One of the first french "japonists" mentor of prince Morimasa Nashimoto

[PATOUT]

1 ° / Georges Antoine François Ludovic of the Vergne de Tressan (1877/1914):

came from a very old aristocratic military family, and like his father (1845/1911) captain of the 21st hunter, he chose to embrace the military career.

It was while visiting the Japanese Pavilion during the World Expo of 1900 that the young St Cyrien discovered a devouring passion for Japanese art and culture. This exhibition will be for him the revelation of his short life. He therefore decides to devote himself in parallel with his military career to the knowledge of this civilization hitherto unknown to the French. Japan's desire for openness to the West advocated by Emperor Meiji in order to emerge from the feudal era of samurai and to move towards the modern and industrial era was relayed by some intellectuals, collectors, artists , "japonistes" or simply "curious" French.

Our young lieutenant decided to learn the self-taught language of the country of the rising sun that he mastered in the year 1913. From then on, recognized by all the experts, scholars, intellectuals and "Japonistes" he is frequently asked to bring his expertise on Japanese objects.

He also collaborates with national museums for exhibitions and writes many reference books:

Exhibition of Japanese saber guards Palais du Louvre 1910

Exhibition of sabers and Japanese "inro" decorative arts museum 1911

Exhibition of Japanese lacquered museum of decorative arts 1912 etc ... etc ...

                 (NB: He will get after his death the price of the French Academy (in 1916) for his book "The evolution of the Japanese sword guard" written under the pseudonym Tei-San)

We will not mention here all of his work, just note that several issues of the newsletter of the Franco-Japanese society pay tribute to him (since 1912) and more recently the Japanese academic Asuka Minami (universe Sagami) has dedicated a article (see: minami_asuka@isc.sagami-wu.ac.jp).

 

2 / Prince Nashimoto Morimasa:

Like princes of blood the prince must make a military career. He was appointed lieutenant to the 39th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Army in 1899

In 1903 he joined St Cyr to complete his training officer but must leave the school in 1904 to make war against Russia (1904/1905). He returned to France in 1906 with the rank of commander, this second stay will last from 1906 to 1909.

3 / Meeting between Georges Antoine and Prince Nashimoto Morimasa:

In 1906 our young lieutenant is in the 39th infantry regiment of Rouen. His knowledge of the culture, the civilization and the Japanese habits and customs makes that naturally it is affected by the staff to the accompaniment of prince Morimasa. Lieutenant Tressan will establish friendly relations with Prince Morimasa and even says that it helped him to decipher Kanji in ancient Japanese on tsubas.

4 / The decoration of the rising sun of 5th class:

It was for the proselytism he showed to make known and recognize the Japanese culture that Prince Nashimoto Morimasa (future marshal, member of the staff of the Imperial Army under Hiro Hito) decorated in 1907 (Gregorian year) the December 28 Lavergne de Tressan's lieutenant of the order of the rising sun of 5th class.

The first decoration that receives our French lieutenant is thus a foreign decoration. The years pass 1908 ... 1914 our lieutenant becomes a captain of staff. He was assigned to the 41st Infantry Regiment when he entered the war.After being surrounded by the enemy, he was killed at the head of his regiment on October 4, 1914 in Neuville-Vitasse (Pas de Calais) at 37 years old.

He is quoted to the order of the army "Repelled all enemy attacks for 4 days and 4 nights and did not lose an inch of his positions".

  He is Knight of the Legion of Honor posthumously. He had however during the few months of combat been made cross of war with palm by 2 times.

Photos :

Georges de Tressan portrait; Japanese document, authorization to carry foreign orders of February 27, 1911 by "grande chancellerie de la légion d'honneur", Translation of the Japanese Embassy 28/12/1907 and regularization? from February 22, 1910.

 

PATOUT

 

 

 

[JapanX]

Very interesting group and cavalier! 

Congrats!

 

If possible, please make close ups of french permission document, order obverse and reverse and  photo where he is wearing rising sun order.

Best,

Nick

[PATOUT]

Hi Nick,

Here are some other photos:

Portrait of Georges de Tressan

Photo of Georges de Tressan posing for her portrait (reproduction of a photo belonging to the family)

Photo from roll (tableau d'honneur des morts) of the french deads of the great war (1914/1918)

next ones to come

 

 

The next...close up of the french document, comparison size documents : japanese certificate (as you know) 46x59 and french one 39x49 in "cm".

Registration number of the "grande chancellerie" stamped at the back of the Meiji document (translation : grand chancelery of the legion of honor, noted for auhorisation, registered at the ???? (slightly erased text) foreign orders, under the number 31212)

[PATOUT]

Nick

I hope these photo have answerd to your request, do not hesitate if you want additional photos.

Friendly

Patout

[JapanX]

Thanks!

Superb group!

Did you check rising sun for marks (at the rim including  the part of the sun rim that is hiding under suspension leaf)? 

Will it be ok with you if I`ll show your group to our russian colleagues? 

 

Regards,

Nick

 

 

Edited July 30, 2018 by JapanX

[PATOUT]

Unfortunatly no mark at all including the part of the rim hiding under suspension leaf.

 

Of course, you can share this group to your russian colleagues.

 

Regards

Patrick

[Egorka]

Stunning piece of history!!!

[JapanX]

1 hour ago, PATOUT said:

Of course, you can share this group to your russian colleagues.

 

Great! 

The number of this doc is only 3 381 (this is a special numbering for foreign recipients). 

 

[JapanX]

Very interesting article about Georges de Tressan by Minami Asuka that was published 8 years ago in  Arts Asiatiques  

Source.

Arts Asiatiques  

Année 2010, 65  pp. 167-180

[PATOUT]

Hi Nick

Thank you for all this additional information.

Yes , this number is a specific registration number for foreign orders

In France you can not carry a foreign order without the authorization of "la Grande Chancellerie", this one especially monitor the obtaining of foreign orders that can be confused with French orders.

In the middle of the 20th century for example many French easily obtained (sometimes by paying) the order of Christ of Portugal... that he pretended to be a legion of honor (same red ribbon)...so to avoid that you must have the authorization to carry foreign order.

Patout

Hi "Egorka"

Thank you for your interest in this testimony.
When we are interested in a character that we do (modestly) in some way out of the shadows and that we discover its richness, we can only be humble and respectful in the face of certain very fulfilled lives.
Georges de Tressan also had the time to publish a work always reissued which earned him the congratulations of his staff .

Patout

[JapanX]

6 hours ago, PATOUT said:

 Yes , this number is a specific registration number for foreign orders

In France you can not carry a foreign order without the authorization of "la Grande Chancellerie", this one especially monitor the obtaining of foreign orders that can be confused with French orders.

 

 

Yes, I know Patrick  

I was talking about number of japanese doc 3 381.

Japanese docs issued for foreigners have special separate numbering  system.

The number on french athorization doc  31 212 

 

Regards,

Nick

[PATOUT]

Hi Nick,

Sorry for this misunderstanding.... I answered too quickly without looking at the number. 

If you can find informations in the japanese numbering system for foreigners they will be welcome and much appreciated.

 

NB:

On my side I could not find anything with the (french)  number of registration "31 212" for foreign order.

There is only a database for the members of legion of honnor and nothing else.

Regards,

Patrick

 

[PATOUT]

Hi Nick,

I still need your help in translation... I'm very curious to know where in the japanese document the name of Georges de la Vergne de Tressan is written ?

Have these many first names ( Georges Antoine François Ludovic) been translate or only the first ?

Thanks for your involvement

Patrick

[JapanX]

Yes, looks like all the names are there. 

Although they are sound something like 

Joruju Antowānu etc   

Regarding the number of the japanese doc - as for today no database is available for futher research.

 

Best,

Nick 

 

 

 

[PATOUT]

Hi Nick,

Thanks you for everything..

pity that there is no database available.

I just had oral informations from the family but no writing... no writing either in the family, and the family castle has been sold.

It would be very interesting to know the reason invoked by Prince Morimasa himself to give Georges de Tressans this medal.... too bad!!

Best,

Patrick