Item number: M325

Year: AD 1906-1935

Material: Copper

Size: 43.2 x 43.2 x 2.2 mm

Weight: 32.85 g

Manufactured by: Tokyo, Gyokuhodo

Provenance: Private Collector, Taiwan, 2024

On November 1, AD 1905 (Meiji 38), the Government-General of Taiwan, in accordance with the Badge Regulation for Village and Ward Leaders, issued an order to formally distribute copper identification badges the following year. These badges were provided to local ward leaders (甲長) across Taiwan to signify their role in assisting with the maintenance of public order.

The badge is circular in shape with a slightly raised thickness. The obverse side features a radiating petal motif, with the centre embossed with the two characters “Ward Leader” (甲長) in seal script. The reverse side contains two sturdy clasps, designed for the ward leader to affix the badge to their left arm during patrols.

In AD 1899, shortly after Japan took control of Taiwan, the authorities continued to face resistance from local militias opposed to colonial rule. In response, Civil Affairs Chief Goto Shinpei, following the advice of prominent local figures such as Koo Hsien-jung, decided to adopt the baojia system, which had been used during the Qing administration to monitor communities. Under this system, every ten households formed a Jia (ward), and every hundred households formed a Bao (district), serving as a mechanism for social surveillance.

Both baozheng (district leaders) and jiazhang (ward leaders) became key figures in assisting the Japanese administration by disseminating orders and ensuring their implementation at the local level. In 1905, the Governor-General’s Office introduced identification badges for these roles, both to enhance recognition and as a means of fostering loyalty. The office commissioned approximately 60,000 badges from the Tokyo-based jeweller Gyokuhodo. The following year, formal award ceremonies were held across Taiwan, presided over by local Japanese officials, where the badges were ceremoniously presented. Leaders were required to wear these badges while performing official duties to ensure clear identification and authority.

Receiving the identification badge was regarded by some as an honour, and certain individuals even used it to flaunt their authority. However, others criticised the copper badge for being aesthetically unappealing and complained that wearing it on the left arm damaged delicate silk garments.

As time progressed into the 1930s, the Governor-General’s Office introduced a new version of the badge on January 1, AD 1935. By this period, the role of these badges had become less connected to the enforcement of local administration and had largely evolved into a social accessory, serving more as a symbol of status than as a practical tool for governance.

物件編號: M325

年代: 公元 1906-1935 年

材質: 紅銅

尺寸: 43.2 x 43.2 x 2.2 mm

重量: 32.85 g

製造地: 東京，玉寶堂

來源: 臺灣私人收藏 2024

明治38年 (公元1905年) 11月1日，臺灣總督府根據《保正甲長徽章制度》命令，於次年正式發給全臺各地協助維持地方治安的甲長，供其配戴的銅質身分章。

獎章形制為一個正圓，厚度微微隆起。獎章正面以輻射狀花瓣作為造型，中央是浮凸的篆書「甲長」兩字。獎章背面有兩個牢固的扣子，讓甲長在巡視時掛於左臂上。

公元1899年，領臺不久的日本當局仍然受到各地不甘統治的民兵騷擾。因此民政長官後藤新平在辜顯榮等仕紳的建議下，決定沿用清領時期控制地方的「保甲制度」，即十戶設為一甲，百戶設為一保的社會監視手段。同時保正和甲長也是協助日本官方下達和實踐指令的第一線重要人員。公元1905年，總督府為了讓保正和甲長便於識別，同時也是作為攏絡人心的手段。因此總督府委託東京的珠寶商「玉寶堂」製造總計六萬份左右的保正和甲長身分章。於隔年在各地舉行由日籍地方首長親自主持的隆重授與儀式，並且要求保正和甲長在執行公務時務必配戴。

獲得身分章有人視為殊榮，甚至還有人以此作威作福。但同時也有人反映銅質身分章不甚雅觀，而且配於左臂會弄壞衣服絲綢的抱怨。隨著時序進入30年代，總督府於公元1935年1月1日發行新式的身分章，此時跟地方行政的執行已沒有強制關聯，多半成為社交的飾品功能。