Analyzing the “Photographic Evidence” of the Nanking Massacre

much larger number POWs obeyed a smaller number of Japanese soldiers. The demeanorof the POWs suggests that there was no such large-scale killing of POWs.The fact is that not only military correspondents but also ordinary Japanesesoldiers freely photographed this POW camp. In addition, Chinese civilians passed infront of this location without any trouble. Taking all these considerations into account,one should determine this to be an ordinary POW camp. These photographs thereforeconstitute a piece of viable evidence to illustrate how the Japanese army treated ChinesePOWs.If the readers see these three photographs in Photo 135 together, they may well seea scene of “the most horrible atrocity in modern history.” Such is a magical effect whichphotographs may have on the viewers depending on how they are used.Photo HPhoto H: “A POW camp inside the Suzhou city walls.” Mainichi-ban shina-jihen gahō, no.13, 21 December 1937, p. 4. Photographed by Satō Shinju. Although no detailedexplanation of this image is available, the viewer may speculate as to how the Japanesetreated Chinese POWs at their camps. For example, some POWs are seen holding platesor cups. This image may serve as a corrective to the stereotypic notion that the Japanesearmy made a point of executing surrendering opponents rather than taking them as POWs.214