Analyzing the “Photographic Evidence” of the Nanking Massacre

inspired anti-Japanese sentiment among the population, and was on sale inthat country as a postcard.T publication Shina-tairiku no shinsō [The Truth of the Chinese Continent] alsomentioned the existence of similar photographs, one of which showed a woman beingstabbed by someone. More recently, Nakada Takashi summarized the circumstancessurrounding the origin of such images in his article “Nitchū-sensō-ki ni okeru Chūgokukokumintō no taigai senden katsudoō” [GMD international propaganda activities during theSino-Japanese War] published in Seiji keizai shigaku [History of Politics and Economy], no.431.That this photograph was a fabrication was known at the time. As a result, for along time, it did not reappear in media sources. But recently, the following sourcesreprinted this photograph: Yang Kelin, Cao Hong, Zhongguo Kangri Tuzhi [PictorialHistory of China’s Resistance War], RON-YY, and REKISHI. In particular, REKISHIincluded Photo 99 in a section entitled the “mop-up operations in and outside the citywalls” with the following caption: “The Japanese army used live Chinese persons as guineapigs for bayonet practice to turn rookie soldiers into ‘murdering maniacs.’”One should analyze this allegation by referring to another contemporary source.The following is an excerpt from a 1941 publication entitled Hōdō sensen [Front of MediaWarfare] by Mabuchi Itsuo:One prominent example is that the government of Chiang Kai-shek arousedanti-Japanese and pro-Chinese sentiment by disseminating a propagandaphoto that shows a Japanese soldier allegedly using a Chinese POW as aguinea pig for bayonet practice. But Lowdown magazine exposed the truthof this photograph. The magazine said in an article in its January 1939issue that this photograph had a long history of propaganda usage—firstagainst a warlord, against the Communists, and then against the Japaneseduring the Manchurian Incident. It went on to say, “In its most recentreappearance it was used for the customary purpose of enlisting Americansympathies—and arousing anti-Japanese sentiment in this country.” Thistype of revelation proves to be counter-effective for the original purpose ofpropaganda. During World War , people believed an unfounded rumorthat the Germans extracted fat from the bodies of those killed in action toproduce soap. If someone had faked a photograph that depicted deadbodies being transported to a factory, it would have lent more credence tothe story.163