When Two Dragons Fight: China and Japan at War in the Twentieth Century

Module code: HS3689

The Anti-Japanese War of Resistance, as World War II in China is known, was one of the most devastating conflicts of the 20th century. In China alone, an estimated 20 to 30 million people lost their lives, between 20 and 100 million were displaced by the war, and it formed the conditions for the triumph of the Communist Revolution.

This module will explore the history and impact of the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance, and trace the developing relations between China and Japan. Beginning with how the history of their interactions has shaped East Asia, it will then explore how Japanese colonialism emerged and led to the invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and then the rest of China six years later.

You’ll then study the impact of the war on both Chinese and Japanese politics, society and culture, before concluding with how the conflict has been remembered and continues to shape Sino-Japanese relations today.