ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the actual circumstances and background behind the Japanese war orphans’ gratitude and rejection of their Chinese foster parents.
First, the Japanese war orphans are depicted from the perspectives of the three following Chinese foster parents. Lijing Liao, who praised her foster daughter highly, saying, “She has not forgotten her debt of gratitude”. The two had a very good relationship. Shanhua Cao, who had high expectations for her foster son, but his physical and financial condition was poor, and he was unable to provide her with any substantial financial or other support, and Huiying Zhu, who had high expectations for her foster daughter, but her foster daughter's gratitude to her foster mother changed to rejection, and she refused contact for more than a decade. The two had a bad relationship.
Next, I introduce the building of a grave as a repayment of the debt of gratitude for Chinese foster parents, as seen from four Japanese war orphans.
As a final summary, I discuss the loss and comfort experienced by foster parents, the peculiarity and complexity of filial relationships, and filial memories set in stone in China.
