n the cultural and creative space at the end hall of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, iconic symbols—the Purple-Gold Grass (February Violet), the dove of peace, and the Peace sculpture—are transformed into artistic and meaningful creations. These allow visitors to maintain a connection with history even after their tour ends—a place often described as “carrying peace back home.”
I. A Design Philosophy Centered on Peace
The Memorial Hall’s cultural and creative products revolve around the theme of “peace,” encompassing multiple series: Purple-Gold Grass, Dove of Peace, Memorial Hall Architecture, and International Peace Posters. The overall design style is solemn, simple, and powerful—avoiding excessive commercialism while conveying historical memory and prayers for peace through thoughtful artistic expression.
The Memorial Hall’s official logo, unveiled on the National Memorial Day in 2017, combines elements such as city wall bricks and Purple-Gold Grass petals, serving as a key visual foundation for the creative designs. The 30-meter-tall “Peace Goddess” sculpture in Peace Park—a white marble figure of a mother holding an infant and a dove of peace—has become a recurring core visual motif on products such as fridge magnets and postcards.
II. Iconic Symbols: Purple-Gold Grass, Dove of Peace, and Memorial Hall Motifs
Purple-Gold Grass (February Violet) is the Memorial Hall’s most representative cultural symbol. Behind this small purple flower lies a special history—in 1939, a Japanese factory director at a military medical supplies plant collected flower seeds at the foot of Purple Mountain and brought them back to Japan, naming them “Purple-Gold Grass.” Since then, it has become a symbol of peace. Its floral language is “Never forget history, cherish peace,” embodying the wish for “China at peace, the world at peace.”
Cultural products inspired by Purple-Gold Grass span multiple categories:
-
Badges and Keychains: Metal Purple-Gold Grass badges with petals slightly folded to create a three-dimensional effect; spherical and petal-shaped keychains that are both adorable and practical.
-
Notebooks and Washi Tape: Soft-cover notebooks featuring the Memorial Hall logo, city wall bricks, or Purple-Gold Grass on their covers, along with multiple designs of artistic washi tape.
-
Lifestyle Items: Transparent umbrellas printed with colorful Purple-Gold Grass and doves of peace, Purple-Gold Grass mugs, and more.
-
Handcrafted Dried Flower Accessories: Natural February Violets dried and framed with glass and tin welding techniques, creating unique decorative pieces.
The Dove of Peace and the Peace Sculpture are also frequently used design elements. Acrylic puzzle fridge magnets combine Purple-Gold Grass, doves of peace, and the letter “V” (symbolizing victory) into three freely combinable products. Quicksand fridge magnets feature doves of peace circling above the Peace sculpture, with sand gently cascading when shaken—creating a tranquil, serene atmosphere.
III. Signature Products: Memory Bearers of Aesthetic and Depth
Beyond the regular categories, the Memorial Hall has launched a series of thoughtfully designed specialty items:
-
“Sowing Peace” Series: Postcards come with February Violet seed cards, symbolizing hope and renewal; origami sets include paper printed with doves of peace and Purple-Gold Grass patterns, with instructions for folding a dove ready to take flight.
-
Iris Revolving Mug: The outer cup features iris flowers—a flower beloved by the late Iris Chang—while the inner cup is engraved with her original words. As you gently turn the cup, the words slowly appear among the flowers, reminding us that history must be continuously seen and remembered.
-
Victory-Themed Mugs: Featuring precious front-page reproductions from August 15, 1945, of newspapers including Ta Kung Pao, Xinhua Daily, and Jiefang Daily—headlines announcing “Japan Surrenders”—reconstructed faithfully from historical sources, bearing the glory of victory on the cup.
-
Peace Seed Plush Toys: At the “Peace Station” in Peace Park, round and adorable “Peace Seed” plush toys quietly await visitors. The Purple-Gold Grass origami has been designated as a permanent collection item at the Memorial Hall, and was featured as the first-round challenge at the International Origami Olympiad, with instructional videos reaching hundreds of millions of views globally.
IV. Practical Information
-
Purchase Locations: Cultural and creative space at the Memorial Hall’s end hall; “Peace Station” in Peace Park.
-
Representative Products: Purple-Gold Grass badges, quicksand fridge magnets, Iris revolving mugs, postcards (with seed cards), origami sets, canvas bags, and more.
-
Price Range: Small items such as postcards and origami sets: approximately 20–50 RMB; fridge magnets and badges: approximately 30–80 RMB; lifestyle items: approximately 50–200 RMB.
The Memorial Hall’s cultural and creative products—like the Purple-Gold Grass that emerged from the ashes of war—transform the weight of history into gentle reminders, weaving the prayer of “remembering history and cherishing peace” into the fabric of everyday life. They are not mere souvenirs, but portable tokens of peace that can be carried with you wherever you go.
