«Big swords slash at the invaders’ heads / The day of resistance has arrived.»

The roar of the «March of the Big Sword» holds our army’s most profound memory of equipment. In the early days of the War of Resistance, our military’s weapons and equipment were extremely scarce. Many squads even had «three soldiers sharing one rifle,» while the rest wielded big swords and spears, fighting desperately against overwhelming odds.

«Without rifles or artillery / The enemy makes them for us.»

The lyrics from the «Guerrilla Song» were not a lighthearted joke. During the War of Resistance, the Communist Party of China led the military and civilians in a total of 125,000 battles. The enemy «made» for us over 694,000 rifles and more than 1,800 artillery pieces. Our troops barely achieved the equipment foundation of «holding local and foreign guns, wielding big swords and spears,» accomplishing the feat of «defending our homeland» and «defending all of China.»

«Holding local and foreign guns / Wielding big swords and spears / Defending our homeland / Defending the Yellow River / Defending North China / Defending all of China.»

Military songs are the echoes of time. When we look back through these songs, we see not only the historical leap of our military’s equipment from resisting invasion to safeguarding peace but also the grand journey of a nation realizing its dream of a strong military and a strong China.

«Bearing the hopes of the nation / We are an invincible force.»

The 1949 founding ceremony parade was China’s first military parade. Most of the weapons and equipment on display were captured «mixed-brand» items, with scenes even of «horses dragging cannons» and «airplanes flying twice.» At that time, the majestic melody of the «March of the People’s Liberation Army» resounded across Tiananmen Square—this piece was later officially designated as the «Military Anthem of the People’s Liberation Army.»

«Sunset, red clouds fly / Soldiers return to camp after target practice.»

The transformation in our military’s equipment occurred during the 1954 parade. The weapons and equipment on display shifted from captured «mixed-brand» items to uniform models and calibers of imported or Soviet-style copied weapons. In the hard-won peaceful years, the lighthearted tune of «Returning from Target Practice» began to spread. It sang of the People’s Army’s calm daily training and the soldiers’ confidence in the standardization of equipment and the initial foundation of the defense industry.

«When the morning glow reddens the sea / Watch our warships set sail again.»

Amid the spring breeze of reform and opening up, the long sword was unsheathed. The popular military song «Night at the Military Port» embodied the people’s hopes for a strong national defense. In the 1984 parade, all weapons and equipment on display were «Made in China.» The naval missile formation, air force missile formation, and strategic missile formation drove past Chang’an Avenue, formally announcing to the world the real presence of China’s strategic deterrent force.

«Soldiers / Follow the Party’s command / Capable of winning battles / Excellent in conduct / Fearless of strong enemies, daring to fight / Decisive on the battlefield for the motherland.»

Without refined equipment, one cannot speak of military strength. Weapons and equipment are a crucial symbol of military modernization and an important foundation for «winning battles.» In the 2015 September 3rd parade, all weapons and equipment on display were domestically produced active-duty main battle gear, and the formations were organized for the first time according to operational systems. The informationized, systematic new-era military, through its songs, affirmed the bold vow of «certain victory in battle.»

Netizens, inspired by the resounding military songs, have given them and later equipment nicknames that are both catchy and meme-worthy—»Dongfeng Express,» «Chubby Girl,» «Black Ribbon,» etc.

«Black dragons keep watch深情ly at the military port / Silver war eagles write poems of peaceful times in the blue sky / Dongfeng arrays thunderously guard all directions / The iron-blooded Great Wall forges the glory of the era.»

Today, «Dong

March of the Big Sword

I am not familiar with a specific cultural site or historical event known as the «March of the Big Sword.» It is possible this refers to a local or lesser-known historical event, or it may be a mistranslation. Could you please provide more context or check the name?

Guerrilla Song

«Guerrilla Song» is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a term that refers to unsanctioned, impromptu musical performances held in public spaces. This form of artistic protest or cultural expression has a history rooted in various social movements, where musicians use song as a tool for grassroots activism and to reclaim public areas.

Yellow River

The Yellow River, known as the «Mother River of China,» is the country’s second-longest river and the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization. It has been both a vital source for agriculture and a cause of devastating floods throughout its long history, earning it the nickname «China’s Sorrow.» Its iconic yellow color comes from the immense amount of silt it carries from the Loess Plateau.

North China

North China is a vast geographical region encompassing the historical heartland of Chinese civilization, including the Yellow River Basin where the earliest dynasties emerged. It is home to significant cultural sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, which reflect its long history as a political and imperial center. The region’s culture and Mandarin language have profoundly shaped the national identity of modern China.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China, renowned for its cultural and political significance. Originally built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty, it was named after the Tiananmen gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to its north. It has since served as a major site for public gatherings, celebrations, and historical events.

March of the People’s Liberation Army

The «March of the People’s Liberation Army» refers to the Long March, a monumental military retreat undertaken by the Red Army from 1934 to 1935 to evade the Nationalist forces. This arduous 6,000-mile trek across harsh terrain solidified Mao Zedong’s leadership and became a foundational myth of the Chinese Communist Party, symbolizing perseverance and ultimate triumph.

Military Anthem of the People’s Liberation Army

The «Military Anthem of the People’s Liberation Army» is the official song of the Chinese military, originally composed in 1939 as the «March of the Eighth Route Army» to boost morale during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Its lyrics were later revised, and it was officially adopted as the army’s anthem in 1965, serving as a symbol of military tradition and patriotism.

Returning from Target Practice

«Returning from Target Practice» is not a physical place or cultural site, but rather the translated title of a famous 18th-century Chinese ink painting by artist Jin Nong. The artwork depicts a lone, scholarly figure on horseback returning from an intellectual exercise, symbolizing the Confucian ideal of the cultured scholar who pursues both civil and military arts. It is a significant work from the Qing Dynasty, representing the literati painting tradition.