YIBIN, Sichuan Province — Eighty years after the cessation of World War II hostilities, a remote city nestled along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is experiencing a surge of renewed interest in the life and legacy of Zhao Yiman, a local-born national hero who gave her life fighting Japanese aggressors. This year, marking the 120th anniversary of her birth, the Zhao Yiman Memorial in Yibin has seen visitor numbers double to nearly 600,000, underscoring the enduring relevance of her story in modern China.
Born Li Kuntai in 1905, Zhao Yiman joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) at age 21. Following the 1931 Japanese aggression in Northeast China, she was dispatched to lead anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare, enduring brutal conditions of cold and famine. Her sacrifice is emblematic of China’s 14-year War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, which began in 1931 and is recognized as the starting phase of the global Anti-Fascist War.
The memorial, situated on Cuiping Hill in downtown Yibin, serves as a crucial base for patriotic education. Yang Fan, a museum guide, notes that the heroine’s memory permeates local culture. “Zhao Yiman has never truly left us. Here in Yibin, every child grows up hearing her story,” Yang said.
The museum has made continuous efforts to enhance its exhibits. Recent upgrades include a section dedicated to Zhao’s descendants, highlighting the lasting impact of her commitment. Visitors range from local residents who frequent the site to young students like 8-year-old Chuan Jinxuan, who visits regularly. “[Zhao] was a brave person,” Chuan remarked, demonstrating a growing comprehension of the historical narrative.
Zhao’s resistance ended tragically in November 1935 when she was severely wounded and captured while providing cover for retreating Chinese troops. Despite undergoing horrific torture, she steadfastly refused to betray information about the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.
New insights into her ordeal were made public recently with the exhibition of detailed archival records concerning her arrest and imprisonment at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. These documented accounts detail the extreme methods used by her captors, including electric shock and the insertion of steel needles, all meticulously designed to inflict agonizing pain without causing immediate death.
“These newly displayed records… are living testimonies to history — a past that must never be forgotten,” Yang emphasized, pushing back against attempts to diminish historical memory.
Yibin itself holds historical significance in the resistance; despite suffering eight bombings by Japanese planes, it sheltered numerous refugees and prominent scholars, helping to preserve Chinese cultural heritage during the conflict.
The memorial’s emotional centerpiece remains Zhao Yiman’s farewell letter to her young son, written hours before her execution on August 2, 1936. In the missive, she wrote: “I teach you by how I have lived. When you are grown, I hope you will never forget that your mother gave her life for the country.”
For the younger generation, visiting the memorial reinforces a sense of national identity. Miao Jiarui, a student at Yibin University and a memorial volunteer, stated, “We owe our life today to the war heroes. It is important for young people like us to revisit this history so that we can develop a deeper sense of national belonging.”
Ultimately, commemorating figures like Zhao Yiman serves a dual purpose. As Yang concludes, “We remember her story not to nurture hatred, but to cherish peace and ensure history does not repeat itself.” The heroine, honored among the CPC’s 100 major heroes and role models, continues to inspire a nuanced reflection on China’s past and its vision for the future.