The types of decorations and orders conferred by the ROC date back to 1863 when the emperors of the Ching Dynasty presented gold and silver plates to honor foreign nationals who had helped the empire with domestic upheavals. Once the ROC was founded, the army designed a series of orders into three categories: 1) The Nine Tripods, 2) Tiger and Bear, and 3) The Awakened Lion. Within each category are nine ranks. The Grand Decoration and a number of other orders were cast as a result of the government formulating laws and regulations governing the decorations for the navy and the army. Bestowment of all these orders, however, was terminated when the government relocated its capital to Nanjing.
In 1929 the Nationalist government enacted a statute regulating decorations for the army, the navy and the air force, specifying the use of the Order of Blue Sky with a White Sun and the Order of Precious Tripod when honoring military personnel. Another law was passed in 1933 stipulating that the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon and the China Order of Brilliant Jade be conferred to non-military officials. Since then, the laws regarding decorations and orders have gone through a myriad of revisions. It was not until 1945 when an air force decoration statute was implemented that the purpose and types of national orders were firmly established.
Today, the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon, the Order of Dr. Sun Yat-sen with Grand Cordon, the Order of Chiang Chung-cheng with Grand Cordon, the Order of Propitious Clouds, and the Order of Brilliant Star are non-military orders and decorations. The Order of National Glory with Grand Cordon, the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun with Grand Cordon, the Order of Precious Tripod, the Order of Loyalty and Valour, the Order of Resplendent Banner, and the Order of Loyalty and Diligenceare given to military personnel. There are also five types of special orders designed to pay tribute to officials and members of the air force, including the Order of Grand Community, the Order of Cosmic Diagram, the Order of Book of Nature, the Order of Sublime Commencement, and the Order of Renaissance and Honour.
▲ An Illustration of Wearing Civilian Orders
▲ An Illustration of Wearing Military Orders