Historical Memory of the Chinese People: the Consequences of the Japanese Intervention

Abstract

The Second Sino-Japanese War was a major conflict between China and imperialist Japan. China proved to be particularly vulnerable to external occupation: the country was politically divided, socially fragmented, and economically disadvantaged. Although China suffered huge losses, the resistance caused by the people’s antipathy to the growing aggression of Japan led to the final defeat of the Japanese forces. Memories of national humiliation were initially suppressed due to fears that traumatic events could undermine national reconstruction and nation-building. However, China gradually began to realize its power in shaping its own wartime narrative. China’s official report on the War of Resistance against Japan not only returned its war effort to its proper place but also reinforced the call for nationalism by presenting itself as a victim of the war. At the end of the 20th century, state-sponsored campaigns began in China to perpetuate the memory of the Second Sino-Japanese War. To further mobilize young people unfamiliar with the shocks and humiliations of the former China, a patriotic education campaign was launched. The national narrative of humiliation is a binding force between citizens and the motherland, which strengthens social and political affiliation. Positioning China as a victim of Japanese intervention allows for an ambitious foreign policy program aimed at preventing a repeat of the humiliation. At the same time, the surge in nationalist sentiments may be reflected in China’s political decisions and behavior in the international arena.