Martyr (China)

Martyr (Chinese: 烈士; pinyin: Lièshì) is an honorary title in the People's Republic of China given by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the People's Liberation Army or provincial governments in the country. The state can prosecute those who slander officially designated martyrs under the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs.^[1]

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It has been suggested that this article be merged with Martyrdom in Chinese culture. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2025.

The title is bestowed alongside enshrinement to a martyrs' shrine.^[1]

Description

Martyr is an honorary title for those who officially sacrificed their lives for a just cause or sacrificed their lives for justice. In the Ming dynasty, the Great Ming Code stipulated that actors were not allowed to play loyal martyrs, and those who violated the law would be punished.^[2] In the People's Republic of China, martyrs were formerly called "revolutionary martyrs", referring to Chinese citizens (including members of the People's Liberation Army)^[3] who "died heroically in the revolutionary struggle, defending the motherland and socialist modernization construction". In addition, according to the "Several Explanations on Revolutionary Martyrs" issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Central People's Government in 1950, those who died in battle, were executed by the authorities of, or died in prison for opposing the Qing dynasty, the Beiyang government, the Nationalist government, and the Japanese invaders before the founding of the People's Republic of China were also regarded as "revolutionary martyrs."^[4]^[5] In 2011, the "Regulations on Commendation of Martyrs" was promulgated and implemented, and "revolutionary martyrs" were renamed "martyrs".^[6]

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