BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) — Walking via the aisles of the Beijing Union University library, one would encounter an change heart devoted to the reminiscence of a global buddy, John Rabe.
This Wednesday marked the tenth nationwide memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. Students from the School of Marxism on the college not too long ago gathered on this heart for a particular lesson.
In 1937, when Japanese invaders launched the horrific bloodbath in Nanjing of east China’s Jiangsu Province, Rabe and a gaggle of worldwide pals established a global security zone and guarded 250,000 Chinese folks, mentioned Li Yu, deputy director of the John Rabe Communication Centre Beijing/PRC.
Beyond his well-documented deeds in Nanjing, Rabe’s indissoluble bond with Beijing unfolded via the narratives shared by Li.
Rabe’s reference to China traces again to 1908, when he first set foot in Beijing.
Rabe lived in Beijing for 17 of his 30 years in China, Li mentioned. The Diaries of John Rabe dedicates 5 volumes to his experiences in Beijing. Besides, Rabe additionally took numerous photographs and picked up a painted rendition of Beijing’s folks map and quite a few classic photos of historic constructions.
These diaries and footage are a useful reference for the research of recent Beijing, Li mentioned.
Exploring the culinary delights and conventional Chinese drugs, and thru communication with the Chinese folks, Rabe developed a preliminary understanding of this land and the folks dwelling right here.
He was much more impressed by the kindness of the Chinese folks when he returned to Beijing in 1921, discovering that his residence had been stored clear and his property stored protected by his Chinese pals throughout his absence after World War I.
The 17 years of residing in Beijing additionally witnessed a number of necessary events in Rabe’s life — his wedding ceremony and the beginning of his youngsters. The emotional bond between his household and town has deepened his affection for this historic nation and its folks, and prompted him to face up when the Chinese folks have been persecuted by the Japanese invaders.
Through the instructor’s narratives, the scholars discovered extra concerning the lesser-known sides of this worldwide buddy.
“Listening to and empathizing with Rabe’s story makes me truly understand what internationalism is,” mentioned Jiao Yuanzhe, a graduate pupil on the School of Marxism.
Though John Rabe has handed away, the enduring friendship between the Rabe household and the Chinese folks persists. His tales are informed throughout China, and his descendants proceed to have interaction with the nation, sustaining a friendship spanning a century.
In March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Thomas Rabe, John Rabe’s grandson, was nervous concerning the extreme scarcity of medical provides within the hospital the place he labored in Heidelberg, Germany. Turning to the Chinese Embassy in Germany and Chinese pals, he obtained important help within the type of 30,000 masks, 200 units of protecting clothes, and drugs from China.
Experiencing the identical heat and friendliness that his grandfather felt, Thomas Rabe has additionally strengthened exchanges with China. As a visiting professor at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, he has shared his over 40 years of experience in gynecological endocrinology and reproductive drugs, and analysis outcomes with China.
Now, a go to to the John Rabe Communication Centre Beijing/PRC is a pivotal a part of the orientation schooling for brand spanking new college students at Beijing Union University.
According to Li Yu, the virtues of “fraternity, responsibility, and courage” exemplified by John Rabe have left an indelible mark within the shared cultural reminiscence of each the Chinese and German folks.