China Nanjing Puppet Government - Order of the National Emblem

[drclaw]

Just arrived from the Galerie Numismatique auction - a Nanjing Puppet Government Order of the National Emblem, Fourth Class. Images are from Galerie Numismatique.

The name of the order, taken from the inscription on the box, is Guo Hui Zhang. Guo Hui can be translated as "National Emblem" and "Zhang" means badge, medal, decoration or order.

There is very little information on this rare order. The widely accepted view is that it was awarded by the Wang Jingwei Nanjing Puppet Government (the Reorganised Government), possibly between 1943-45.

A new theory in China is that it might have been awarded by Zhang Xueliang (the Young Marshal), successor and son of the Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin (the Old Marshall, the Mukden Tiger), after he joined Chiang Kaishek and the Guomindang Government in December 1928 following the Northern Expedition.

There is little if any documentation or references for either.

Following the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, local administrations were set up in the Japanese controlled areas of China. The Provisional Government of the Republic of China was established 14 December 1937 in Beijing and the New Reformed Government of the Republic of China was set up in Nanjing on 28 March 1938. On 30 March 1940, these governments were merged into the Reorganised National Government of China under Wang Jingwei. On 9 January 1943 the government declared war on the U. S. and Great Britain.

The regime claimed to be the legitimate national government of China and Wang the legitimate successor to Sun Yatsen. The government took pains to use the same symbols of the Guomindang government although there was a tussle with the Japanese over the flag. The Japanese wanted the old five coloured bar flag of the 1912-28 Republic of China, which was also incorporated in the flag of Manchukuo, but relented. The White Sky Blue Sun Red Field flag could be displayed inside government offices but outside, needed to be displayed with an added pennant declaring the anti-Communist nature of the government.

The Guomindang White Sun is the central motif of the medal, together with plum blossoms (the plum blossom would be officially designated the national flower of the Republic of China / Taiwan in 1964). The Guomindang colours white, blue and red feature.

Interestingly, the reverse is inscribed with the number 752 so quite a few were awarded. Surviving specimens are however very rarely encountered. Most would have been awarded to Germans, Japanese and local Chinese collaborators and most would have been destroyed by their recipients. Being discovered with one as a Chinese would have meant a probable death sentence with the return of the Nationalists after the Japanese surrender.

Most of the Nanjing Puppet Orders suffer from enamel rot and heavy tarnishing of the silver. These were being made in wartime conditions by a regime under occupation by Japan which is reflected in the quality of the workmanship and materials. The silver of this example is noticeably of poorer qualiy although the workmanship of the medal and the enamelling is high.

The case is wood covered with vinyl paper strips. There are no maker's marks. It may have been made in Nanjing or by the National Mint in Tianjin which was also under Japanese occupation.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2012/post-11630-0-99872000-1355437419.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2012/post-11630-0-09819700-1355437448.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2012/post-11630-0-90208700-1355437474.jpg

[drclaw]

The case with the Chinese inscription San Deng Guo Hui Zhang or "Fourth Class National Seal Medal or Order"

[Markus]

Congrats on such a rare and fine aquizition Gavin! Always enjoy the history as well.

Markus

[dark379]

Hi drclaw, thank you for the comment on my post about the Tirad pass medal, it is a nice information about the Wang Jingwei Nanjing Puppet Government and the Fourth Class National Seal Medal....Nice Post

By the way drclaw,there is also a different Order/medal done during WW2 of the Puppet Government in China...Order of United Glory (3rd Class is in the Photo)

[drclaw]

Yes indeed! I really like the design of these and they're not that easy to find for the same reason - there were only awarded for a very short time and most people quickly discarded them after the war.

These particularly suffer from verdigris in the silver metal - a problem you rarely if ever encounter with Japanese awards or even Chinese awards.

[JapanX]

This is one beautifully designed and very rare order Gavin!

Congratulations

This number 752 is the only thing that is untypical for chinese orders (and Nanjing government awards in particular).

As we know usually the numbers on Chinese orders are stamped (by way of punching) and the main order of Nanjing government (Common/United Glory) wasn't numbered at all ...

Cheers,

Nick

[drclaw]

Thanks Nick. I've only ever seen one other of these. This one appeared on ebay last year, an 8th or 9th Class I believe, also cased, and was described as the "Order of the National Seal".

It sold at a handsome price after some stiff bidding. I wish I'd saved the images.

Interestingly, the use of three stars to denote the Fourth Class is consistent with the Nationalist orders, which in turn followed the practice of the Striped Tigers. Presumably, the different classes would be: First (three stars), Second (two stars), Third (one star), Fourth (three stars), Fifth (two stars), etc.

[dark379]

Yes indeed! I really like the design of these and they're not that easy to find for the same reason - there were only awarded for a very short time and most people quickly discarded them after the war.

These particularly suffer from verdigris in the silver metal - a problem you rarely if ever encounter with Japanese awards or even Chinese awards.

Hi again drclaw or Mr. Gavin (pls correct me if im wrong), it is really a nice design and a nice peace to have in own collection, but price is high due to its rarity.....By the way Congratulation also Mr. Gavin, it is a nice and rare medal.

[JapanX]

I've only ever seen one other of these.

I tell you man - this order (in this condition and cased!) is super rare.

[hc8604]

Great medal

[usairforce]

Great medal.

[drclaw]

I've been reading through James Peterson's unpublished notes previously posted by Richard.

In addition to the Order of United or Common Glory, Peterson also mentions the Order of the Brilliant Jade as the 2nd highest ranking Nanjing Puppet Government order.

Has anyone seen an example of this?

"Order of the Brilliant Jade

Tsai-Yu-Hsun-Chang. It appears that this order, which was established 2 December 1933 by Nationalist China, was adopted and awarded by Wang Ching-Wei’s regime, and probably for this reason seems to have been suspended after 1943 by the Nationalists.
According to a Japanese encyclopedia it was the 2nd ranking order, to Chinese only with classes to foreigners without class and different ribbons; in 9 classes, the 1st class with red and white ribbon, 2nd class white and red, 3rd class blue, 4th class red, white and blue, 5th class white, red and blue, 6th class red, white and blue, 7th class blue and red, 8th class light red, and 9th class the Military Order Pao-Ting." (James Peterson)

Note: In an article in the Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America on the Nationalist China Order of the Brilliant Jade, Peterson writes that there was a Grand Cordon Order of the Brilliant Jade (Cai Yu Da Xun Zhang) and a 9-class Order of the Brilliant Jade (Cai Yu Xun Zhang). The latter ceased to be awarded after 1943.

According to the President of Taiwan's website, the Order of the Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon was instituted in 1933 and is the highest order presented by the Republic of China, and can be worn only by the head of a nation.