Xiang Zhejun
Encyclopedia
Xiang Zhejun native of Ningxiang
county in Hunan
province. Chinese
jurist and prosecutor
at International Military Tribunal for the Far East
.
for further studies and enrolled at Yale University
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in American and English Literature. He later transferred to the George Washington University Law School, where he studied international law
and obtained his JD
. After his return to China in 1925, Xiang Zhejun taught law at a number of schools, including Peking University
and Beijing Jiaotong University
. After the establishment of the Nationalist Government in 1927, Xiang held a number of positions in several government bureaus, including the ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs.
in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East
, in preparation for which he vigorously collected oral and material evidence. Instead of prosecuting Japanese war crimes
dating from the outbreak of hostilities in July 1937, Xiang also managed to persuade the court to prosecute Japanese wars crimes dating back to the Huanggutun Incident
in 1928, when the Kanto Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin
. During the trial, Xiang Zhejun become known for confronting defendants such as Iwane Matsui
, Itagaki Seishiro and Doihara Kenji
with evidence establishing their guilt of war crimes. Among other things Xiang established the guilt of Iwane, who was confronted with evidence of the atrocities, including Harold John Timperley
's reports in the Manchester Guardian.
However, following the political directives of Chiang Kai-shek
, Xiang did not investigate crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army
in Communist based areas such as the "Three Alls Policy
". Thus, military like Yasuji Okamura
were not prosecuted before the Tokyo tribunal. He also let down evidence about the use of chemical weapons authorized by the Imperial General Headquarters
.
instead. He remained on the mainland after the establishment of the People's Republic of China
. Even though Xiang had already retired when the Cultural Revolution
erupted in 1965, he became a target for political persecution. He died in Shanghai
in 1987 at the age of 91.
Ningxiang
-Archeology:In 2004, a Chinese team excavated ruins from the Western Zhou period at Tanheli. The findings were of a city site that included two large yellow earth artificial building sites and two even larger sites that may have been palace dwellings. Remnants of moats were found both inside and...
county in Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
province. Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
jurist and prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
at International Military Tribunal for the Far East
International Military Tribunal for the Far East
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East , also known as the Tokyo Trials, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, or simply the Tribunal, was convened on April 29, 1946, to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for three types of crimes: "Class A" crimes were reserved for those who...
.
Education and early career
After graduating from Tsinghua in 1917, Xiang went to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for further studies and enrolled at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in American and English Literature. He later transferred to the George Washington University Law School, where he studied international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and obtained his JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. After his return to China in 1925, Xiang Zhejun taught law at a number of schools, including Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
and Beijing Jiaotong University
Beijing Jiaotong University
Beijing Jiaotong university is one of the oldest universities in Mainland China.-History:It is a component of Jiaotong University....
. After the establishment of the Nationalist Government in 1927, Xiang held a number of positions in several government bureaus, including the ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs.
Tokyo Trial
In January 1946, Xiang was appointed the prosecutor for the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East
International Military Tribunal for the Far East
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East , also known as the Tokyo Trials, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, or simply the Tribunal, was convened on April 29, 1946, to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for three types of crimes: "Class A" crimes were reserved for those who...
, in preparation for which he vigorously collected oral and material evidence. Instead of prosecuting Japanese war crimes
Japanese war crimes
Japanese war crimes occurred during the period of Japanese imperialism, primarily during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Some of the incidents have also been described as an Asian Holocaust and Japanese war atrocities...
dating from the outbreak of hostilities in July 1937, Xiang also managed to persuade the court to prosecute Japanese wars crimes dating back to the Huanggutun Incident
Huanggutun Incident
Huanggutun Incident was an assassination plotted by the Japanese Kwantung Army that targeted Fengtian warlord Zhang Zuolin. It took place on June 4, 1928 at Huanggutun rail station near Shenyang in which Zhang's train was destroyed by an explosion...
in 1928, when the Kanto Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin
Zhang Zuolin
Zhang Zuolin was the warlord of Manchuria from 1916 to 1928 . He successfully invaded China proper in October 1924 in the Second Zhili-Fengtian War. He gained control of Peking, including China's internationally recognized government, in April 1926...
. During the trial, Xiang Zhejun become known for confronting defendants such as Iwane Matsui
Iwane Matsui
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and the commander of the expeditionary forces sent to China in World War II. He was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East for responsibility over the Nanking Massacre.-Early life...
, Itagaki Seishiro and Doihara Kenji
Kenji Doihara
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. He was instrumental in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria for which he earned fame taking the nickname 'Lawrence of Manchuria', a reference to the Lawrence of Arabia....
with evidence establishing their guilt of war crimes. Among other things Xiang established the guilt of Iwane, who was confronted with evidence of the atrocities, including Harold John Timperley
Harold John Timperley
Harold John Timperley was an Australian journalist, known for his reporting from China in the 1930s, and the book What War Means based on it....
's reports in the Manchester Guardian.
However, following the political directives of Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, Xiang did not investigate crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in Communist based areas such as the "Three Alls Policy
Three Alls Policy
The Three Alls Policy was a Japanese scorched earth policy adopted in China during World War II, the three alls being: "Kill All", "Burn All" and "Loot All" . In Japanese documents, the policy was originally referred to as...
". Thus, military like Yasuji Okamura
Yasuji Okamura
- Notes :...
were not prosecuted before the Tokyo tribunal. He also let down evidence about the use of chemical weapons authorized by the Imperial General Headquarters
Imperial General Headquarters
The as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime...
.
Later life
After his return to China, Xiang Zhejun refused Chiang Kai-shek's inivtation to serve as a prosecutor in the Supreme Court, but chose to teach at Shanghai College of Finance and EconomicsShanghai University of Finance and Economics
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics , founded in 1917, is a national university located in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. According to China's University and College Admission System, SUFE's economics program was ranked sixth in 2010, giving it an A+ rating.-History:The university...
instead. He remained on the mainland after the establishment of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Even though Xiang had already retired when the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
erupted in 1965, he became a target for political persecution. He died in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1987 at the age of 91.