The Rape of Nanking

Synopsis

The New York Times bestselling account of one of history's most brutal- and forgotten- massacres, when the Japanese army destroyed China's capital city on the eve of World War II

In December 1937, one of the most horrific atrocities in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. The Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking (what was then the capital of China), and within weeks, more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and soldiers were systematically raped, tortured, and murdered. In this seminal work, Iris Chang, whose own grandparents barely escaped the massacre, tells this history from three perspectives: that of the Japanese soldiers, that of the Chinese, and that of a group of Westerners who refused to abandon the city and created a safety zone, which saved almost 300,000 Chinese.

Drawing on extensive interviews with survivors and documents brought to light for the first time, Iris Chang's classic book is the definitive history of this horrifying episode.

"Chang vividly, methodically, records what happened, piecing together the abundant eyewitness reports into an undeniable tapestry of horror." - Adam Hochschild, Salon

Summary

The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II is a 1997 non-fiction book written by Iris Chang about the massacre that occurred during the Japanese occupation of the Chinese city of Nanking in 1937. The book takes a detailed look at the events leading up to and during the massacre as well as the aftermath and global consequences of what transpired.

Chapter 1: Introduction:
In the beginning of the book, Chang establishes the events leading up to and during the Nanking Massacre. She provides historical context on the perilous political climate between Japan and China prior to Japan’s declaration of war in 1937. Chang also details how Japan’s invasion of Nanking swiftly dismantled even the most basic civilian infrastructure and government structures within the city’s walls. This introduction sets the stage for the rest of the novel, painting an accurate and thorough picture of the horrific events.

Chapter 2: Prelude to Massacre:
The second chapter focuses on Japan’s increasing presence in Nanking leading up to the massacre. Chang sheds light on the systematic way in which Japanese forces activists began picking off Chinese authorities one by one, thereby inciting panic in citizens and rendering them powerless against the oncoming Japanese forces. This chapter includes fact-based accounts of the everyday life of Nanking citizens leading up to the massacre, giving readers an intimate look into the lives of individuals affected by the Japanese invasion.

Chapter 3: The Massacre Begins:
This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the actual events of the massacre. Chang recounts the mass killings, public executions, and savagery enacted by Japanese soldiers within the city of Nanking. She includes first-hand accounts of eyewitnesses and survivors in order to further elucidate the brutal truths of what transpired. Chang paints a vivid picture of the much of the scenes, bringing readers as close as possible to what those living through this chaos actually experienced.

Chapter 4: The Aftermath:
In this chapter, Chang reflects on the global impact of the Nanking Massacre. She talks about the implications the event has had on international relations between China and Japan to this day. She critiques the way in which the international community left China to deal with the aftermath on its own, highlighting the fact that the Nanking Massacre was never really addressed in court. Chang also includes an overview of the major and minor wars that have taken place between China and Japan.

Chapter 5: Conclusion:
In the final chapter of the book, Chang examines the legacy of the Nanking Massacre and its impact on scholarship and history today. She discusses the importance of recognizing this part of history and against any kind of revisionist story-telling that might try to deny or minimize the severity of the events that took place. Chang concludes by citing the need to educate generations about the crisis that the people of Nanking endured, and why this is an essential part of understanding the history of the Far East and World War II.