The Rape of Nanking, The Unforgotten Holocaust
June 12th, 2007
Submitted By: Evelyn Ma
I found a short video (20 min) on Frontline that gives insight on relations between China and Japan. It gives a dual perspective on the conflict of the Nanking Massacre, and how this horrific event has shaped China and Japan’s relationship.
Both Japan and China acknowledge that this massacre, also known as “The Forgotten Holocaust,” has occurred, but it is the historical portrayal that is the root of tension between the two countries. The video describes aggressive protest against a Japanese junior high history textbook that refers to the massacre as an “incident,” and essentially censors the topic. As you may remember from Dr. Morris’ history lesson, we know there is much animosity between the two countries, and the Nanking Massacre is one of the root causes. To learn more about this horrific event, I suggest reading Iris Chang’s The Rape of Nanking, The Forgotten Holocaust, to get a better understanding of the historic events leading up to the massacre, the actual slaughter of Chinese citizens for those six weeks, and the aftermath. I also have a much shorter description of the book in my book review as well.
To describe how many Chinese feel about this censorship by the Japanese, imagine Germany denying that the Holocaust happened, that concentration camps ever existed, that the Jews were treated fairly and respectfully during that time. Also picture Nazi war criminals being treated as heroes, and the Holocaust referred to as an “event” in a footnote in your high school history textbook. This is what many Chinese feel, and why the denial of this history is such an atrocity.
Things to think about: What can be done between China and Japan to repair relations between the two? Why is it important for us as MBA students going to China to understand this dynamic between the two countries? Why is it important to know about this event, in general?
Professor Carr Addendum: See also this related post and comments thereto that Lindsay made back in February 2007, Wartime Chinese Laborers Sue Japan for Compensation.
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, Beijing, China
2 Comments Add your own
1. Chris Carr | June 12th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Good post.
Here is a helpful comment that Dr. Barbara Mori, Cal Poly sociology prof, made to a February 2, 2007 post I made on this blog. She specializes in China and Japan. Her knowledge shed light for me on this topic. This is a very complex topic. I haven’t a clue how Japan and China should go about trying to bury the hatchet on this issue …
“After the war, Japan was forced to adopt an new constitution primarily written by Americans but agreed to by the Japanese. It is still highly controversial. and is currently being considered for revision. However, one of the results of this is that the present government created by that new constitution does not see itself as a continuation of the government in power during the war and therefore not responsible for its actions, either good or bad. How to present those years is still a problem for the Japanese. It is difficult to criticize your ancestors, especially those most recently deceased. How do you instill patriotism in the next generation if there is little you can point to that you deem honorable? So you must re-interpret it and focus on Japanese issues rather than on negative aspects. Thus the textbook controversy. It strong relates to issues of Japanese identity. Ask Vietnam vets how they are dealing with the way they and the war are presented in American society to get an idea of the deep contradictions and pain dealing with these kinds of issues generates.”
2. Peter Wu | June 12th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
This is a very sensitive subject as it affected so many people on both sides, however It is obvious from the Chinese and Japanese student interviews toward the end of the video that both nations do not want to wage war, instead are quite dependent on each other economically. So why hate? If the 80 year old lady who had been through the massacre can put the past behind her, I do not see why it is difficult for the young generation to forgive. However, I think history should be accurately represented so the lessons can be learned not to make the same mistakes again. Having a version of history jointly written by all three (China, Japan, and Korea) nations is a good idea because it represented a well balanced historical account of what really happened without any adulteration.
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