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and World War II,” Pan says, add-
ing that many students have a dif-
ferent feeling for the school after
learning more about what hap-
pened in the past.
Li Zirui, a student of the school,
says he finds it disturbing after
learning the history of the school
building.
“Learning that the Japanese
authorities made decisions that
caused deaths in massive numbers
and the exploitation of people in
Northeast China in history class, I
feel quite disturbed. It’s strange to
think the place where we study was
once used to control and exploit
people here,” he says.
Archived photo of the building during its use as a government facility
Ar chived photo o f the building during its use as a go vernment facilit y
in the Manchukuo era.
in the Manchukuo er a. Another student Zhang Shi-
jia shares, he feels different when
to Northeast Normal University in experiences during the Japanese walking around the campus after
1958. occupation, but it is important learning the history of the build-
“The Japanese left behind a very to teach the young generation to ing.
sturdy building with a strong foun- learn from history.
ow
uilding N
A Historical B
A Historical Building Now dation,” Pan says, adding that the tell students what happened at the “New when I walk through the
“ History teachers at the school
original two-storey structure was
expanded into a five-storey teach- school building at different times hallways, I feel grateful that I can
study in this school. I am lucky that
Inspiring Future Generations
Inspiring F uture G enerations ing building in 1994 due to an in- such as the Japanese occupation I was born after the war. Thanks to
crease in student number.
“The first and second floors
Once the agricultural command center for Japan’s puppet state, a Changchun building now were preserved in their own origi-
educates 3000 students, transforming a site of exploitation into a place of educating and nal shape featuring Japanese archi-
reflection. tectural style,”he says.
A native of Northeast China,

By Jennifer Liu Wenqi Pan finds it painful to revisit this
period of Chinese history.
building which Japa- mal University for 3,000 students. “Once a site of a Japanese pup- “It hurts me to remember how
nese once used to control The Japanese had successfully pet state where decisions were my hometown was invaded. As
N
A ortheast China has now detached Manchuria from the rest made to exploit the people in a teacher, I hope students learn
become a garden of knowledge for of China, creating the puppet state Northeast China. Now it is a cam- from history and work hard to find
students. of Manchukuo under the deposed pus for grooming young minds,” a good job and serve the country
This building with the size of Qing emperor Pu Yi from 1932 to Zhen says. when they grow up,” he says.
37,000 square meters in central 1945. The Japanese Kwantung Army Pan thinks the heritage build-
Changchun used to be the Agri- Assistant principal of the built this building in 1936. In 1948, ing is a silent history teacher for
culture Ministry of Manchukuo. school, Pan Zhen, finds it mean- the structure was taken over by all teaching staff and students.
It is now the campus of the High ingful to work in a place with such Northeastern University and later Pan says the older generation
ttached to
ommand center is no
w the campus o
f the High School A
The f
ormer agricultur
al c
School Attached to Northeast Nor- a history. became the High School Attached finds it painful to recall terrible The former agricultural command center is now the campus of the High School Attached to
y
.
Nor
Northeast Normal University.
sit
theast Normal Univer