History teachers from primary and high schools in China, Japan and South Korea agree that a history education should be based on the ideal of peace. And they believe contemporary modern history education should be carried out from the macro perspective of East Asian history.
Teachers from the three Asian powers came to the consensus during an experience exchange meeting recently held in Beijing.
Dan Dan brings us more.
 Reporter:
The conference aims to promote the establishment of a friendly and peaceful relationship among the three countries.
In addition to being geographical neighbors, China, Japan and South Korea also have close relations in terms of history and culture.
However, the invasive wars initiated by the Japanese Militarist Movement during the 19th and 20th centuries severely destroyed the safety, sovereignty and territorial integrity of many Asian countries, including China and South Korea.
The atrocity of the Japanese militarists brought about a destructive influence on the economy and culture of many Asian countries.
And now, over six decades after Japan’s war efforts failed, Japan’s Right-Wing forces continue to deny and twist their history by any means possible. They have tried to reverse the truth of their country’s invasive war campaign.
Mayumi Tomita is a history teacher in Japan. She believes the frequent visits of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Yasukuni Shrine have the potential to mislead young people.
“I wish that students can get all of the truth from our educational system. We should not cover up any historical facts from them. What’s more, we should explore a path for students to live in harmony together with other Asians.”
Another history teacher, Xie Qun from Beijing believes that, with respect to history, teachers should also pass on the goal common to all human beings—peaceful development for future generations.
“We feel it’s necessary to open our hearts and face up to history. We should present the facts to our students and let them make observations or judgments on their own. I believe it’s the common wish of all teachers throughout the world that youth can work in the pursuit of peaceful development.”
Meanwhile, Bae Neung-Jae from Korea notes that twisting history around remains a manifestation of hegemony and militarism.
“Viewing history from the unilateral perspective of a country itself will only cause more conflicts among other countries. During the past century, we have already suffered a lot. Hence, we should make our children observe the truth as well as justice.”
Last year, over 40 historians from China, South Korea and Japan jointly composed the book “A History of Modern and Contemporary East Asia”. Charactered with its objective views, it is widely acclaimed by history teachers and scholars from the three countries.
In the meantime, as the attendees of the meeting say, the history of the region was not always dark.
In actuality, the three powers once cherished each other’s traditions like friendly exchanges. Hence, the teachers say, that period of tragic history should serve as a mirror for the present. While meditating on modern history, they say, we should also inherit the older traditions that tied the cultural aspirations of all three countries together in their more remote pasts.
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Director: Liu Chi