Order of National Glory/國光勳章

The Order of National Glory /a.k.a. Guóguāng order or Kuo-Kwang order/ is the highest military decoration of the Republic of China awarded for extraordinary meritorious service in time of war against foreign aggression. Order was enacted on November 8, 1937, came into effect on February 20, 1937 and implemented on February 20, 1938. The order insignia features an eagle in the center and rays of gold and four plum blossoms on the border, symbolizing that the awardee has helped bring a bright future to the nation.

According to the Army, Navy and Air Force Awards Regulation /陆海空军勋赏条例/, this order awarded to those who:

1. Annihilate all or most of the enemy forces and seize important enemy locations, artillery or important military equipment, etc.

2. Those who hold the key points and prevent the enemy from succeeding, thus enabling our army to achieve superficial success.

3. Those who killed or captured important enemy personnel.

4. Those who cut off the enemy’s communications or seize their food and weapons, thereby achieving success in the battle.

5. Risking the laying of mines with the purpose of sinking enemy warships or causing damage, thereby rendering the enemy incapable of combat.

6. Those who take risks to break through the enemy’s encirclement or blockade, endure hardships in fighting and transportation, and finally achieve their goal.

7. The first to occupy a defended bay, port or city.

8. Capture or sink enemy warships and military vessels.

9. Those who venture into the enemy’s harbor and destroy their ships.

10. Shooting down five or more enemy aircraft in the air and destroying eight or more enemy aircraft on the ground in one mission.

11. Those who fulfill their mission by taking the risk of blockading the enemy’s ports.

12. Aerial bombing hits enemy fortresses, important military ports, aircraft carriers, battleships and their important military equipment, causing them to be completely destroyed or sunk, affecting the enemy's combat power, or bombing key transportation points to paralyze the enemy's transportation and supply, thereby achieving a major victory, which is fully proven.

13. Risky reconnaissance is precise and accurate, and is used to gain insight into the enemy's situation and achieve victory, thereby inflicting heavy losses on the enemy or preventing heavy losses on our own troops.

14. Capturing or shooting down five or more enemy aircraft or capturing eight or more enemy tanks.

1.歼灭敌军全部或大部,并夺获敌军重要地点,及军旅火炮或重要军备等。

2.坚守要隘使敌不得逞,致我军克奏肤功者。

3.歼殪或捕获敌军重要人员者。

4.断绝敌军交通,或夺获敌军粮军械,战局因以奏功者。

5.冒险伏置水雷,得以轰沉敌之军舰或加危害,使敌失战斗力者。

6.冒险冲破敌之包围或封锁,以苦战斗运输之途,终得达其目的者。

7.首先占领有守备之炮湾港湾或城市者。

8.夺获或击沉敌力军舰及军用船只者。

9.冒险入敌之港湾破坏其船舰者。

10.于一次任务中空中击落敌机五架以上,地面击毁敌机八架以上者。

11.冒险封锁敌之港湾得尽其任务者。

12.空中轰炸命中敌之要塞、重要军港、航空母舰主力舰及其重要军事设备使之全毁或沉没,影响敌力战力或轰炸交通要点使敌军运输补给陷于瘫痪因而获得重大胜利,有充分证明者。

13.冒险侦察精密准确,赖以洞悉敌情因获胜利,予敌重大损失或使我军避免重大损失者。

14.捕获或击落敌之飞机五架以上或捕获敌军战车八辆以上者。


Theoretically, military personnel of all ranks are eligible for this order, but all five known recipients of this order /Chiang Kai-shek, Fu Zuoyi, Zhou Zhirou, Yu Dawei and He Yingqin/ were all commanders (or civilian officials of equivalent status).​

1937-type order.

Following orders /from unissued stock/ are known.

No. 19

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 50 mm.
Weight 39.6 g.

Order of National Glory No. 19.jpg


Reverse

國光勳章 - Order of National Glory

印铸局 - Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Order of National Glory No.19.jpg


Ribbon.

Order of National  Glory No.19.jpg
Order  of National  Glory No.19.jpg
 
No. 24

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 50 mm.

Order of National Glory 國光勳章.jpg
Order of National  Glory 國光勳章.jpg


Reverse

國光勳章 - Order of National Glory

Note a different manufacturer's mark

府廠製 - Made by the Government Plant /mark of the Central Engraving and Printing Plant (中央印製廠) of the Office of the President of the Republic of China that was used during 1946-1949 period/

Medallion.

Medallion.jpg
 
At least three orders from unissued stock are currently in the collection of National Museum of Taiwan History.

No. 20

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 50 mm.

20.jpg
No.20.jpg


No. 60

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 50 mm.

No. 60.jpg
No.60.jpg


Number unknown.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 53 mm.
Thickness 5 mm.

No.jpg
 
One of five orders that was actually issued on display at Yu Dawei Memorial Hall, Taiwan.

Awarded to Lieutenant general Yu Dawei.jpg


Awarded to Lieutenant General Yu Dawei /a.k.a. Yu Ta-wei; 俞大维; December 2, 1897 - July 8, 1993).

Display.jpg


Display..jpg


Yu Dawei Memorial Hall.

National Museum of Taiwan History.jpg
 
1980-type order.

On December 19, 1980 (the 69th year of the Republic of China), Regulations on Awards for Navy, Army and Air Force were revised. Order breast ribbon was changed to sash and breast star was added.

國光勳章 .jpg
 
Actual 1980 full set on display at National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei.

The_Order_of_National_Glory_Awarded_to_Chiang_Kai-Shek.jpg


The_Order_of_National_Glory_Awarded_to _Chiang_ Kai-Shek.jpg
The_Order_of_National_Glory_ Awarded_to_Chiang_ Kai-Shek.jpg
 
Since Chiang Kai-shek died on April 5, 1975 he couldn't own order of 1980 type. He became the first recipient of the order of 1937 type on October 10, 1943.

Chiang  Kai-shek.jpg


Chiang Kai-shek.jpg
 
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    china republic awards and decorations china republic bureau of engraving and printing chinese military order of national glory chinese order order of national glory 中央印製廠製造 印铸局 國光勳章 府廠製 陆海空军勋赏条例
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