As the Qingming Festival arrives, the spring grass grows lush and green, carrying our grief. On April 4th, the Qingming Memorial Ceremony for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre was held in front of the Wall of the Name List of the Victims at The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. Survivors of the Nanjing Massacre, bereaved family members, young students, and international students stood solemnly with chrysanthemums in hand to mourn the victims of the Nanjing Massacre who perished 88 years ago.

Survivors Weep at the "Wailing Wall"

In front of the “Wailing Wall,” the wreaths made of yellow and white chrysanthemums stood solemn and dignified. Staff members laid flower baskets. Facing the Wall of the Name List of the Victims, all the people present bowed three times tothe Nanjing Massacre victims, expressing their deep sorrow.

Cao Yuli, representative of the bereaved families of the Nanjing Massacrevictims, adjusts the mourning couplet.

“As long as my health permits, I come every year!” Xia Shuqin, a 96-year-old Nanjing Massacre survivor, arrived in front of the “Wailing Wall” with the support of her family. Her eyes glistened with tears as she expressed her longing for her loved ones. With her hair turn white by time, Xia quickly found the names of her seven family members on the “Wailing Wall.” On December 13, 1937, seven out of nine members of her family were brutally killed by Japanese soldiers. Only eight years old at the time, Xia narrowly survived after being stabbed three times and left unconscious.

Liu Minsheng, a 91-year-oldNanjing Massacre survivor, arrived with his daughter Liu Liu, walking slowly and with difficulty. Together, they laid flowers to mourn their deceased relatives. “Although it hurts every time I recall those memories, I still have to come and speak out. I hope that our descendants will never have to experience the suffering we went through,” said the elderly Liu Minsheng.

More than 30 representatives of the bereaved families and student representatives, including Chang Xiaomei, Xu Hong, and Yu Huiru, successively step forward to lay flowers.

Descendants of Survivors Take the Baton to Pass on Historical Memory

“Great-grandfather, today’s Nanjing has been reborn from the ruins. The alleys are filled with the fragrance of flowers, and children are running in the sunshine. We have not forgotten history. It is Qingming Festival again, and I have brought you a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, hoping it will carry our longing to you...” Ruan Hongyan and Li Yuhan, historical memory inheritors of the Nanjing Massacre, read with deep emotion the letters they wrote to their relatives who perished eighty-eight years ago. Every word and line expressed their profound mourning for their departed loved ones.

Ruan Hongyan

Li Yuhan

This year marks the 88th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre. The average age of thesurvivors is now close to 95 years old. The responsibility of preserving the memory of the Nanjing Massacre has fallen on the shoulders of their descendants.Ge Fengjin, the son of the late Nanjing Massacre survivor Ge Daorong, attended the ceremony. Pointing to the names of his relatives on the “Wailing Wall,” his eyes glistened with tears. He said, “The names of my third grandfather and my uncle are inscribed on the ‘Wailing Wall.’ They did not live to see the spring of 1938. My father was so dedicated and persistent in spreading the history of that time. I feel it is my duty to help more young people deeply understand and correctly recognize this history.”

Ge Fengjin

Elder Ai Yiying passed away earlier this year, and his grandson Huang Rui has taken up the baton of memory inheritance. He said, “As a descendant of the survivors, I am well aware of the great responsibility I bear. I will surely pass on the memory of the blood and tears of our fellow countrymen, so that more people can know the truth of history, serve as a warning to future generations, and prevent the tragedy from happening again.”

History Resonates with Youths from Home and Abroad

In the ranks of those dedicated to preserving history, the presence of young people is growing increasingly prominent. Today, international students from the College of International Students at Southeast University gathered for a face-to-face exchange with descendants of the survivors and Chinese youths. “This history is heart-wrenching, it is something that young people all over the world should be aware of!” they said in unison. Through the narratives of the survivors' descendants, the international students gained a deeper understanding of this historical period.Fayyad from Egypt shared his experience: “I have visited the memorial several times before and even became aninternational volunteer of Zijin Grass. Now, I truly understand the value of peace. I hope that everyone can be free from war and atrocities. I will share the history of the Nanjing Massacre with my family and friends, so that they too can cherish their peaceful lives even more.”Semi, an international student from Sri Lanka, had never heard of the Nanjing Massacre before coming to China. After participating in the Qingming family commemoration ceremony and visiting the Nanjing Massacre Historical Exhibition, he said: “Seeing the haunting remains of the victims in the mass graves, I was deeply shocked by the brutality of the Japanese military's atrocities back then. It made me feel very sad. War is so terrifying, and peace is so precious. I hope that all of us can truly value peace.”

Semi (left), Fayyad (right)

At the end of the event, representatives of the bereaved families of the victims successively placed the letters they had written to their relatives who perished 88 years ago into the time capsule mailbox, as a way to express their grief and remembrance.