SDHF Newsletter No.191 KO BUNYU’s Defining History 4

KO BUN’YU’S DEFINING HISTORY
A macroscopic analysis of the differences among the histories of
East Asian nations: Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea
No.4- Chapter 3 The Brutal History of Chinese Warfare

November 29, 2017

The Chinese civilization, whose source was the Yellow River civilization, placed no restrictions whatsoever on warfare. From this basic nature, Chinese warfare became extremely brutal one throughout its history.
During the 367-year Spring and Autumn period (BC 770 – 403), the major powers clashed 448 times. Wars became even more frequent during the Warring States period (BC 404 -221), and also larger in scale. There were 222 major battles, and countless skirmishes.
Long, drawn-out siege warfare caused cannibalism. This took place especially at the time of the end of one dynasty and the beginning of another.
The Tang dynasty was the golden age of cannibalism. Cannibalism was widespread according to historical records and was practiced by the occupants of fortresses under siege. One-third of all incidents of cannibalism from Chinese history occurred during this period. This was also the time when human flesh and internal organs came to be viewed as having curative powers. Human flesh was sold openly–humans were captured, killed, and eaten.
Nanjing-style massacres took place over and over again. Near the end of the Qing dynasty when Nanjing fell, Andrew Wilson wrote in The Ever-Victorious Army the following:

On entering, the people were found dead in the streets by hundreds. They had been reduced to the last extremity; for human flesh had been sold as their food at 40 cash per catty, or one penny per pound; and it is worthy of note that, almost at the same time, the Imperialists besieged in Hangchow were reduced to the same dreadful extremity.

The story of the so-called Nanjing Massacre perpetrated by the Japanese army is merely a Chinese projection of their own gruesome history onto the Japanese.

URL: https://www.sdh-fact.com/book-article/1083/

PDF: https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.4.pdf
Profile of Ko Bunyu: https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL02_1/72_S3.pdf

Questions are welcome.

MOTEKI Hiromichi, Acting Chairman
for KASE Hideaki, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact