What is commemorated at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders?
The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders commemorates the mass killing and rape of Chinese citizens and capitulated soldiers by the Japanese Imperial Army during the Nanjing Massacre, which occurred between December 1937 and January 1938.123
Built around excavated mass grave sites, the hall serves as a primary site for national remembrance. It features a "12-second clock" to illustrate the scale of the tragedy, signifying that one person died every 12 seconds during the six-week period of atrocities. The site stands as a testament to one of the most devastating episodes of civilian mass killing in the 20th century, where estimates of the death toll range from 100,000 to more than 300,000.312
Commemorating these victims is an essential act of acknowledging historical truth and honoring the dignity of those who suffered during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.123