Editor's note: The State holds Memorial Ceremony and sets up this National Memorial Day through laws and regulations. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims. In the past ten years, every National Memorial Ceremony represents the awakening of memory and a call for peace. In 2024, the Media Centre of the Memorial Hall planned and launched a special column, National Memorial Day·the 10th Anniversary, looking back at the changed and unchanged of the National Memorial Ceremony in the past ten years, and collectively engraving the eternal memory of the National Memorial Ceremony over the past decade. Today, the Centre published the first article Moment Is Eternity.

Today, we take a journey back in time. We select one photo from each of the past years, and look back at those moments that shook the heartstrings in the past ten years with ten photos.

In the Year 2014

On February 27, 2014, the seventh meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Congress of the CPC voted to adopt a decision on the establishment of National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims, establishing December 13 as the National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims. In the same year, the first National Memorial Ceremony for Nanjing Massacre Victims was solemnly held in Nanjing.

——Photo by Sheng Jiapeng, reporter from China News Service

In the Year 2015

On December 13, 2015, Zhou Guangtian, a 98-year-old war veteran who came all the way from Hunan Province, mourned his compatriots at the Qingliangshan Burial Site for Nanjing Massacre victims. Zhou Guangtian had participated in the defense of Nanjing, and valiantly resisted the Japanese army in the battle of Guanghua Gate. In the cold wind, the old man cried and said: “We soldiers failed in our duty back then, and we apologize to the people of Nanjing”.

——Photo source: Hohai University

In the Year 2016

On the afternoon of December 13, 2016, a Japanese friendly personage cried and apologized to Jin Maozhi, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre. The elderly Jin Maozhi patted his shoulder and said that only peace can bring happiness to the people.

——Photo source: js.ifeng.com

In the Year 2017

On the evening of December 12, teachers and students at Jiulonghu Campus of Southeast University spontaneously arranged classroom lights to spell out the words "Peace", "Nanjing", and "1213" to remind themselves to remember history and never forget national humiliation.

——Photo source: CCTV News App

In the Year 2018

In 2018, Robert Wilson's daughter Margaret and other descendants of international friends were invited to attend the National Memorial Ceremony for Nanjing Massacre Victims. Wilson was the only surgeon in the city during the Nanjing Massacre. During her visit to the Memorial Hall, Margaret saw her father's image on a display board, Margaret was overwhelmed with emotion and burst into tears, and the staff accompanying her gently hugged her. Later, Wilson's descendants decided to donate Dr. Wilson's medical notes to the Memorial Hall.

——Photo by Wang Shanfeng

In the Year 2019

"In the cold winter of 1937, you protected me; today, 82 years later, I give you warmth." On the eve of the National Memorial Day, Ge Daorong, a 92-year-old survivor of the Nanjing Massacre, tied a scarf around the statue of Ms. Minnie Vautrin during the "Gratitude - Nanking Safety Zone" international peace hiking activity.

——Photo by Yang Bo, reporter from China News Service

In the Year 2020

As the National Memorial Day approaches, Xiong Shulan, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre, covered her face in pain as she spoke to the camera about her family's experience, saying, "We have to turn our grief into strength. I hope that our children and grandchildren will live in peace and happiness."

——Photo by Yang Bo, reporter from China News Service

In the Year 2021

On December 13, 2021, the 95-year-old Liu Jianzhi and his 87-year-old wife, Qi Enzhi, were filming the Candlelight Vigil. In the 27 years since they first turned their camera lenses toward this history in 1994, they have never left.

——Photo by Pan Linna

In the Year 2022

In the early morning of December 13, 2022, the moon resembled a teardrop resting in the corner of the eye of the statue of “Mother” in the Memorial Hall.

——Photo by Wan Chengpeng, reporter from Xinhua Daily

In the Year 2023

On December 3, 2023, a group of children traced over the names of the victims of the Nanjing Massacre in front of the “Wall of Tears” at the Memorial Hall. May the sunshine of peace always shine on the children and in everyone's heart, as it shines in this moment.

——Photo by Yang Bo, reporter from China News Service