The monographic exhibition of "Macao during the Sino-Japanese War" organized by the Museum of Macao, a division of the Cultural Institute of the Macau SAR and co-organized by the Museum of the Anti-Japanese War of Chinese People and the Association of Macao Modern Culture and History, is an exhibition carrying precious historical value, distinctive political standpoints and important academic significance.

70 years ago, Chinese compatriots in Macao and people of the whole country, proceeded with a great national war to fight against the Japanese imperialist aggression. Early in 1931 when Japanese warlords instigated the "Mukden Incident" to arrogate three eastern provinces, compatriots in Macao began to support in spirit as well as by material means activities opposing Japanese aggression. A full-scale fight against Japanese aggression was started after the explosion of the "Marco Polo Bridge Incident" on July 7th, 1937. All circles in Macao established successively many patriotic societies, such as the "Macao Four Circles for Disaster Relief Association" and the "Home Country Service Regiment" to resist Japanese aggression. They made use of the peculiar environment and position of Macao to unite patriotic strengths in every stratum of Macao to participate in the work in resisting Japanese aggression and saving the country.

The support of the compatriots in Macao for the motherland in the fight against Japanese aggression could be divided into two phases in general. The first phase was raising anti-aggression funds, organizing campaigns opposing Japanese aggression, mobilizing the public, providing relief to refugees and sending support to front-line soldiers. The second phase was the organization of patriotic young people to return to the country to serve and to take part in any battles. Altogether, 11 teams of over 160 young men and women were gathered and sent to Xie Jiang, Dong Jiang, Bei Jiang, the Pearl River Delta as well as in Guangdong Province to take part in rescues from the battlefields. There were cooperation stations of soldiers and civilians, and provisions of entertainment to anti-Japan troops. Some young people from Macao even took part in front-line combat, with some of them giving their lives.

The exhibition of "Macao during the Sino-Japanese War" comprises an ample content as well as pictures and is a complete display of the contribution of people in Macao to their motherland during the war. It reflects the patriotic resistance of the Macao people against foreign aggression since the Opium War and their glorious tradition of having ardent love for the motherland. At the same time it introduces through images the general situation of the city of Macao, its economy, people's livelihood, culture and education during the war. It is a precious teaching classroom for comprehensive social research on Macao during the 1930s and 1940s, especially in the educational area where children can learn something of the exhibition by playing interactive games. We further hope that historians and scholars within the field of social science studies in Macao can proceed to a further in-depth research on Macao during the Sino-Japanese War and to open up new areas of research in the study of Macao¦s history.

Do come to visit our Exhibition in the Museum of Macao!