North China to the Yangtze River basin, all the way south to the Pearl River Delta.
This vast plain is not in danger.
In the event of a war, it is indeed easy to leave an opportunity to take advantage of it.
Therefore, this "inverted map" perspective highlights some of Japan's natural advantages in geostrategic location.
At the same time, it also exposes some of China's geographical defensive points.
War should never be glorified
Maps, though can reveal some information.
We should not compare Japan to a small bug.
Ditto,
In the final analysis, Japan launched that hegemonious and criminal war of aggression against China.
The motive is not out of some terrain and landforms, but only out of a blind desire for aggression and a selfish desire for profit first.
Any country and nation that has the most basic human conscience.
Neither of them should use this as an excuse to wantonly violate the sovereignty of other countries and inflict deep trauma and disasters on neighboring countries and civilians.
We should look directly at history and spit on those sinful years with ruthless facts.
Only by truthfully reviewing this painful history can we learn lessons from it and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Any country that has been kidnapped by this narrow nationalism and expansionism has its rationality.
In the end, they all couldn't escape a bleak end.