Pen troops and the invasion of China

Author: Wang Xiangyuan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The series attempts to examine and reflect on the Japanese invasion of China from a deep cultural perspective, combining historical analysis and theoretical research to study the various "cultural wars" implemented by Japanese right-wing scholars and cultural figures in collaboration with the Japanese invasion forces in China: ideological propaganda wars, academic intelligence wars, brainwashing education wars, news and public opinion wars, language and cultural wars, religious and cultural wars, literary and artistic wars, etc. The series reveals through a large amount of first-hand materials the cultural aggression that preceded and complemented military and economic aggression, which was actually Japan's "second battlefield" in the invasion of China. The purpose was to promote the "Imperialist Nationalist Concept" and to undermine the national consciousness and identity of the Chinese nation. Their various "cultural wars" in different cultural fields, as well as some specific practices in their arguments, planning, organization, and implementation, are not only shocking but also leave much to reflect upon. During the Japanese invasion of China, most Japanese "literators" actively "cooperated" with the war effort, forming a special force armed with pens—"pen troops." Some enlisted in the army and became part of the invasion forces, while others served as "military writers" and were sent to the front lines to cheerlead for the Japanese invasion war. Many more joined various militarist cultural and literary organizations, further fueling the invasion war. In the invasion literature they fabricated, some incited war fervor, portraying the war as a "holy war"; others blamed China for the war, making excuses for the invasion; some the brutality of the Japanese army, exaggerating the "cuteness" and "bravery" of the "Imperial Army"; others demonized the Chinese people, depicting them as ignorant and barbaric; some distorted the situation in the occupied areas, falsely claiming that the Chinese people and the "Imperial Army" were "friendly"; or intervened and infiltrated the literary circles in the occupied areas, imposing brainwashing education and deceptive propaganda on the local population. This book conducts an in-depth study and critique of Japan's "pen troops" and their invasion literature, serving as a systematically complete yet concise research work on the history of Japanese invasion literature. It provides important reference value and practical significance for understanding the little-known "pen troops" and their actions, for clarifying the relationship between Japanese literature and militarism, and for gaining a deeper understanding of the nature and harm of militarism.