In the short life of the late Chinese-American writer Zhang Chunru, the ten years before and after writing the English version of "Nanjing Da**" and her suicide by drinking bullets were important stages in her life, and "Xinhua**" recorded Zhang Chunru's short and splendid life process.
Zhang Chunru had heard about Nanjing University since she was a child, but when she went to the school and public library to look for relevant English materials, she couldn't find anything about it. In December 1994, at a conference and exhibition on Nanjing in Cupertino, California, USA, she finally came face to face with the tragic Nanjing disaster in her parents' mouth. Deeply shocked, she decided to write a book about Nanjing Da** from then on.
In order to write this book, Zhang Chunru began to collect relevant materials and documents in early 1995, and set foot on the land of Nanjing in the summer of 1995. With the assistance of local scholars in Nanjing, Zhang Chunru successfully completed the search. Since then, she has maintained close contact with these scholars, communicating with each other and exchanging research progress.
In October of that year, the Memorial Hall of the Compatriots Killed in Nanjing received precious historical materials sent by Zhang Chunru from the United States. On October 27, 1995, "Xinhua**" reported it, which was the first article about Zhang Chunru in "Xinhua**". The article gives a brief introduction to Zhang Chunru and lists the materials she donated, including Weitling's diary. These materials provide new evidence for the domestic study of Nanjing University.
After that, "Xinhua**" continued to pay attention to Zhang Chunru's research and book writing process.
Zhang Chunru visited many places for the writing of "Nanjing Da**" and obtained a large number of precious materials, the most significant discovery of which is "Rabe's Diary". In the process of collecting historical materials, Zhang Chunru found that "John Rabe" appeared repeatedly in the materials left by Westerners who stayed in Nanjing, which aroused her attention and curiosity. Through persistent investigations, Zhang Chunru found Rabe's granddaughter, Ursula Reinhardt, and learned of the existence of Rabe's Diary from Mrs. Reinhardt, and finally made it public. Mr. Rabe's diary detailed the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in Nanjing, which is strong evidence of the Japanese army's crimes.
Xinhua**'s second report on Zhang Chunru is about Rabe's diary. On December 11, 1997, the 6th edition of Xinhua ** published "Rabe's Diary on the Screen" Premiered on Jiangsu Channel.
In November 1997, Zhang Chunru's book "Nanjing Da**" was officially published in the United States. As soon as this book was published, it immediately caused a huge sensation in the Western world, and it was the first English book about Nanjing University, which changed the state of the blank perception of Nanjing University in the mainstream Western society. The book hit the New York Times bestseller list in January 1998. Zhang Chunru was invited to give speeches on the east and west coasts of the United States and Canada. Zhang Chunru always worked tirelessly, fighting for justice and fairness for the big ** victims over and over again.
On March 17, 1998, "Xinhua**" reported the news of the publication of "Nanjing Da**" in the United States in the form of **news, and the published ** was signed by Zhang Chunru for readers after the speech**.
The publication of Nanjing Da** has promoted the attention and research of this period of history in the Western world, and opened a new situation for the international community to study and disseminate this historical facts. "Xinhua**" on March 23, 1998 "Nanjing ** Witness Diary American and British Filmmakers Plan to Put on the Screen" on August 20, 1998 "Westerners Make Nanjing Da** Documentary" and other reports, to a certain extent, reflect this process. 、
Zhang Chunru's contribution has also greatly encouraged the scholars of the history of Nanjing in China, and the publication and sensation of "Nanjing Da" have also helped their research work a lot. China and foreign countries have also begun to have frequent exchanges on Nanjing.
On December 7, 1999, the A02 edition of "Xinhua**" article "Memories of Weitling" recorded the scene of the symposium "Ms. Weitling and Jinnuda Refugee Center" held at Nanjing Normal University. The article also specifically mentions that Zhang Chunru brought Weitling's diary into the field of vision of the Chinese people. On April 15, 2000, the article "Keeping the World Away from War and Lasting Peace, American Friend Dr. Fraser Presents Roses to Jiangdongmen Memorial Hall" tells the story of Dr. Fraser's visit to the Memorial Hall of the Compatriots Killed in Nanjing of the Japanese Invasion of China and the presentation of roses. In the article, this American friend said that it was Zhang Chunru's book that aroused his strong indignation against the Japanese army invading China.
In December 2001, under the guidance and coordination of the National Information Office, sponsored by the Jiangsu Provincial Information Office and the Nanjing Municipal Information Office, the "Nanjing Historical Exhibition of the Japanese Invasion of China" was unveiled in the United States. Xinhua sent reporters to interview the group and published three reports to record the entire process of the exhibition in detail.
Zhang Chunru poured great enthusiasm into this exhibition. For the peace prayer service at St. Mary's Cathedral, she even postponed the surgery that had been scheduled for a long time. At the ceremony, she said that in the history of the world, there are few atrocities that can compete with the Nanjing Da** during World War II, and we are holding a prayer ceremony here today in the hope that the world will learn from it. When the reporter interviewed her, she expressed her indignation at Japan's "collective amnesia", she said: "Forgetting the big ** is the second **."
This is the last report of "Xinhua**" on Zhang Chunru's activities before his death.
On November 13, 2004, "Xinhua**" reported the news of her suicide in the car in the form of **news. Regarding the cause of her death, many indications are closely related to the heavy writing process of "Nanjing Da**" and the intimidation and threats of Japanese right-wing forces.
This fearless and determined woman left in such a resolute way, causing a shock in the Chinese community. She was mourned in various ways. In order to preserve history and seek justice, she gave up her peaceful life, plunged headlong into the heaviest pain and humiliation of a nation with a weak body, and finally exhausted her own life. "Some people's lives are spent exclusively for others. This sentence in the book written by Zhang Chunru's mother should be the best summary of Zhang Chunru's life.
Some people are dead, but he is still alive", in memory of Ms. Zhang Chunru.
Liu Yu).