Xiangtan Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument

Xiangtan Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument

The Xiangtan Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province and a patriotic education base.

The Xiangtan Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument is located in Xueping, at the northern end of Yanjiang East Road and the southern end of Chengzheng Street in Yuhu District, Xiangtan City. Originally, it stood in the open area outside the Kuixing Gate of the former Confucius Temple.

Xueping was once a gathering place for the people of Xiangtan. On July 7, 1938, the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, people from all walks of life in Xiangtan jointly erected the Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument in Xueping to honor those who fought and died heroically. The original inscription on the monument was written by Li Dan (1873–1938), a prominent local official in Xiangtan. The foundation stone inscribed with "Loyalty Forever" was calligraphed by Wang Jun, a former Lieutenant General and Commandant of the Infantry School. In 1944, after the occupation of Xiangtan by Japanese forces, the monument was destroyed. It was restored after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945. In 1985, the original monument was demolished and rebuilt. The reconstructed monument stands on a granite base that is 0.65 meters high, with sides measuring 6 meters in length, forming a square. The base is surrounded by a stone railing that is 0.8 meters high, with flowers and plants planted within. The main body of the monument stands in the center of the base, rising 9.18 meters high with a square pyramid shape — 0.6 meters wide at the top and 1.2 meters wide at the bottom. The base of the monument features stone-textured patterns, while the monument, railing, and steps are all made of bluish-gray granite. The body of the monument is covered with granite slabs, and the four sides are inscribed with the nine large Chinese characters “抗日阵亡将士纪念碑” (Monument to Anti-Japanese War Martyrs) in traditional regular script. The entire structure is solemn and dignified.

Qi Baishi, the renowned Xiangtan-born artist, composed two poems titled “Inscription on the Xiangtan Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument”: (1) Overnight, wolf smoke rose from the north; The morning moon over Lugou Bridge turned somber. We stake our flesh and blood to drive out the invaders, Bravely shouldering spears and marching to the battlefield. Our loyal hearts shine ever so bright, And our names shall be honored in history. Year after year, spring fills the land of Tanzhou, As we gather to mourn the fallen by this grand monument. (2) Sharpening blades to fight the enemy on the front lines, The brave soldiers fell, becoming martyrs for their country. Vast battlefields turned crimson with their blood, Their undying spirit radiates eternal glory.

In September 1982, the Xiangtan Anti-Japanese War Martyrs Monument was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit and a municipal patriotic education base by the Xiangtan Municipal People’s Government.

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hunan Province