At the end of May 2024, David Hankin, Steven Hankin, and Moriah LeFebvre took a long flight from the United States to China, bringing the precious artifacts and historical materials related to the Nanjing Massacre. They are the descendants of Charles Riggs (Chinese name: Lin Chali), a member of the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone. In Nanjing, they met with Charles Riggs's great-grandson Chris Hankin (Chinese name: Lin Kui), an international student at Nanjing University, and embarked on an extraordinary journey.
Donating Historical Artifacts: On May 27, Charles Riggs's descendants donated 8 sets of precious artifacts and historical materials to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. The donated items included a Blue Jade Medal, and this donation marked the first time the Memorial Hall had collected the medal. “The Memorial Hall is the best place to keep it, so that more people can learn about the history. It’s just exactly what Charles Riggs would want.”
Exploring Nanjing: During their five days in Nanjing, they visited the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, Nanjing University, Nanjing Normal University, and John Rabe-Former Residence. “People like Charles Riggs and Minnie Vautrin stood up during that time to help protect Chinese refugees, and the Chinese people have always been grateful to them.”
Reconnecting: A Chinese nursery song humming at the beginning of a short film created by Moriah, the stone camels at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum looking just the same as in the old photo, and the southern magnolia flowers representing endless vitality at Nanjing Normal University... Many corners of the city of Nanjing bear the imprints of the Charles Riggs family. “Following the old objects, we came to Nanjing. This time, we learned more about Charles Riggs and forged new connections.”
“The stories of China-U.S. relations are written by our peoples. The future of China-U.S. relations will be created by our peoples.”
From 1916 to 2024, a span of 108 years, the four generations of the Charles Riggs family maintain such profound connections with China, across the Pacific Ocean and without interruption. As time passes by, history is still alive. Connect and continue. Continue and reconnect.
2024年5月末，南京安全区国际委员会委员查尔斯·里格斯（中文名：林查理）的外孙大卫·汉金、外孙斯蒂文·汉金和曾外孙女莫里亚·勒费弗尔，从美国出发，飞越浩瀚的太平洋，顺利抵达南京。他们带来了有关南京大屠杀史实的珍贵文物资料，与林查理的曾外孙、南京大学留学生克里斯·汉金（中文名：林奎）见面，开启一段不同寻常的中国之旅。
捐赠史料。5月27日，林查理后人将8件（套）珍贵文物捐赠给侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆，其中包括一枚白色红蓝镶采玉勋章，此次是采玉勋章首次捐赠南京。“将它放在中国的纪念馆，能让更多人知晓历史，这应该也是林查理想要看到的。”
寻访南京。在南京的这5天，他们寻访了侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆、南京大学、南京师范大学和拉贝故居等地。“那时，曾外祖父、魏特琳那群人，他们伸出援手，保护了那么多的中国难民，而对他们，中国人民也从未停止过感恩。”
再度联结。自创短片开头的中文儿歌哼唱、明孝陵石骆驼一如照片上模样、南京师范大学的广玉兰花生生不息……这座城市的许多角落都有林查理家族故事的印记。“循着以前的物件，我们来到这里。我们重新看见了林查理，也重新达成了新的联结。”
“中美关系的故事由人民书写。中美关系的未来也必将由两国人民共同创造。”
从1916年到2024年，108年间，林查理家族四代人隔着太平洋，和一个遥远的国家不曾间断地延续着深刻的联结。时间在走，历史从未远去，在联结中延续，在延续中再度联结。
出品Publisher / 顾雷鸣Gu Leiming
监制Chief supervisors / 沈峥嵘Shen Zhengrong 朱威Zhu Wei
