Order of the Eight Trigrams
(Full Size), Second Class
貳等八卦勳章
(官方版)
Item number: M318
Year: AD 1901-1910
Material: Silver and Enamel
Size: 86.9 x 86.9 x 15.3 mm
Weight: 85.15 g
Provenance: Spink 2024
This is an Eight Trigrams Order, officially established on April 16, AD 1901 (Gwangmu 4), under Imperial Decree No. 10 of the Korean Empire. The Eight Trigrams Order was ranked fifth in the hierarchy of Korean imperial decorations. It consisted of eight classes, with this specific piece belonging to the second-class breast star. The second-class order was intended to be worn together with a smaller neck ribbon badge.
The obverse side of the Eight Trigrams Order features a radiating floral design, with six evenly spaced petals inlaid with blue enamel bordered in white. At the centre, a silver medallion is adorned with red enamel, displaying the Eight Trigrams symbol, which reflects the profound influence of Taoist philosophy and has become a cultural emblem of the Korean people. Each grade of the order corresponds to a specific trigram, with the second class associated with the Duì trigram (☱).
Class | Eight Trigrams | Image |
1st Class | Qián | ☰ |
2nd Class | Duì | ☱ |
3rd Class | Lí | ☲ |
4th Class | Zhèn | ☳ |
5th Class | Xùn | ☴ |
6th Class | Kǎn | ☵ |
7th Class | Gèn | ☶ |
8th Class | Kūn | ☷ |
The reverse side of the medal features two short pins on either side and a long central pin for securing the medal, with the words “Second Class of Meritorious Service” (勳功貳等) indicating its rank. Based on the design of the medal and the font used on the reverse, it can be inferred that this medal was likely designed and manufactured by Japan, which was gradually asserting control over the situation on the Korean Peninsula at that time.
In AD 1897, King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty ended his refuge in the Russian embassy and proclaimed the establishment of the “Korean Empire,” changing the era name to “Gwangmu” and declaring himself emperor. This move aimed to seek an independent path between the two neighbouring powers of Japan and Russia. During the Gwangmu era, the Korean Empire promoted Westernisation reforms; however, it ultimately succumbed to Japanese annexation in AD 1910, becoming a colony.
物件編號: M318
年代: 公元 1901-1910 年
材質: 銀, 琺瑯
尺寸: 86.9 x 86.9 x 15.3 mm
重量: 85.15 g
來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2024
這是光武4年(公元1901年) 4月16日,根據大韓帝國〈敕令第10號〉頒布的「八卦勳章」,八卦勳章在大韓帝國的勳章排名為第五等。八卦勳章共有八個等級,這枚勳章屬於第二等的星章,應當跟另一枚尺寸較小的領綬獎章一同穿搭。
勳章正面為輻射的花瓣狀,其中有六道等距的鑲白邊藍色琺瑯。正中央的銀盤部分則以紅色琺瑯彩繪,呈現深受道家文化影響和成為韓民族象徵的「八卦」符號。八卦勳章的每個等級有各自對應的掛象,第二等對應兌掛「☱」。
等級 | 八卦 | 圖案 |
一等 | 乾 | ☰ |
二等 | 兌 | ☱ |
三等 | 離 | ☲ |
四等 | 震 | ☳ |
五等 | 巽 | ☴ |
六等 | 坎 | ☵ |
七等 | 艮 | ☶ |
八等 | 坤 | ☷ |