Item number: M316

Year: AD 1912

Material: Bronze

Size: Case 106.4 x 57.4 x 22.3 / Medal 75.3 x 30.8 x 2.4 mm

Weight: Case 33.85 / Medal 17.4 g

Provenance: Private Collector, Japan, 2024

This is the “Korea Annexation Commemorative Medal,” established in accordance with the Japanese government’s Order No. 56, issued on March 28, AD 1912 (Meiji 45).

The medal is circular in appearance, made of bronze, and housed in a wooden storage box. The designer of the medal’s motif is Sato Iwa. The obverse features the chrysanthemum pattern, symbolising the Japanese imperial family, with a branch of the Korean national tree (the Korean pine) on the left and a paulownia leaf branch representing Japan on the right, symbolising their unification.

The reverse side has the inscription “Korea Annexation Commemorative Medal” in the centre, with the date “August 29, Meiji 43” inscribed above and below, marking the day the Treaty of Japan-Korea Annexation officially came into effect.

The medal is attached to a ribbon by a silver circular ring at the top. The ribbon features a central red colour, flanked on both sides by white and orange. The medal was primarily awarded to three categories of recipients: individuals directly involved in the annexation of Korea, Japanese and Korean officials who were working in Korea at the time of the annexation, and individuals who made significant contributions to Japan-Korea relations.

Following Japan’s victory over the Qing Empire in the First Sino-Japanese War in AD 1895, Japanese influence in the Korean Peninsula increased significantly. Subsequently, the Joseon Dynasty transformed into the Korean Empire and sought to implement Western-style reforms domestically while attempting to align with Russia externally for balance. However, after Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War in AD 1905, Korea became a protectorate under Japanese control through unequal treaties.

The Japanese government was divided over the decision to formally annex Korea. On October 26, AD 1909, the assassination of Ito Hirobumi, the President of the Privy Council who was hesitant about annexation, by the Korean patriot An Jung-geun in Harbin expedited Japan’s plans for annexation. Ultimately, on August 22, AD 1910, Japan coerced Korea into signing the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty. This marked the beginning of 35 years of colonial rule over Korea by Japan, which lasted until the end of World War II.

物件編號: M316

年代: 公元 1912 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 盒 106.4 x 57.4 x 22.3 / 獎章 75.3 x 30.8 x 2.4 mm

重量: 盒 33.85 / 獎章 17.4 g

來源: 日本私人收藏 2024

這是依照明治45年 (公元1912年) 3月28日，日本政府頒布的〈敕令第56號〉制定的「韓國合併記念章」。

獎章外觀為圓形，材質為青銅並安置於木製收納盒內。獎章圖案的設計者為佐藤磐，正面圖案為象徵日本皇室的菊花紋，左側為象徵韓國的李樹樹枝和右側代表日本的桐葉枝，兩者打結象徵整合為一體。背面的中央有兩行銘文「韓國併合記念章」，上下兩側的銘文為「明治四十三年八月二十九日」，即《日韓合併條約》正式生效的日子。

獎章上方以一個銀質圓環銜接綬帶。綬帶配色以紅色為中心，左右兩側對齊的白色和橘色。獎章頒發的對象主要有三類：直接參與日韓合併的人員、合併時在韓工作的日本官員和韓國官員、對於日韓關係作出重大貢獻的人士。

隨著公元1895年，日本於甲午戰爭擊敗朝鮮李氏王朝的宗主國清帝國後，日本在朝鮮半島的影響力日益遽增。後續李氏王朝更改國名為大韓帝國，並且對內引入西式變革和對外意圖拉攏俄國作為平衡。但是隨著日本在公元1905年日俄戰爭又一次勝出，韓國淪為日本以不平等條約掌控的保護國。但日本政府對於是否要正式吞併韓國一直有爭議。公元1909年10月26日，對於合併持疑慮的樞密院議長伊藤博文在哈爾濱遭到韓國愛國人士安重根刺殺後，日本政府加快吞併韓國的步伐。最終於公元1910年8月22日，日本脅迫韓國簽訂《日韓合併條約》。韓國就此陷入日本長達35年的殖民統治，直到第二次世界大戰結束為止。