The Broadsword March: A battle song forged in resistance

In our series “Art Amid the Flames,” we explore how Chinese artists, scholars, and institutions kept culture and creativity alive during the War of Resistance. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, when rifles were scarce and defeat seemed certain, a group of Chinese soldiers reached for an ancient weapon — the broadsword — and forged a legacy far greater than the blade itself. This is the story behind “The Broadsword March,” a wartime anthem that has inspired generations.