Related News
Bravery of Jiading people through the ages
By Jia An |
May 25, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE famous scholar Lin Yutang wrote about differences between Chinese people in his book "The North and the South": "In the area south of the Yangtze River, people belong to another kind - they're used to a comfortable life. They have excellent brains while their bodies are not as good as their heads. They are excellent businessmen and artists, but cowards in war."
I cannot agree with this comment despite his fame.
Jiading District belongs to the southern area and enjoys a splendid culture. However, Jiading people are anything but cowards.
Perhaps because Jiading was far from the political center in ancient China, it used to be a well-known "tough-to-govern" county.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wokou (Japanese pirates) often invaded Chinese coastal counties, and Jiading suffered greatly.
In April 1554, the pirates surrounded the whole county for days and nights, and all the Jiading people took up weapons and stood shoulder-to-shoulder to defend their home.
One night, the pirates pretended to attack the east, south and the north gates, while their real purpose was to move quietly and stage a sudden attack on the west gate.
At that time, most people were asleep but a young boy happened to discover the situation when he went to the toilet and alerted the people. They defeated the enemy and the area became safe - but the boy was killed by pirates.
Since that time, that brave young boy has become a well-known hero in Jiading for generations.
In May 1935, Jiading people donated money to build a monument to the boy who warned of the Japanese pirate attack in the Ming Dynasty - to express their solidarity against the Japanese.
Today, in Bole Plaza in the center of Jiading, there stands a stone sculpture of the boy. He is a symbol of Jiading people's bravery and will live forever in people's hearts.
(Translated by Pan Zheng)
I cannot agree with this comment despite his fame.
Jiading District belongs to the southern area and enjoys a splendid culture. However, Jiading people are anything but cowards.
Perhaps because Jiading was far from the political center in ancient China, it used to be a well-known "tough-to-govern" county.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wokou (Japanese pirates) often invaded Chinese coastal counties, and Jiading suffered greatly.
In April 1554, the pirates surrounded the whole county for days and nights, and all the Jiading people took up weapons and stood shoulder-to-shoulder to defend their home.
One night, the pirates pretended to attack the east, south and the north gates, while their real purpose was to move quietly and stage a sudden attack on the west gate.
At that time, most people were asleep but a young boy happened to discover the situation when he went to the toilet and alerted the people. They defeated the enemy and the area became safe - but the boy was killed by pirates.
Since that time, that brave young boy has become a well-known hero in Jiading for generations.
In May 1935, Jiading people donated money to build a monument to the boy who warned of the Japanese pirate attack in the Ming Dynasty - to express their solidarity against the Japanese.
Today, in Bole Plaza in the center of Jiading, there stands a stone sculpture of the boy. He is a symbol of Jiading people's bravery and will live forever in people's hearts.
(Translated by Pan Zheng)
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
