Orders, decorations, and medals of China

The following is a list of the orders and medals issued by the People's Republic of China since its founding. The Working Committee of Party and State Merit and Honour Commendation is responsible for coordinating the work of Party and state merit and honor commendation.

History

In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong and other leaders believed that the national honor system was a relic of old society, and that the pursuit of medals would encourage the prevalence of individualism and selfishness in society, which was inconsistent with the political moral standards of "selflessness". Therefore, the national honor system of the People's Republic of China had not been fully established before 2016 and was in a blank state during the Cultural Revolution period. China, together with Switzerland, South Sudan, Eritrea, etc., was listed as one of the few countries in the world that had not set up a national honours system.

In recent years, calls were made for the government of China to improve the national honour system and make to award national medals. In 2007, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China announced the decision to establish a national honour system in an effort to "unite the sons and daughters of China with common values."[1] On December 27, 2015, the 18th session of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress passed the Law of the People's Republic of China on National Medals and Titles of Honour, which came into force on January 1, 2016. According to the provisions of this law, the state establishes the Order of the Republic, which is awarded to outstanding people who have made great contributions and made outstanding contributions to the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the defense of the country. The Friendship Medal will be awarded to foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization drive, to promoting exchanges and cooperation with other countries, and to maintaining world peace. The National Honorary Title shall be established to award outstanding persons who have made significant contributions and enjoyed high reputation in various fields and industries such as economy, society, national defense, foreign affairs, education, science and technology, culture, public health, sports and so on. The Order of July the First is awarded to outstanding party members. These five highest orders of honour in China form the core of its newly established system for merit and honour. The first August 1 Medal and the Friendship Medal were conferred on 28 July 2017 and 8 June 2018 respectively, the Republic Medal and the National Medal of Honour on 29 September 2019, and the July 1 Medal on 29 June 2021.

Precedent

National medals and titles of national honour are usually awarded once every five years on the fifth and tenth anniversaries of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the People's Republic of China and the People's Liberation Army, and may be awarded at other times if necessary. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is responsible for the proposal of nomination of prospective individuals for inclusion to the national honours list to be awarded for these occasions.

Civilian

Medals

Name (in English) Name (in Chinese) Medal Issuing authority Award Criteria Date of establishment
Republic Medal
共和国勋章
Distinguished personages who have made great contributions and established outstanding achievements in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the defence of the country 2016-01-01
Friendship Medal
友谊勋章
President of China
Foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization drive, the promotion of Sino-foreign exchanges and cooperation, and the maintenance of world peace 2016-01-01
七一勋章
Chinese Communist Party members who have made outstanding contributions to the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to the great new project of party building 2017-07-22

Honorary titles and awards

Name (in English) Name (in Chinese) Ribbon Issuing authority Award Criteria Date of establishment
National honorary titles
国家荣誉称号
President of China,
Standing Committee of the NPC
Distinguished persons who have made significant contributions and enjoyed high reputation in various fields and industries such as economy, society, national defence, foreign affairs, education, science and technology, culture, health, sports and so on 2016-01-01
Chinese Government's Friendship Award
中国政府友谊奖
Foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization and reform and opening up 1991
Aerospace Meritorious Service Award
航天功勋奖
CCP Central Committee, State Council, Central Military Commission
Astronauts from the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps who completed the Shenzhou spacecraft missions 2003-11-07
Outstanding communist party member award
全国优秀共产党员
CCP Central Committee
Party members that is ideologically and politically firm, consistent with the Central Committee with strong working style, high prestige, excellent working ability and outstanding achievements. 2006-06-30
Outstanding party affairs worker award
全国优秀党务工作者奖
Central Committee
2006-06-30
National model labourers award
全国劳动模范奖
Central Committee, State Council
1950-09-25
National frontier workers award
全国先进工作者奖
Central Committee, State Council
1960-06-01
Pioneer of Reform Award
改革先锋奖
Central Committee, State Council
People who have made outstanding contributions to China's reform and opening up 2018-12-18
中国改革友谊奖章
Central Committee, State Council
Foreigners who have given support and help to China's reform and opening up 2018-12-18
国家最高科学技术奖
Central Committee, State Council
Having made major breakthroughs in the frontiers of contemporary science and technology or made outstanding achievements in the development of science and technology; Scientific workers who create great economic or social benefits in the course of scientific and technological innovation, transformation of scientific and technological achievements and industrialization of high technology. 2019-01-08 (Medal)
International Science and Technology Cooperation Award
国际科学技术合作奖
Central Committee, State Council
Foreigners or organizations that have made contributions to China's scientific and technological undertakings. 2019-01-08 (Medal)

People's Liberation Army

Order

Name (in English) Name (in Chinese) Ribbon Rank Date of establishment Present situation
August 1 Medal 八一勋章(新) 2017-06-12 Still issued
Medal of Heroic Exemplar 英雄模范勋章 1 1979-03-23 Still issued
2
Order of Bayi (1955) 八一勋章 1 1955-02-12 No longer issued
2
3
Order of Independence and Freedom 独立自由勋章 1 1955-02-12 No longer issued
2
3
Order of Liberation 解放勋章 1 1955-02-12 No longer issued
2
3
Honor Medal of the Red Star 红星功勋荣誉章 1 1988-07-01 No longer issued
2
Honor Medal of Independence Merit 独立功勋荣誉章 1988-07-01 No longer issued
Honor Medal of Victory Merit 胜利功勋荣誉章 1988-07-01 No longer issued

Medal

Name (in English) Name (in Chinese) Ribbon Rank Date of establishment Present situation
Meritorious Service Medal[2] 立功奖章 1 1979-03-23 Still issued
2
3
Good Soldier Badge 优秀士兵证章 None 1996-08-01 Still issued
Excellent Cadet Badge 优秀学员证章 None 1996-08-01 Still issued
Commemorative Medal of National Defense Service 国防服役纪念章 Gold 2011-08-01 Still issued
Silver
Copper
Commemorative Medal of Defending the Frontiers 卫国戍边纪念章 Gold 2011-08-01 Still issued
Silver
Copper
Commemorative Medal of Devotion for National Defense 献身国防纪念章 Gold 2011-08-01 Still issued
Silver
Copper
Commemorative Medal of Peace Mission 和平使命纪念章 2011-08-01 Still issued
Commemorative Medal of Performing Combat/Vital Mission 执行作战和重大任务纪念章 Combat Mission 2011-08-01 Still issued
Major Task

Ribbons

Qualification badges (Chinese: 级别资历章) are a series of decorations of People's Liberation Army Type 07 in the form of small ribbons mounted on small metal bars indicating military rank, billet, or length of service. Only PLA/PAPF officers can wear qualification badges, PLA/PAPF soldiers wear National Defense Service Medal instead.[3]

Billet and rank ribbons

Each row has three ribbons; a blank white ribbon is used to fill out a row that only has two ribbons. Ranks and billets can be inferred from the number of rows. The rule is:

The ribbon at the middle of top row is called a rank ribbon (Chinese: 级别略章) and has at least one five-pointed star on it. One star represent for deputy posts (except level of vice chairman of CMC and CMC members and platoon), and two stars for principal posts. The color of stars also differs from ranks, over and include level of corps it is golden and below it is silver.

Length of service ribbons

All ribbons except for the rank/billet ribbon centered at the top row are used to represent the wearer's length of service,[4][5][6][7] similar to the U.S. military's service stripes.

Ribbon list
Ribbon class Ribbon name Description Design
Rank
Level of Vice Chairman of CMC and CMC members[8] Lemon yellow background with a yellow star surrounded by olive branches in the middle.
Level of Theater Command Saffron yellow background with yellow stars in the middle, one for deputy posts and two for principal posts.

Level of Corps Khaki background with yellow stars in the middle, one for deputy posts and two for principal posts.

Level of Division Red background with silver stars in the middle, one for deputy posts and two for principal posts.

Level of Regiment/Brigade Dark purple background with silver stars in the middle, one for deputy posts and two for principal posts.

Level of Battalion Dark blue background with silver stars in the middle, one for deputy posts and two for principal posts.

Level of Company Light blue background with silver stars in the middle, one for deputy posts and two for principal posts.

Level of Platoon Grass green background with a silver star in the middle.

Service length
One Year Ribbon Green background with double yellow single red stripe.
Two Years Ribbon[9] Dark blue background with double white stripes.
Three Years Ribbon Yellow background with triple red stripes.
Four Years Ribbon Grey blue background with tetrad yellow strips.
Five Years Ribbon Penta Red, white, dark blue, yellow, dark green strips.
Ten Years Ribbon Decade red, light blue, yellow, light green, yellow, dark blue, yellow, dark purple, yellow, red strips.
Padding
Supplementary ribbon used when service length ribbons cannot fully fill the row. Its use is avoided where possible. Light grey

Swords

  • Sword of Deep Blue (Chinese: 深蓝之剑) – Awarded as a Naval honor[10]
  • Sword of The Sea (Chinese: 海之剑) – Awarded to graduating cadets of Dalian Naval Academy[11]
  • Sword of Military Spirit (Chinese: 军魂剑) – Awarded to graduating cadets of PLA Nanjing Political College[12]

See also

  • flagChina portal

References

  1. ^ "滥发的勋章不是荣誉_中国访谈_中国网". China News Service. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  2. ^ Pike, John (July 1, 2013). "PLA Uniforms and Insignia: Military Awards and Decorations - 2011". Global Security. Global Security. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  3. ^ 级别资历章. 大学生征兵网. Archived from the original on 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
  4. ^ Pike, John (August 30, 2013). "PLA Uniforms and Insignia: Military Awards and Decorations - 1949-2011". Global Security. Global Security. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "PLA Medals and Ribbons". Sino Defence Forum. August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  6. ^ Blasko, Dennis J. (2012). The Chinese Army Today: Tradition and Transformation for the 21st Century By. pp. 100–102. ISBN 9780415783217. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "Military Awards and Decorations - 1949-2011". Archived from the original on 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  8. ^ 中国军网. 图解:3分钟教你看懂军人资历章. 人民网. Archived from the original on 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
  9. ^ Lai, Benjamin; Windrow, Martin (2012). The Chinese People's Liberation Army since 1949: Ground Forces. Great Britain, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing, Ltd. pp. 58–59. ISBN 9781780960562. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "海军首次授剑仪式 "深蓝之剑""海之剑"和"军魂剑"三大佩剑曝光_中国网·海峡频道". fj.china.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2018-11-25.
  11. ^ 大连舰艇学院为毕业生颁发佩剑"海之剑"(图). Archived from the original on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
  12. ^ "军魂剑"制作历时半年 首批仅280名学员获授--教育--人民网. Archived from the original on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-25.

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