On August 15, 1945, Japanese Emperor Hirohito issued the "Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War" (Hirohito surrender broadcast), declaring Japan's unconditional surrender. After fourteen years of bloody struggle, the Chinese people finally achieved victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. On September 16, 1945, the Japanese forces stationed in Hong Kong signed the surrender documents. The resistance in Hong Kong was always an important part of the nation's war effort, but for various reasons, research on Hong Kong's wartime history remained a relatively niche and underdeveloped area for a long time.
In 2005, marking the 60th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance, historian Zhan Fangyao decided to systematically organize Hong Kong's wartime history. The paper he subsequently completed enriched the narrative of Hong Kong's resistance within the broader study of the War of Resistance.
"Hong Kong's role in the war has always been a concern of mine," Zhan said. "To forget history means to betray."
When he first embarked on this research, Zhan found that no one had written about this aspect of history. "There wasn't much documentation on Hong Kong's resistance, so I decided to focus my efforts here." That Spring Festival, Zhan spent his time poring over materials in Hong Kong libraries. After six months of research and collection, he spent another month writing the paper.
Coincidentally, the China Association for Military Science invited him to attend an academic conference in Nanjing commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Zhan then submitted his academic paper to the conference.
"Hong Kong During the War of Resistance" was the only paper submitted at the conference that addressed Hong Kong's role in the war, and it was awarded second prize.
Independent research on Hong Kong's War of Resistance
92-year-old Zhan graduated from the History Department of Peking University and has long been engaged in teaching and research on modern world history and World War II history. He served as a professor and graduate advisor at the School of History of Zhengzhou University. During his time at Peking University, Zhan met President Ma Yinchu and was taught by many renowned scholars, including great historians like Jian Bozan and Zhou Yiliang.
In 1998, during Peking University's centennial celebration, Zhan, as the sole representative elected by the History Department class of 1956, attended the celebratory conference in the Great Hall of the People. After graduating from Peking University's History Department, Zhan first worked as a secondary school teacher for over a decade before moving on to teach in the History Department at Zhengzhou University, where he received awards for teaching excellence.
Reflecting on his life, Zhan described himself as "always having been an educator." "I've taught students at every level: junior high, senior high, specialized training, undergraduate, and postgraduate. My entire life has been about scholarship and teaching."
Recalling those experiences, he still cannot hide his pride, believing that his country and people continually provided him with a platform to advance. "In this lifetime, I consider myself a patriotic intellectual," Zhan said. In 2002, to care for elderly relatives, Zhan moved to Hong Kong with his family.
While in Hong Kong, he was hired to teach modern Chinese history in the doctoral program in literature and history at Chu Hai College of Higher Education. "Hong Kong's role in the war has always been a concern of mine." This year, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance, Zhan decided to personally transcribe his earlier paper, "Hong Kong During the War of Resistance," word by word on his computer. "At my age, there aren't many who can still type themselves."
Studying history helps young people understand
During the interview, Zhan also mentioned: "Hong Kong's education system still needs strengthening in history." Some children who grow up in Hong Kong reach adulthood with insufficient understanding of Chinese culture and history.
While teaching at Zhengzhou University, Zhan was one of the few scholars in Henan Province specializing in affairs related to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
"I need to explain what these issues are from a historical perspective." He believes that history, though seemingly about the past, contains invaluable lessons for understanding the present. He believes that as young people's education levels improve, it is essential to clarify fundamental questions of origin from a historical perspective, which ensures that younger generations not only know "what" but also understand "why."
"Engaging with history must keep pace with the times; it needs to serve reality and the nation's major policies." Zhan believes that, as a historian and intellectual, loyalty to history and the motherland is a responsibility. Through his writings, influencing more people to "use history to understand reason" is a form of fortune within his capabilities as a historian.
Regarding the perspective of "historical nihilism" held by some young people, Zhan argues: "History is passed down generation by generation by our ancestors. To forget history means to betray." He still remembers from his childhood in Quanzhou, Fujian, hearing Japanese aircraft harassing and bombing overhead. "This is real history; a real history that cannot be forgotten."
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Chen Yi; English Editor: Darius)
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