The Rape of Nanking

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Summary: An enlightening, approachable book of war atrocity
Review: This is not a book for the fainthearted. The Rape of Nanking does not shelter its readers from the atrocities committed by the Japanese when they invaded China during the second World War. This well-written and well-documented book exposes an aspect of the second World War that is often neglected in traditional historical circles. Anyone who is interested in broadening their knowledge of both Asian history and World War II retrospectives should read the Rape of Nanking. The book is written in an approachable format, a rarity in nonfiction: for this reason, even those who rarely pick up a book should find this both a rewarding and informative read. The horrible stories of broken families, the courage of many of the Chinese soldiers and citizens, and the unlikely heroes - John Rabe among them - put the tragedy in perspective for the reader. The effect on the reader is chilling - just as Chang no doubt intended.

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Summary: It took a journalist...
Review: When dealing with Japan, everything is essentially political. Or rather the Japanese have made it so. So it seems it took a journalist, rather than a historian, to break the perplexing silence concerning one of this centuryfs greatest crimes: the Rape of Nanking and its subsequent neglect.

For the uninitiated, this book marks a great wake up call to the atrocities visited upon the people of China by the Japanese Imperial Army. Chang hits on all the main points: the pure evil, the Emperor's involvement, and the current Japanese unwillingness to fess up and pay up. If you are looking for a good introduction to this issue, I heartily recommend it. If you want more data and less passion, I don't.

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Summary: Important History!
Review: The atrocities committed by the Japanese in Nanjing during WWII are some of the most gruesome and heinous in the annals of world history. Despite the incredible level of cruelty and the hundreds of thousands of deaths that were incurred, the events are rarely discussed in any detail in most history text books in the States- and have had practically no exposure in the Japanese educational curriculum (as opposed to the Germans, who by law must teach about the holocaust).

In 'The Rape of Nanking' Iris Chang has done a fine job of bringing the 'other holocaust' to light. Well written and fully documented, Chang tells us the story of the rape of Nanjing from three different perspectives; the victims, the Japanese soldiers who committed the crimes, and the handful of western ex-patriots who tried desperately to help the oppressed by providing medical help and protection (ironically, one of the most valiant in this respect was John Rabe, the head of the Nazi Party in Nanjing).

This book goes a long way in explaining the chilly relations between China and Japan that still persist (as a resident of Shanghai, I can safely say that the Japanese are still thoroughly loathed here for what happened during the war). Chang also explains how the US was complicious in underplaying the whole affair for the sake of normalizing relations with Japan after the war (and even covering for members of the royal family who were involved in the whole affair but exempt from prosecution).

I thought Chang did a great job in explaining how the Imperial government of Japan had spent years dehumanizing its soldiers and creating an environment where these kinds of atrocities were bound to occur.

The book may be a bit biased (I haven't read much history that wasn't) but I think that Chang has done an important service in opening up this subject to wider public discussion and scrutiny.

Though the book may be a bit grisly for the faint hearted- it is nevertheless an important read for anyone interested in modern history or sociology.

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Summary: Nanking: The Rape Retold
Review: Iris Chang's book is steeped in passion. A passion to recount the horror of the 1937 massacre, a passion to condemn and a passion to make us not forget. What becomes clear after reading the introduction is that Ms. Chang is not a historian but a journalist. Her short analysis of Japanese culture is both shallow and largely misunderstood. But, no matter. She launches into the recounting of the events taking place in the closing months of 1937 and leaves us all shocked at the inhuman treatment of the Chinese at the hands of the JIA. This book is a collection of anecdotes and interviews with survivors and the children of survivors. As a history, it lacks depth and suffers from several inconsistencies; e.g., John Rabe's dairy which appeared in print about the same time as this book confirms several of the events reported but provides differing bits of information about the organization of the Safety Zone. These are trivial points but are important as history. Chang's book serves as a reminder that none of us can forget the ghastly events that took place in Nanking. This book may be hastily prepared history, but it is a readable reminder that we must never forget when humans abuse other humans.

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Summary: Important subject..really bad book
Review: I think the best thing this book has done is at least get people to think about what transpired when the Japanese invaded Nanking. However, from a historical perspective this book is badly researched and written. [...]

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Summary: focus on the point...
Review: It's sad that we are still arguing over the history here. As a Chinese who married to a Japanese husband, I really feel sad for both Chinese and Japanese. My husband who is a very well educated Japanese (Japanese university graduate) bought this book for trying to get more information on what Japanese army did to China during WWII because he told me that Japanese students are not taught about what Japanese army tortured innocent people in Asia. Unfortunately, he didn't finish reading it...obviously, he simply gave up reading by seeing those pictures. The purpose of this book, I belive, is to let readers know what had happeded in Naking and to moan for those victims. Hopefully, the history won't repeat itself. As time slips, younger generations do not have any impression about the war. We are living in an era that is quite different from WWII. Sometimes, I try to discuss histroy with my husband, but he always told me: "it was war, nobody could control it", "I am sorry, but I didn't do it"...etc. I think it more or less reflect the Japanese young generation's attitude. Everyone loves his/her home country. It's understandable for Japanese to defend Japan. But please, at least, try to understand why many Asian countries demanding a formal and sincere apology from Japanese government. We study history is to learn some lessons from it, not to create conflicts or hatred.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent accounting, okay reading
Review: The horrors of war are well accounted within the pages of The Rape of Nanking. Although the specific plight of the victims of the Japanese occupation of China is considered the focus of this book, more important, and more interesting, is the attempt made to understand the reasons for this occurrence. After reading this book, read others about similar episodes: Auschwitz, Dachau, the massacres of Native Americans in the American West. Try to imagine yourself in the role of power that the villains played. Can we all be sure of our own actions?

This book appears a good accounting of the Nanking occupation, and, based on the references provided, appears factual and complete. It's okay reading, comparatively simple and uncomplex, and suitable for most any adult reading level. It is graphic in some parts, but it does not convey the horror that other books have captured so well. I agree with earlier reviewers that some measure of Japan-bashing exists within the book, but the author is clearly undergoing a cathartic experience of her own throughout the writing, and, as such, this can be excused. All in all, a good read. Highly thought-provoking and recommended to everyone.

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Summary: Watch out!
Review: Hmmm . . . the Japanese right-wing propaganda machine has swung into action again. Just read the latest review by this reader from MA, USA. I'll bet my bottom dollar that it's submitted by one of the previous Iris Chang-bashing Japanese reviewers masquerading as an American reader, complete with an American location.

In fact, many negative reviews here have obviously been submitted in the same way. There is clearly a systematic, ongoing effort to discredit Chang and her book here. These fanatic Japanese emperor-worshippers are nothing if not tenacious!

On a related note, I just read in the papers the other day that a Japanese far-right organization has proposed yet another revision to Japanese high-school history textbooks. The proposed revision, if approved by the Ministry of Education, would again gloss over Japanese aggression during WWII and take back even the extremely vague and limited reference to the Rape of Nanking that Japanese textbooks currently carry.

Sickening, isn't it? Let's hope for the sake of peace and humanity that the Japanese never get tired of merely buying up the world with their money.

Rating:
Summary: A deep look at a forgotten horrible incident
Review: Most Americans are probably aware, as I was, that early in WWII, Japan did some bad things in China. But I don't believe American schools teach much in the way of the details. Maybe there is a conspiracy to appease the Japanese by denying or covering up the events; or maybe the Chinese holocost is forgotten because it is not racially as popular as the Jewish holocost. Regardless, Chang does an incredible job of blowing the cover off of the horrible Japanese actions against the Chinese in Nanking. The book contains frequent footnotes to original source material documenting the attrocities which occurred in Nanking, which resulted in the extermination of 250,000 to 300,000 Chinese civilians. The incidents are shockin and delivered in a graphic narrative. Chang covers the historical, statistical, and personal aspects of the events, as well as the socio-cultural aspects (regarding why the event was not more widely reported) from Chinese, Japanese, and American/European perspectives. It was amazing to me that a 29 year old author could do such professional research and produce such a well-written historical account - she is truly a gifted author. This book is well worth the money, and the time to read it.

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Summary: Maintaining a balanced perspective
Review: It is absurd to flatly deny the civilian casualities in Nanjing during the Sino-Japanese conflict. Far too many people were killed so unnecessarily.

It is equally absurd to jump on this Japan-bashing orgy that Iris Chang's book has created.

First her book is not a history book: It is a book based on, among other things, second-hand "witness" accounts and war-time propaganada photos.

More importantly, however, most serious (i.e. fact-based) historians outside Japan believe the casualities were probably in the tens of thousands. Still too many, but this was definitely not a "holocaust".

Some of the references to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - and how "necessary" they were - in reviews presented here are plain sickening. All indications were that, by August 1945, the war was over. Japan was no longer capable of fighting. At any rate specifically targeting and incinerating 200K+ civilians with A-bombs to achieve a war aim cannot possible be accetable. More bluntly put, it is a classic war crime.

Maintaining a balanced perspective on WWII - and learning from it - is critical in our efforts to prevent another tragedy like this.