Behind a New York Times bestseller on the Nanjing Massacre

She did not witness the atrocities firsthand, yet she devoted her life to giving a voice to history.

In an exclusive CGTN interview, Iris Chang's mother, Ying-Ying Chang, remembers how she pored over survivor testimonies, examined historical archives and wrote The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II , bringing the once-silenced voices of the past to global attention.

Facing criticism, vilification and smear campaigns from Japanese right-wing groups, she remained committed to uncovering the truth through historical evidence and preserving collective memory through her words.

Iris Chang believed in the power of an individual to make a difference, emphasizing that history is not about perpetuating hatred but about protecting peace.