I’ve visited the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum on the 4th of July 2007 and Nanking Massacre Museum on the 26th of December 2007. This Post is a comparison between these 2 museums. Why? because if there was no Nanking Massacre, there won’t be Atomic Bomb launched at Hiroshima. This post is not about who is right, who to responsible for the lives and pride lost. So don’t go political.
Nanking Massacre Museum was built in 1985 and recently renovated and reopened on the 13th December 2007. I’m very lucky that i can visit this museum. Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum was built in 1995. Cameras are not allowed inside the Nanking Museum. There are photos, videos, and a lot of evidences of the Nanking Massacre. There are also videos of surviving victims storytelling which Hiroshima museum has the same thing. There are shelves that kept all the stories about the Victims of Nanking Massacre, it was like 4-5 storeys high of Files.
This was taken in Hiroshima museum, Nanking has the same thing too. Hiroshima’s has only one demo, but there are many demos in Nanking’s. And trust me, they both look really scary.
Around the museums, both have these statues, but Nanking one has more.
Flowers for the victims, Nanking more flowers
I saw both museums have a peace bell, but Nanking one is much bigger.
Now, both of these 2 peace angel statues hold a bird, Nanking one is bigger too!!
My gosh – the first picture does look creepy – imagine if I am there …
Nanjing (Nanking) is quite a depressing place to visit, well that was what I felt when I was there last time. Especially when visiting those war memorial places. I find the place too “YING”.
Not so sure about Hiroshima. Haven’t been to Japan yet.
I heard now the memorial is more “Ying” after their renovation last year. hehe… When i was in Hiroshima, the city is even more Ying than Nanjing.. Til i dare not go out for dinner at night
WOW… hmm… I will keep that in mind and will not visit that place…. hahahaa…
In your opinion are Japan and China competing to be the biggest victim by constantly rasing the numbers of dead
in Nanking and Hiroshima? Is there anything written on this?
in my own opinion, they are not competing in the number of victims, i think the figure is a known fact already and is written in the history. I heard from my friend that the Nanking Massacre Museum wasn’t as great as the Hiroshima one. But after the renovation in 2007, it became very much nicer and the stories told in the museum are more touching and sad than before.
When i was in hiroshima, i felt sad for Japanese, but when i was in China, i felt that What comes around goes around..
“When i was in hiroshima, i felt sad for Japanese, but when i was in China, i felt that What comes around goes around..”
What exactly do you mean by this? That it was deserving for China? The Nanking massacre had around 300,000 casualties (by some estimates), most of them civilians who were tortured, raped and killed by Japanese military men. The amount of people who perished from Hiroshima was around 166,000. The 166,000 consisted mainly of military garrison and civilians. Whereas the intent of atomic bomb was to end the Pacific war (possibly more), the sole intent of the Nanking massacre is described in its name itself, a “massacre”.
Now, I’m not saying that Japan deserved the atomic bombs (I don’t think there’s such thing as Karma nor do I like the concept of it). But there is considerable debate from both sides supporting/arguing against the atomic bombs. On the other hand, the Nanking massacre was absolutely non-justifiable and there are absolutely no reasons to support it. The Nanking massacre was essentially a genocide.
I hope I misinterpreted your message, but from the looks of it, seems like you think that the Nanking massacre was more justifiable than Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I believe in Karma, When i was in Hiroshima, i felt sad for Japanese, but after i visited Nanking, I felt “what comes around goes around” for Japanese. For all the rape and tortures which Japanese did to the Chinese, in return, they received the atomic bomb.
you forgot nagasaki
If you believe in karma then perhaps you might think there is a connection between Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Nanking. Perhaps there is.
And then, you might even think that Tokyo and Osaka should be included in the annihilation in the past or perhaps in the near future. If you find out about what happened in Nanking, then you might feel like the Japanese should be exterminated! Honestly, I had those thoughts for moments. Oh wait, that doesn’t seem quite right.
It is not the number of victims that I think is horrific but the intent of the perpetrators. The nuclear bombings and resulting mass killing in Japan were a strategic and distant (from the killing) decision by a few. And the rape and murder of women and children one by one in Nanking was a behavioral phenomenon by many Japanese individuals at a very personal level that is very very very much more disturbing. So, I think HIROSHIMA AND NANKING ARE COMPLETELY INCOMPARABLE. And, surely, one cannot atone for the other.
But why is it that human beings could behave in such a way against other human beings? Consider the culture of Japan and the nature of the people who lived in that culture at that time. And, consider the nature of war. And who knows if there might have been some karma or historical animosities preceding. How did the Japanese get on those islands anyways? It would be interesting to study some more history, as disturbing as it may be. I have always found that it leads to more understanding and then yet more questions and amazement.
Let us not forget that for the all the atrocities that humankind has committed, there are also many, many amazing acts of compassion and true strength.