Abbot dismissed, officials punished as Japanese WWII criminals’ tablets found in a Nanjing temple

The abbot of Xuanzang Temple in Nanjing, capital of East China’s Jiangsu Province, was dismissed and several religious officials were punished following public outrage over the news that memorial tablets of Japanese war criminals were found in the temple, Nanjing authorities announced on Friday.

Chuanzhen, the abbot of the temple, was dismissed and the temple was required to stop daily operation. At least three officials from the religious departments were punished including the Xuanwu district ethnic and religious bureau chief in Nanjing.

A netizen claimed that the memorial tablets of at least four notorious Japanese war criminals, including Hisao Tani, a key perpetrator of the Nanjing Massacre during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), were found at Xuanzang Temple in Jiuhua Mountain Park in February.

The religious affairs bureau in Nanjing said on Friday that authorities will thoroughly investigate the incident hurting the feelings of the Chinese people.

The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders also responded on Friday, saying “we must never forget the grave crimes committed by the invaders. Chinese people’s feelings are not allowed to be hurt and we look forward to a thorough investigation.”

The religious affairs bureau of Xuanwu district in Nanjing said that they visited the temple with police on Thursday night immediately after receiving related report. The temple had removed the tablets after they were detected in February and the investigation will be conducted and results will be announced later, according to the bureau.