China News Service, Nanjing, December 13th, title: "12·13": Watching peace across time and space
China News Service reporter Zhu Xiaoying Shen Ran Zhong Sheng Xu Shanshan
December 13, sunny.
In the early morning, people gathered, stood silent and stood in silence at the assembly square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.
That day was China's seventh National Memorial Day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
The National Memorial Ceremony of the Nanjing Massacre was held here.
The atmosphere of the assembly square is solemn.
In front of the black "Wall of Disaster", the elderly Nanjing Massacre survivors sat in the front row of the public sacrifice line with the support of the staff.
Young students, army officers and soldiers, and medical workers stand to stand.
The cold wind blew the white flowers on their chests, and the "stamen" and peace dove badge gleamed in the morning light.
At 8 o'clock in the morning on December 13, the guard of honor, neatly dressed and with flags on shoulders, walked forward to the center of the assembly square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. Accompanied by the high-pitched national anthem, the bright five-star red flag rose gradually. At half-mast, we commemorate the memory of those killed in the Nanjing Massacre and all those who were killed by Japanese invaders during the Japanese imperialist war of aggression against China.
Photo by Ge Yong
"Because of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, many foreign friends did not come to the scene today. They sent videos expressing their desire to cherish peace. Overseas Chinese in Japan, Australia, Canada and other countries held online concerts, candlelight meetings, memorial services, etc. A memorial event." Zhang Jianjun, curator of the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese Invaders, told reporters: "No matter how far away we are, we will remember history together at this moment."
“Due to the epidemic, we cannot assemble offline to mourn, but the overseas Chinese stayed in sync with Nanjing on the morning of the 13th Beijing time and stood in silence for the dead compatriots,” said Wang Haicheng, president of the Nanjing Association of Canada.
He is one of the few overseas Chinese present.
Rick Maggie told reporters via WeChat on the 13th that last year, he and his relative Chris Maggie attended the public sacrifice ceremony.
"It's a pity that we didn't come to Nanjing this year. The epidemic situation in Texas, USA is severe. But on December 13, my family and I pray for peace."
Rick Magee's grandfather, American pastor John Magee, rescued many Chinese refugees during the holocaust of the Nanjing Massacre. His historical images of the Nanjing Massacre and many archives were included in the Memory of the World Register.
This is a watch style that travels through time and space.
When the air defense sirens broke the tranquility, while people recalled the suffering, they also prayed for peace.
At 10 am, the National Memorial Ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre officially began.
Photo by Ge Yong
In the 83 years since the Nanjing Massacre, the ancient city of Nanjing has undergone tremendous changes.
On the site of the "mass grave" stands the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in 1985 and three expansions.
Today, it has received nearly 100 million visitors from more than 100 countries and regions, and it has become a fixed place for peaceful gatherings every year.
On the same day, Qiu Haibo, an advanced individual in the nation's fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic and deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Zhongda Hospital affiliated to Southeast University, who had been fighting the epidemic for more than 200 days in many places, rang the peace bell in the square.
He said with emotion: "China's peaceful environment is hard to come by. The long ringing of the bell is a memory for the victims and a reminder for future generations."
There were 17 burial sites for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, and a memorial ceremony was held on the same day.
Located in the city's Arctic Pavilion cluster burial site, the body was buried in the road during the catastrophe of the Japanese army.
Nowadays, the pine and cypresses form a forest, which is a beautiful sky garden in the downtown area.
At the scene, all the staff sang the national anthem and mourned the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
They went around the field and placed the chrysanthemums in their hands in front of the Cong Burial Monument.
The message letters written by the children and the remembrance cards made are contained in the bouquet.
"Youth smart is Chinese wisdom, and young people are strong, and China is strong. We young people must work hard." Chen Xinyue, a student from Nanjing Chengxian Street Primary School, told reporters.
The burial site of Zhongshan Pier, Yanziji Cong, and Caoxie Gorge on the banks of the Yangtze River are not far away.
During the catastrophe of the Nanjing Massacre, the Japanese soldiers carried out massacres here and nearby.
Nowadays, the riverside scenery belt stretching for more than 10 kilometers is connected here, and it is a leisure place for people to ride and walk.
When the air defense alarm sounded, the large and small ships in the Yangtze River sounded their siren, and the sound of the siren merged into a torrent.
Xinjiekou, once decayed by war, is now the core area where merchants gather and tourists flow.
When the alarm sounds, the signal lights all turn red.
Vehicles stopped in front of the bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen; pedestrians stopped and took off their hats to mourn for 1 minute.
On the electronic display screen, the words "Insist on the path of peaceful development and build a community with a shared future for mankind" and "Maintain world peace and promote common development" are scrollingly displayed.
The Nanjing Massacre was the death of Nanjing, China, and the world.
How to maintain the precious peace?
Remember the suffering and let go of the hatred.
Suffering sorrow, the sword is a plow.
For 83 years, the ancient city of Nanjing has given the answer.
Affected by the epidemic, the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders has adopted the "epidemic prevention + appointment" model this year, and the opening hours have been greatly reduced.
In the meantime, 169 bell striking ceremonies were held, and 2028 visitors rang the Peace Bell; the message function was only open for 62 days, but the total height of the guest books stacked was 148 cm.
"Remember history", "cherish peace", "not forget the past, the teacher of the future" are high-frequency comments.
The "bells" and "messages" reveal people's hope for everlasting peace.
After Nanjing became China's first "International Peace City", more Chinese cities are actively applying.
Liu Cheng, chair of the UNESCO Chair in Peace Studies and director of the Institute of Peace Studies at Nanjing University, told reporters that the number of "international peaceful cities" approved by the International Association for Peace Cities has increased to nearly 300.
"Maintaining world peace is difficult to rely on the power of one city and one pool." Liu Cheng said that the alliance of peace-loving cities around the world and being the defender and promoter of peace can inject positive energy into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
"Clang, clang, clang..." The sound of the peace bell echoed in the assembly square.
The peace dove fluttered its wings and hovered over the city for a long time.
The public sacrifice ceremony is short-lived.
But mankind’s hope and watch for peace will not be absent because of the virus, and will not stop with the passage of time.
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