Tragedy of 'comfort women'

Wei Shaolan (left) picks vegetables while her son, Luo Shanxue, smokes inside their home.

Wei Shaolan was born in Xipu county, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, in 1921.

In the winter of 1944, Wei, who was holding her infant daughter in her arms, was abducted by Japanese soldiers and forced to serve as a "comfort woman".

During her three months in an army camp, she was sexually abused and her daughter died.

Wei soon became pregnant again, escaped the camp and gave birth to a boy, Luo Shanxue, in the summer of 1945.

Luo is the first child to be publicly acknowledged as the offspring of a "comfort woman" and of a Japanese soldier.

 

Photos and stories provided by Chinese photographer, Chen Qinggang. All rights reserved.