Date of letter:1996-12-20
Address of author:Yicheng County, Linfen city, Shanxi Province
Date of event:1938-07-06
Location of event:Yicheng County, Linfen city, Shanxi Province
Name of author:Chang Cunzhi
Name(s) of victim(s):Many people in Yicheng County
Type of atrocity:Others, Murders, Slave Laborers, Rapes(RA, OT, MU, SL）
Other details:On July 6, 1938, the Japanese Army came to our place and implemented barbarian “Burn All, Kill all, Loot All” policy, burned civilian houses. Without reason they arrested and tortured villagers before killing them, and they also captured villagers as coolie. All of them finally died in the hands of the Japanese invaders. A loss checklist and testimony materials are attached, and we demand Japanese government to compensate and apologize.
Master Tong Zeng,
Hello!
The New Year’s Day of 1997 will soon come, allow me to give you an early New Year’s greeting!
It is with great admiration that I speak out words buried deep in my heart to you. As a retired primary school teacher, an offspring of victims killed by the Japanese invaders, now aged 64, though my memory of the things happened 58 years ago has become blurred, but you used Marxism and Leninism theories to develop the war compensation theory into war compensation between governments and civilian damage compensation theory, which greatly pushed forward the civilian compensation claim campaign, and of course rekindled the urge of revenge for ancestors, sense of national justice, and historical sense of justice in my heart. In the summer time, I prepared a claim indictment, and prepared to mailed it to you, but according to those (Tang Feng) whose letters has been returned due to your change of address, it would be best if we mail the letter after learning your new address, therefore I didn’t know your exact address until sometime before when Wen Changchun, a senior townsfolk of our county who work in Beijing, wrote us a letter, and I hereby send this indictment to you, I request you to forward it to the Japanese Embassy in China.
The remembrance of the past is the teacher of the future, old generation of revolutionists led Chinese people to defeat the Japanese imperialist invaders, the CPC Central Committee led by Jiang Zemin led the whole nation’s people to usher in Reform and Opening up, as the nation became strong and the people became rich. The Chinese people today are not only on the right side but also self-confident. The “10000 Words Statement” by you and your colleagues will definitely arouse millions of victims’ descendents not to national hatred, remember hatred of blood and tear, this is called one man falls, and another steps into the breach, victory will surely belong to you and hundreds of millions of victim offspring behind you. Perhaps there will be a true future in which Chinese and Japanese people keep friendly relation for generations to come, and make still greater contribution to safeguarding world peace and preventing war crimes.
Regards
Highest Salute
Chang Cunzhi
1996.12.20
Claim of Chinese Civilian Victims against Japan
Chinese civilian killed victims:
Shi Zixi Shi Xiyou Shi Zunjun Shi Shude
Shi Zunde Shi Shuhuai Shi Genbao Li Wenyou
Shi nee Zhang Chang Bingyu Shi Yinghao
Chinese civilian victims of property damage:
Yan Licheng Shi Wenguo Yan Zengfu Shi Hongxiang
Shi Huaijie Shi Tinggui etc.
Correspondence address: Dongyi Village, Nanliang Town, Jicheng County, Shanxi Province
Contact person: Chang Cunzhi Postal code043510
Shanxi Province Jicheng County Chengguan Town Chengnan Village
July 20, 1996
Claim Indictment of Chinese civilian Victims Against Japan
Plaintiff: Chang Cunzhi, Yan Licheng etc. totaling 16 persons.
Defendant: Japanese government.
Cause of litigation: Without provocation killed 10 innocent civilians including Shi Shude, created sensational Chengnan Massacre.
Facts and causes: On July 6, 1938 (June 9 on lunar calendar) the 14th Regiment of the Japanese Army (stationed inside Jicheng) received an urgent order from the North China Headquarters of the Japanese Army to assist the Japanese Army besieged at Dingdian Village, Jieyang County, before they moved east, they barbarically implemented “Burn All, Kill All, and Loot All” policy, in the afternoon of July 16 (June 19 on lunar calendar), outside the East Gate of Chengnan Village (2.5 kilometers from the town), they received machine gun attack from above by the 83rd Battalion Suicide Squad of the Chinese Army (3rd Detachment of Shanxi New Army) deployed on the south bank of Huihe River, due to shame they flew into a rage and intruded into the village, set fire along the South Street from east to west and burned Shi Wenguo’s 6 houses in the north, Shi Tinghai’s 3 houses in the south, Yan Licheng’s 9 houses in Jiufeng Chaoyang Compound, and 9 houses of Yan Zengfu’s Sihetou Compound. Instantly, thick smoke billowed into the sky, flame spread around quickly, what’s more cruel is that they captured villagers who failed to escape including Shi Zixi, Shi Xiyou, Shi Zunjun, Shi Shude, Shi Zunde, Shi Shuhuai, Shi Genbao, and Chang Bingyu totaling 8 persons into Shi Family’s temple, and afflicted them with cruel torture, finally, they forced them to kneel on the steps of the North Temple, and killed them with machine gun. But the Japanese Army was not satisfied, for they again set fire on the North Street, burned 8 north houses of Shi Huaijie’s home, one wheat straw heap: One high gateway tower of Shi Hongxiang’s home, before leaving they took away two yellow cows, after leaving the West Gate they also shot dead villager Li Wenyou and a woman farmer Ms Zhang, who were fleeing to Xiguan Village. In that evening, Ms. Shi nee Chang, mother of Shi Zunde, was overcome by grief and died. When the villagers returned to the village, all of them shed sad tears, gnashed teeth, and buried their endeared ones.
On July 20 in the same year, when the Japanese Army (stationed at Jicheng) went to assist Yangcheng Dingdian battlefront, they captured slave labors along Jizhang Highway, 3 villagers of Chengnan Village including Shi Yinghao were also captured, several days later Shi Yinghao was killed by the Japanese Army with rock at the beach of Qinshui River, even the body was not recovered.
Furthermore, when the Japanese Army was stationed at Jicheng, they often came to harass Chengnan Village, they burned a total of 55 temples and houses in Chengnan Village including Mawang Temple, Niuwang Temple, Niangniang Temple, Fortune God Temple, cut off 100 cypress trees, raped 3 women, and took away 10 farm cattle, plus numerous grain and clothing. Over the past several dozen years, villagers can only bury the hatred tainted with blood and tear in the heart. The great revolutionary master Mao Zedong once said: Good is rewarded with good, evil is rewarded with evil, and the mills of God grind slowly. It’s been over 58 years after the sensational massacre at Chengnan Village (Chengnan Massacre on Jicheng County Annals) occurred, over the past half century, the victims’ offspring now have three generations, some even have four and five generations, yet regardless of adults or children, man or women, they miss their dead ancestors at any moment, they are convinced that one day, they will be avenged, and humiliation will be wiped out. Suppose, the leadership of the Japanese government, if such heart-breaking tragedy took place in Japan, and if you were the victims, how would you react? There is an old Chinese saying: Feel for others, if justice is wanted, put it the other way round. Is that right?
Based on the above facts and reasons, we demand the Japanese government to give us apology on behalf of the past Japanese government, pay reasonable cost to us, for the twelve persons who died directly in the massacre, each one shall be given USD10 million as compensation. Indirect death is 1 person, whose compensation should be USD 5 million. The burning damage includes 16 houses, halls and bungalows, each deserves compensation of USD 5 million, totaling 80 million. 74 other houses, each worth USD 2 million, totaling USD148 million; 12 farm cattle, each worth USD 500,000, totaling USD 6 million; 100 trees, each worth USD 10000, totaling USD one million, as for numerous quantity of clothing, cotton, and grain, it is requested to compensate USD 50 million. Sum of the above: USD 400 million.
Regards
Japanese government
c/a Ambassador Yoshiyasu SATO of the Japanese Embassy in China
Offspring of Chinese civilian victims in Chengnan Massacre (dead):
Shi Hongxiang (step grandson of Shi Zixi, 55, farmer) (hand print)
Shi Mingcheng (step niece of Shi Xiyou, 67, farmer) (name seal)
Shi Tingquan (step niece of Shi Zunjun, 54, farmer) (hand print)
Yang Yueying (step daughter-in-law of Shi Shude, 74, farmer) (hand print)
Shi Tingmei (step niece of Shi Zunde, 67, farmer) (hand print)
Shi Jianye (step grandson of Shi Shuhuai, 51, farmer) (name seal)
Shi Ruzhu (step son of Shi Genbao, 75, farmer) (hand print)
Li Bin (step son of Li Wenyou, 46, farmer) (hand print)
Shi Wenfan (step grandson of Ms. Shi nee Zhang, 59, farmer) (hand print)
Shi Tinggui (step grandson of Ms Shi nee Chang, 64, farmer) (hand print)
Shi Rulu (stepson of Shi Yinghao, 85, farmer) (hand print)
Chang Cunzhi (Step grandson of Chang Bingyu, 64, retired teacher, drafter of this investigation complaint, currently residing at Dongyi Village, Nanliang Town) (name seal)
Offspring of Chinese civilians of Chengnan Massacre (property damage):
Shi Wenguo 42, farmer (name seal)
Yan Zengfu 65, farmer (hand print)
Shi Huaijie 62, farmer (hand print)
Yan Licheng 49, village head of Chengnan Village, organizer of the material collection and interview for this complaint. (name seal)
July 20, 1996 AD
To Whom It May Concern
In June of the 27th year of the Republic of China, the Japanese soldiers suffered defeat in the battle with the 83 Division Suicide Squad of the Chinese Army at Huihe River southeast of the village, in the afternoon they entered the village and burned a lot of houses, in Shi Family’s Temple they killed eight persons including Shi Shude with machine gun, and burned many houses along the North Street of the village before departure, after leaving the West Gate they also shot dead Li Wenyou and Ms. Shi nee Zhang. After three to four days, the Japanese soldiers also captured 3 persons including my father Shi Yinghao to force them work as coolie, because my father was slow in movement due to bowed leg, he was killed by the Japanese soldiers with rock on the bank of Qinshui River, the body was not recovered, this happened 58 years ago, I always bury the hatred in heart. The Japanese also cut off more than 20 cypress trees (only 100 such trees in the whole village) at my ancestral grave, and took away one farm cattle.
Testifier: Shi Ruliang (hand print)
Written by: Shi Zhaochang(hand print)
96.7.16
To Whom It May Concern
I am Zhang Mengtao, now 80 years old, farmer, in that year (the 37th year of the Republic of China), I worked at Yan Ziying home as a long-term worker, the whole village dispersed when hearing the Japanese came, Shi Zengcai (deceased), He Xiaojia (deceased) and I hid on the third floor of Kuixing Building (College tower, 100 meters away from the village) in the south of the village, the Japanese soldiers burned houses and fired shots, we saw them all, after the Japanese soldiers left, we returned to the village, and saw the master’s south hall was burning, and we hurried to put out the fire, later we heard 3 persons were killed in the temple, I ran to the temple and took a look, and saw seven to eight persons were killed, on the second day villagers carried two more bodies from outside the West Gate. This time a total of over 30 houses were burned; numerous properties were damages and cannot be calculated.
Testifier: Zhang Mengtao (name seal)
Written by: Chang Cunzhi (name seal)
96.7.19
To Whom It May Concern
On the day when the Japanese soldiers killed people at the family temple, I fled to Changcegou, my husband was slow in escape, and hid on the second floor of my home’s small house and peered at the whereabouts of the Japanese soldiers, first the South Street caught fire, later gun shots were fired in the family temple, then the north street caught fire. It was after the Japanese soldiers had left that he learned that 8 of our villagers including Shi Zunjun, Chang Bingyu were killed in the family temple, and in the northwest of the village they killed Li Wenyou and Ms. Shi nee Zhang, the blood debt owed by Japan to Chengnan Village must be repaid.
Testifier: Zhao Ronghua (hand print)
Written by: Li Chengchuan (hand print)
96.7.17
Jicheng County Annals
Hua Guoyong
Compiled by Shanxi Province Jicheng County Annals Compilation Office
August 25, 1986
Annals is dedicated to recording:
Remember relevant historical facts, never forget national humiliation, cherish the memory of ancestors’ calamity and hatred, inspire the living to stand up and take action, seek justice on earth, the past account must be settled.
By Chang Cunzhi (name seal)
1996.7
Section Two Massacres created by the Japanese Army
I. Nanshangwei Massacre
In 1938 (27th year of the Republic of China), on December 15 on the lunar calendar, the Japanese Army attacked Shangganquan Village, passed Nanshangwei Village, back then ten people including Xue Taimao were slow to escape, and hid in a room in the north of the village, and were discovered by the Japanese Army, they were tied up and escorted to outside the North Gate, and shot dead with machine gun.
II. Chengnan massacre July 16
At dusk of June 19 on the lunar calendar in 1938, the Japanese Army stationed in the town suddenly entered the village, they burned, killed and looted, destroyed 35 civilian houses, near the twilight, the Japanese Army escorted the 10 captured people including Shi Shude to Shi Family’s Temple, tortured them, and forced them to kneel ob the steps of the north house before killing them with machine gun.
III. Gao Jiayuan and Liu Zhangyao Massacre
On October 24, 1938, the Japanese Army moved east along Shangwu to Qin Shuiwang village in a one-week long mopping-up campaign, in Jicheng’s Gao Jiayuan and Liu Zhangyao two places alone fifty one people were killed in one day. In order to commemorate the dead victims, the local people changed the name of Xiling Primary School where Gao Jiayuan killing ground was located into “Xishaling Primary School”.
IV. DuanNanPo Massacre
In 1938, after DongWuLing Battle, the Japanese Army organized multiple mopping-up campaigns in northeast of Jicheng, and west of Qinshi, implemented its “Burn All, Kill All, and Loot All” policy. In DuanNanPo Village area, they killed over 100 villagers with machine guns, rifles and bayonets. The survivors include Yang Jingyi ( Weat Street of ShangWu ) and Ma Jingxiu (DuanNanPo).
V. HuangJiaPu Massacre
In July 1938, a small squad of the Japanese Army stationed at HuangJiaPu, they captured 21 civilians, first they were tortured, then were pushed into the cellar to suffocate to death. The survivors include Zhang Xuewen (East Street of ShangWu).
VI. ZhuangXing massacre
Shanxi Province Jicheng County Chengguan Town Government
This massacre is indeed true
This certificate is hereby issued
Jicheng County Chengguan Town Government (Government seal)
96.8.14
July 1, 1996
