Order of the Eight Trigrams: history, structure and original line drawings

The most junior order of the Empire was established on 16th April 1901, on the eve of the sixth anniversary of Korean independence, in eight classes and corresponding to the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Original name of the order

in korean 팔괘장 /p'alwaejang/

in japanese 八卦章.

According to legend, which has several forms, one of the early Chinese emperors designed the eight trigrams form the markings on the back of a dragonhorse, or a tortoise, which came to him out of a river, and from these trigrams writing was invented. Each trigram symbolises one of the forces of nature and they also represent the eight directions of light and the four basic and four intermediate points of the compass.​

 

Official design drawings.

1st class / 팔괘대수장

 

Breast star for the 1st and 2nd class / 팔괘장 겸 훈일등 부장(上)

 

Neck badge for the 2nd and 3rd class / 팔괘중수장 겸 훈이등 부장(中)

 

4th class / 팔괘소수장(下)

 

5th class / 팔괘소수장(上右)

 

6th class / 팔괘소수장(中)

 

7th class / 팔괘소수장(下右)

 

8th class / 팔괘소수장(左)

 

Approximate dimensions of different classes of the orders.

1st class 74 mm

2st class (breast star) 85 mm

3rd class 57 mm

4th class 53 mm

5th class 53 mm

6th class 53 mm

7th class 42 mm

8th class 42mm

 

The only Japanese order whose ribbon is folded like a triangle (in the Austrian manner) is a sacred treasure.



The only Korean order with the same style of ribbon is the Order of the Eight Trigrams.