In 1936, Li Qun undertook a journey from Taiyuan to Shanghai via Beijing, with assistance from his friend Jin Zhaoye, who accompanied him to the Tianjin port. During their passage across a bridge in Tianjin, Li Qun observed a group of Japanese soldiers involved in what was termed as “Arms Smuggling”. Li Qun felt compelled to document this incident upon his arrival in Shanghai. Thus, he created the woodcut titled “Japanese Armed Smuggling” vividly portraying scenes from this event as a testament to the aggression and injustice perpetrated by the Japanese forces in China.
Childhood 1912-1930
A village childhood Li Qun’s roots trace back to a quaint mountain village, an enclave characterised by a mere six courtyards and ten households in its nascent years. This hamlet, situated in Lingshi County, Shanxi Province, earned its identity as Hao Jia Zhang. Positioned to the east of Fenhe River,