By Lu Xinyan

From October 26 to 30, local time, a photo exhibition titled Justice and Peace for All Humanity: Photo Exhibition Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Opening of the Tokyo Trial was held at United Nations headquarters in New York.

A collection of pictorial seals from Ningbo was featured in the exhibition, using the art of traditional Chinese seal carving to tell an important chapter of history to an international audience. The event also marked the first time that a large collection of historical photographs and archival documents related to the Tokyo Trials had been displayed at UN headquarters. Together, the materials shed light on the trials and their historical significance, underscoring the importance of preserving historical facts and upholding justice.

Working with the renowned Xiling Seal Engravers' Society, the organizers invited leading seal carvers to create 15 pictorial seals. The works draw on the Tokyo Trials, international rule of law and the postwar international order, conveying themes of peace, justice and the rule of law. Motifs such as scales of justice, gavels, chains, and case files provide a visual language that can be understood across cultures.

The seal Scales uses the familiar image of a balance to represent judicial fairness. Tokyo 80: Eternal Justice combines the architecture of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East with a gavel, evoking the solemn atmosphere of the courtroom. Another work, Honoring the Potsdam Declaration, brings together an image of an old document scroll and an olive branch to reflect the commitment to the postwar international order.

Safeguarding Peace, created by Ruan Jie, a Ningbo-based seal carver who leads the pictorial seal initiative, expresses a shared hope for peace. "The dove at the center is surrounded by a ring of clasped hands, forming a ribbon that connects people around the world," Ruan said. "I hope this pictorial seal can transcend language barriers and convey our shared commitment to remembering the Tokyo Trials and working together to safeguard peace."