Compilation Started for Thesaurus of Nanjing Massacre

Compilation of the first reference book on Nanjing Massacre in China, Thesaurus of Nanjing Massacre commenced on December 13th. Experts from China, Japan and USA will participate and plan to complete the book in 3 years.

The thesaurus will fall into 10 chapters, namely historical characters, venues, events, organizations, documents and archives, research, education and communication focusing on the history of Nanjing Massacre. Some well-known persons such as Li Xiuying, Xia Shuqin, Minie Vantrin and John H.D. Rabe will appear on the book as separate entries.

Zhu Chengshan, executive editor in chief of the thesaurus and curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders introduced that, the academic world has reached basic consensus on many issues of the history of Nanjing Massacre. In particular, first stage of joint historical study by China and Japan, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC and Japan s Official Development Assistance was completed and scholars of China and Japan basically agreed on identification of historical facts of Nanjing Massacre and nature determination of Japanese army s crime.

These have laid a good foundation for the compilation work. Zhu said that, the thesaurus will be academic, scientific and readable.