Rediscovering a Chinese legend: The untold wartime tale of Dr Li Linsi

Relocating to Shanghai at the outbreak of the anti-Japanese war

Shanghai has been known for its unique status in China's resistance against Japan, and was widely recognized as the center of the anti-Japanese and salvation movement. The war of resistance brought Li to Shanghai, which became his home for the remainder of his life.

Before the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), Li was invited by his friend Jiang Baili, a noted Chinese military strategist, to contribute to his military works. After the war erupted in 1937, Li resigned from his post in the central government and took the advice from Jiang Baili to move his family from Nanjing to Shanghai to help him finish his works.

During this period, Li translated and researched a large number of Japanese and German military works. His research contributed greatly to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45). He did not place his name on any of his studies. That explains why his name is not as well-known as his friend, Jiang Baili, in the field of Chinese military education.

At the beginning of the war, Li co-founded the Shanghai Cultural Salvation Association – otherwise known as the Shanghai wenhua jie jiuwang xiehui – with revered educator Cai Yuanpei and other cultural celebrities in Shanghai. The organization was the most influential among all the anti-Japanese organizations at the time in China. The Shanghai Cultural Salvation Association played an important role in organizing the strengths of Chinese cultural elites, as well as motivating the masses to resist against Japanese invasion in the anti-Japanese and salvation movement.

As the co-founder of the organization, Li also engaged in international communication. He led the organization's International Communication Committee to campaign for support from people around the world, and helped the international community have a better understanding of Chinese people’s resistance against the Japanese aggression.