Services commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre have once again been held across our city, on this, 13 December. While much of the attention fell on the Nanjing Massacre Memorial, people all over Nanjing have been paying their respects.
12月13日，南京大屠杀85周年纪念活动再次在全市举行。虽然南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆成为人们关注的焦点，但南京各地的人们都在悼念。
With 3,000 mourners present, the only sound to be heard above the Memorial square in the moments leading up to the start of this morning’s ceremony was the slight flutter of the Chinese flag flying at half mast in the gentle breeze.
今天上午仪式开始前，有 3000 名哀悼者在场，纪念广场上空唯一能听到的声音是中国国旗在微风中降半旗的轻微飘扬声。
In contrast with the COVID era of 2020 and 2021, this year’s Memorial was a masks-on affair. During the previous two ceremonies, attendees were to wear masks until just before proceedings got under way.
与 2020 年和 2021 年的新冠疫情时代相比，今年的纪念活动是一场戴着口罩的活动。在前两次仪式中，参加者必须戴口罩，直到仪式开始前。
Each year, a number of survivors of the Nanjing Massacre are also present at the ceremony. This year, front and centre, were five of those who had endured the events in Nanjing which commenced 85 years ago today.
每年都有一些南京大屠杀的幸存者出席仪式。今年，最前面和最中间的，是 85 年前的今天发生在南京的事件的 5 人。
Nanjing first recorded the number of survivors of the Massacre in 1987. That number was then 1,756. With the passage of time, the number of these historical witnesses has dwindled year by year. It stands today at just 54, with seven more having departed us in 2022.
南京首次记录大屠杀幸存者人数是在1987年，当时的数字是1756人。随着时间的流逝，这些历史见证者的数量逐年减少。如今，该公司仅剩 54 名，还有 7 名将在 2022 年离开我们。
On a wall inside the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, each survivor’s photo is illuminated. Its lamp goes out with the passing of each.
南京大屠杀纪念馆内的墙上挂着每位幸存者的照片。当每个人经过时，它的灯就会熄灭。
Also present today, healthcare workers and various representatives of the medical profession, by way of acknowledgment for their efforts in the fight against COVID.
今天出席的还有医护人员和医学界的各种代表，以感谢他们在抗击新冠肺炎疫情方面所做的努力。
As 10:00 came and went, there followed the sounding of the city’s air-raid sirens, the assembled bowing heads in observance of a minute of silence, the singing of the national anthem and a lengthy address by Cai Qi, the central government’s representative for this year’s Memorial.
10:00过去了，全市防空警报拉响，大家低头默哀一分钟，奏国歌，中央政府代表蔡奇发表长篇讲话。
A native of Fujian Province, Cai is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group.
蔡先生，福建人，现任中共中央政治局常委、中央书记处书记，2022年北京冬奥会、冬残奥会组委会主席、党组书记。
Outside, all over Nanjing, people stopped their daily routine to pause for 1 minute’s silence. Traffic police stood, heads bowed, in front of columns of vehicles, as drivers emerged to follow suit.
外面，南京各地的人们停止了日常生活，默哀一分钟。交警低着头站在一排排车辆前，司机们也纷纷效仿。
Services of respect were also held in places such as John Rabe’s former residence, that of he who established, with others, the Nanking Safety Zone. The approximate size of Central Park in New York, the Zone is credited with saving 200,000 lives.
约翰·拉贝的故居等地也举行了纪念仪式，他与其他人一起建立了南京安全区。该区域的面积与纽约中央公园相当，被誉为拯救了 20 万人的生命。
As the Peace Bell rang out to bring to a close this year’s Memorial, the key takeaway must surely be the increasing importance of remembering the tragedy of 1937. With evidence of the atrocities ever-more scarce, together with those who witnessed such, so history need be forever preserved, in order that we learn from it, rather than become a part of it.
当和平钟声敲响，今年的纪念活动结束时，最重要的一点肯定是记住 1937 年的悲剧变得越来越重要。由于暴行的证据越来越少，目睹者也越来越少，因此历史需要永远保存，以便我们从中吸取教训，而不是成为其中的一部分。
