Order of the Chrysanthemum

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Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
大勲位菊花章
Dai-kun'i kikka-shō
File:Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.png
Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Awarded by the Emperor of Japan
CountryFile:Flag of Japan.svg Japan
Awarded forExceptionally meritorious achievement/service
StatusCurrently constituted
Founder27 December 1876; 149 years ago (1876-12-27)
SovereignHM The Emperor
GradesGrand Cordon with Collar
Grand Cordon
Precedence
Next (higher)None (highest)
Next (lower)Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Order of the Precious Crown
File:Order Chrysantemum Sash.svg
Ribbon of the Order

The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花章, Dai-kun'i kikka-shō) is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the Collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.

Apart from the Imperial Family, only seven Japanese citizens have ever been decorated with the collar in their lifetimes; the last such award was to former prime minister Saionji Kinmochi in 1928. Eight others have been posthumously decorated with the collar; the last such award was to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.[1] Today, only the reigning Emperor holds this dignity as sovereign of the order; however, exceptions are made for foreign heads of state, who can be awarded the collar in friendship.

The grand cordon is the highest possible honour a Japanese citizen can be awarded during their lifetime. Aside from members of the Imperial Family, 53 Japanese citizens have been decorated with the grand cordon; of these, only 23 were living at the time of receipt.

Insignia

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The collar of the order is made of gold, and features the kanji for "Meiji", in classic form, indicating the era of the order's establishment. It is decorated with gold chrysanthemum blossoms and green-enameled leaves.

The sash of the grand cordon of the order is red with dark blue border stripes. It is worn on the right shoulder.

The star of the order is similar to the badge, but in silver, without the chrysanthemum suspension, and with an eight-pointed gilt medallion (with white-enameled rays and red-enameled sun disc) placed at the center. It is worn on the left chest.

The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilt badge with white-enameled rays; the center bears a red enameled sun disc. On each of the four corners of the badge is a yellow-enameled chrysanthemum blossom with green-enameled chrysanthemum leaves. The badge is suspended on a yellow-enameled chrysanthemum, either on the collar or on the grand cordon.

Ribbon bars
File:JPN Daikun'i kikkasho BAR.svg
Collar 		File:JPN Daikun'i kikkasho BAR.svg
Grand Cordon

Grades

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Name and image Enactment date Purpose of the award
大勲位菊花章頸飾(だいくんい きっかしょう けいしょく)
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
File:Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.png
 4 January 1888 It is said to be "a special gift for those decorated with the Supreme Order."[2][a]
大勲位菊花大綬章(だいくんい きっか だいじゅしょう)
Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
File:Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.png

badge (top), star (bottom right), rosette (bottom left)
 27 December 1876 "Specially awarded... to those who have excellent merit, above the merit for which the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun or the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasures would be awarded".[3]
大勲位菊花章(だいくんい きっかしょう)
Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
File:Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum 002.jpg
 27 December 1876 It has never been awarded on its own, instead it has been treated as the star of the Grand Cordon and of the Collar;

officially incorporated as the star of both grades in the 2003 institutional reform.

Sovereigns

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Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia[unreliable source?]
  • Emperor Meiji (Sovereign from 27 December 1876)
  • Emperor Taishō (Grand Cordon 3 November 1889; Collar 10 May 1900; Sovereign from 30 July 1912)
  • Emperor Shōwa (Grand Cordon 9 September 1912; Collar as Regent 24 September 1921; Sovereign from 25 December 1926)
  • Emperor Akihito (Grand Cordon 10 November 1952; Sovereign from 7 January 1989 to 30 April 2019)
  • Emperor Naruhito (Grand Cordon 23 February 1980; Sovereign since 1 May 2019)

Awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family

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Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia[unreliable source?]

Awards made to imperial princes while living

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Posthumous awards to imperial princes

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Awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum to members of the Imperial Family

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Information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia[unreliable source?]

Awards made to imperial princes while living

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Posthumous awards to imperial princes

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Ordinary awards of the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

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File:Tōgō Heihachirō.jpg
Marshal-Admiral Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō, with the Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Tōgō was one of only seven subjects to whom the Collar was awarded while living.
Information incorporated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia[unreliable source?]

Awards made to living individuals

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Posthumous awards

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* : Awarded with the Grand Cordon[4]

Ordinary awards of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

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Incorporates information from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia[unreliable source?]

Awards made to living recipients

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File:Tsugumichi Saigo 2.jpg
Marquis Saigō Tsugumichi
* : Later awarded the Collar
⁑ : Posthumously awarded the Collar

Posthumous awards

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File:Masayoshi Ohira 19790120.jpg
Masayoshi Ōhira
* : Awarded with the Collar[4]

Foreign recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum

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For a more comprehensive list, see List of foreign recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ すなわち、大勲位菊花大綬章受章者であることが授与の条件である。(In other words, being a recipient of the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum is a prerequisite for the award.)

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Article 2.1, Imperial Ordinance No. 1 of Meiji 21st (1881) (Order of the Precious Crown and Collar of the Supreme Chrysanthemum) (明治21年勅令第1号（宝冠章及大勲位菊花章頸飾ニ関スル件）2条1項, Meiji 21-nen Chokurei dai-1-go (Hōkanshō oyobi dai-kun'i kikka-shō keishoku ni kansuru ken) 2-jō 1-kō)
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Ye Wanyong. Kotobank

Sources

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  • Peterson, James W., Barry C. Weaver and Michael A. Quigley. (2001). Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States. San Ramon, California: Orders and Medals Society of America. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).; OCLC 45437720.
  • Congrats to Him: PM Modi's Message for Dr Manmohan Singh, NDTV.com, Retrieved 18 January 2021..
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