All anthems

China

义勇军进行曲

Yiyongjun Jinxingqu

March of the Volunteers

Written 1935
Adopted 1949
Lyrics Tian Han
Music Nie Er
⚔ Battle / War 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience | Fierce

Context

Originally written as a film theme song in 1935 during the Japanese invasion, it became the anthem of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The lyrics evoke resistance against invasion and call for national unity in times of crisis.

Lyrics

起来！不愿做奴隶的人们！ 把我们的血肉 筑成我们新的长城！ 中华民族到了最危险的时候

Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals

Interesting facts

  • • The anthem was originally composed for the 1935 film 'Children of Troubled Times' about resistance against Japanese invasion
  • • Lyricist Tian Han was later persecuted during the Cultural Revolution and died in prison in 1968
  • • Composer Nie Er drowned in Japan in 1935 at age 23, just months after composing the melody