The Rape of Nanking: Historiographical Perspectives from Japan and China

Abstract

The Nanking massacre, which is often considered one of the most vicious atrocities committed by the Japanese during the Asian-Pacific War, has stirred up much emotion and controversy in East Asian History.¹ This type of extreme controversy creates several different aspects of the history and historiography of the event as it is viewed in both China and Japan. The efforts of both countries to use the incident as either an ideological tool or for nationalist mobilization have affected the historiographical approaches to the topic as well.² A brief summary of the event and the numbers that are associated as well as the positions of Japan and China internationally, will set the stage for the diverse historiographical approaches to the Rape of Nanking over the sixty five years since the attack.