The Rape of Nanking

Rating:
Summary: It's not History
Review: --
The number of rape by Japanese is around 10. Others were made by Chinese. The bridges were destroyed by Chinese Army. The ghouls in the photographs are all Chinese. This is a trick under the assumption that the western people can not distinguish the Japanese from the Chinese.
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Rating:
Summary: a detailed account of a horrific human atrocity
Review: The novel, The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang is a detailed account of the human atrocity of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China before World War II. Although not a light read, the Rape of Nanking explicitly describes horrific events as well as acts of bravery and heroism that are worth learning about. The novel approaches the atrocity from several social aspects; the Japanese, Chinese, and foreigners who witnessed the brutal events of the Rape of Nanking. If the heroic acts of the time went unmentioned in this book, it would be almost unbearable to read.

The detail expressed by Chang paints a vivid picture of what it was like to not only witness the attacks of brutality, but to be victimized and live through the attacks as well. This is a read that will question your beliefs of human morality and make you ask, "How could any human be capable of such gross brutality?"

People who have heard about the Rape of Nanking will be shocked to learn of the sickening details that have been left out of history or sugar coated. Chang uncovers the truth, revealing barbaric rapes, mass executions, looting, and many of the other unthinkable acts that were done to the Chinese people.

Rating:
Summary: Sexed up to make it sell
Review: As one reviewer said, a picture is worth a thousand words. One of the most moving pictures in this book is of soldiers using a hay cutter to behead a prisoner; Japanese soldiers in Nanking, author Iris Chang tells us. However, the uniforms on these soldiers are clearly Chinese Nationalist uniforms. Is this the innocent mistake of a researcher who has failed to study her subject even enough to recognize a Japanese soldier, or is it, more worryingly, part of a deliberate attempt to mislead? She shows a gruesome photograph of a row of severed heads that she claims to have been taken in Nanking in 1937; Susumu Sato, however, claims to own an original of that picture, bought in 1931. His copy has affixed a printed title that says gheads of bandits shot in Tielingh (Manchuria) by soldiers of warlord Zhang Xueling. A picture of a man (in a jacket never worn by Japanese soldiers) about to behead a victim appears suspect since his shadow faces in the opposite direction from the man standing beside him, suggesting the picture may well have been tampered with.

The contemporary gDocuments of the Nanking Safety Zoneh appear to be a valuable source of information from Westerners in Nanking; did Iris Chang ignore them because they disagree with many of her assertions, or did she merely not know they exist? A historian should tell us what she can prove and what she cannot, and what is disputed. This, however, is not history, but tabloid journalism of the very worst kind. She got her bestseller, but do the ends justify the means?

Rating:
Summary: history class assignment
Review: This book was also assigned for a 20th century history class in college. It really broadens your prespective on what still remains a mystery or still swepped under the rug about WWII. In high school all you heard about was the suffering of the Jews on the western battle fields but never what was going on in the east. The rape of nanking really opens your eyes, showing you how much damage was caused in so little time. Even if you find it hard to believe, the pictures in the middle of the text speak for themselves.

Rating:
Summary: The Number is Wrong.
Review: After Japan's occupation of Nanking, the population swelled. "Documents of the Nanking Safety Zone" by the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone says the Nanking population in 1938 January was 250,000 while it was 200,000 in 1937 December.

I am wondering why Iris Chang wrote such a demagogic book.

Rating:
Summary: The number is right: 300,000
Review: I am shocked that some Americans or non-chinese would argue about the number of civilians killed by Japanese troops. There have been extensive research/witness and numerous books, TV programs, movies about this massacre in China. This was not some collateral damage, trust me. Even some Japanese scholars admitted the number of 300,000 is about correct.
The lack of understanding and basic knowledge on chinese/Asian history by some of the reviewers here is purely shocking, but I have to admire their courage for speakin out on something they don't have the first clue about ...

Rating:
Summary: Impactful yet far from perfect
Review: Unfortunately civilized discussion on the Rape of Nanjing has been riddled with misinformation. Since this is a highly emotionally charged topic, this has resulted in many distortions from both sides.

During the Japanese occupation of China prior to and during World War II many atrocities were committed. The Japanese goverment in fact has admitted to these, but in the 1980s a group of conservatives (esp. within the Ministry of Education) began a campaign to whitewash the history books to be less "shameful." Nonetheless, most educated Japanese own up to the atrocities committed by the Imperial Army not only in China but all over Asia. Most notably is the late Saburo Ienaga, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Professor of Japanese History at the Tokyo University, who tried to stop the textbook reform in Japan.

The rightful blame for the Sino-Japanese War belongs with the ruthless generals that controlled Japan at the time and started the wars of aggression across the Pacific Rim. Since the Japanese mainland was nearly invincible against invasion and Japan had the most powerful army in Asia, these megalomaniac generals were able to expand their empire throughout Asia. China in its state of political disarray under Guomindang was an easy target. Many Chinese are resentful against all Japanese, but the blame should be placed on the militaristic generals and members of the Imperial Cabinet that started the aggressive campaigns.

I have two personal ties to the Sino-Japanese War. First, my grandmother was a survivor of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the city thought to be hardest hit by the invading army. She has told me of numerous atrocities with the most vivid being the murder of all newborns on the maternity ward of a hospital she was being treated at. My family was lucky to enough to survive and flee to Hong Kong. She still harbored deep resentment before she died. Second, I have been to the War Memorial at Nanjing. There is a glass enclosed excavation site that displays intact skeletons from vicitms of the war. In addition there is an extensive museum of photographs and recovered war items. A very sobering experience.

Iris Chang's book surely has had the impact she intended it to have. The accounts she puts forward are just as grotesque as those I have heard from my grandmother. For many Americans with little exposure to the Sino-Japanese War, this book has lots of shock value, especially since the US and Japan are now allies. Also, relations with Communist China are currently strained and this further complicates American exposure to this topic. I commend Ms. Chang for her efforts to publicize the Rape of Nanjing; however, her work is far from perfect. She would have been more convincing had she been more thorough in checking all of her sources (8+ photos were confirmed to be used out of context) and consulted with more historians. So while Chang's account is a good read, it should be supplemented with analysis from established historians.

This is a topic that necessitates continued dialogue. This book provides a good, yet jarring starting point for that conversation.

Rating:
Summary: Slander correct in this case
Review: This book exemplifies the adversity of racism and prejudice. Chang offers a story based on her own racism and hatred of a successful modern freedom loving country. This is evident, among many things, her apparent delibrate inaccurate accounts of esp. regarding japanese history. She paints the japanese "race" with a broad brush - as inheritely evil. This is simply absurd! I've reviewed "evidence" of this alledged incident from many sources, including this book, and the reviewer below does make some decent points.
1. Standard issue for a jap soldier that served in China was a bolt action rifle/various sword types. This is compared to standard issue for a Jap soldier fighting Allied forces in the pacific - machine gun.
2. Japan had only one division in Nanking. How do 5000 soldiers kill 300,000 women and kids within a few weeks by chopping their heads off? Can anyone really believe this?!
3. It's documented by US historians that China fought a guerilla warfare. This means that alot of the soldiers didn't wear uniforms. This, in violation of international law. "civilians" killed were in fact, combatants.
4. The population of Nanking was nowhere near 300,000. Probably closer to 100,000.
5. More than 200 foreign journalists were in the area at the time. NOBODY reported any kind of atrocity during that time. Theres no way something this big can be hidden. This story only came out AFTER the war.... by the Chinese for propaganda purposes.

While it's true that Imperial Japan had no concept of treating military prisoners humanly, however, this book isn't about that.
I'd agree with the reviewer below who said maybe 2000 or 3000 civilians were killed. This sort of collateral damage happens in any war. On the subject of racism and discrimination, keep in mind that the Chinese populations outnumber the Japanese by 1.2 BILLION. I simply don't see the glory of a people that outnumber another people by 1.2 BILLION, to bring back a "story" that came out AFTER WW2 by communist Chinese. How is a small minority supposed to defend itself if an enormous majority decides to attack them?? Sorry, this "story" doesnt fly...mao-ists with an agenda, plain and simple.

Rating:
Summary: A reminder of the forgotten war crime against the mankind
Review: Excellent book - It tells some of the saddest and most horrible war crimes during World War II committed by the Imperial Japanese military. The sad true is that Japanese government still has not offically apoloized to the Aisa countries for its war crime. I highly recommend this book for everyone and hopefully history would not repeat itself.

Rating:
Summary: the forgotten holocaust
Review: It is a great book about what happened in Nanking in December 1937. The author presents facts without any exageration. It is very sad that the Nanking Massacre has been largely forgotten in the west. I keep asking myself why? Is that because the victims of the Massacre were Chinese instead of the westerners? The number of 300,000 victims was calculated by International Military Court (Far East) not by the Comunist Chinese as some of the readers might believe like the reader from Arlington. At that time, it was the Natioinalist Kuomingtang that governed China. Again the reader from Arlington said "There were independant international journalists present during that time. Why didnt any of them report this alleged atrocity?" I referred other readers who want to find out the truth to read an eyewitness report "All Captives Slain" from then New York Times reporter, F. Tillman. This article could be found in Modern History Soursebook. Even the Germans helped the Nanking citizens at that time. A German business man and Nazi party member, John Rabe, rescued thousands of Chinese from the atrocity of the Japanese army. Detailed information could be found in Rabe Diary.

As a freelance interpreter, I went to Nanking with Finnish Broadcasting Company in 1998 to interview two survivors of the Nanking Massacre, between them was the woman whose story was recounted in Iris's book. Though at that time, almost 60 years passed, I could still clearly see the scars left on Madame Li's face by the bayonet used by the Japanese soldiers.

It is time to put aside racism and face the truth. Holocaust shouldn't be recognized only in connection with who the victim is. Victims of all color have the equal right to be recognized. No life of a certain group of people is more important than that of another group.