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Towering Crimes Committed by the Japanese Invasion Army in Yancheng Area
Xion Handong, Associate Researcher of Yancheng City Museum

　　50 years ago, in the east of the globe, the Japanese Invasion Army’s cruel atrocity trampled the Chinese territory, and the Chinese people sustained unprecedented ravage.

　　Beginning from March 25, 1938, the Japanese Invasion Army twice occupied key cities in Yancheng area including Dongtai, Dafeng, Yancheng, Jianhu, Funing, Yiyang, Binhai, and Xiangshui, and it was not until August 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered, then the troops withdrew. During the occupation of Yancheng area by the Japanese Army, they bombed indiscriminately, killed and committed arson, raped and looted. In blatant disregard of humanity, they had committed countless atrocities beyond description. In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the victory of Anti-Japanese War, and enable the younger generation and all generations of Yancheng people never to forget this humiliating history, make new contributions to rejuvenate Yancheng’s economy, strengthen national defense power, oppose hegemony, and consolidate the friendship between Chinese and Japanese people, we hereby attach records of the towering crimes committed by Japanese Invasion Army in Yancheng area 50 years ago as follows:

　　I. Indiscriminate frantic bombing
　　1. Yancheng became a city of rubbles. From February 1938 to July 1941, the Japanese invaders’ war planes carried out 10 destructive bombing campaigns on Yancheng. For instance, at around 12:00 on February 9, 1938 on lunar calendar, 3 Japanese war planes attacked Yancheng, they first dropped 8 bombs around Caiyuanqiao (today’s Municipal Government Second Reception House), which killed 19 civilians, then dropped 60 bombs outside the West Gate, which killed 40 plus civilians, and destroyed over 1600 civilian houses. The bodies of victims littered the streets, which was too horrible to look at. In another instance, on March 24 in the same year on lunar calendar, 3 Japanese war planes killed and wounded several people outside Yancheng West Gate and North Gate. The second day Japanese war planes again raided Beimenzha in the evening. The West Avenue of Yancheng caught fire, which spread to the whole street, and burned for seven days and seven nights. All these attacks reduced Yancheng, a city with 130,000 population and prosperous streets, to a pile of rubbles. Prior to the bombings, West Avenue used to be teemed with thriving stores and bustling businessmen. After the bombings, only 3 shops and one small dilapidated building was left.

　　2. Countless dead and wounded people in Shanggang Town. At around 9 o’clock in the morning of April 26, 1938, Japanese war planes for the first time bombed Shanggang Town. The head and a leg of Liu Xingbo of Siqing Teahouse on Beibai Street was blasted away and attached on the wall of Sanguandian Temple (Temple of Three Emperors). In the stream east of the Zhang Xingji Building, a small boat for sharpening scissors was shattered by an explosion, with the mistress and her two children killed on the spot. About 6 or 7 farmers who came from the countryside to the town to collect tinfoil ashes were also killed by the bombing. On April 28 in the same year, 10 Japanese war planes twice bombed Shanggang Town. The bombs swooped down from the sky, burst up thick smoke all over. Streets were dotted with craters after bombing. Houses collapsed and walls crumbled. Those killed by bombing include mat-weaver lady Wang Dafeng, tofu-maker Gao Sishizi and Wang Shenghong, twisted-donut maker Chen Sanshizi etc. Dead bodies and wounded people were everywhere. According to statistics, 16,827 tiled houses and 9,945 thatched cottages, totaling 26,772 houses in Shanggang Town were destroyed by the Japanese invaders’ bombing and arson, accounting for 75.4% of total houses. The number of people killed or wounded is hard to keep track. Just the number of identifiable bodies amounted to 123.

　　II. Burning and looting
　　1. Burned 7 villages including Dongtai Tangliu. On March 10, 1938, over 100 Japanese soldiers departed from Dongtai to the countryside, they burned houses along the way. From Zaonan Village to Huangjiayizao, over 1,500 houses in 7 villages along 6 miles were burned to ashes. In Tangliu Vilalge alone more than 290 households were destroyed, over 700 houses were burned down, more than 250 pigsties were destroyed, over 10 farm cattle were killed by fire, other grain and fodder, water cart and large farming tools were also burned.

　　2. Burning Dongtai Muli Teacher College, Zhaojiayuan. On the afternoon of March 25, 1938, more than a dozen Japanese soldiers charged into Zhaojiayuan (today’s Group 6, Changqing Village, Dongtai Town) to commit arson. First they burned Muli Teacher College, followed by Zhaojiayuan. In a moment thick smoke billowed, and flames blasted to the sky. Several dozen school buildings were burned, and several hundred civilian houses were destroyed, rendering more than 400 people homeless refugees.

　　3. Looting Majiazhuang in the suburb. At the end of April, 1938, the Japanese army occupying Wuyou came to Majiazhuang (today’s Xinhe Village) for looting. Among 32 local households, 28 households were burned. More than 150 chicken and ducks plus 5 pigs were taken away. Farmer Chen Guangfu, Li Xiangting were buried alive. Over 100 civilian houses were destroyed along the way. 8 residents were captured and sent to Wuyou before being killed.

　　III. Wanton massacre
　　1. Shanggang Town was turned into a river of blood. On April 29, 1938, after the Japanese Army occupied Shanggang Town, they burned, killed, looted, and raped women, committing mass killing and vicious crimes of every description. Blind person Gao Hesan was captured and knocked out teeth, cut tongue, pierced hand with iron wire, before being cut open chest and stabbed to death. His body was discarded in the Dragon King Temple. Resident Xu Dabao was pierced in wrist by iron wire, and stabbed to death alive before being pushed down Mianhuia Ditch. Those killed with firearms or stabbed with bayonet by the Japanese Army also include: brothers Zhu Changgen and Zhu Changming who were owners of a bamboo factory, Guo Wenxiang who was owner of a restaurant, Fourth Grandma Chen, mother and son Zhang Baohe and Guan Linbao who made a living by carrying water, Qiu Dingru who sounded the night watches, Shi Baolin who planted vegetables, honey cake seller Wang Keyong, peddler Liu Xiaoxi’s mother, vegetable vendor Yang Chuanfa etc. Outside and inside the houses, on the road side and ditches, human bodies were everywhere, with blood converged to form a river.

　　2. Killing and burial of 47 persons at Hede Town in one massacre. In mid May 1941, at Hede Town, 47 Chinese were decoyed to be recruited as self-defense guards. Pretending to be issuing new clothing and new ammunition, the Japanese Army ordered the recruits for an emergency assembly, where they were asked not to bring any weapons, and dress only in shirt and shorts. As the recruits were assembled at the Japanese Army base, they were surrounded, and forced to dig a deep pit (located at the the boundary between light industrial machinery factory and flour mill today). As the commander of the Japanese invaders issued an order, all Japanese soldiers stabbed the Chinese with swords. Some were stabbed in the chest, others were beheaded. Those still struggling were killed by machine gun. Hounds were also released to maul and rip. All 47 persons died without exception, all of them were pushed into a deep pit to be buried, and collection of the dead body was forbidden.

　　3. At Biancang killing 48 persons with knives. On May 12, 1938, Japanese soldiers stationed at suburb Biancang captured 51 persons in one move. First the prisoners were forced demolish civilian houses and build blockhouses. Later they were bound and strung up with ropes, and brought to inside of a broken wall frame west of Chauchang River, where they were stabbed with bayonets. All 48 persons except for 3 were killed.

　　4. Slaughter in Sanzao in Dongtai. On July 14, 1938, Japanese soldiers intruded into Dongtai County Sanzao Village and killed 23 innocent civilians. Wang Changlin’s father Wang Hengqiao had just gotten up, and was unable to flee. The Japanese soldiers busted into the room, and killed him with one shot without bothering to say anything. Wang Changlin’s grandmother tried to fight with Japanese soldiers with her life, but was stabbed to death. The 13 years old granddaughter Wang Guibao cried for grandma. The savage Japanese soldiers even cut open her chest and pluck away her heart.

　　5. Indiscriminate killing at Tongyang Town. On September 4, 1939 on lunar calendar, Japanese soldiers stationed at Funing City carried out “annihilation” on Tongyang Town, in Lutang area. They searched household one by one, and killed anyone at sight. Villagers Li Kuixi, Ji Xiaoluan, Liu Zhongnian, Liu Zhongfa, and Liu Dalaohan who were late in escape were all killed by bullets. Villagers Ni Shengyin and Wang Zhiheng hid themselves in the ditch of homestead, and were also stabbed to death by bayonets. In the evening of February 7, 1940, villager Zhou Xuedong of Hexi Village in Tongyang Town was captured and detained in Japanese army den, bound on beam column, first had his eyes gouged, then depleted blood, and hacked into chunks after being dragged to stable, then boiled with wheat to feed horses. Such horrible acts were extremely barbaric and shocking.

　　6. Slashing 4 youths in Chenyang Town. On June 27, 1941, Japanese troops stationed at Chenyang Town attacked Chuanpeng Village in Haihe Town. Young patrolman Liu Gucheng was killed by gunshot. Youth Li Zhaohong, Wang Bugao, and Xia Zhenggao were captured, and pierced in shoulder blades with one iron wire, and escorted to Chenyang Town. Despite severe torture, nothing was disclosed. On the third day the Japanese killed them with machete, buried them in the pit, and forbid collection of the dead body.

　　7. Bloodbath of 108 civilians on Liutao Little Street. In early February 1939, over 6,100 Japanese soldiers left Xiangshuikou to attack Liutao Little Street, and massacred Luiutao residents. Ironsmith Xia Ruzhen was bound onto a tree and beheaded, his brain matter splashed the ground. The Japanese also released hounds to eat his brain; grocery shop owner Zhou Yuechi has his eyes gouged by bayonets. He fainted and died on the spot. Resident grandma Zhang tried to flee, but was killed with one bullet shot by the Japanese soldiers, who then used bayonet to cut open her belly. The elder brother of Zhou Wanxiang was beaten untill his legs broke by Japanese soldiers before being strangled to death with hemp rope. The 15 youths who were captured on North Street were ordered to stand in a row, and were shot as live target one by one. The 38 residents, who were escorted to Dalong Lane, South Street, were ordered to crouch down then fired at by machine gun. Afterward the Japanese kicked the bodies. Whoever moved would receive an extra bayonet stab to ensure death. Sha Baihuan and Tang Benjing, the two persons who survived the massacre, were seriously wounded and faked dead in the heap of dead bodies, thereby escaped death. In this massacre, a total of 108 people were killed, including 97 local residents, 11 out-of-town merchants. A total of 136 children became orphans, 8 women lost husbands, and 113 parents lost children.

　　IV. Raping women
　　1. Gang raping of teenage girl and nun at Anfeng Town. In February 1938, at Anfeng Town, Dongtai County, Japanese soldiers raped more than 50 women. The wife of resident Wang XX was raped by several Japanese soldiers before being stabbed to death with bayonet. Behind the Wenchang Pavilion, an 11 year old girl Zhang Jidi was raped by Japanese soldiers to death. One nun in Baichantang Temple in Hexi was gang raped by 5 Japanese soldiers and committed suicide. The daughter of Zhou Tianli in Fengxi Village escaped the rape by Japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers vent their rage on her father. They bound Zhou Tianti and killed him, then threw his head into the toilet.

　　2. Gang raping of over 30 women at Shanggang Town. In April 1938, at Shanggang Town, the Japanese invaders imprisoned over 30 women in the Chen’s house on Zhongxin Street, and forced them to undress and take a bath in a big tub in cold water, then gang raped them. After Bao Jinhua was gang raped by Japanese soldiers, she was savagely stabbed in the belly and doused with gasoline before being burned to death. The sight was too horrible for anyone to bear.

　　3. At Menglong, young women were burned to death after raping. When reporting Japanese Army’s entry into Menglong, Omata Yukio, a journalist following the Japanese Army, said on Page 1 of “Yomiuri Shimbun” published on June 20, 1938: “One girl was lying on the road side at the end of the town……, she was about 20 year old with bared lower body. She was too exhausted to stand up after being gang raped by soldiers. One stick was still inserted in her vagina. Soldiers all stopped to take a look. One squad leader said “carry away”. I asked: “Where did the women go?” The answer was: “Burned. Placed on top of a pile of firewood and burned.” Which means she was burned to death alive.

　　Note: This text was excerpted from Selected Cultural Historical Materials of Yancheng (1), Yancheng Revolution Historical Materials (3), Dongtai County Revolution Struggle Historical Record (4), Yiyang County Culture and History (2), Jianhu County Revolution Historical Material (4), as well as the “Record of Raping and Killing Atrocities of Japanese Army in Invasion in China” authored by Chenhui and Shanlan, published by Heilongjiang People’s Publishing House.

Yancheng City is preparing to hold a photo exhibition from July 1, 1995, which will last 3 months, you are welcome to visit the exhibition and give us your guidance.

Draft on February 23, 1995