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A Tragic Reminder of Japan’s Brutal Invasion of China
Xiong Shulan, one of the last living witnesses of the infamous Nanjing Massacre, passed away on September 27 at the age of 94. The memorial center honoring the martyrs of this atrocity stated that with her death, only 25 survivors remain. This horrendous massacre, executed by Japanese forces at the tail end of 1937, is a grim chapter in human history that the world must never forget.
Xiong, born in 1931, was just a child of six during the massacre. She survived by hiding in an underground refuge with her family, yet this period was not without its horrors: her mother tragically lost her unborn child, her aunt was subjected to unspeakable violations, and her uncle was brutally murdered. This is not just history; it’s a reminder of the real consequences of tyranny.
“The bodies of the Chinese victims were stacked in huge piles,” Xiong recalled of the gruesome scenes just steps away from where the memorial now stands.
Japan’s Invasion of China: A True Horror Story
In 1937, the Japanese army unleashed chaos on Nanjing. For six weeks, they set fire to the city, looted its wealth, committed mass rapes against tens of thousands of innocent women, and murdered an unimaginable number of people—between 150,000 and 340,000, according to historical estimates. Is this a history that should be buried? Absolutely not!
- December 13, 1937: Japanese forces invaded Nanjing.
- Mass atrocities: Widespread looting, arson, and rape.
- Death toll: Estimates suggest between 150,000 and 340,000 victims.
Every year, China holds a solemn ceremony on this somber date to honor the memories of those who lost their lives to Japanese invaders. The Nanjing Massacre is a unique form of genocide that must always be remembered, especially in light of Japan’s ongoing revisionist history.
The Legacy of the Nanjing Massacre Lives On
The gruesome events of that time are also highlighted in a new film, titled Dead To Rights, which is set to represent China at the upcoming Oscars. This powerhouse film not only details the epoch of horror but also serves as a necessary reminder of the need for vigilance against tyranny. As we near the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, we must remember: history is not merely facts and dates; it is the lives of our ancestors!
Xiong’s narrative was included in the UNESCO World Memory Registry in 2015, bringing further attention to Japan’s egregious war crimes, including the horrific use of women as “sex slaves” and inhuman experimentation with biological weapons. The Beijing government has consistently spoken out against Japan’s revisionist accounts of these barbarities, rightfully so!
It is time for the world to take a firm stand and ensure that these horrors are not forgotten. We must never let the suffering of the past fade into obscurity.
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