Presentation and Analysis on the Different Cultural Interpretations: Examining Chinese and Japanese Textbooks and Museums

This study reveals significant differences in the portrayal of the Second Sino-Japanese War between Chinese and Japanese high school textbooks and museums, reflecting distinct national narratives shaped by historical, social, and political factors. Chinese textbooks emphasize Japan's territorial expansion, atrocities, and the Communist Party of China's (CPC) achievements, while Japanese textbooks focus on domestic economic crises, the Chinese Civil War, and diplomacy. Similarly, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum highlights civilian suffering from atomic bombings, whereas the Unit 731 Museum in Harbin details human experiments conducted at a secretive military base. The analysis suggests that these interpretations are influenced by national war memories, government legitimacy, and postwar US-Japan relations, indicating how historical narratives serve as tools for national identity construction.

Li, Z. (2018). Presentation and Analysis on the Different Cultural Interpretations: Examining Chinese and Japanese Textbooks and Museums. Advances in Historical Studies, 07(02), 31–57. https://doi.org/10.4236/ahs.2018.72004