Size: case 105.0 x 56.8 x 22.1 / medal 29.4 x 80.5 x 2.0 mm
Weight: 29.3 g
Provenance: Private Collector, Taiwan, 2022
This medal is the “1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War Medal,” also known as the “Meiji 37-38 Military Service Medal,” which is established in the year AD 1906 (Meiji 39) of the Meiji Era, crafted from copper and plated in gold.
According to Imperial Decree No. 51 issued by the Emperor of Japan, recipients of this medal included military personnel, their families, and civilians who contributed to the military effort during the Russo-Japanese War between AD 1904 and AD 1905.
The appearance of this medal is a circular copper gilt medal. On the obverse side, the naval flag on the left and the army flag on the right intersect, with a chrysanthemum crest in the upper half and the imperial crest of paulownia leaves in the lower half (this design is the emblem of the Japanese government and also a secondary emblem of the imperial family). On the reverse side, laurel and oak branches decorate both sides, with the Japanese kanji characters “Meiji 37-38 Campaign” inscribed in seal script in the center. Above the fixed ribbon suspension, the words “Military Service Medal” are written, and the ribbon has three colors: white stripes on the sides with green stripes in between, and navy blue in the center.
The medal is stored in a rectangular wooden case, with the front surface adorned with gold-stamped clerical script inscription of the Japanese characters “明治卅七八年從軍記章” (Meiji 37-38 Military Service Medal).
The Russo-Japanese War constituted the first large-scale international conflict of the 20th centuries, holding a paramount significance in both international political history and military history. This war precipitated a profound transformation in the power dynamics of the Far East region at the beginning of the 20th centuries. Japan, having emerged victorious, witnessed an unprecedented surge in national confidence and militarism. Apart from its significant impact on the international politics of the early 20th century in the Far East, the Russo-Japanese War also sowed the seeds for the later Pacific War between Japan and the United States during the Second World War.
The tension between Japan and Russia could traced back to the first Sino-Japanese war. Following the First Sino-Japanese War of AD 1894-AD 1895, Russia, along with Germany and France, compelled Japan to relinquish the Liaodong Peninsula. Subsequently, Russia incorporated the peninsula into its sphere of influence, laying the groundwork for future conflicts between Japan and Russia. During the Boxer Rebellion(AD 1899-AD 1901), Russia, citing the protection of the Trans-Siberian Railway, occupied the entire territory of the Three Eastern Provinces (Manchuria). Despite numerous negotiations, China and Russia signed the “Agreement between Russia and China with Regard to Manchuria” on April 8, AD 1902, stipulating the return of the provinces to China, with Russian troops to withdraw in three phases over 18 months. However, when Russia failed to adhere to the withdrawal schedule in April AD 1903, and instead increased its military presence, it sparked anti-Russian sentiments in China and further intensified the conflicts between Japan and Russia in Northeast China. Combined with the escalating competition between Japan and Russia in Korea, the Russo-Japanese War erupted in AD 1904.
物件編號: M110
年代: 公元 1906 年
材質: 青銅鍍金
尺寸: 盒 105.0 x 56.8 x 22.1 / 獎章 29.4 x 80.5 x 2.0 mm