BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) — Walking by the aisles of the Beijing Union University library, one would encounter an trade heart devoted to the reminiscence of a global good friend, 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 lately 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 mates established a global security zone and guarded 250,000 Chinese folks, stated 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 by 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 stated. The Diaries of John Rabe dedicates 5 volumes to his experiences in Beijing. Besides, Rabe additionally took a lot of images and picked up a painted rendition of Beijing’s people map and quite a few classic pictures of historical constructions.
These diaries and photos are a useful reference for the examine of recent Beijing, Li stated.
Exploring the culinary delights and conventional Chinese medication, and thru communication with the Chinese folks, Rabe developed a preliminary understanding of this land and the folks residing 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 saved clear and his property saved secure by his Chinese mates throughout his absence after World War I.
The 17 years of residing in Beijing additionally witnessed a number of essential events in Rabe’s life — his wedding ceremony and the delivery of his youngsters. The emotional bond between his household and the town has deepened his affection for this historical 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 aspects of this worldwide good friend.
“Listening to and empathizing with Rabe’s story makes me truly understand what internationalism is,” stated Jiao Yuanzhe, a graduate scholar 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 anxious 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 mates, he obtained vital support within the type of 30,000 masks, 200 units of protecting clothes, and medication 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 medication, 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.