In these early days of winter, boundless grief filled the air in front of the "Wall of Tears". On December 1, the family memorial service for the Nanjing Massacre victims was held in front of the "Wall of Tears" at the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre Victims (by Japanese Invaders). Nanjing Massacre survivors, descendants of survivors, representatives of victims' families, and youth representatives stood solemnly with chrysanthemums to pay homage to their loved ones and compatriots who perished 87 years ago.

Survivors Express Longing After 87 Years of Separation Between Life and Death

The Wall of the Name List of the Nanjing Massacre Victims is called the "Wall of Tears". Behind these names are once vivid lives, the painful pasts of countless families, and unforgettable memories. Every year at this time, people gather here to pay tribute to the deceased, express their grief, and convey the concept of remembering history and cherishing peace to the world.

Zhou Feng, Director of the Memorial Hall, and Ruan Hongyan, a representative of the families of the Nanjing Massacre Victims, sorted out the elegiac couplets. All attendees held chrysanthemums and bowed three times to honor the Nanjing Massacre Victims.

Ninety-year-old Liu Minsheng, ninety-five-year-old Xia Shuqin, and ninety-six-year-old Ai Yiying arrived at the "Wall of Tears" with the help of their family members. Accompanying them were historical memory inheritors of the Nanjing Massacre Xia Yuan, Huang Xinghua and Liu Liu.

Xia Shuqin, now with hair as white as snow, appeared sorrowful as she recalled her family’s tragic experiences during the Nanjing Massacre.  "Do you know how many people died back then? I was stabbed three times and survived. I still have a large scar," she recounted. Her granddaughter Xia Yuan added, "For my whole family, the ‘Wall of Tears' is the only place to pay homage to the relatives who died in that war. We will never forget this history."

Ai Yiying trembled as she traced the names of her family members on the "Wall of Tears", each stroke engraved in her heart. Eighty-seven years have passed, yet the nightmare remains vivid in her memory. During the Nanjing Massacre, six male members of her family, including her father, were killed by the Japanese invaders, leaving behind a family of "widows of the Ai family". Ai Yiying said that during that time, women struggled to survive with their children and were referred to as "widows of the Ai family", a label that broke her heart.

Liu Minsheng covered his face and sighed. During the Nanjing Massacre, he and his family fled to the refugee shelter of Ginling College for refuge. “In the refugee zone, my father carried me while my mother carried my younger sister. It was freezing outside, and I cried because of the cold. A Japanese soldier stabbed me in the leg with a bayonet, leaving a scar on my right leg that remains to this day. My father was taken away and never returned.” The Nanjing Massacre completely changed his life trajectory. “I hope that people all over the world can understand the historical facts of the Nanjing Massacre and prevent history from repeating itself.”

Descendants of Survivors "Take Up the Torch" to Preserve Historical Truth

Ren Ying, Yu Tianxiang, Xia Yuan, and Jiang Bingchun, historical memory inheritors of the Nanjing Massacre, recited the poem The Bell of Jiangdong Gate written by the poet Feng Yitong in a slow and low voice, expressing deep condolences for the 30,0000 innocent and vivid lives who were brutally killed by the Japanese invaders.

From left to right: Ren Ying, Yu Tianxiang, Xia Yuan, and Jiang Bingchun

As time passes, Nanjing Massacre survivors continue to pass away, with only 32 still living. To preserve historical truth and carry forward the memory of the past, the Memorial Hall has, since 2022, awarded certificates of "Nanjing Massacre Historical Memory Inheritor" to three batches of 32 descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors.

An increasing number of young people have voluntarily taken on the role of historical memory inheritors. Representatives of survivors' descendants, students, and others participated in “re-engraving” the names on the Wall of the Name List of the Nanjing Massacre Victims, an act of mourning and remembrance.

Jiang Bingchun, a great-grandson of survivor Chen Guixiang, is part of the third batch of historical memory inheritors, assuming the role in October this year. As a college student in Nanjing, he actively participated in various activities organized by the Memorial Hall. He said, “My great-grandmother once traveled to Japan to participate in a testimony rally. She passed away in March of this year. As a descendant of survivors and a native of Nanjing, it is my duty to spread the truth of history.”

Cao Yuli, the daughter of survivors Cao Hongtai and Zhang Cuiying, is part of the second batch of historical memory inheritors. Cao Yuli said, “My father never forgot his mission as a witness to history before his death. He always warned us never to forget our loved ones and compatriots who were slaughtered, and to pass down the historical truth of the Nanjing Massacre from generation to generation.”

"Remember the victims," "May peace prevail in the world," and "Remember history, pray for peace"—these solemn messages were written by survivors' families and students from Xincheng Primary School, High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University (short for NSFZ). Each card bore messages of grief and hope for lasting peace.