During the Republic of China, warlords fought melee, Japanese invaded China, and people's livelihood declined. From 1928 to 1946 alone, several major famines occurred, including the Great Famine in Shandong in 1927, the Great Famine in Sichuan and Gansu in 1936, the Great Famine in Henan in 1942, and the Great Famine in Hunan in 1946. The area of disasters was wide and the number of victims was countless.
This group of photos is only a very small part of them. Let us look back on the darkest moments of that year, understand the sufferings experienced by the people at that time for survival, and better cherish the beautiful life now.
Shandong famine
1927 is a big cheap year for many places in Shandong. The southwestern Shandong region has experienced floods in spring and droughts in summer and autumn. The locusts attacked, which eventually led to a large-scale famine. The people in the disaster area fled their homes and came to Jinan by begging. This is a shed built by some victims on the open space outside the campus of Qilu University .
Go to the porridge field
The woman in the picture has gray hair, but her firm face makes people know at a glance that she is a person with a strong personality. However, facing the sudden famine, she was powerless and could only take the water scoop and take her daughter-in-law and grandson to the porridge cooking ground at Qilu University to receive free porridge soup.
Henan famine
1942, this disaster came again in Henan in chaos. On this vast land, severe droughts and locust plagues occurred continuously, and the inaction of the National Government of , , eventually led to the occurrence of a great famine. For a time, starvation was everywhere and mourning was everywhere. The picture shows an old lady with a few grandchildren resting on her way to fleeing famine. Their luggage is very simple, the most conspicuous thing is an iron pot. Food is the most important thing for people. Only with food can there be hope of survival.
processed food
A woman was preparing to use stone mortars to grind food. We really couldn't see what ingredients were placed in the small clay pot, which looked like some grass stems and grass roots. Her child lay beside the stone mortar, looking at the things in her mother's hands hopefully, hoping that she might have a full meal.
Hunan famine
1946, a tragic misfortune came to Hunan again. In order to satisfy their hunger, people dig grass roots, chew tree bark, and eat Guanyin soil . Nearly 100,000 people starved to death in just one place of Hengyang .
Young woman
This is a young woman who fled. She was injured in her leg while fleeing her home. Because she did not receive timely treatment, she caused large-scale ulceration and the wound was shocking.
Countless famines
or above are the three major famines that occurred during the Republic of China period. They were recorded intact by missionaries in Jinan, American journalists Harrison Forman and Arthur Rostein with cameras, so that future generations can understand the tragic situation at that time. However, there are more photos of the famine that we don't even know exactly where it happened. Below these pictures, a line of words is marked: "Hungry Chinese".
The family of suffering
Which famine victims are the photos? We don't know. What appeared before us was the hungry grandmother crawling on the ground because of her weakness, and her grandson and granddaughter sat listlessly beside her. Faced with all this, grandpa was powerless and could only rely on the low wall and was even unwilling to face the camera. Where is the child’s parents? Maybe I went to ask for something for food, maybe I was gone.
Two hungry people
This photo was published in a foreign magazine. The picture shows two victims suffering from famine. On the left is a young woman dressed in rags but looked pretty. The torture of hunger made her young and erect cane. On the right is a skinny old man, with his clothes and a bunch of knots on his body, and he has completely become a beggar.
On the road to escape from famine
Mother and son are walking on the difficult road to escape from famine. The young son carries a shoulder pole with all their belongings on it. The mother follows behind him, and she also has to breastfeed the baby in her arms. It is hard to imagine where their way is.
leave under someone else's fence
A man who escaped from famine lies in front of someone else's fence. His entire property is a iron pot , a rice bowl and a broken quilt, and his bed is covered with hay on the ground. From this picture, we feel more deeply what it means to "living under someone's roof".
Wilderness remains
Some people fell down while walking and never got up again. People are unable to bury more and more corpses, so they can only be discarded in the wilderness and let them chew into a skeleton.
Home of the victims
Some people choose to stay behind their homes. This is a village in famine. You can see the living environment of a villager. It is very dilapidated and the broken courtyard wall is at risk of collapse at any time. However, when there is no food to eat, who will still care about this.
Bloating belly
Two children in the picture took off their tops and were showing the photographer their bloated belly. This is a pathological condition caused by malnutrition and eating too much coarse food.
Hungry Children
This is a child in the Great Famine in Hengyang. His dry body also has a bloated belly. In the age of famine, children suffering from hunger can be seen everywhere.
father and son
a father and son in front of the loess mud house, the son has a healthy face, but the father has his ribs. From this we can read about the father's love for his son. He gave the child the food he could find at home first. The father would rather endure hunger.
Clothing is not covered
How poor were the people at that time? This picture is the best interpretation: it is not exaggerated to say that "the family is so poor that there is only a pair of pants". This is the case with the family in the picture. Because the second daughter is a blind man, she is obviously taken care of by the family and is dressed in a pretty complete manner. The eldest daughter and the younger daughter can only stand barely in the cold wind and tremble.
