Order of the Chrysanthemum

Order of the Chrysanthemum
大勲位菊花章
Dai-kun'i kikka-shō
Order of the Chrysanthemum of Victor Emmanuel III. Musée de la Légion d'Honneur
Awarded by the Emperor of Japan
Awarded for At the monarch's pleasure
Status Currently constituted
Sovereign HIM The Emperor
Grades (w/ post-nominals) Collar
Grand Cordon
Established 1876
Precedence
Next (higher) None; highest.
Next (lower) Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Ribbon of the Order

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花章 Dai-kun'i kikka-shō, literally Grand Order of the Badge of the Chrysanthemums) is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on January 4, 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded "with collar," meaning on a chain, or "with grand cordon," accompanied by a sash. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.

Apart from the Imperial Family, only six Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi in 1928. Seven others have been posthumously decorated with the collar; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Sato Eisaku in 1975. Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreign heads of state, who can be awarded the collar in friendship.

The grand cordon is the highest possible honour a Japanese citizen can be awarded during his lifetime. Aside from the Imperial Family, 21 grand cordons have been awarded to living citizens and 29 to the deceased.

Insignia

The collar of the order is made of gold, and features the kanji for "Meiji," in classic form, indicating the era of the order's establishment. It is decorated with gold chrysanthemum blossoms and green-enamelled leaves.

The sash of the grand cordon of the order is red with dark blue border stripes. It is worn on the right shoulder.

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but in silver, without the chrysanthemum suspension, and with an eight-pointed gilt medallion (with white-enamelled rays and red-enamelled sun disc) placed at the centre. It is worn on the left chest.

The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilt badge with white-enamelled rays; the centre bears a red enamelled sun disc. On each of the four corners of the badge is a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum blossom with green-enamelled chrysanthemum leaves. The badge is suspended on a yellow-enamelled chrysanthemum, either on the collar or on the grand cordon.

Ribbon bars

Collar
Grand Cordon

Sovereigns

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royals

Marshal-Admiral Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō, with the Collar and the Grand Cordon of the Orders of the Chrysanthemum. Tōgō was one of the only six subjects to whom the Collar was made while living.

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Posthumous award to foreign royalty

Awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family and royals

Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to imperial princes while living

Posthumous awards to imperial princes

Awards to foreign royals

Ordinary awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Information incorporated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to living individuals

Posthumous awards

Ordinary awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

Incorporates information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Awards made to living recipients

* Later awarded the Collar
** Posthumously awarded the Collar

Posthumous awards

Foreign recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Collar

Grand Cordon

Collar (deceased)

Grand Cordon (deceased)

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ms/po/page22_001017.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bortrick, William (2009) The Royal Family - HM Queen Elizabeth II, Burke's Peerage & Gentry
  3. ↑ Promoted from Grand Cordon in 1987.
  4. ↑ Order awarded 5 Oct. 1971:Regiments: British, Empire, Commonwealth
  5. ↑ Order awarded 5 Oct. 1971:Regiments: British, Empire, Commonwealth
  6. ↑ ViewImages.com
  7. ↑ Danish Crown Prince website
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Belga Pictures, State visit in Japan, 1996, Sovereign couples & Prince Philippe
  10. ↑ Order awarded 26th May 1994, mentioned in his biography in the official publication of the Belgian Senate
  11. ↑ http://www.estonia.com.au/pics/er_21.pdf
  12. ↑ President of the Republic of Lithuania - Biography
  13. ↑ Polish presidential web page
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ Honor awarded 1930 -- "Japan to Decorate King Alfonso Today; Emperor's Brother Nears Madrid With Collar of the Chrysanthemum for Spanish King." New York Times, November 3, 1930.
  16. ↑ Decoration probably conferred during 1969 State Visit to Japan -- no specific citation support.
  17. ↑ Promoted from Grand Cordon awarded in 1955.
  18. ↑ osmanlihanedanvakfi.com
  19. ↑ "The Martyrs of Turkish Fleet at the Shore of Ooshima" (slides 5-6 of "A Brief Introduction to International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians"). Rotary Mariners. Archived from the original on 8 February 2005.
  20. ↑ Redesdale, Lord, The Garter Mission to Japan. London: Macmillan, 1906.P. 26.
  21. ↑ Honor awarded 1954 -- Weisman, Stephen. "Reagan Given Top Award by Japanese," New York Times. October 24, 1989.
  22. ↑ Honor awarded 1929 -- "Imperial Garter," Time Magazine, May 13, 1929.
  23. ↑ Honor awarded in 1938 -- "Flower to Mussolini," Time Magazine, September 5, 1938.
  24. ↑ Honor awarded in 1024 -- "Japan Decorates Obregon; Order of the Chrysanthemum is Conferred by Special Ambassador," New York Times, November 28, 1924.
  25. ↑ Honor awarded 1931 -- Mighty Monarch," Time Magazine, April 20, 1931.
  26. ↑ Honor awarded 1989 -- Weisman, Stephen. "Reagan Given Top Award by Japanese," New York Times. October 24, 1989.
  27. ↑ Vancouver Maritime Museum
  28. ↑ Honor awarded 1966 --
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Shoa6

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/congrats-to-him-pm-modi-s-message-for-dr-manmohan-singh-616672?utm_source=ndtv&utm_medium=top-stories-widget&utm_campaign=story-1-http%3a%2f%2fwww.ndtv.com%2farticle%2findia%2fcongrats-to-him-pm-modi-s-message-for-dr-manmohan-singh-616672

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Order of the Chrysanthemum.

References

External links