1937 Second Sino-Japanese War Lecture

The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)

Overview

  • Timeline: 1937-1945

  • Key Focus Areas:

    • Bombing of Chongqing

    • Memory and significance of the Second Sino-Japanese War

    • The interplay of China's fall and Japan's rise.

Bombing of Chongqing, May 4, 1939

  • Casualties and Destruction:

    • Over 4,000 people killed.

    • 3,803 houses destroyed.

  • Quotes:

    • Chiang Kai-Shek (Chinese leader):

    • "The enemy planes came again today to bomb Chongqing, and it’s still burning. This is the most terrible thing I’ve seen in my life. I can’t bear to look at it. God lives– why does he not swiftly bring some disaster to our enemy?"

    • Lao She (Chinese novelist):

    • "If we are to seize… a free, liberated ‘May Fourth’, we cannot accept the threats of fire and blood. We must seize with our whole hearts the new life of our great China! Our lives, our struggle, our victory, this is our new ‘May Fourth’ slogan!"

Three Men, Three Different Visions of China

  • During the war, three prominent figures had varying trajectories:

    • Mao Zedong (毛) (1893-1976):

    • Role: Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party.

    • Status Before War: Head of a small, run-away party in northwest China.

    • After the War: Controlled vast areas with a population of approximately 100 million and an army of nearly 1 million men.

    • Chiang Kai-Shek (蔣介石) (1887-1975):

    • Role: Leader of the Chinese Nationalists (Kuomintang or Guomindang).

    • Status: Acknowledged by most, including communist opponents, as the main figure representing all of China against Japan.

    • Vision: Believed the war could act as a cleansing fire leading to China’s emergence as a sovereign, prosperous nation within the post-war world order.

    • Wang Jingwei (汪精衛) (1883-1934):

    • Role: Initially a revolutionary and prominent nationalist leader, second to Sun Yat-sen.

    • Tragic Fate: Condemned as a "traitor of a thousand generations" for his decisions during the war.

“As Close as Lips and Teeth”: China’s Fall, Japan’s Rise

  • Historical Context:

    • The longstanding relationship between China and Japan was complex, consisting of both mentorship and conflict.

  • Progression of Relations:

    • Early Influence: Japan was viewed as a mentor and model for China, particularly as an example of modernization and military strength.

    • Educational Impact: Thousands of Chinese students studied in Japan, gaining insights into industrialization and modernization.

    • Refuge and Support: Japan served as a refuge during periods of political turmoil in China, exemplified by Sun Yat-Sen's escape to Tokyo.

    • Increasing Hostility: The sentiment turned predominantly negative as Japan's actions became more aggressive, culminating in atrocities from the 1930s to 1940s.

    • Common Phrase: It was observed that Japan and China were often described as “as close as lips and teeth.”

Japan’s “Pan-Asianism”

  • Ideological Framework:

    • In the early 20th century, Japan propagated the ideology of pan-Asianism, distinguishing the spiritual Eastern nations from the materialistic West.

    • Characteristics: This ideology had romantic undercurrents in Japanese nationalism influenced by:

    • Zen and Nichiren Buddhism

    • German concepts of blood and soil, which shaped Japan's national aspirations for power and glory.

Geopolitical Landscape of China (1928-1937)

  • Map Understanding:

    • The geopolitical situation was complicated, with various regions either occupied or under varied control.

    • Key Areas:

    • Chinese Nationalist Government (Nanking): Established control in 1928.

    • Manchuria: Occupied by Japan in 1931, established as the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1933.

    • Suiyuan, Kansu, and Chahar: Regions that maintained varying degrees of independence from Nanking during this timeframe.

Phases of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)

  • Three Phases:

    1. Rapid Japanese Advance (until end of 1938): Characterized by quick territorial gains for Japan.

    2. Stalemate (1940-1944): A period where neither side effectively advanced or retreated significantly.

    3. Allied Counterattacks (1944-1945): Marked by significant efforts from Allied forces resulting in Japan's military surrender.

Civil War Post-War (1945-1949)

  • Control Pattern:

    • Outline of the territories controlled by Communists and the Kuomintang through 1949, revealing a significant shift in power dynamics leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

  • Notable Battles: Identifying significant military confrontations leading to the resolution of power struggles between the Chinese factions.