Summary
The Rape of Nanking, published in 1997, is Iris Chang's groundbreaking account of one of the most horrific massacres of the 20th century. The book vividly details the atrocities committed by Japanese troops when they captured the Chinese city of Nanjing in 1937, resulting in the systematic rape, torture, and murder of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Chang's exhaustive research and unflinching prose brought international attention to this often overlooked chapter of World War II history.
Drawing from survivor accounts, historical documents, and diary entries, Chang presents the Nanjing Massacre from three perspectives: the Japanese soldiers who perpetrated the violence, the Chinese civilians who endured it, and the Westerners who tried to intervene. The book became an unexpected bestseller, spending 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and selling over half a million copies. It sparked intense debate, especially in Japan, where some disputed Chang's death toll estimates and use of photographic evidence.
While The Rape of Nanking has not been directly adapted for film, it helped inspire renewed interest in the subject. The 2007 documentary Nanking, produced by AOL executive Ted Leonsis after reading Chang's book, uses letters and diaries to recount the experiences of Westerners who stayed in the city to establish a safety zone for civilians. Chang's passionate work ensured that the victims and survivors of Nanjing would not be forgotten, cementing the massacre's place in the historical record.
Plot
In The Rape of Nanking, Iris Chang recounts the horrific events that took place when the Japanese army invaded Nanjing, China in December 1937. Over a period of several weeks, Japanese soldiers systematically raped, tortured, and murdered an estimated 300,000 Chinese civilians in one of the worst atrocities in modern history.
Chang tells the story from three perspectives: the Japanese soldiers who committed the atrocities, the Chinese civilians who suffered through them, and the Westerners who stayed behind to try to help. She provides graphic details of the extreme violence and cruelty inflicted on the population of Nanjing, including mass executions, brutal torture methods, and widespread rape of women and girls.
The book also focuses on a group of Westerners who established a safety zone in Nanjing that managed to save close to 300,000 Chinese lives. Chang highlights the efforts of John Rabe, a German businessman and Nazi Party member who led the safety zone committee and worked tirelessly to protect civilians. She also discusses Minnie Vautrin, an American missionary who sheltered thousands of women and girls at Ginling College.
