Date of letter:1993-02-16
Address of author:Huaiyuan County, Bengbu City, Anhui Province
Date of event:1938-04（lunar calendar）
Location of event:Dangshan County, Suzhou City, Anhui Province
Name of author:Tang Qingyun
Name(s) of victim(s):Tang Qingyun’s relative, etc.
Type of atrocity:Other Massacres（OM)
Other details:My family and I admire your righteousness. Here is my indictment, please instruct me. In April 1938 on the lunar calendar, the Japanese invaded my hometown, when my elder brother Tang Qingzhen, cousin Tang Qingyu were beaten. The Japanese fired the crowd and stabbing wildly whoever escaped the fire with a bayonet. More than 40 people including my uncle Tang Shutang, aunt Xu Tang (surname), cousin Tang Qingwei, my father Tang Shufen, mother Tang (surname) and elder brother Tang Qingzhen, sister-in-law Zhou Guifang, 2nd brother Tang Qingrui and eight-year-old 2nd sister Tang Qingfang. An eight-day-old newborn baby got frightened and cried, and a Japanese soldier poked it with bayonet through month, leaving a smashed baby head and face. I was 12 years old and able to escape the big gun fire under a dead adult body. However, my thighs exposed were wounded and left with scars. My sister-in-law was seven-month pregnant, who was actually split in the belly.
Comrade Tong Zeng:
How have you been?
My family’s victims and I deeply admire your righteous act and hope that your mission will sail smoothly and succeed. Attached is my appeal letter for your opinion.
Yours faithfully,
Tang Qingyun
Teacher of Huaiyuan No. 1 Middle School
Postal code: 233400
Survivor of Yuelizhuang Massacre at Zhaoshili, Tangyan, Dangshan charges the Japanese army against their heinous crimes and demands a compensation for damage.
My hometown is Tangzhai, Tangshan. On lunar April 18, 1938 (western calendar May 7), the Japanese army invaded my hometown and my uncle Tang Shutang led over 100 relatives to escape. At about 12 noon when we arrived at Yaolizhuang, over 10 li (1 li equals to 500 meters) north of Tangzhai, we met the brutal Japanese army. They captured my elder brother Tang Qingzhen and elder male cousin Tang Qingyu and brutally beat them. Then, they randomly shot us with machine guns and bayoneted those living ones, injuring countless people with blood pouring like a river. The brutal massacre lasted more than one hour. 48 people of my clan were killed, including my uncle Tang Shutang, aunt Mrs. Xu, and an elder male cousin Tang Qingyu. Among the dead were an elderly of over 50 years old and a baby who was born 8 days ago.
The little boy was scared by gunshots and cried loudly. An inhuman Japanese soldier stabbed the bayonet into his mouth and lifted him up to the sky. The baby’s face was smashed to pieces full of blood.
At that time, I just turned 12. When the guns shot us, I was luckily covered under an adult’s body and survived. But my exposed leg was shot and still bears a scar of one third meter long. Every time I recall the tragedy, I am so heartbroken that I cannot fall asleep. My father Tang Shufen, mother Mrs. Tang, eldest brother Tang Qingzhen, eldest sister-in-law Zhou Guifang, second elder brother Tang Qingrui and 8-year-old second elder sister Tang Qingfang were all killed in the massacre. My eldest sister-in-law was pregnant for over 7 months, but the cruel Japanese soldiers bayoneted and opened her belly. My second elder brother’s helpers Lou Yurong, Zhang Bitao and Yang Xintian were also killed. After the massacre, only three of my family members survived: the 12-year-old me, my 5-year-old third elder sister Tang Qingfang and over 10-month old niece Tang Hezhen, who was the daughter of my brother and sister-in-law. We three people from two generations were lonely and helpless and were bullied in the old society.
Although the Yuelizhuang Massacre took place over 50 years ago, we still cannot forget the past history and hardships. The blood debt that the Japanese invaders owe to our clan and our Chinese people during Japan’s war of aggression against China must be paid. We demand a compensation for damage not only to avenge our clan’s death, but to be responsible for the history and the nation, to pursue justice and to safeguard the world’s peace. I and my clan’s survivors are determined to commit to the righteous act, our clan’s interest and the world’s peace through the form of demanding for compensation. We will keep fighting until we succeed.
Survivor of Yuelizhuang Massacre
Tang Qingyun
Teacher of Huaiyuan No.1 Middle School, Anhui
Postal code: 233400
