China, Republic. An Order Of The Brilliant Star, Ii Class Grand Cordon

(景星勋章 / Jǐng xīng xūnzhāng). Instituted in 1941. Grand Cordon Badge: four-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, cyan blue and navy blue enamels, bearing two silvered stars on the two protruding red rays flanking the central ray at the top of the badge indicating the award to be II Class, maker marked and identified in Chinese and numbered "392" on the reverse, measuring 74.3 mm (w) x 78.5 mm (h), on its original full-length sash with large rosette; and Grand Cordon Breast Star: six-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, cyan blue and navy blue enamels, with two silver stars affixed to the two protruding red rays flanking the central ray at the top of the star indicating the award to be II Class, maker marked and identified in Chinese and numbered "392" on the reverse, measuring 90 mm (w) x 91 mm (h), vertical pinback. Intact enamels, together, extremely fine. Accompanied by its Rosette, measuring 12.5 mm in diameter with button hole attachment, in their hardshelled case of issue, maroon dimpled exterior, wooden-framed, Republic of China insignia within an open-ended wreath in gold-coloured ink on the lid, inside lid in maroon felt, padded and maker marked in gold-coloured ink, medal bed lined in maroon felt and incorporating a raised platform in maroon felt with a recessed area for the badge, along with a recessed and slotted area for the breast star, plus a tab to house the rosette, measuring 118 mm (w) x 280 mm (h) x 52 mm (d), exhibiting light wear in the corners on the bottom, case near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Brilliant Star is a civilian order of the Republic of China (Taiwan) recognizing outstanding contributions to the development of the nation. The order was instituted in 1941 when the Republic of China was centred on the Chinese mainland, however, with the Nationalists' retreat to Taiwan in 1949, the Order was continued there. It can be awarded to both domestic and foreign nationals. There are nine ranks within the order according to the Article of Decorations of the Republic of China. First rank should be awarded by the President of Republic of China. I Class Special Grand Cordon, II Class Grand Cordon, III Class Purple Grand Cordon, IV Class Special Cravat, V Class Cravat, VI Class Special Rosette, VII Class Rosette, VIII Class Special Ribbon, and IXh Class Ribbon. The centre of the medal has a five-pointed star in token of virtue. The name "Brilliant Star" comes from the ancient book of Records of the Grand Historian (史記) which says "The Brilliant Stars, which differs in appearance from time to time, shine upon the nations of the righteous."