“In 1937, with the Chinese army comparatively weak and underfunded and the Japanese army on the horizon, the invasion into and occupation of Nanjing by Japan appeared imminent. As it packed up and fled, the Chinese government encouraged the people of Nanjing to stay, saying ‘All those who have blood and breath in them must feel that they wish to be broken as jade rather than remain whole s tile.’ To reinforce this statement, the gates to the city were locked, trapping over half a million citizens inside. Nevertheless, thousands of civilians attempted to follow the retreating government by escaping through Xiaguan Gate, the only gate in the city wall that remained unlocked. Leading up to the gate was a 21 meter tunnel inside of which reigned panic and mayhem. In the resulting chaos and collisions, thousands of people were suffocated, burned or trampled to death.
“What followed in Nanjing was six weeks of continuous, unfathomable victimization of civilians to an extent unwitnessed in modern warfare. During Japan’s occupation of Nanjing, between 300,000 and 400,000 Chinese civilians were killed, either in group massacres or individual murders. Within the first month, as least 20,000 women were brutally raped. Women who attempted to refuse or children who interfered were often bayoneted or shot.
“The Japanese, however, underestimated the Chinese. Instead of breaking the peoples will, the invasion fuelled a nsese of identity and determination. Those who did not die – broken as jade – survived to fight back” (Lonely Planet: China).
During our week break away from school, we were able to see many cultural sites in the cities of Shanghai and Nanjing, but none were more stirring then The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum. As we walked through the halls of that building, I saw images and displays that broke my heart. A Japanese soldier, with sword in hand, stops to smile for a picture before chopping of the head of a young boy; pictures showing hundreds of Chinese civilians being brutally murdered by the hands of Japanese soldiers; thousands of corpses sprawled out on the ground. One particularly disturbing display is of the uncovered bones of these people who died some 70 years before.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the brutality of men. How could a human being, a child of God, be so past feeling that they could do such a terrible thing to another person? How could that soldier look into the face of the young boy, and do what he did?
It is hard to put into words the feelings I felt, but I walked away from that museum determined to be a little kinder. I never want anger or hate to be a part of my life. Instead I want to radiate love and compassion. My heart reached out to those individuals lost in the world without the comfort and hope that the gospel brings. One day all will have confidence that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all wrongs will be made right.
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