December 13th, 2023, marks the tenth national memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre victims.

Eighty-six years ago, the 13-day Battle of Nanjing ended in failure. The rising of the flag of Japan atop the Zhonghua Gate Tower started an unprecedented massacre in the history of human civilization. Over the next 40 days, more than 300,000 innocent Chinese people perished under the Japanese invaders' slaughter as the mighty Yangtze River churned with waves of crimson blood.

As a Chinese saying goes, "The great affairs of a nation involve both worship and warfare." Since 2014, December 13th has been designated as the National Memorial Day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

From every household to the entire nation, this somber chapter has been firmly etched into the collective memory of every Chinese people. Whenever the sound of air raid warning pierces the sky over Nanjing, the entire city comes to a standstill. In that minute, the whistles resonate, and people stand in silent mourning, with grief and sorrow resurfacing anew.

The mournful and humiliating history has long since ended, but that hurtful tragedy shall never ever be forgotten. Today, as Chinese people look back at the history, we pray for eternal peace for our fallen compatriots.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

家国之殇，永不能忘！

2023年12月13日，第十个南京大屠杀死难者国家公祭日。

86年前的今日，历时13天的南京保卫战以失败告终，中华门城楼上飘起了太阳旗，一场人类文明史上罕见的大屠杀由此开始。往后40多天里，30余万同胞惨死于日本侵略者的屠刀之下，浩浩长江翻滚着鲜红的血浪。

“国之大事，在祀与戎。”自2014年起，每年12月13日确定为南京大屠杀死难者国家公祭日。

从“家祭”到“国祭”，这沉痛的一页不断加固于整个民族的历史记忆中。每当凄厉的防空警报声划破南京上空，整座城市停止了流动。这一分钟，汽笛齐鸣，伫立默哀，悲恸弥新。

悲怆屈辱的历史早已终结，但家国之殇，永不能忘。今天，回望历史现场，缅怀同胞先烈，祈愿和平永驻。

文案 | 记者 杨楚滢
翻译 | 洪婷
海报 | 范英兰
责编 | 王瑜瑛
校对 | 马曼婷