The Fall of Nanking Summary and Analysis

Chang begins this chapter by noting Nanking has been invaded three times over the course of its history, first by barbarians in the sixth century, then by Taiping rebels in the 1860s. At the time of the Rape, the city was a peaceful blend of modern ideas and ancient culture. Chang describes the experiences of those in the city at the time, including an account by Chang Siao-sung. Chang Siao-sung at first ignored air raid sirens, as the Chinese government had been executing air raid drills since the fall of Shanghai. However, she soon heard machine gun fire and airplanes, and realized the Japanese were approaching. The author also tells the tale of her own grandparents, who narrowly escaped the city during the invasion.

However, not all were so lucky, and many were trapped in...