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Why was the War of Resistance an important phase in Chinese music history? Are there any war songs that still circulating today? |
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See answer below. |
During the five and a half years from 18 February 1938 to 23 August 1943, Japan conducted strategic bombings on the Chinese temporary capital of Chongqing. According to available statistics, Japan bombarded Chongqing over 200 times with more than 11,500 bombs in 9,000 flights. The bombings killed more than 10,000 people and destroyed over 10,000 buildings, leaving most of the downtown areas shattered. The Japanese intended to undermine Chinese morale by the mass killing of civilians. Therefore, the air raids were conducted indiscriminately on the front line and China’s rear area, targeting residential and commercial areas instead of military facilities. However, the Chinese people’s resolution to resist never wavered.
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Why was the War of Resistance an important phase in Chinese music history? Are there any war songs that still circulating today? |
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China is a country of poetry and “Poems express aspirations” is a long-held belief. It is said that poets were born out of rage and that songs are created by heart. In the 14 years of War of Resistance, a group of artists and writers emerged on the front line and in the enemy’s rear area. Their great works uplifted the spirit of the Chinese nation and have since become enduring calls to battle. As a result, modern Chinese music made progress during this period, despite the state of war, and a number of songs created back then are still popular today. The following are some of the best-known ones: Along the Songhua River by Zhang Hanhui (張寒暉) is part of the Exile Trilogy (together with two pieces created by Liu Xue’an ﹝劉雪庵﹞). It tells the story of the tragedies in Northeast China as the area fell into Japanese hands. The Sword March by Mai Xin ( 麥新) tells the story of the Defence of the Great Wall and the broadsworded defenders of the Marco Polo Bridge. March of the Volunteers composed by Nie Er (聶耳) with lyrics by Tian Han (田漢) is the theme song of the film Children of Troubled Times released in April 1935. It is about how the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation united in solidarity with an unyielding spirit in their resistance against Japanese invaders. March of the Volunteers is now the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. Yellow River Cantata composed by Xian Xinghai with lyrics by Guang Weiran (光未然) is another masterpiece held dear by the Chinese people. Guerrillas’ Song was written by He Luting (賀綠汀), an upbeat and catchy tune inspired numerous railway guerrillas. Another classic is Unity is Strength, just to mention a few. |