drclaw

Less than 10 days to go to the auction! It was sold after last year's auction by private treaty sale and the new owner expects an even higher price this year.

From: Scene Asia, http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/05/30/will-the-real-chiang-kai-shek-medal-please-stand-up/

As the Hong Kong auction market comes back to life, so does a military medal allegedly worn by former Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek.

When auction house Spink China put the medal up for sale last August, the Taiwanese government questioned its authenticity.

Called “Order of Blue Sky and White Sun with Grand Cordon,” the metallic medal with an enamel face features the emblem of the Chinese Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang, and was awarded to Chiang Kai-shek in 1930. Fewer than 300 of the medals were handed out, and they constituted one of the highest military honors bestowed by the Nationalist government.

But just days before the Spink China auction, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it believed that Chiang Kai-shek’s medal was buried with him when he died in 1975. The medal received no bids at the auction and failed to sell.

Now, the auction house is trying once again to sell this contested piece of history at an upcoming auction in Hong Kong next month. Anna Lee, Spink China’s vice chairman, said the medal will be featured as the only item on offer at a sale scheduled for June 22.

Ms. Lee has estimated the medal will fetch between 8 million and 10 million Hong Kong dollars (US$1 and $1.3 million). If the medal finds a buyer, it will be the world’s most expensive military medal sold at auction, she said.

The medal has already changed hands since last summer’s controversy. Its current owner bought it in a private deal after the attempted auction. Ms. Lee did not disclose the owner’s identity.

The previous owner obtained the medal at a Taipei antique shop in the 1990s for 10 million New Taiwan dollars (US$333,950), Ms. Lee said.

Typically, “Order of the Blue Sky” medals were marked with a number on their back, but this particular medal isn’t numbered. Instead, it has engraved Chinese characters that translate to “Special One.” Ms. Lee says this engraving matches historical photos of Chiang Kai-shek wearing a medal that was flipped on its backside, revealing the marking.

The Taiwanese government hasn’t changed its stance on the medal’s authenticity. The Ministry of National Defense did not return phone calls, but earlier this month it told Taiwan’s main news agency that it believes the real medal is buried with Chiang Kai-shek.

Ms. Lee argues that Chiang Kai-shek was buried wearing a replica issued specifically for his funeral, and that the original medal bestowed to him in 1930 is the one that is for sale.

Taiwanese historian Chuk Hong-ming, who wrote a book on the history of the medal, shares the same view and endorsed Spink China’s sale last year.

“Unfortunately, we can’t ask them to open up the grave to find out for sure,” Ms. Lee said.

Thanks JC. What JC is saying is that all of the medals that have appeared in recent years have been in Japan, certainly those that are complete.

Many years ago, a single rusty / damaged specimen was unearthed in China.

The 3rd Class is signed by President Feng Guozhang. It appears that the Republic followed the Japanese practice of having the First, Second and Third Class documents personally signed by the head of state.

The documents themselves closely copied Japanese award documents with minor differences. The top image features the particular badge / class of the award (in Japanese documents, this image is the chrysanthemum). The bottom image features the lapel rosette (in Japanese awards, this image is the badge of the award).

While the original decrees specified that award documents were to be numbered, this did not occur in practice from what I can tell.

This is a beauty and interesting to see the seal on the presentation case.

Any sense as to how many were minted? Most would have survived in Japan I'd imagine as you wouldn't want to be found holding one in China after the Japanese surrender.

Wow! This is simply amazing! Thanks for posting these lovely images.

I paint 28 mm miniatures and have yet to find the courage to paint 54 mm. 1/6th scale doesn't even feature in my wildest dreams.

Was the model pre-sculpted resin or metal? What paint brand did you use?

This is a real beauty in Morton and Eden's upcoming July 2013 auction. And unlike with our vendor in Ukraine, you know you will receive what you pay for.

Plenty of Japanese orders and decorations as well, including a Grand Cordon Rising Sun and Grand Cordon Sacred Treasure.

Full catalogue available here: http://www.mortonandeden.com/pdfcats/65web.pdf

The square plaque on the reverse has some similarities with those stamped on the Republican Order of the Golden Grain and the Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain made by the Tianjin Mint. Interestingly most of those insignia bear the name of the Central Mint in addition to the name of the Order, but some only bore the name of the Order.

The Nationalist decorations aren't really my area but I'd be surprised if the Central Mint did not continue producing the new awards of the Guomindang government after 1929 given they had the expertise and tools to do so.

I guess this is one of those questions that can only be theorised, never definitively answered.

USSR established diplomatic relationships with Manchukuo on April 13, 1941 (de facto even earlier - on March 23, 1935)
As for Nanjing Government - I don't have exact info.

Interesting, only 9 weeks before Operation Barbarossa. One of the reasons for the Japanese occupation of Manchuria and north China was to create a buffer against the Soviet Union. Soviet recognition of Manchukuo was implicit recognition of Japan's regional ambitions. But no doubt Stalin had more pressing concerns in the West!

What a coincidence! It says "Special Class" on the reverse too!

It looks amazingly mint for something recently unearthed from Chiang's tomb.

Any sense of who might have made the insignia?

My guess is the Central Mint at Tianjin which was of course under Japanese control.

Most if not all of these were awarded to Japanese officers, Chinese collaborators and friendly Axis officials. The Soviet Union maintained "normal" relations with Japan until August 1945. Did the Soviet Union recognise any of the Japanese puppets - Manchukuo, Nanjing Government?

Is the large medal on Chiang the White Sky and Blue Sun?

I see Zhang Xueliang is still wearing the Rising Sun of the nation that assassinated his father.

Simply superb Nick! A very rare order in practically mint condition.

There's very little information about the Nanjing Puppet Orders unfortunately. Only snippets of information.

Was this a Special Class + 9 regular classes?

Very nice Markus, I especially like the gold rays. That's very uncommon.

It's an early Persian lion so around the 1880s?

Zhang Zongchang (the "Dogmeat General") is photographed wearing the Fifth Class Order of Rank and Merit. Zhang rose to prominence in the Second Zhili-Fengtian War (1924) when he helped his sponsor Zhang Zuolin defeat Cao Kun and Wu Beifu.

The 1912-1916 listings don't include Zhang's Rank and Merit so this is evidence that the Order continued to be awarded after 1916 and most likely right up to the defeat of the Beiyang warlords by the Guomintang in 1928.

It's likely that awards tapered off after the 1912-16 period for two reasons. First, 1912-16 would have included a flush of awards to the revolutionary generals and others who helped overthrow the Qing Dynasty. Second, 1912-16 was a period when the central government still retained some authority and good relations with the provincial warlords. This changed once the country fragmented and the southern provinces broke away.

Even if we extrapolate the same rate of awards for 1912-16 out to 1928, we're looking at less than 1000 awards in total. The actual number is likely to have been considerably less.

So some 267 awards were made between October 1912 and October 1916.

And possibly more may have been conferred - if Autengruber and Tammann are correct - until the defeat of the Beiyang Government by the Guomindang in 1928.

Almost all of the awards were made to Chinese citizens with only a tiny handful of foreign awards (to the Emperor of Japan and Bogd Khan of Outer Mongolia).

This could explain why so few of these have appeared in the West. Yet they are also extremely rare in China.

I've translated the Chinese reference as follows and tallied the numbers of awards.

授勋全名单（按年份排列）

Honours full list (arranged by year)

Order of Rank and Merit

1912年10月09日 (October 9, 1912)

袁世凯、孙文、黎元洪 特授以 大勋位

Yuan Shikai, Sun Wen, Li Yuanhong – Grand Class Rank and Merit

唐绍仪、伍廷芳、黄兴、程德全、段祺瑞、冯国璋 特授以 勋一位

Tang Shaoyi, Wu Tingfang, Huang Xing, Cheng Dequan, Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang – First Class Rank and Merit

孙武特 授以 勋二位

Sun Wu – Second Class Rank and Merit

1912年10月16日 (16 October 1912)

吴俊升特授以勋五位

Wu Junsheng – Fifth Class Rank and Merit

1912年11月20日 (20 November 1912)

徐绍桢陈其美特授以勋二位

Xu Shaozhen, Chen Qimei – Second Class Rank and Merit

1912年11月25日 (25 November 1912)

刘公特授以勋二位

Liu Gong – Second Class Rank and Merit

1912年12月28日 (28 December 1912)

蒋翊武特授以勋二位_

Jiang Yiwu – Second Class Rank and Merit

邓玉麟特授以勋三位

Deng Yulin – Third Class Rank and Merit

1912年12月30日 (30 December 1912)

张謇、汪兆铭特授以勋二位

Zhang Jian, Wang Zhaoming – Second Class Rank and Merit

1913年01月23日 (23 January 1913)

蔡济民特授以勋二位

Cai Jimin – Second Class Rank and Merit

唐牺之、蔡汉卿、季雨霖、吴兆麟、杜锡钧、王安澜特授以勋三位

Tang Xizhi, Cai Hanqing, Ji Yulin, Wu Zhaolin, Du Xijun, Wang Anlan – Third Class Rank and Merit

王文锦、徐达明、吴醒汉、李作栋特授以勋四位

Wang Wenjin, Xu Daming, Wu Xinghan, Li Zuodong – Fourth Class Rank and Merit

杨玉如、刘英、熊炳坤特授以勋五位

Yang Yuru, Liu Ying, Xing Bingkun – Fifth Class Rank and Merit

1913年02月12日 (12 February 1913)

梁士诒、胡惟德、姜桂题、段芝贵特授以勋二位

Liang Shiyi, Hu Weide, Jiang Guiti, Duan Zhigui – Second Class

谭学衡、熙彦、王占元、曹锟、陈光远、李纯、倪嗣冲特授以勋三位

Tan Xueheng, Xi Yan, Wang Zhanyuan, Cao Kun, Chen Guangyuan, Li Chun, Ni Sichong – Third Class

蔡廷干、刘承恩、靳云鹏、赵倜、卢永祥、周符麟特授以勋四位

Cai Tinggan, Liu Chengen, Jin Yunpeng, Zhao Ti, Lu Yongxiang, Zhou Fulin – Fourth Class

徐树铮、吴光新、蒋廷梓、王金镜、李厚基、何丰林、马继增、施从滨、张锡元、程克特授以勋五位

Xu Shuzheng, Wu Guangxin, Jiang Tingzi, Wang Jinjing, Li Houji, He Fenglin, Ma Jizeng, Shi Congbin, Zhang Xiyuan, Cheng Kete – Fifth Class

1913年03月10日 (10 March 1913)

王隆中特授以勋四位

Wang Longzhong – Fourth Class

1913年03月17日 (17 March 1913)

顾忠深、洪承点特授以勋三位

Gu Zhongshen, Hong Chengdian – Third Class

1913年04月01日 (1 April 1913)

吕公望授以勋三位

Lu Gongwen – Third Class

叶颂清、顾乃斌特授以勋五位

Ye Songqing, Gu Naibin – Fifth Class

1913牛04月02日 (2 April 1913)

王正雅特授以勋四位

Wang Zhengya – Fourth Class

1913年04月10日

尹昌衡特授以勋二位

Yin Changheng – Second Class

1913年04月20日，

余钦翼特授以勋四位

Yu Qinyi – Fourth Class

1913年05月06日

章炳麟特授以勋二位

Zhang Binglin – Second Class

1913年07月03日

孟效曾特授以勋五位

Meng Xiaoceng – Fifth Class

1913年07月09日

葛应龙特授以勋五位

Ge Yinglong – Fifth Class

1913年07月12日

米振标特授以勋五位

Mi Zhenbiao – Fifth Class

1913年07月15日

张作霖特授以勋五位

Zhang Zuolin – Fifth Class

1913年07月18日

张勋特授以勋二位

Zhang Xunte – Second Class

1913年07月21日

张文生特授以勋五位

Zhang Wensheng – Fifth Class

1913年07月27日

方玉普特授以勋五位

Fang Yupu – Fifth Class

1913年07月31日

马继增特授以勋四位

Ma Jizeng – Fourth Class

鲍贵卿、张敬尧特授以勋五位

Bao Guiqing, Zhang Jingyao – Fifth Class

1913年08月03日

孟恩远特授以勋五位

Meng Enyuan – Fifth Class

1913年08月04日

李鼎新、郑汝成特授以勋三位

Li Dingxin, Zhen Grucheng – Third Class

臧致平特授以勋四位

Zang Zhiping – Fourth Class

1913年08月06日，

苏慎初特授以勋三位

Su Shenchu – Third Class

1913年08月08日

马联甲特授以勋五位

Ma Lianjia – Fifth Class

1913年08月31日

殷恭先特授以勋五位

Yin Gongxian – Fifth Class

1913年09月01日

陈廷训特授以勋五位

Chen Tingxun – Fifth Class

1913年09月03日

张勋晋授勋一位

Zhang Xunjin – First Class

刘冠雄特授以勋二位

Liu Guanxiong – Second Class

雷震春特授以勋三位

Lei Zhenchun – Third Class

施从滨晋授勋三位

Shi Congbin – Third Class

1913年09月08日

张文生晋授勋三位

Zhang Wensheng – Third Class

殷恭先晋授勋四位

Yin Gongxian – Fourth Class

白宝山、陈德修、方更生特授以勋五位

Bai Baoshan, Chen Dexiu, Fang Gengsheng – Fifth Class

1913年09月10日

王怀庆、李钦特授以勋五位

Wang Huaiqing, Li Qin – Fifth Class

1913年09月11日

李际春特授以勋五位

Li Jichun – Fifth Class

1913年09月14日

杨善德特授以勋三位

Yang Shande – Third Class

何丰林特授以勋四位

He Fenglin – Fourth Class

吴长植、刘起垣、潘鸿钧、张克瑶特授以勋五位

Wu Zhangzhi, Liu Qiyuan, Pan Hongjun Zhang Keyao – Fifth Class

1913年09月19日

徐宝珍授以勋五位

Xu Baozhen – Fifth Class

1913年09月22日

覃师范特授以勋五位

Tan Shifan – Fifth Class

1913年10月02日，

夏炎甲特授以勋五位

Xia Yanjia – Fifth Class

1913年10月10日

世续、徐世昌、赵秉钧特授以勋一位

Shi Xu, Xu Shichang, Zhao Bingjun – First Class

朱瑞、蔡锷、胡景伊、唐继尧、阎锡山、张凤翙、张锡銮、倪嗣冲、张镇芳、周自齐、陈宦特授以勋二位

Zhu Rui, Cai E, Hu Jingyi, Tang Jiyao, Yan Xishan, Zhang Fenghui, Zhang Xiluan, Ni Sichong, Zhang Zhenfang, Zhou Ziqi, Chen Huan – Second Class

汤芗铭晋授勋二位

Tang Xiangming – Second Class

蒋尊簋、孙毓筠、庄蕴宽特授以勋三位

Jiang Zun Gui, Sun Yuyun, Zhuang Yunkuan – Third Class

张绍曾、陆建章特授以勋四位

Zhang Shaoceng, Lu Jianzhang – Fourth Class

屈映光特授以勋五位

Qu Yingguang – Fifth Class

1913年10月15日

张殿如特授以勋五位

Zhang Dianru – Fifth Class

1913年10月16日

黄士龙特授以勋五位

Huang Shilong – Fifth Class

1913年10月20日，

杨增新特授以勋三位

Yang Zengxin – Third Class

1913年10月27日

张载阳、徐乐尧特授以勋五位

Zhang Zaiyang, Xu Leyao – Fifth Class

1913年10月29日

蒋雁行、马毓宝特授以勋四位

Jiang Yanhang, Ma Yubao – Fourth Class

1913年10月31日

周骏特授以勋四位

Zhou Jun – Fourth class

张毅、刘存厚、彭光烈、孙兆鸾、陈廷杰特授以勋五位

Zhang Yi, Liu Cunhou, Peng Guanglie, Sun Zhaoluan, Chen Tingjie – Fifth Class

1913年11月07日

米振标晋授勋三位

Mi Zhenbiao – Third Class

张殿如晋授勋四位

Zhang Dianru – Fourth Class

1913年11月10日

陈镇藩、孙发绪特授以勋五位

Chen Zhenfan, Sun Faxu – Fifth Class

1913年11月14日

常德盛特授以勋五位

Chang Desheng – Fifth Class

1913年11月23日

蒋作宾、史久光特授以勋五位

Jiang Zuobin, Shi Jiuguang – Fifth Class

1913年11月29日

吴俊升晋授勋三位

Wu Junsheng – Third Class

1913年11月30日

王汝贤、康永胜、尹凤山、赵清衢特授以勋五位

Wang Ruxian, Kang Yongsheng, Yin Fengshan, Zhao Qingqu – Fifth Class

1913年12月20日

申保亨、张建功特授以勋五位

Shen Baoheng, Zhang Jiangong – Fifth Class

1913年12月23日

赵尔巽特授以勋二位

Zhao Er Xun – Second Class

1914年01月01日

阮忠枢特授以勋三位

Ruan Zhongshu – Third Class

唐在礼、蓝天蔚特授以勋四位

Tang Zaili, Lan Tianwei – Fourth Class

蒋作宾晋授勋四位

Jiang Zuobin – Fourth Class

梁士讦、李燮和特授以勋五位

Liang Shijie, Li Xiehe – Fifth Class

1914年01月10日

梅馨特授以勋五位

Mei Xin – Fifth Class

1914年01月17日，

向瑞琮特授以勋五位

Xiang Ruicong – Fifth Class

1914年01月30日

陈文运特授以勋五位

Chen Wenyun – Fifth Class

1914年02月08日

谢汝翼特授以勋五位

Xie Ruyi – Fifth Class

1914年04月25日

萧良臣特授以勋五位

Xiao Liangchen – Fifth Class

1914年06月27日

李绍臣特授以勋五位

Li Shaochen – Fifth Class

1914年08月09日

刘镇华特授以勋五位

Liu Zhenhua – Fifth Class

1914年08月20日

宝德全特授以勋五位

Bao Dequan – Fifth Class

1914年09月04日

韩麟春特授以勋五位

Han Linchun – Fifth Class

1914年10月08日

王揖唐、杨度特授以勋四位

Wang Yitang, Yang Du – Fourth Class

1914年10月21日

张作霖晋授勋四位

Zhang Zuolin – Fourth Class

1914年11月15日

王纯良特授以勋五位

Wang Chunliang – Fifth Class

1915年01月02日张弧特授以勋四位

傅良佐、陆锦、章遹骏、袁乃宽特授以勋五位

Fu Liangzuo, Lu Jin, Zhang Yujun, Yuan Naikuan – Fifth Class

1915年01月13日

马存发特授以勋五位

Ma Cunfa – Fifth Class

1915年01月31日

田作霖特授以勋五位

Tian Zuolin – Fifth Class

1915年02月07日

田中玉特授以勋五位

Tian Zhongyu – Fifth Class

1915年02月09日

赵倜晋授勋二位

Zhao Ti – Second Class

1915年02月11日

周金城特授以勋五位

Zhou Jincheng – Fifth Class

1915年02月22日

朱泮藻特授以勋五位

Zhu Panzao – Fifth Class

1915年02月23日

龙觐光特授以勋五位

Long Jin Guang – Fifth Class

1915年06月25日

徐尚武特授以勋五位

Xu Shangwu – Fifth Class

1915年10月05日

陆征祥特授以勋三位

Lu Zhengxiang – Third Class

曹汝霖特授以勋四位

Cao Rulin – Fourth Class

1915年10月09日

施愚、顾螯、江朝宗、崑源、马龙标特授以勋四位

Shi Yu, Gu Ao, Jiang Chaozong, Kun Yuan, Ma Longbiao – Fourth Class

张士钰、吴炳湘、王廷桢、李进才特授以勋五位

Zhang Shiyu, Wu Bingxiang, Wang Tingzhen, Li Jincai – Fifth Class

1915年10月13日

荫昌特授以勋三位

Yin Chang – Third Class

1915年10月18日

田文烈特授以勋三位

Tian Wenlie – Third Class

1915年10月31日

李耀汉特授以勋五位

Li Yaohan – Fifth Class

1915年11月10日

日本天皇特授以大勋位

Emperor of Japan – Grand Class

1915年11月25日

白宝山特授以勋四位

Bai Baoshan – Fourth Class

1915年12月04日

胡令宣特授以勋五位

Hu Lingxuan – Fifth Class

1915年12月11日

萧良臣特授以勋四位

Xiao Liangchen – Fourth Class

1915年12月15日

杨善德晋授勋二位

Yang Shande – Second Class

1915年12月23日

徐国樑、崔振魁、王桂林、邓瑶光特授以勋五位

Xu Guoliang, Cui Zhenkui, Wang Guilin, Deng Yaoguang – Fifth Class

1916年01月08日

张.树田、卓特巴扎普、谭庆林特授以勋五位

Zhang Shutian, Zhuo Te Ba Zha Pu (Mongolian general Babu Jabu), Tan Qinglin – Fifth Class

1916年01月17日

殷贵特授以勋五位

Yin Gui – Fifth Class

1916年01月23日

刘友才特授以勋五位

Liu Youcai – Fifth Class

1916年02月15日

博克多哲布尊丹巴呼图克图汗特授以大勋位

Bogd Khan of (Outer) Mongolia – Grand Class Rank and Merit

1916年02月24日

周骏特授以勋三位

Zhou Jun – Third Class

戴桢、刘虎臣、阎相文特授以勋五位

Dai Zhen, Liu Huchen, Yan Xiangwen – Fifth Class

1916年02月25日

杨增新晋授勋二位

Yang Zengxin – Second Class

1916年02月27日，

张鹏舞特授以勋五位

Zhang Pengwu – Fifth Class

1916年03月07日

李文富特授以勋四位

Li Wenfu – Fourth Class

1916年03月09日

张敬尧晋授三位

Zhang Jinyao – Third Class

1916年03月11日

杨起元特授以勋五位

Yang Qiyuan – Fifth Class

1916年03月13日

刘湘特授以勋五位

Liu Xiang – Fifth Class

1916年03月21日

齐燮元特授以勋四位

Qi Xieyuan – Fourth Class

1916年03月27日

黄鵠举特授以勋五位

Huang Huju – Fifth Class

1916年04月04日

刘一清、杜文泳、张庆云特授以勋五位

Liu Yiqing, Du Wenyong, Zhang Qingyun – Fifth Class

1916年04月08日

周文炳特授以勋四位

Zhou Wenbing – Fourth Class

卢金山、李福林特授以勋五位

Lu Jinshan, Li Fulin – Fifth Class

1916年04月15日

王陵基、吴恒瓒、宫邦铎特授以勋五位

Wang Lingji, Wu Hengzan, Gong Bangduo – Fifth Class

1916年04月17日

张中和特授以勋五位

Zhang Zhonghe – Fifth Class

1916年04月18日

马福祥特授以勋四位

Ma Fuxiang – Fourth Class

1916年04月23日，

黄国樑、赵戴文特授以勋五位

Huang Guoliang, Zhao Daiwen – Fifth Class

1916年04月24日

管云臣特授以勋五位

Guan Yunchen – Fifth Class

1916年04月29日

熊祥生、吴新田特授以勋五位

Xiong Xiangsheng, Wu Xintian – Fifth Class

1916年05月03日，

田树勋、王承斌特授以勋五位

Tian Shuxun, Wang Chengbin – Fifth Class

1916年05月05日

萧良臣特授以勋三位

Xiao Liangchen – Third Class

1916年05月10日

陆宗與特授以勋四位

Lu Zongyu – Fourth Class

1916年05月12日

马鸿宾特授以勋五位

Ma Hongbin – Fifth Class

1916年05月14日

马廉溥、姜占元特授以勋五位

Ma Lianpu, Jiang Zhanyuan – Fifth Class

1916年05月24日

靳云鹏特授以勋二位

Jin Yunpeng – Second Class

王学彦、马良特授以勋五位

Wang Xueyan, Ma Liang – Fifth Class

1916年05月30日

张作霖特授以勋三位

Zhang Zuolin – Third Class

冯德麟特授以勋四位

Feng Delin – Fourth Class

1916年07月06日

李烈钧特授以勋二位

Li Liejun (Jiangxi warlord allied to Guomindang, revolt against Yuan Shikai) – Second Class

1916年10月09日

孙文特授以大勋位

Sun Wen – Grand Class Rank and Merit

蔡锷、唐继尧、陆荣廷、梁启超、黄兴、岑春煊特授以勋一位

荫昌、曹锟、刘显世、王占元、吕公望、柏文蔚、吴俊陞、张敬尧、胡汉民特授以勋二位

Cai E (led revolt against Yuan), Tang Jiyao (Yunnan warlord allied to Cai E), Lu Rongting (Guangxi Warlord), Liang Qichao, Huang Xing, Cen Chunxuan, Te Shouyi, Xun Yiwei, Yin Chang, Cao Kun, Liu Xianshi, Wang Zhanyuan, Lu Gongwang, Bai Wenwei, Wu Junsheng, Zhang Jingyao, Hu Hanmin (Guomindang) – Second Class

TOTAL AWARDS

Grand Class – 6

First Class – 10

Second Class – 51

Third Class – 38

Fourth Class – 41

Fifth Class – 121

TOTAL 267

A Chinese source (http://book.chinaiiss.com/chapter/1908da-jun-fa/2335696.html) gives the recipients of the Order of Rank and Merit as recorded by the Republic’s honors list. Over a four year period from 9 October 1912 to 9 October 1916, 267 awards were conferred. These comprised: six Grand Class; 10 First Class; 51 Second Class; 38 Third Class; 41 Fourth Class; and 121 Fifth Class.

The list reads like a Who’s Who of early Republican China. Unsurprisingly, warlords and generals not Confucian scholars dominate. This reflects the leading role played by soldiers in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty as well as militarization of Chinese politics under Yuan Shikai. We can also see the steady rise of Yuan allies like the Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin as he is awarded the Fifth Class, the Fourth Class and finally the Third Class in one of the last two awards of the Rank and Merit conferred by Yuan Shikai before his death.

The first awards (9 October 1912) were to the leading revolutionaries and to Yuan and his Beiyang Army lieutenants: the Grand Class to President Yuan Shikai, Sun Wen (Sun Yat-sen) and Vice-President Li Yuanhong; the First Class to Tang Shaoyi, Wu Tingfang, Huang Xing, Cheng Dequan, Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang; and the Second Class to Sun Wu.

The last awards listed were a group of 18 conferred by new President Li Yuanhong on 9 October 1916. The awards are dominated by the southern warlords and Guomindang leaders who led the revolt against Yuan Shikai when he proclaimed himself Emperor including Sun Yat-sen (who received another Grand Class), Cai E, Tang Jiyao, Lu Rongting, Huang Xing and Hu Hanmin.

No awards of the Rank and Merit are listed after this date by the Chinese source. Interestingly, Yuan Shikai died on 6 June and the Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain founded by new President Li Yuanhong on 7 October 1916. Li was a staunch Republican and the Rank and Merit was closely associated with Yuan Shikai’s imperial ambitions. This lends support to the suggestion that awards of the Rank and Merit ceased in 1916.

Autengruber and Tammann (UBS 2008 Tammann Auction Catalogue) however report that the name of the Order was changed to the Order of Merit in 1916 and titles of nobility no longer conferred with the award. Yuan Shikai, who had proclaimed himself Emperor the following December, officially abolished his 83-day old monarchy on 22 March. They also write that Duan Qirui received the Grand Class in 1919.

Well, I was so inspired by this thread to watch "The Last Emperor" again on BluRay.

Of course I had to hit the pause button in the Xinjing palace ball room scenes to gawk at the medals. Bertolucci was an absolute stickler for historical accuracy in getting the right medals unlike the 99% of modern Chinese films with their fantasy bling.

Puyi was wearing the Collar and star of the Orchid Blossoms, the stars of the Auspicious Clouds, Illustrious Dragon, Pillars of the State and Chrysanthemum. Given only two Orchid Blossom collars are known to have been awarded (Puyi and Hirohito), those at least would have been reproductions.

Various other Japanese / Manchukuo officials were wearing Orchid Blossoms and Auspicious Clouds.

One question I have is the numbers of awards. James Peterson's book provides numbers for Manchukuo orders but only for a six or seven year period 1934-1940.

Does this suggest NO awards of Manchukuo orders were made after 1940? Or is this because the extant records only go up to 1940 and that more awards may have been made after that year?

What an unusual medal. And further confirms my suspicion that the Republic had medals to commemorate almost everything.

I would have imagined that this - being kidnapped by one of your own subordinates and forced to agree to a united front with the Communists - was a humiliation Chiang Kai-shek would have rather forgotten about, not celebrated with a commemorative medal.

Zhang Xueliang who spent 50 years of his life in house arrest in retribution for his actions is something of a hero in mainland China.

Interesting! Thanks for posting these Nick.

The Gazette is especially fascinating and lists decorations awarded to RAF servicemen from Denmark (Order of Dannebrog) and the US (Legion of Merit), as well as China.

A handsome tiger indeed.

That "9I" digital mark is still a mystery.

Very nice, Chris, thanks for sharing! It's in superb condition.

Always thought this was the most distinctive medal designed by Japan / Manchukuo. Like a Klingon Bird of Prey

Wow, thanks for these Nick (and David).

That's the first time I've seen the colour of the sash of the Illustrious Dragon. Even James Peterson's books doesn't have an image of the sash.

Only one has appeared on the international market in the last 5 years that I'm aware of - a single sash badge.

Well this is an interesting one.

If you've just been awarded a bling Golden Grain but are too modest to wear at home when visitors come calling, why not commission a large vase as a centrepiece for your living room ....

It was attributed as "probably Lao Tian Li" on the basis that Lao Tian Li made orders for the Republic. I've yet to encountered a Lao Tian Li Order of the Golden Grain which were exclusively (other than the odd foreign made insignia) produced by the Central Mint at Tianjin. Also, all of Lao Tian Li's cloisonne vases, etc, proudly bore the Lao Tian Li stamp. This particular vase does not.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_05_2013/post-11630-0-17933200-1369776563.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_05_2013/post-11630-0-73454700-1369776574.jpg

Very nice Nick! I especially like the elegant, pointed star corpus of #783.

The painting of the lion looks like it is an early Persian specimen. Would you agree?

Very nice Nick. I like the St Stanislaus in #85 and 87.

Looking at the plume on the Japanese officer's cap got me wondering. We know that the Chinese Republic / warlord uniforms were designed by our friend General Munthe who modelled them off the Swedish Royal Guard complete with white egret plumes. But we also know that the Republic was strongly influenced by Japan.

I don't know enough about 19th century European uniforms but were plumes more of a Central / Eastern European style - Russian, Austrian, etc? I wonder where the Japanese military uniforms were inspired from.