Nanjing Massacre

Definition

The Nanjing Massacre was a mass murder and mass rape committed by Japanese troops against the residents of Nanjing, then the capital of China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937-38.

Analogy

Imagine a school bully (Japan) who not only steals another student's lunch money (invades their territory), but also beats them up and humiliates them in front of everyone. That's similar to what happened during the Nanjing Massacre—it wasn't just about gaining control, it was also about inflicting severe harm and humiliation.

Related terms

Second Sino-Japanese War: A military conflict fought primarily between Republic Of China and Empire Of Japan from 1937 to 1945.

Imperial Japan: Refers to historical nation-state encompassing period when Japan was ruled by Emperor with absolute power.

War Crimes: Serious violations of laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility such as ill-treatment or killing of prisoners of war.