Monument to the Martyred Compatriots of Xiawujiazi

Monument to the Martyred Compatriots of Xiawujiazi

The Monument to the Martyred Compatriots of Xiawujiazi is a classic red tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

In Gangyao Ridge, there is another renowned red tourism destination in western Liaoning — the Monument to the Martyred Compatriots of Xiawujiazi. The site of the monument is located in Xiawujiazi Village, 4 kilometers north of Gangyao Ridge Town. It stands as a testament to the massacre of 397 patriotic villagers by Japanese invaders on November 16, 1935.

From March to September 1935, the Japanese invaders launched three large-scale attacks on Xiawujiazi in Gangyao Ridge, Jinxi at the time, attempting to “encircle and suppress” local armed anti-Japanese civilians, but were defeated each time by the resistance. One day, a small Japanese plane came to strafe Xiawujiazi, but was shot down by villagers using homemade weapons. The Japanese held a deep grudge against the local resistance and sought revenge.

In the early hours of November 16, 1935, the Japanese mobilized all troops stationed in Gangyao Ridge to surround Xiawujiazi Village, blocking all village entrances, key roads, and high grounds. The surrounding hills — front, back, and east — were also secured with checkpoints. After encircling the village, some Japanese soldiers entered to drive over 100 young and middle-aged villagers to a gathering point at the west riverbank. At this point, the Japanese brought out three villagers — Jiang Zuozhou, Yang Shuzhen, and Zhang Chen — who had been previously captured, and forced them to reveal the names of the resistance members. The three refused to speak even unto death and were killed on the spot. Then, the Japanese opened fire with three machine guns simultaneously, and people fell in rows. In an instant, the west riverbank was covered with corpses and blood. Fearing they might have missed anyone, the enemy conducted a body check and shot or stabbed anyone found moving or groaning. Afterwards, they dragged the corpses to a garden, poured gasoline over them, and set them on fire to destroy the evidence.

As the gunfire erupted at the west riverbank, the Japanese inside the village also began their slaughter. They drove unarmed elderly, women, and children into houses with bayonets, tied them up, and set the houses on fire. In no time, the entire village was engulfed in flames, littered with mutilated bodies. Liu Chang’s wife, who had just given birth, was attacked by two Japanese who broke into their home. They first shot and killed Liu Chang, then slit the midwife’s throat. Enraged, Liu Chang’s wife picked up scissors to fight back, but was stabbed in the chest by one Japanese soldier from the side, while another stabbed her in the front. She fell, clutching the scissors in grief, never having had the chance to feed her newborn. The two soldiers then turned on the baby, “ya” — they split the infant in half and tossed the pieces into the yard, laughing hysterically.

The massacre lasted a full day. Except for 11 villagers who managed to escape, 397 innocent villagers were killed by the Japanese, and over 400 homes were burned down. This tragedy shocked the entire northeast and even the nation.

The memorial site was built in 1972 and consists of the Deep Hatred Tomb and the Monument, covering an area of 1,150 square meters. Beneath the monument are engraved two lines of upright text: “Monument to the Martyred Compatriots of Xiawujiazi Slaughtered by the Japanese Invaders.” The Deep Hatred Tomb is located 20 meters behind the monument. The tomb is a circular earthen mound, 6.6 meters in diameter and 17 meters high, surrounded by a cement border. In front of the tomb stands a cement epitaph inscribed with the words “Deep Hatred Tomb.” Over 300 sets of remains are buried within. South of the Deep Hatred Tomb is a “Life-and-Death Well.” Outside the north wall stands a cement tablet inscribed with the words “Blood and Tears Beach,” marking the site where the Japanese carried out a mass killing of Chinese people.

Xiawujiazi is now a well-known patriotic education base. Every year, a large number of employees, students, and government officials from western Liaoning visit here to participate in patriotic education activities.