There is a mystery that involves an Order of the Eight Trigrams, 2nd Class award, which came with the original Korean award document. The 2nd Class, for all Korean Empire orders, is worn with the 2nd Class Breast Star and a 3rd Class badge/pendant on a 37 mm cravat. See the illustration to your right. What makes this a mystery is that this 2nd Class Breast Star was accompanied by a 75 mm sash, which at that size is not a 1st Class sash. Depending on which information source you use, the standard width for a 1st Class sash is 107 to 110 mm. The rosette on the sash is the correct style used by the Korean Empire. The Japanese Order of the Rising Sun has a sash that is nearly the same color, but the rosette is considerably different. The sash has hook and eye fittings identical to other Korean and Japanese sashes. The Korean Empire medal roll does show that the recipient, Isao Eguchi 江口鱗六 was awarded a 2nd Class.1 It does not show him as having been awarded a 1st Class.2 There is no explanation for the smaller sash. Unfortunately, there was no fitted case with the award, which could have helped to clear things up. I have checked with several knowledgeable Korean collectors, and they had nothing that would help resolve the mystery.
Notice the 2nd Class.
Translation to your right.
Notice at the bottom center of the document is an image of two measuring devices. For its significance, see the Order of the Golden Measure. The document does have a plum blossom watermark.
The document is read from right to left, and top to bottom.
- To give with respect 奉
- By the grace of God, the Emperor of the Korean Empire ordered as follows: 天承運大韓國皇帝以
- In order to express my appreciation, Isao Eguchi, Captain of Battle Cruiser Ikoma and Rear Admiral of the Navy of Japan, is awarded the Second Class and granted the Medal of Eight Trigrams. 大日本國海軍大佐生駒艦長江口鱗六特敘勳二等賜八卦章表朕親愛之意
- Here is my stamp signed by myself at Changdeok Palace on June 8, 1909 隆熙三年六月八日在漢城昌德宮親署名鈴璽
- Yi Cheok 李坧 (Personal Name of Sunjong, Emperor of Korea)
- Seal of the Korean Empire 大韓 國璽 (Large red seal in the center of document)
- Deputy Principal of Award Record Office, Deputy First Rank, Jo Ui-yeon 表勳院總裁從一品趙義淵
- Seal of the President of the Award Records Office 表勳院總裁印 (Small red square seal at bottom)
- Seal of the Korean Empire Prime Minister Records Office 大韓帝國表勳院印 (Small red, round Seal at the top)
- The award grant is examined and recorded as No. 129 本記及勳章勘查浚勳記勳章各簿第一二九號編入事
- Registrar of Award Record Office, Third Rank, Class IV, Jeong Dong-sik 表勳院書記官正三品勳四等鄭東植
- Seal of Registrar of Award Record Office 表勳院書記官印 (Small square red seal at bottom-left corner)
- Made by the Korean Government Printing Office 韓國政府印刷局製造 (Fine print in the lower-left corner below the scroll work)
Vice Admiral Isao Eguchi (1865-1941) graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy 海軍兵学校 in 1890. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) he served on the “Akagi” 赤城 and participated in the Battle of Port Arthur. He became Captain of the Akagi in Feb. 1907. He also served as captain of the Chihaya 千早, Suma 須磨, Ikoma 生駒, Satsuma 薩摩, Yakumo 八雲, and Sagami 相模. Retirement came in 1930, and he died in 1941 at the age of 75. He fathered 3 sons and 5 daughters. His grave is at Kensoji Temple 賢崇寺 in Saga Prefecture. According to Nick at Medals of Asia, Isao Eguchi, was also awarded with a Japanese 4th class Order of the Golden Kite and a 3rd class of either the Order of the Sacred Treasure or the Order of the Rising Sun. It is believed that he may have wanted to wear a sashed award when in formal attire, which is not possible with his two Japanese awards, at least not in Japan. More research is needed.
It has been brought to my attention that Isao Eguchi may have had a small physical stature. Therefore, requiring a sash in a smaller size to be more proportional to his body type. But that doesn’t answer the question of why there is any sash with a 2nd Class.
Japanese Document Translation
The document is read from right to left, and top to bottom.
- Foreign Order of the Empire of Japan License 大日本帝國外國勲章佩用免許證
- Isao Eguchi, Navy Captain, Junior Fifth Rank, Third Class Merit Fourth Class 海軍大佐従五位勲三等功四級江口鱗六
- Received and presented the Order of the Eight Trigrams, presented by His Majesty the Emperor of Korea. 韓國皇帝陛下ヨリ贈與シタル勲二等八卦 章ヲ受領シ及ヒ佩用スルヲ允許セラル
- June 1, 1910 明治四十三年六月一日
- Earl Ogimachi Takaramasa, President of the Awards and Decorations Bureau, Second Rank, Fourth Class 賞勲局總裁從二位勲四等伯爵正親町寶正
- No. 5645, foreign countries 第五千六百四十五號 ヲ以 テ外國
- Entry in the book of licenses to wear the medal 勲章佩用免許簿冊ニ記入ス
- Kanae Yokota, Secretary of the Awards and Decorations Bureau, Junior Fourth Rank, Third Class 賞勲局書記官從四位勲三等 横田香苗
- Yoshitomo Fujii, Secretary of the Awards and Decorations Bureau, Junior Fifth Rank, Fourth Class 賞勲局書記官從五位勲四等 藤井善言