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The Order of the Auspicious Phoenix

The Order of the Auspicious Phoenix (Bongjang) was instituted by Emperor Yunghui. It was limited to women only and awarded in eight classes.

The Order of the Auspicious Phoenix (Bongjang) was instituted by Emperor Yunghui. It was limited to women only.

The Order was awarded in eight classes:

  • Grand Cordon
  • Second Class
  • Third Class
  • Fourth Class
  • Fifth Class
  • Sixth Class
  • Seventh Class
  • Eighth Class

The last two are equivalent to a gold and silver medal of a European Order.

The Order of the Auspicious Phoenix Design

The medal is struck in bronze and has a pink silk ribbon.

The Order of the Eight Trigrams

The Order of the Eight Trigrams (P’alwaejang) was instituted on 17th April 1901 by Emperor Kwangmu, the last King of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea.

The Order was awarded in eight classes:

  • Grand Cordon
  • Second Class
  • Third Class
  • Fourth Class
  • Fifth Class
  • Sixth Class
  • Seventh Class
  • Eighth Class

The last two are equivalent to a gold and silver medal of a European Order.

The Order of the Eight Trigrams Design

The symbolism of the Order insignia is the Chinese Ba Gua, based on Taoist principles. These Bagua or Pakua symbols are used in Taoist cosmology to represent the fundamental principles of reality, seen as a range of eight interrelated concepts. Each consists of three lines, each line either “broken” or “unbroken”, respectively representing yin or yang, 0 or 1 forming binary numbers 000-111 (0 to 7).

The 1st Class medal is enameled on both sides. The other classes have a plain reverse with an inscription in kanji.

The Order of Taeguk or Order of the National Crest

The Order of Taeguk or Order of the National Crest (Taegukjang) was instituted on 11th April 1900 by Emperor Kwangmu, the last King of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea.

The Order was only awarded in a superior class and eight ordinary classes:

  • Grand Cordon
  • Second Class
  • Third Class
  • Fourth Class
  • Fifth Class
  • Sixth Class
  • Seventh Class
  • Eighth Class

The last two are equivalent to a gold and silver medal of a European Order.

The Order of Taeguk Design

The insignia of the order is struck in silver with red, white, and blue enamels. It measures 88.5 mm (wide) x 89.5 mm (high). The Order is mounted on a wight-pointed starbase, each of the star points with three rays.

The Order of the Purple Falcon

The Order of the Purple Falcon (Chaungjang) was instituted on 16th April 1901 by Emperor Kwangmu, the last King of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea. The Order was given as a reward for distinguished military services.

The Order was only awarded in the following classes:

  • Grand Cordon
  • Second Class
  • Third Class
  • Fourth Class
  • Fifth Class
  • Sixth Class
  • Seventh Class
  • Eighth Class

The last two are equivalent to a gold and silver medal of a European Order.

The Order of the Purple Falcon Design

The Order is a large cross struck in bronze and has colored enamels on the obverse.

The Grand Order of the Plum Blossoms

The Grand Order of the Plum Blossoms (Lihwa Taehunjang) was instituted on 17th April 1900 by Emperor Kwangmu, the last King of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea. It was conferred upon holders of the Grand Cordon of the Taeguk Order of Merit. This decoration was actually the superior class of the that one.

The Order was only awarded in one class only (Grand Cordon).

The Grand Order of the Plum Blossoms Design

The Order is a large grand cross sash badge struck in silver gilt. It is a white four-armed star, each arm composed of a cluster of three rays with three plum blossoms in each quadrant.

The obverse presents, in the center, the taeguk in blue and red enamels with red enameled sun burst surround. The reverse is mirrored.

The suspension is a large Hibiscus flower with five green enameled leaves.

The Grand Order of the Auspicious Stars

The Grand Order of the Auspicious Stars (Sosong Taehunjang) was instituted on 17th April 1900 by Emperor Kwangmu, the first Emperor of Korea.

The Grand Order of the Auspicious Stars (Sosong Taehunjang) was instituted on 17th April 1900 by Emperor Kwangmu, the last King of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea. It was conferred upon civil and military personnel who had previously been awarded the Grand Order of the Plum Blossoms, in recognition of outstandingly meritorious service.

The Order actually functioned as the second class of the Grand Order of the Golden Ruler. It was only awarded in one class only (Grand Cordon).

The Grand Order of the Auspicious Stars Design

The Order features characters in the reverse that translate to “Auspicious Stars Great Decoration”.

The Grand Order of the Gold Cheok or Golden Ruler

The Grand Order of the Gold Cheok (or Golden Ruler) was instituted in 1900 by Emperor Kwangmu, the first Emperor of Korea.

The Order of the Gold Cheok (Kumch’ok Taehunjang, also known as the Order of the Golden Ruler) was instituted on 17th April 1900 by Emperor Kwangmu, the last King of Joseon and the first Emperor of Korea.

The Order was conferred on heads of state, royalty only and very rarely on certain selected individuals that already held the Grand Order of the Auspicious Stars. The Order of the Gold Cheok was awarded in only one class: Grand Collar with Grand Cordon.

The Grand Order of the Gold Cheok or Golden Ruler Design

The Order consists of a large silver sash badge with four arms, each of them composed of groups three large white rays, plus a clusters of five rays in each quadrant. There are also three Hibiscus blossoms in white enamels in each quadrant, which form a surrounding laurel. The medal measures 66.7 mm (wide) x 108 mm (high, including suspension)

The obverse presents, in the center, the taeguk in blue and red enamels. There are silver rulers extending from center along each arm. The reverse is mirrored.

The suspension is a horizontally pierced ball with a large Hibiscus flower and five green enameled leaves.

The Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal

The Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal was created to celebrate the ascension of Emperor Hirohito (the Showa Emperor) to the throne.

The Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal was created to celebrate the ascension of Emperor Hirohito (the Showa Emperor) to the throne, who did so upon the death of his father in 1926. The enthronement ceremonies were held in 1928.

The medal was freely issued to people throughout the country who participated in the celebration ceremonies.

The Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal Design

Some Showa Enthronement medals were struck in sharper relief, with the small gold mum crest as an attached piece. The ribbon was apparently designed from the drapes of the enthronement pavilion.

The obverse shows the imperial throne with the words ‘Banzai‘ written below. Cherry and orange blossoms surround the
ring. The reverse has cloud shapes and an inscription reading ‘Showa 3 [1928] November, Enthronement Commemorative
Medal.‘

The medal was awarded in a purple, red, black or brown (among other colors) cardboard case with gold lettering on the front.

The 1920 Japan Census Medal

The 1920 Japan Census Medal was given to official census takers or those employed by the census bureau. It was instituted by Imperial Edict.

  • Time Period: Pre-WW1
  • Institution: 17 June 1921
  • Country: Medals from Japan Japan

The 1920 Japan Census Medal was given to official census takers or those employed by the census bureau. The medal was instituted by Imperial Edict on 17 June 1921 to acknowledge those who participated and assisted in the first national Japanese census that began on 1 October 1920.

There is only one official census medal for Japan, although a few censuses were taken from 1920 until the end of the war. Each was taken every five years except for 1945 (because of the war). The official records show that the Japanese national census took place in these years: 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1947, 1950, and so on every five years.

The 1920 Japan Census Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in bronze and has a leaf-shaped claw. The suspension is a laterally-pierced cylinder.

The obverse shows the figure of an official of the Taika (Great Reform) era (AD 646) with a brush in his right hand, a rolled scroll in his left, standing before a table, all within a scalloped border representing the outline of a chrysanthemum crest. The reverse has the inscription ‘Taishō 9th Year / National Census / Commemorative Medal / 10th Month, 1st Day’.

The medal was awarded in a paulownia wood case with a white velvet fitted insert.

The Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal

The Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal was created to celebrate the ascension of the Taisho Emperor to the throne in 1912.

The Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal was created to celebrate the ascension of the Taisho Emperor to the throne, who did so upon the death of his father in 1912. The enthronement ceremonies, however, were held in 1915.

The medal was freely issued to people throughout the country who participated in the celebration ceremonies. It was issued in a men’s and a women’s version.

The Taisho Enthronement Commemorative Medal Design

The obverse of the medal shows imperial banners with ‘Banzai’ written within each. Branches of cherry and orange
blossoms. The reverse has the inscription ‘Taisho 4 [1915] November, Enthronement Commemorative Medal.’

It is said that the ribbon was designed from the drapes of the outdoor pavilion used in the ceremonies.

The medal was awarded in a wooden or cardboard box with gold lettering.