Today, on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, which also marks the beginning of spring, Cao Yuli, a historical memory inheritor of the Nanjing Massacre, came to the Memorial Hall to share her family’s story and pass on historical memory.

The roadshow hall was packed with people. Chen Langqing, a high school junior, said, “Hearing real stories from a descendant of survivors moved me deeply. Only by learning from history can we walk toward a better future.”

They Inherit Memory and Polish the Mirror of History

“My father, Cao Hongtai, and my mother, Zhang Cuiying, were both survivors of the Nanjing Massacre. After the fall of Nanjing, my mother hid in the reeds to survive. A Japanese soldier stabbed her calf with a bayonet, and blood poured out. My father's third and fifth uncles, as well as his maternal uncle, were brutally murdered by the Japanese army...” Cao Yuli shared her family’s painful history with the visitors. 

Their shared trauma brought Cao Yuli’s parents closer and deepened their appreciation for family bonds. "Every time they recalled these heartbreaking memories, they were consumed by grief," she said. Now retired, Cao Yuli devotes more time to preserving historical memory and supporting survivors. “I'm very touched to see so many people visiting,” she said. “Passing on this history is the best way to honor my parents.”

 Currently, the number of historical memory inheritors of the Nanjing Massacre has grown to 32. These individuals, descendants of survivors—now in their second, third, or even fourth generations—come from diverse backgrounds, but they are united in their commitment to revealing the truth, bearing witness to history, and polishing the mirror of the past.

Learning from the Past, Walking into the Future

Cao Yuli’s heartfelt storytelling drew many visitors, including parents who brought their children to listen and learn.

Mr. Chen, from Baoding, Hebei Province, brought his family of three to the Memorial Hall early in the day. His 10-year-old daughter, Chen Zifei, said, “I felt very sad hearing what happened to the survivors. I wish all the grandparents who lived through it a happy Spring Festival, good health, and joy every day.”

Chen Langqing, the high school student from Fujian, said, “Seeing so many visitors during the Spring Festival was deeply moving. We are all inheritors of this history. Only by learning from the past can we build a better future. We must also look outward, learn from the world, and help make our motherland more prosperous and stronger.”

Wang Xuening, a first-year middle school student from Shandong, was also deeply affected. She said, “The good life we enjoy today was built on the sacrifices of our heroes and martyrs. We must remember history and cherish the happiness we now have.”