The author presents her historical narrative from three perspectives: the Japanese soldiers who carried it out, the Chinese civilians and soldiers who endured it, and a group of Europeans and Americans who refused to abandon the city and the innocent victims. Through these perspectives, Chang provides the reader with important information and first-hand accounts of what actually happened. One of Chang’s ideas that stands out in my mind is that human beings are capable of the worst kind of inhuman behavior under certain circumstances. I find this argument to be of particular value because it can be used as an essential question or big idea for teaching World History students about genocide, a topic in the Virginia Modern World History curriculum which explores the motives for and effects of genocide. It can also provide a starting point for teaching about Japan’s militaristic culture and how it fostered in the Japanese soldier a total disregard for human life that led to other appalling atrocities during World War II. I can use sections from the book to provoke students to think about and reflect on the big idea. I could also assign students to research first-hand accounts from survivors and/or witnesses who were mentioned in Chang’s book to allow students to recognize and reflect on the various perspectives of the tragedy. Drawing on extensive interviews with survivors and documents brought to light for the first time, Iris Chang's classic book is the definitive history of this horrifying episode. Request Desk/Exam Copy

Iris Chang, Who Chronicled Rape of Nanking, Dies at 36". The New York Times. November 12, 2004 . Retrieved November 26, 2007. John Rabe (1998). The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe. Random House. ISBN 0-375-40211-X. Kamen, Paula (2007). Finding Iris Chang: Friendship, Ambition, and the Loss of an Extraordinary Mind. Da Capo Press. ISBN 9780306817250. Memorial hall to honor Iris Chang opens in Huai'an - China - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn . Retrieved March 13, 2023. Chang, Ying-Ying (2011). The Woman Who Could Not Forget: Iris Chang before and Beyond the Rape of Nanking. introduction by Richard Rhodes. Pegasus Books. ISBN 9781605981727.Outside of Japan many know that the Japanese Empire was terrible. It was marked with savagery and acts of cowardly violence against the unarmed and innocent. But today many Japanese barely know the details of the savagery their government committed. They understand that they were defeated and see the fire bombing and atomic devastation of cities as punishment for such.

Heath, Thomas (2006-07-31). "Ted Leonsis Takes a Sharp Turn". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2007-07-22. There are no official numbers for the death toll in the Nanjing Massacre, though estimates range from 200,000 to 300,000 people. Soon after the end of the war, Matsui and his lieutenant Tani Hisao were tried and convicted for war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East—both men were soon executed. translated by Ma Zhixing ( 马志行), Tian Huaibin ( 田怀滨), and Cui Naiying ( 崔乃颖). Oriental Publishing House ( 东方出版社). 382 pp. ISBN 978-7-5060-1052-8. The author’s goal is to provide the public with information about the Rape of Nanking - a war crime committed by the Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese war.Another aspect of the book I found valuable is the lessons that can be learned from Nanking as outlined by the author. These lessons are: “civilization is tissue thin, the role of power in genocide, and the ease with which the mind can accept genocide.” Again, I think this would fit into a unit/lesson on genocide. Many comparisons can between the Rape of Nanking and other genocides that have occurred throughout history. After learning about each genocide, students could compare and contrast and see if the above lessons are true for each one. Students then could be asked how they think genocides could be prevented in the future. San Jose community briefs for the week of Nov. 8: Chang Park Opens". The Mercury News. November 3, 2019 . Retrieved November 3, 2019.