Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders

Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders
Name	Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders
Established	1985
Location	Jiangdongmen, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Type	Historical museum, Memorial hall
Visitors	Over 8 million annually
Director	Zhang Jianjun
Website	www.nj1937.org

Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders is a museum and memorial dedicated to the victims of the Nanjing Massacre committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Located at the site of one of the mass graves in the Jiangdongmen district of Nanjing, it serves as a crucial institution for historical education, evidence preservation, and peace advocacy. The hall is a key site for national mourning and international reflection on the atrocities of World War II.

History

The museum was first established in 1985 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Its construction was prompted by the need for a formal site to commemorate the victims and to counter historical revisionism regarding the Nanjing Massacre. The site was significantly expanded and renovated in 1995, and again for a major reconstruction completed in 2007, overseen by architect He Jingtang. The location was chosen due to its historical significance as a "pit of ten thousand corpses" where numerous remains of massacre victims were exhumed. The institution's development has been supported by the Government of Nanjing and the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Architecture and Layout

The architectural design, led by He Jingtang of the South China University of Technology, employs stark, somber forms to evoke a grave and contemplative atmosphere. The complex covers approximately 74,000 square meters, with a building area of 25,000 square meters. Key architectural features include the ship's bow-shaped main hall, the fractured sword sculpture symbolizing the broken will for peace, and the "Victory" wall. The layout is organized along a central axis leading visitors through spaces like the Square of Assembly, the Sculpture Square, the Cemetery Square, and the Bone Pit Exhibit. The extensive use of gray granite, gravel courtyards, and narrow passageways is intended to create a visceral experience of sorrow and reflection.

Exhibitions and Collections

The permanent exhibition, "The Historical Testimony of the Nanjing Massacre," is organized chronologically and thematically across three main sections: "The Massacre," "The Three-Week Ordeal," and "The Historical Judgment." The museum houses over 10,000 historical artifacts, including photographic evidence from John Rabe and Minnie Vautrin, diaries of soldiers like Azuma Shiro, archival documents from the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, and physical evidence such as victims' personal belongings and excavated remains. A significant collection is the "Documents of the Nanjing Massacre," which were inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2015.

Commemorative Activities

The hall is the central venue for the annual national memorial ceremony held on December 13, the date marking the fall of Nanjing in 1937. This ceremony, attended by state leaders including the President of the People's Republic of China, features the sounding of sirens, the laying of wreaths, and moments of silence. The institution regularly hosts international symposia on peace studies, invites survivors like Xia Shuqin to give testimonies, and organizes educational tours for students from across China and abroad. It also collaborates with institutions like the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. for joint exhibitions and research.

Significance and Impact

The memorial hall is designated as a National Patriotism Education Demonstration Base and is a National First-Grade Museum. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the public memory of the Second Sino-Japanese War within China and in presenting historical evidence to the international community. Its work is central to China's discourse on war crimes and serves as a counter-narrative to denialist claims. The site has become a symbol of the pursuit of peace and a warning against militarism, receiving numerous foreign dignitaries, including former Prime Minister of Japan Tomichi Murayama.

Management and Administration

The memorial hall is administered by the Nanjing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party. It is led by a director, currently historian Zhang Jianjun, and employs a staff of researchers, curators, and educators. The institution operates with state funding and is involved in extensive academic research, often publishing works through the Jiangsu People's Publishing House. It maintains partnerships with universities such as Nanjing University and oversees the management of several ancillary sites, including the Shuiximen and Taipingmen massacre sites.

Category:Museums in Nanjing Category:World War II memorials in China Category:1985 establishments in China