On the afternoon of December 10, the Memorial Hall, in partnership with Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), jointly launched the hall-university integrated “Ideological and Political Course”—the drama Life, which premiered at the Ming Palace Campus of NUAA. This marks the first original work created by the Memorial Hall in partnership with a university.

Set against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, the drama portrays the life-and-death experiences of the siblings Wang Zhong and Wang Hua, as well as the humanitarian rescue efforts of international friend John Rabe. It also explores the cross-temporal transmission of memories, highlighting the brilliance of human nature and the resilience of life in the face of extreme adversity.

△Premiere of the Drama Life • Photo Provided by NUAA

Passionate Performances by Post-2000s University Students

All 37 actors in the drama are current students born in the 2000s, selected from over 200 candidates. To stay true to history, they visited the Memorial Hall, attended briefings by researchers, and communicated with descendants of the survivors. Shen Hongrui, who played the elder brother Wang Zhong, is from the Civil Aviation College of NUAA. Born in 2006, he said, “Wang Zhong was tragically killed while searching for his mother. Through daily rehearsals, we have deeply felt the suffering of children in that era.” Wang Rui, a freshman at Zhihe College, Muxing Academy, NUAA, played the younger sister, Wang Hua. She said: “Six-year-old Wang Hua was saved by others at the cost of their lives. After removing my costume, I could return to my warm dormitory, but she would never return to her carefree childhood. This acting experience has deepened my reverence for life and my appreciation for the present.”

△Left: Wang Rui, the Actress Playing Wang Hua; Right: Shen Hongrui, the Actor Playing Wang Zhong

Director Meng Qianqian was moved by the students’ dedication: “They practiced every night and weekend after class. Though not professionals, they showed exceptional commitment. This drama takes us from textbooks to the historical scene, which carries profound significance.”

△Meng Qianqian, Playwright and Director of Life, Faculty Member of the School of Arts of NUAA 

The Audience Moved • The Torch of Memory Passed On

After watching the drama, Xia Yuan, the granddaughter of Nanjing Massacre survivor Xia Shuqin, said, “Grandma always reminded us to remember history so that such tragedies would not repeat. Our generation bears the responsibility to carry this memory forward.”

△Xia Yuan, the granddaughter of survivor Xia Shuqin and one of the first inheritors of Nanjing Massacre historical memory     Photo provided by NUAA

This ideological and political education practical activity specially invited students from Nanjing Houbiaoying Primary School and Nanjing Ruijin North Village Primary School to watch the performance on-site. After watching, the elementary school students were moved and quietly shed tears. Tian Qiyuan, a fourth-grade student from Class 5 at Nanjing Ruijin North Village Primary School, said: “After watching it, I really wanted to cry. I will study hard to contribute to my country when I grow up, so that my compatriots will never suffer such injustice again.”

△Primary School Student Tian Qiyuan

Zhou Ye, a sophomore majoring in Artificial Intelligence at NUAA, reflected after watching the performance: “The students performed excellently. Dramas on this kind of subject carry profound significance. Nanjing is a city steeped in profound history. Although we did not personally experience the hardships of those years, living in this prosperous city today is a privilege won through the lives and sacrifices of countless righteous and brave individuals. We must remember history, cherish the hard-won peace, and use what we have learned to build an even stronger nation.”

△University Student Zhou Ye