Chen Min is a Professor in the German Department at Nanjing University, specializing in German literature and translation studies. Couple of days ago, she led an exhibition at the China Cultural Center in Nepal titled “My Nanjing: A River of Memory Flowing through Us toward the Sea of the Future.” Featuring more than 70 precious historical photographs, this exhibition presented the remarkable acts of courage and compassion shown by international friends who stepped forward to protect lives during the darkest days of the Nanjing Massacre.

The images recorded not only individual choices, but also the universal values of humanity, kindness, and courage. The exhibition also highlighted the dedicated efforts of the faculty and students of Nanjing University in peace studies, peace education, peace initiatives, and particularly the development of Peace Cities. Against this backdrop, Prof. Chen Min sat down for an interview with our correspondent. Here’s the excerpt;

How did the Nepali public respond to the exhibition? And who is John Rabe?

The exhibition was well received in Nepal. We found that people there did not know much about Nanjing or its history. But after visiting the exhibition—especially during the discussion sessions—they began to gain a deeper understanding. They also came to appreciate why we choose to remember this history and why we never forget the international friends who extended their helping hands to us.

John Rabe was a German businessman who lived and worked in China for thirty years. When the Nanjing Massacre happened, he made a deliberate choice: he returned to Nanjing from Beidaihe, because he felt a deep bond with his Chinese employees and could not bear to abandon them. He came back, stood with the people of Nanjing, and was elected leader of the Nanjing Safety Zone. During the darkest hours, he led a group of international friends to set up the safety zone, protecting some 250,000 people’s lives. In his own building alone, he sheltered 602 people. After he returned to Germany, he fell on hard times. But the people of Nanjing did not forget him. They went to great lengths to send him essentials like powdered milk via Switzerland.

Why is this work so significant ?

As a third-party observer—and given that Germany was allied with Japan at the time—John Rabe was able to document the atrocities with remarkable objectivity. His diaries reveal not only the horrors of war, but also his deep humanitarian spirit, his great love for life, and his longing for peace. At any time, young people can look to him as an example to learn from.

You’ve taken this exhibition to several European countries. Why did you choose Nepal this time?

Kathmandu is a sister city of Nanjing. We hoped that the people of Nepal would come to know this history, and at the same time, the coverage generated by the exhibition also helped Nanjing citizens learn more about Kathmandu. It served as a bridge that brought our sister cities closer together. The best way to exchange ideas is face to face—getting to know each other, understanding each other, and respecting each other. We also took part in the APPRA 2026 in Nagarkot, where we had the opportunity to engage with peace scholars, researchers, and practitioners not just from Nepal but from around the world. The exhibition also conveyed to them how young people today understand history and take action for peace—positioning the youth as inheritors of historical memory, narrators of peace, and carriers of the torch of friendship.

How do today’s young people view history ?

When it comes to this history, we can forgive, but we must never forget. History should never be erased. The most meaningful thing we can do is to remember it and pass it on—and to learn from it what truly matters. Peace is not only a theory; it must be put into action.

What are your core priorities for this year? And what is the practical significance of this work ?

Nepal was the first stop on this year’s “My Nanjing” exhibition tour. In September, we will head to Seoul, Busan, and Daejeon in South Korea, and possibly to the United States in December. After that, we will also hold summary events back home in China. In today’s complex international landscape, we see ourselves as a youth team acting as a bond of friendship. The young are the future, and the future belongs to the young. By bringing this exhibition to different parts of the world, we hope to build bridges of friendship, foster mutual understanding among young people from different countries, and show the role that Chinese youth play in advancing peace.

What led you to work in this specific aspect ?

The former residence of John Rabe actually sits right next to the dormitory where I lived as an undergraduate. The earliest Chinese translation of The Diaries of John Rabe was done by my graduate supervisor—it is perhaps the greatest contribution our field has made to the research and documentation of the Nanjing Massacre. About fifteen years ago, I got to know Professor Liu Cheng, who holds the UNESCO Chair on Peace Studies, and also Professor Egon Spiegel from Germany. Through our exchanges, I became more familiar with peace education and the development of peace cities. Gradually, I realized that this area could be closely connected with my own research on the reception and impact of The Diaries of John Rabe. So in 2021, I started this work. We formed a team called The Diaries of John Rabe and the City of Peace, studied how The Diaries of John Rabe was received in Germany-speaking countries, and maintained close communication and support with the UNESCO Chair on Peace Studies. I came to see that we could promote the research of the international city of peace and the broader cause of peace not only within China but also internationally, through a variety of formats and platforms.