Striped Tigers and their Marks

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Rrrrrrrr

[JapanX]

Mark

[JapanX]

Other orders and medals in the bar

Edited March 1, 2013 by JapanX

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[drclaw]

Very nice Nick and a rare bar indeed!

It nicely shows the comparative sizes of the Japanese and Chinese orders - the Fourth Class Striped Tiger was HUGE compared to the equivalent Rising Sun and Sacred Treasure.

[JapanX]

It nicely shows the comparative sizes of the Japanese and Chinese orders - the Fourth Class Striped Tiger was HUGE compared to the equivalent Rising Sun and Sacred Treasure.

... also it nicely shows the comparative sizes of the French and Chinese orders

[drclaw]

JCwaters and I have been working at identifying some of the Striped Tiger marks that Nick posted.

For completeness, we'll include them all here. These are read top-down-right-left in traditional Chinese fashion.

First up, Lao Tian Li: Lao Tian Li Zhi, lit. Old Heaven Advantage Manufacture.

[drclaw]

Yongzeng: Yong Zeng Zi Zao, lit. Forever Bestow Self Make

[drclaw]

Fu Li: Fu Li Zhi Zao, lit. Wealth Advantage Manufacture Make

There seems to be a common theme here ...

[drclaw]

Wan Bao: Wan Bao Xin Zhi, lit. Ten Thousand Precious New Manufacture

Wan in Chinese conveys a very great number, hence the traditional greeting to the Emperor "Wansui, wansui, wan wan sui" - Ten Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Ten Thousand Years, or Long Live Your Majesty.

[drclaw]

Mei Li Gong Chang, lit. Fine Arts Factory

[JapanX]

Thanks for "decoding" these marks guys!

[drclaw]

Other than Lao Tian Li and Yongzeng, very little is known about these other Chinese manufacturers so if anyone has more information, please share.

Two other possible makers should be mentioned.

The Central Mint

Unmarked Striped Tigers have been encountered in cases stamped with the name of the Central Mint. While cases for the Warlord orders generally were made by specialised wood workshops, this does suggest that the insignia were made by the Central Mint.

The Order of the Golden Grain and the Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain were almost exclusively (with the exception of some rare European Golden Grains) made by the Central Mint and stamped Yin Zhu Ju Zhi or variations thereof on the reverse, lit. Seal of the Bureau of Coins.

Japanese makers

Unmarked Striped Tigers have also been encountered of likely Japanese manufacture. The lacquer cases have the very high quality and mirror like sheen of those of Japanese orders, and the Chinese characters on the case lid appears more Kanji (Japanese-style) than Hanzi (Chinese-style).

From 1877 to 1929, Japanese decorations were produced by three private Japanese workshops: Hirata Haruyuki, Namikawa Sousuke and Ohki Souho (ref. Richard Catalano). In 1929, the Japan Mint assumed sole responsibility for the manufacture of Japanese decorations following a national scandal involving the sale of orders for money.

Given the period 1912-28 during which the Striped Tigers were awarded, Japanese made Striped Tigers were likely from one of these three workshops.

[JapanX]

Recently we saw a japanese bar with 4th class Tiger.
Now - photo of the japanese cavalier of 5th class Tiger (thanks a lot Shimbu! )
Check out this moustache

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Edited March 14, 2013 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Edited March 14, 2013 by JapanX

[paul wood]

Amazing photo, definitely awarded for honourable participation in the 1913 Shanghai International Moustache Exhibition (Kitchener represented the British Army in the same exhibition).

Paul

[JapanX]

.. definitely awarded for honourable participation in the 1913 Shanghai International Moustache Exhibition (Kitchener represented the British Army in the same exhibition).

Seriously?

If so, than indeed it is something very very special.

Never heard about this cultural event before!

Best,

Nick

[drclaw]

I've always envied the Japanese ability to grow impressive facial hair.

As a Chinese, the most I could aspire to is a few thin wispy strands by the age of 90.

A disposable razor lasts six months ...

[pieter1012]

Hi DrClaw,

I didn't know you are Chinese, my mother is Chinese from Beijing, and her father had also moustache. Nothing compared to the moustache of the japanese in the picture, but still nice looking. As I still don't know how to place pictures on the forum, I have sent Nick a picture of my maternal grandfather, taken in the early thirties when he was Minister of Communication and Transport of China.

Best regards,

Pieter

[drclaw]

Pieter, looking forward to the photo of your grandfather.

He would have been a recipient of some very nice Nationalist decorations I'd imagine. Does your family still have these? Would love to hear about your grandfather's story.

My paternal grandfather was a British civil servant in Singapore when the Japanese invaded in 1941. He was rounded up during the Sook Ching massacre when the Japanese were executing anyone who worked for the British, had a tattoo (gang member) or wore spectacles.

He leapt over the fence and escaped while the others were never seen again. He received the UK Defence Medal after the war. But unfortunately I didn't ask him about the circumstances of the award before he passed on.

Cheers, Gavin

Edited March 18, 2013 by drclaw

[JapanX]

Here we go