Timeline: 1949 - 1958 : First Five-Year Plan and the Great Leap Foward

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Timeline: 1949- 1953 - Beginning of Communist China

Japan-China War and The Civil War 1937-49

The Promise

The Promise

As I held my rifle in one hand and my rusty helmet in the other, I was certainly sure that this was going to be the last seconds of my life. I was finding for the Nationalist, part of the 87^th Regiment, and our duty was to protect the main streets of Shanghai. I thought we could handle the Japanese, doubling their troops, and having the defensive advantage. But little did I know they had Tanks, Ships, and equipment that we couldn’t afford.

It was a quite day, so far, and the Japanese were approaching near, with the sirens blasting around the whole city. The civilians, frightened, they took their valuables and ran off the other directions, following the directions that our officers gave. A terrible site that was, thousands of people with their eyes filled with fear, shoving each other for the sake of their own lives. Mothers losing their child in the crowd, the elders unable to outrun the others, crushed as other frantic citizens run over them.

Waiting for our commands, we sat in the man built pit, awaiting our orders from our regiment commander. As the sirens faded out, the only thing I was able to hear was the heavy breath of our regiments, as it soon might be our last. Taking a peek over the sandbags, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Thousands of Japanese soldiers running down followed by hundreds of tanks, dead on straight into downtown Shanghai. Shouts from our commanders, we all took our positions and shot a few rounds, waiting for that lucky bullet that will reduce their army by one. Although our ammunition was low, I couldn’t help but to fire a few more, as fear overcame me and the worst possible scenarios overwhelmed my mind. That very second, did the Battle of Shanghai official start, as the regiment besides us was blown out with a tank.

We took heavy fire, as the bullets hit the sandbags that lay in front of us, none of us dared to shoot back. Shocked took over me, unable to move a single nerve, as I see the brave ones fall down like dominoes. Shaking in fear, I forced myself to peek, with thousands of Japanese men screaming at the tops of their lungs, fearlessly running towards us. I was a young man, who dreamed of things that I’ve haven’t achieved; to die with a bullet between my eyes was something I didn’t want. Listening to the voice that was in my head, I hit the ground running, running off like a coward. I was not made to fight; I was made to be an artist. Dashing off towards the opposite direction, I ran up a steep hill, while the other citizens ran off another direction, running without looking back.

As I stood there, I knew that I could never forgive myself running away from a battle, to defend my homeland against the Japanese. But I knew in my heart that I would make it up to the world. Sitting with my eyes shut, listening to the screams of help that would haunt my life forever. Taking one last glance over the war that I have left, remembering every little detail that I could see, I dropped my rifle and helmet in the cold, patched dirt. Promising myself, that one day I will make this memory of mine, and paint it out, dedicating the thousands of lives that fought to protect the home many of us called, Shanghai.

Grandeur to Ashes

“Ms. Li, we have to leave! People are saying that Japanese planes are flying over soon!” It was chaos, everybody at the studio was panicking as they evacuated. At the time, the situation was unclear to me. Having to leave Shanghai, my home, so quickly was too much to process in my mind. Although a rather large group, our film studio left together. Somewhere during the chaos, the studio also contacted my family, to ensure that they would come along. It all happened quickly, the chaos, the evacuation and leaving Shanghai. Soon I was heading to Chongqing. Too many thoughts ran through my at once that I couldn’t speak. We were out of Shanghai when I had heard the most devastating news. The Japanese did in fact fly over Shanghai and bombed the theater district. Right then, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. The theater district, my home away from home, had just been bombed. I then heard in the background more news, that there were injured and dead men lying on the streets, most no longer recognizable. That area in Shanghai is so dear to my heart; I couldn’t believe that it is now destroyed.

All that happened exactly a year ago, August 14, 1937. I’ve spent all of the year recovering from the trauma. Fortunately, I still remember how much I love Shanghai, because that is all that’s left. On Avenue Edward VII was the greatest and liveliest area of Shanghai, the theater district. Oh, what joy the place brought me! There was always so much to see, such as street vendors and pavement sideshows. The foreigners, the rich and the sightseers also added to the excitement and splendor. Because I am an actress, the beautiful theaters were the highlight. Not only because they were where I spent most of my time, but also because they beautiful architecturally. When I filmed for several months, I was always overjoyed to watch the premieres. I was proud to see myself on the screen, knowing that I achieved my childhood dream of acting.

Now all of this has happened, what is in the future for me? My home, and my dreams have been taken away. Should I even hope for the future? Or is it useless?

Timeline: Japanese Invasion 1931-7

The Founding Myth - The Long March

The Long March is known to be a heroic event, one to be proud of. From reading, Long March: The True Story Behind a Myth, I now know that The Long March is not as great as it is portrayed to be. The chain-swinging escapes and the massive battles were exaggerated. Before reading the article, I really did believe that the Long March did happen exactly as it is portrayed in the textbook. Now I question myself how much of history we know is actually factual and not just fiction told by leaders. It is interesting how Sun Shuyun, the author of the article, links The Long March to Moses' Exodus. To make a fight successful, the fighters need an event that they can be proud of to encourage them. This article discredits the Long March but at the same time shows how Mao altered history to make it a founding myth of China.