Moving Beyond Victim-Perpetrator Dichotomy: Revisiting Nanjing through a Trauma-informed and Healing-centered Approach

Abstract

The longstanding trauma rooted in historical events has posed a significant hindrance to the grassroots relationships between China and Japan. Perceiving trauma as an underlying cause of conflicts, this research emphasizes the urgent need to address and heal trauma to prevent potential future conflicts from escalating into violence. Integrating theories on conflict transformation, conflict reconciliation, and Daoist concept of “peace out of harmonization” with theories on trauma and healing, the author introduces the concept of peace out of healing within. It highlights the vital role of trauma healing as the foundation for pursuing peace that emanates internally and then extends outwardly. Given that raising trauma awareness is pivotal in moving beyond victim-perpetrator dichotomy, the author proposes a new endeavor called Revisiting Nanjing, employing a trauma-informed and healing-centered approach to facilitate this transformative process. Incorporating educational, arts-based therapeutic, and somatic methods, the endeavor seeks to engage postwar generations from both societies to recognize the impact of the historical trauma of the Nanjing Massacre across intellectual, emotional, and somatic dimensions. Ultimately, the goal of the endeavor is to empower participants to embark on a healing journey, not only addressing their intrahealing but also nurturing interhealing among all involved.