Order of the Taegeuk

Award

Order of the Taegeuk
태극장

Type| Dynastic order
Awarded for| Merit
Presented by| the Korean Empire
Eligibility| Military or civil officials, Korean and foreign, with rank/status determining which grade one received
Status| Obsolete
Established| April 17, 1897 (in Korea)
Precedence
Next (higher)| Order of the Plum Blossom
Next (lower)| Order of the Palgwae

Order of the Taegeuk was an order of chivalry of the Korean Empire that was given to military or civil officials. It was divided into eight classes. It was part of the establishments of orders on 17 April 1897. From 22 April 1897, order of the taegeuk started to be awarded.

## Classes

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Following were the classes and who were the recipients of it:[1]

* 1st Class: Ministers who already got 2nd Class and worked well for 5 or more years after getting 2nd Class. After getting 1st class, officials are able to receive Order of the Plum Blossom.
* 2nd Class: Officials who already got 3rd Class and worked well for 4 or more years after getting 3rd Class.
* 3rd Class: Officials who already got 4th Class and worked well for 4 or more years after getting 4th Class.
* 4th Class: Officials who already got 5th Class and worked well for 4 or more years after getting 5th Class.
* 5th Class: Officials who already got 6th Class and worked well for 4 or more years after getting 6th Class.
* 6th Class: Officials who already got 7th Class and worked well for 3 or more years after getting 7th Class.
* 7th Class: Officials who already got 8th Class and worked well for 3 or more years after getting 8th Class.
* 8th Class: Officials who worked well for 3 or more years.

Foreigners were able to get these orders but recipients and classes were decided by the government.

Following were how the medals were worn:[1]

1st Class of the order is either Badge (with Daesu) or Medal. Daesu was worn from the right shoulder to the left flank and medal was worn in left breast.

2nd Class of the order is either Badge (with Daesu) or Necklet. Daesu was worn from the right shoulder to the left flank and necklet was worn on neck.

3rd Class was necklet and worn on neck.

3rd class

4th to 8th class were decorations and was worn in left breast.

5th class(up right) 5th class (Up left) 7th class(down right) 8th class(down left)

## Form

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In the middle of the medal, there was a taegeuk, symbol of the Korean Empire, in the middle. The size of the medal varied by classes. Higher classes were bigger. Perimeter of 4th class to 6th class was about 5 cm. Perimeter of 7th to 8th class was about 3 cm.[2] 3rd class to 5th class were made of gold and 6th classes to 8th classes were made of silver.[2]

## Trivial

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1st class of Order of the Taegeuk that was presented to Horace Newton Allen became historical property of Korea.[3]

## Notable Recipients

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### 1st Class

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* Min Young-hwan on 22 April 1900[4]
* Shim Soon-taek on 4 January 1901[5]

### 2nd Class

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* Yi Ha-young on 22 April 1900[4]
* Gwon Jae-Hyeong on 22 April 1900[4]
* Min Ung-shik on 22 February 1901[5]
* Shim Sang-hun on 22 February 1901[5]
* Yi Bum-jin on 22 February 1901[5]
* Min Young-chan on 22 February 1901[5]
* Bak Jeongyang on 22 February 1901[6]
* Victor Collin de Plancy on 21 February 1902[7]
* Min Sang-ho on 23 September 1904[8]

### 3rd Class

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* Jo Byeong-shik on 22 April 1900[4]
* Pak Chesoon on 22 April 1900[4]
* Yi Yun-yong on 22 April 1900[4]
* Min Sang-ho on 22 February 1901[5]
* Yi Jae-wan on 22 February 1901[6]

## References

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1. ^ a b "조선왕조실록". sillok.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
2. ^ a b "태극장(太極章)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
3. ^ "문화재청". Cultural Heritage Administration (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-03-20.
4. ^ a b c d e f The Journals of the Royal Secretariat. "청안군 이재순 등에게 서훈하라는 조령". db.itkc.or.kr. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
5. ^ a b c d e f The Journals of the Royal Secretariat (22 February 1901). "영돈녕원사 심순택 등에게 태극장을 수여할 것을 청하는 표훈원 총재 민영환의 계". db.itkc.or.kr. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
6. ^ a b The Journals of the Royal Secretariat (22 February 1901). "의정부 의정 윤용선 등에게 서훈하고 태극장을 수여할 것을 청하는 표훈원 총재 민영환의 계". db.itkc.or.kr. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
7. ^ The Journals of the Royal Secretariat (21 February 1902). "각국의 사신에 대한 훈등을 개록하여 들인다는 표훈원 총재 민영환의 계". db.itkc.or.kr. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
8. ^ The Journals of the Royal Secretariat (23 September 1904). "의정부 찬정 훈2등 민병석 등에게 서훈하라는 조령". db.itkc.or.kr. Retrieved 2022-04-22.