1894-95 Sino-Japanese War Victorious Return Commemorative Medal/凱旋記念章

Private collection. Photos courtesy of the owner.

Size 30.6 mm.
Weight 17.8 g.
Unmarked silver.

Victorious Return Commemorative Medal 凱旋記念章.jpg


Victorious Return Commemorative Medal 凱旋記念章.jpg


Reverse

凱旋記念章 - Victorious Return Commemorative Medal

These six lines are from the Great Declaration of Mencius during the Warring States Period 475 – 221BC. The quotation comes from the Sacred Books of China, translated by James Legge (1815-1897).

我武惟揚
侵于之疆
我伐用張
于湯有光
克完厥功
振旅奏功


我武維揚，侵于之疆，取彼凶殘。我伐用張，于湯有光
My military prowess is displayed,
and I enter his territories to take the wicked tyrant.
My punishment (of evil) will be great,
and more glorious than that executed by Tang.


我武惟揚，侵于之疆，則取于殘，殺伐用張，于湯有光
My power shall be put forth, and,
invading the territories of Shang, I will seize the oppressor.
I will put him to death to punish him –
so shall the greatness of my work appear, more glorious than that of Tang.

Half_Portraits_of_the_Great_Sage_and_Virtuous_Men_of_Old_-_Meng_Ke_(孟軻).jpg


Mencius (372-289BC) [孟(mèng)子(zǐ)] was a Chinese philosopher who was and still is considered to be second only to Confucius in terms of his influence on Chinese culture.

Ribbon.

Victorious Return Commemorative Medal 凱旋記念章.jpg
Victorious Return Commemorative Medal 凱旋記念章.jpg
 
Original case.

1894-95 Sino-Japanese War Victorious Return Commemorative Medal.jpg
1894-95 Sino-Japanese War Victorious Return Commemorative Medal.jpg


Stamp of Suzuki Umekichi workshop.

1894-95 Sino-Japanese War Victorious Return Commemorative Medal.jpg


Medal was manufactured by the workshop in three variants: pure silver medal, silvered metal medal and gilded metal medal. Pure silver medal costed 1 yean while silvered and gilded medals costed 30 sen.
 
Same medal was depicted in the workshop advertising flyer (circa 1896).

advertising flyer from circa 1896.jpg
advertising flyer from circa 1896.jpg
 
Customized (by the workshop) gilded version of the medal. It has different ribbon and (according to the owner) different reverse inscription.
Instead standard 凱旋記念章 - Victorious Return Commemorative Medal reverse bears 邑楽郡凱旋歓迎會 - Ora District Triumphant Return Welcome Party.

邑楽郡凱旋歓迎会.jpg
 
  • Tags
    1894-1895 campaign japanese commemorative medal 1894-95 sino-japanese war great victory medal 1894-95 sino-japanese war medal first sino-japanese war medal first sino-japanese war of 1894-1895 medals first sino-japanese war unofficial medal sino-japanese war victorious return medal 凱旋記念章 邑楽郡凱旋歓迎會章
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