Living memories

At the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang county, relics of war told their own stories. Among them was a single bugle resting in a glass case — not just an instrument, but a vow: teenagers younger than 16 once played it, knowing hundreds of calls, but one — the call to retreat. That silence said more than any sound — it was a pledge to fight to the last drop of blood for the nation's dignity.

The exhibits spoke without words. Faces, names, and memories filled the hall. Listening to these stories, my eyes grew wet. I felt grateful to have made this trip, to see these memories preserved, and to watch visitors — young and old — come on their own to remember.

Across the Strait, however, memory is not always carved in stone. Too often it is written in sand, washed over by politics. In Taiwan, many are told it was Japan that brought modernization through railways and irrigation, while the massacres and humiliation inflicted by Japanese troops are brushed aside.

History cannot live in textbooks alone. It must be made tangible — through memorial halls, stage plays, documentaries, and even digital exhibitions. Only then can young people truly feel the courage and sacrifice of those who came before and carry their lessons forward.

That belief inspired us to create the stage play Confession of Youth. Together, Gen Z performers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan reenacted stories of resistance. With a single drumbeat, we acted side by side, embodying loss and courage.

It was more than theater — it was a living memorial, a bridge connecting young hearts with history too often overlooked.

Standing on Shanxi's former battlefields, I felt history not only as memory, but as presence. Each site — the memorial hall, the battle positions, and the mountain passes — was like a bead on a thread, strung together by courage and sacrifice.

Taiwan was never absent from this history. For our generation, engaging with these stories is not just remembrance — it is a responsibility. It ensures that the spirit of unity and resilience continues to guide our shared future.

Written by Zheng Yaling, a Taiwan student.