The extremely brutal Nanjing Massacre, written on the darkest pages of Chinese history, was painful memories Nanjing shall never forget. On the morning of August 15, an event themed “Nanjing Will Never Forget——Nanjing Massacre Historical Memory Inheritance” was held at the Public Memorial Square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders and the exhibition area of Nanjing Massacre Exhibit. Ten people were announced as the second batch of “inheritors of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre”, sending a message that more and more descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors are taking the baton of passing on the historical memories and spreading the historical truth.

Alarm Bells Ringing | 12 Descendants of Nanjing Massacre Survivors Struck the Bell of Peace

At 8:15 am, a ceremony started at the Public Memorial Square with the representatives striking the Bell of Peace. In two groups, 12 descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors, including Wang Suming’s daughter Xu Hong and son-in-law Xia Tianxing, Yang Jingqiu’s granddaughter Zhou Xiaoyan, and Huang Guilan’s great-granddaughter Tao Xinyi, struck the bell 13 times. The reverberating sound of the bell around the square once again reminded people of their responsibility to remember the historical memories and protecting the historical truth.

“The ringing of the bell brings me back to the saddening years. The bell is struck not only to mourn for our compatriots who died during the Nanjing Massacre, but also to serve as a warning to us,” said Xia Tianxing, a descendant of a Nanjing Massacre survivor. For Xia, 2022 was a year full of both sorrow and hope. On March 23, his mother-in-law Wang Suming died of illness; on August 15, he and his wife Xu Hong were named among the first batch of “inheritors of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre”. Over the past year, Xia has done a lot to help more people learn about the historical truth behind the massacre, which was the wish of his mother-in-law and is now a goal the couple works hard for. He gave a lesson to students in Nanjing and expressed his hope before they studied abroad; he gave interviews with a number of media outlets and related the story of his mother-in-law again and again; he shared the latest updates from the Memorial Hall on WeChat, Douyin, and other online platforms.

Shouldering the Mission | 10 Inheritors of the Historical Memories Ready for Their Mission

The Memorial Hall also held a ceremony to issue a certificate to the second batch of “inheritors of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre”.

One year ago, the Memorial Hall issued the same certificate to 13 descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors named among the first batch of “inheritors of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre”. From that moment on, they have been charged with the important mission of inheriting and passing on the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre. Over the past year, they have recounted the story of their family to visitors at the Memorial Hall or students on campuses, or opened Weibo or Douyin accounts to spread the history to more people. Through their words and deeds, they have helped the public relive the days during the gruesome war and understand that history, and encouraged the young generation to make unremitting efforts to become stronger and shoulder the important responsibility of building China into a stronger country.

From now on, another 10 descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors will play a part in spreading the history of the massacre. They come from different age groups, from post-50s to post-99s. Survivors Liu Minsheng and Fang Suxia; Zhou Feng, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Nanjing Municipal Committee and director of the Memorial Hall; and Zhang Lianhong, a professor at Nanjing Normal University and president of the Nanjing Aid Association for the Victims of Atrocities by Japanese Invaders presented the certificate to Cao Yuli, Xu Kaikai, Zhou Baixuan, Guan Ruoxin, and other descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors.

Survivors Liu Minsheng (upper) and Fang Suxia give the certificate to inheritors of the historical memories

From left to right: Survivor Fang Suxia, Zhou Baixuan, Cao Yuli, Xu Kaikai, Guan Ruoxin, survivor Liu Minsheng, and Liu Liu

Zhang Lianhong pointed out the irreplaceable role the descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors play in passing down the memories of the massacre. “They live together with the survivors and can feel strongly about the pain the war inflicted upon them. So they play an irreplaceable role in passing down the memories of the massacre. In the past several years, many of them have done a good job in taking up the torch of historical memories and voluntarily participated in various memorial activities carried out by the Memorial Hall. For them, the purpose of inheriting those painful memories is not to promote hatred, but to draw lessons from the human catastrophe, build momentum for peace, and prevent new atrocities from happening.”

“My parents never forgot their mission as historical witnesses throughout their life. And they always required that we should never forget our family members and compatriots who were slaughtered and pass down the historical truth behind the Nanjing Massacre. As their offspring, we will remember the history forever and spread the truth from generation to generation,” said Cao Yuli, daughter of Nanjing Massacre survivors Cao Hongtai and Zhang Cuiying.

Cao Yuli

Yang Jingqiu’s granddaughter Zhou Xiaoyan couldn’t help but cry when she saw the photo of her granddaughter getting dark gradually. “My granddaughter is clear-cut on what to love and what to hate. Before her death, she often recounted the history to us and asked us to bear in mind the history and not to forget the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese invaders in Nanjing. At the same time, my grandmother loves peace and educates us to cherish today’s peace. As an inheritor of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre, I will spread her story and spirit.”

Zhou Xiaoyan (first from the right)

Born in 1999, survivor Huang Guilan’s great-granddaughter Tao Xinyi is the youngest inheritor granted a certificate this time. Tao is studying at Nanjing University of the Arts and often talks about the history of the Nanjing Massacre with her schoolmates. “I major in display design. I often visit the Memorial Hall together with my schoolmates. At the Memorial Hall, I not only observe how the exhibits are displayed, but learn about this history. As the descendant of a survivor, I have the responsibility to pass down the historical memories.”

Tao Xinyi

Passing on the Torch | Historical Memories Persist Forever

After the ceremony, Geng Fengjin and Zhou Xiaoyan, both recipients of the certificate for the second batch of “inheritors of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre”, some Chinese and foreign students, and some volunteers came to the exhibition area. They recited the excerpts from the diaries of Minnie Vautrin, John Rabe and Cheng Ruifang beside the statue of Vautrin, the statue of Rabe, and the photo of Cheng, respectively. Those diaries recorded what happened during the Nanjing Massacre.

During the Nanjing Massacre, Ge Daorong and his younger brother and sister sought shelter at the refugee camp of the Ginling Women’s College, where they was protected by Mrs. Vautrin. After Ge Daorong passed away this January, the important task of spreading the history has been entrusted to his offspring. “While reading The Diaries of Minnie Vautrin, I thought of my father’s experiences back then. We should learn from my father. He was so serious and persistent about inheriting the historical memories and spreading messages of peace. Now I have the responsibility to pass down those memories so that the young generation could develop a thorough and right understanding of them,” said Ge Fengjin, Ge Daorong’s second son.

Ge Fengjin recites The Diaries of Minnie Vautrin

Guan Ruoxin, another “inheritor of the historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre” recognized by the Memorial Hall, came to the “Survivors’ Footprints” bronze pavement at the Mourning Square of the Memorial Hall. There stands the bronze statue of her great-grandmother and Nanjing Massacre survivor Peng Yuzhen. The statue shows to visitors the scar on the right leg of Peng, which was left after a Japanese soldier fired a bullet through the leg. When Peng was still alive, Guan accompanied her to the Memorial Hall to leave her footprints. Now as she passed away, she will stand up and tell visitors the pain her great-grandmother experienced and her tenacious fight against those struggles. “Although my great-grandmother has left us, her bronze statue and footprints will forever record and recount the historical truth and serve as a reminder to the future generation for remembering the history.”

Guan Ruoxin narrates the experiences of her great-grandmother to international students

Today the Nanjing Massacre is not only a memory for Chinese people, but also a memory for the world. 10 foreign students from the United States, Germany and Poland took part in the event. With an average age of 25, they graduated from or are studying in world-renowned universities. Among them, Pawlan Jackson and Alisky Michael, from the US, joined Ge Fengjin and Zhou Xiaoyan in reciting some excerpts from the diaries of Vautrin, Rabe and Cheng.

“My family were European Jews expelled from our home during World War II.” Pawlan Jackson from the US state of Georgia sobbed while reading The Diaries of John Rabe. “The Nanjing Massacre, which is of the same nature as the Holocaust, aroused my sympathy.” Alisky Michael, who read The Diaries of Minnie Vautrin, said, “Each of us should care for and help others in danger, and care about the fate of each individual. The Nanjing Massacre is a history that no one shall forget.”

Pawlan Jackson recites The Diaries of John Rabe

Alisky Michael reads The Diaries of Minnie Vautrin

Cheng Xihan, a primary school student from Nanjing Foreign Language School Xianlin Campus, takes part in the reading as a volunteer