China War Medal

(Modern Copy Miniature)

中國戰爭獎章

(現代迷你版)

Item number: M304

Year: AD 1990-2000s

Material: Light Nickel or Silvered Base Metal

Size: 54.0 x 18.8 x 1.9 mm

Weight: 7.3 g

Provenance: Dixons Medals 2024

This is a miniature replica, produced between 1990-2000s, modelled after the silver “China War Medal” established in AD 1843. The original medal was awarded to British military personnel who participated in the First Opium War between AD 1840 and AD 1842.

The obverse of this medal features a portrait of Queen Victoria, who had been on the throne for less than a decade at the time and was only 24 years old. The depiction presents a youthful and slender likeness of the Queen, with the inscription “VICTORIA REGINA” (Queen Victoria) engraved on both sides of the bust.

The reverse of the medal features a palm tree, beneath which lies a shield bearing the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, along with cannon and various weapons. The upper edge is inscribed with the Latin phrase “ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM” (To seek peace by force). At the bottom, the inscription reads “CHINA” along with the year of the campaign, “1842.”

It is noteworthy that the original design for the reverse, created by engraver William Wyon, depicted a lion, symbolising England, trampling a dragon, symbolising China. However, the British government deemed this imagery too offensive to China and ultimately opted for a version featuring a pile of weapons as the central motif.

The medal is suspended from a bar suspension that connects to a red ribbon with yellow stripes, allowing the recipient to wear it on their chest.

The First Opium War occurred from AD 1840 to AD 1842 and concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Nanking. The war was triggered in AD 1838 when Emperor Daoguang appointed Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu to Guangzhou to enforce a ban on opium. Upon his arrival, Lin Zexu promptly destroyed over 20,000 chests of British-imported opium at Humen. This action provoked British discontent, leading to military actions against the Qing Dynasty in AD 1840, ultimately resulting in a British victory in AD 1842.

The Treaty of Nanking, signed after the First Opium War, was the first of the unequal treaties in modern Chinese history, marking the beginning of semi-colonialism in China. As a result, China lost its consular jurisdiction and tariff autonomy, most-favoured-nation status to foreign powers, established foreign concessions, and opened five ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou.

In AD 1843, the British government issued the China War Medal to honour soldiers who had distinguished themselves during the First Opium War. The design of this medal continued to be used for the Second Opium War, with the addition of six different clasps for the latter. Following the Boxer Rebellion, a new China War Medal was instituted by Britain, maintaining the reverse design and ribbon from the previous two medals, though the obverse featuring Queen Victoria’s portrait and the inscriptions were altered.

物件編號: M304

年代: 公元 1990-2000s

材質: 輕鎳或鍍銀基底金屬

尺寸: 54.0 x 18.8 x 1.9 mm

重量: 7.3 g

來源: 迪生獎章 2024

這是公元1990-2000 年代,後人模仿公元1843年設立的銀質「中國戰爭獎章」迷你版。這款獎章是獎勵公元1840至1842年間,參與第一次鴉片戰爭的英軍官兵。

這枚獎章正面為時任英國統治者的維多利亞女王,彼時登基未滿十年的女王芳齡才24歲,左側胸像的形象十分苗挑和青春,左右兩側鐫刻「VICTORIA REGINA」(維多利亞女王) 銘文。

獎章背面有一棵棕櫚樹,樹下有一面英國皇家紋章的盾牌、火炮和各種兵械。上緣環有拉丁文字樣「ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM」(以武力求取和平)。底部標示「CHINA」(中國)以及戰役年份「1842」。值得一提的是,雕刻家威廉·威恩原先替背面設計的圖案是一隻象徵英國的獅子踐踏一條象徵中國的龍。但是英國政府考量這個圖像太過冒犯中國,最終決定使用以兵械堆作為意象的版本。

獎章上緣以桿式懸掛銜接紅底黃條的綬帶,供得獎者配戴於胸前。

第一次鴉片戰爭發生於公元1840年,並於公元1842年以簽訂《南京條約》告終。導火線為公元1838年,道光皇帝特派欽差大臣林則徐前往廣州禁煙。林則徐到任後,隨即於虎門銷毀英國進口鴉片2萬餘箱。此舉引來英國不滿,並以此為藉口,於公元1840年對清朝發起軍事行動,最終在公元1842年取得勝利。

第一次鴉片戰爭後所簽訂的《南京條約》,是中國近代史上第一個不平等條約,使清朝陷入半殖民的局面。中國自此喪失領事裁判權、關稅自主權,同時給予列強片面最惠國待遇、設立租界等權益,並開放上海、寧波、廈門、福州、廣州五個港口。

公元1843年,英國政府頒布這面中國戰爭獎章,以獎勵第一次鴉片戰爭期間有功的軍士。而這面獎章的形制沿用至第二次鴉片戰爭,惟第二次鴉片戰爭所授予的中國戰爭獎章還增加了6種銘條。八國聯軍後,英國又設立新的中國戰爭獎章,這面獎章背面的形式、綬帶仍沿用前兩次所頒布的戰爭獎章,唯獨正面維多利亞女王像和上緣字樣有所更易

類似/相同物件 請看:

英國 皇家格林威治博物館 Royal Museums Greenwich

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-40484

英國 國家陸軍博物館 National Army Museum

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1976-08-2-1

更多相關訊息請參考:

John Hayward, Diana Birch and Richard Bishop, British Battles and Medals Seventh Edition (London: Spink, 2006)

Borna Barac, Reference Catalogue Orders, Medals and Decorations of the World – Part II (Zagreb: OBOL, 2010)

指文號角工作室主編,《號角:世界經典制服徽章藝術IX》(北京市:台海出版社,2018)

指文號角工作室主編,《號角:世界經典制服徽章藝術X》(北京市:台海出版社,2019)

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