(ECNS) -- A new edition of Chinese language textbooks for compulsory education did not remove a text about the Nanjing Massacre, Beijing News reported, citing a person in charge of textbook publishing at the Language and Culture Press.
The original text titled "Nanjing Massacre" written by Wen Shulin was replaced by an excerpt titled "Saved from death" from Iris Chang's book "The Rape of Nanking."
The Language and Culture Press on Monday officially released the new editions of 18 textbooks to be used by first through ninth graders.
The revised edition of the textbooks includes 40 percent of new content compared to the previous edition that was in use for 15 years.
While total content was cut by 15 percent to ease the burden on students, the textbooks attach greater importance to China's traditional culture.
According to Zheng Weizhong, the publisher's textbook editorial director, third graders would now begin to learn ancient-style prose, a course of study previously held off until fifth or sixth grade.
The publisher said more than 4 million primary and middle school students would begin to use the textbooks for first through seventh graders in the coming fall semester. The pilot program would involve provinces including Hunan, Guangdong and Sichuan, but not Beijing.
