China's WWII Women Guerrilla

by Judy Liang

When discussing the Second Sino-Japanese War, the narrative often centers on the male-dominated leaders and their militaries and leaders such as Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong. However, an often-overlooked part of history is the countless fearless and courageous Chinese female fighters who resisted Japanese aggression from 1937 to 1945. Known as the Women’s Army or Women’s Guerrilla, these self-organized female groups significantly contributed to China’s victory. As war ensued in base areas or enemy-occupied zones, women across China stepped forward to fight just as men did. Women’s guerrilla units emerged in regions such as Guangxi, Hunan, Changning, Luchuan, Hengxian, Beilu, Yulin, Bobai, and many other areas. They were able to organize self-defense units, protect the rearguard, and fight on the battlefield, bravely navigating through bullets and gunfire. ​

At the time, women held extremely low status and were oppressed since childhood under China’s patriarchal society shaped by Confucian teachings. With the establishment of a Women’s Army, women saw hope for empowerment and liberation—not only from the Japanese but also from traditional gender roles. Countless poor women, concubines, child brides, and laborers all came together with a single purpose: to join the Red Army and fight for the liberation of China and all women. These women symbolically cut off their long braids, removed their jewelry, and donned military uniforms with armbands bearing the characters “Red Army”. Many under the age of 20 took up dangerous weapons and stood as a symbol of women’s bravery. However, female soldiers were rare, causing many male units to initially underestimate their capabilities and doubt their readiness. 
One notable fight fought by the women guerrillas of Guangxi occurred in November 1939 when female students and soldiers fought on the front lines against Japanese armies entering Nanning. These women organized mass retreats, sabotaged highways, and rescued the wounded. Additionally, the Provincial New Movement Women's Committee of Nanning, a gender equality group founded in 1925, organized wartime task forces and service teams to rescue wounded soldiers. In total, these women rescued more than 10,600 wounded soldiers and 472 children from the war zone. In Liuzhou, approximately 255 kilometers from Nanning, the service teams also known as the Women's Wartime Service Teams (妇女战时服务队) helped roughly 8,400 wounded soldiers. 

This black-and-white historical photograph depicts a female soldier or guerrilla fighter aiming a bolt-action rifle while positioned behind a dirt embankment. Maximietteita, 7 July 2015, https://maximietteita.blogspot.com/2015/07/germany-china-ww-ii.html.

Another prominent contribution from the Guangxi women guerrillas was during the Battle of Kunlun Pass. On the front lines, female student soldiers cooperated with anti-Japanese aggression groups to distribute anti-enemy propaganda and encourage war efforts. They served as translators for the thousands of troops traveling from southern Guangxi to the northern province of Guinan, mediated civilian disputes, and ensured the delivery of supplies. To slow Japanese advances, many female student soldiers also destroyed roads and bridges while also transporting supplies, digging trenches, building fortifications, and rescuing Chinese soldiers. 

Ultimately, the efforts of China’s Women Guerrilla helped China triumph over the Japanese, proving their major role in the war. Women all across the nation participated in similar efforts, contributing to road sabotage, transportation, logistical support, nursing, and more. Their involvement challenged traditional gender roles and filial piety, breaking barriers and demonstrating that women were integral to the war effort and the nation’s future. In the years following the war, their actions helped lay the foundation for the greater advocacy of gender equality.

Work Cited： 
“八桂女子多奇志 英勇抗日的广西女学生军 .” Sohu , ilishi , 9 July 2015, www.sohu.com/a/22009514_105641. 
“二战中最最疯狂最好战的群体，日本娘子军！.” 抗日戰争紀念網, 历史讲坛, 5 Dec. 2014, www.krzzjn.com/show-645-5827.html. 
“World War II in China.” Wikivoyage, 27 Oct. 2024, en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/World_War_II_in_China.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Second Sino-Japanese War". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Dec. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War. Accessed 19 January 2025.
Bettmann. (1938, January 1). 1938-Hunan, China: China’s girls as well as boys are infused with a new spirit of patriotism. Getty Images. Retrieved March 16, 2016, from https://www.gettyimages.fi/detail/uutiskuva/chinas-girls-as-well-as-boys-are-infused-with-a-new-spirit-uutiskuva/514695188?adppopup=true