Japan, Empire. Two Medal Award Documents for China Service, to Members of the Army
Includes:
1. 1900 War Medal Award Document, to an Army Engineer for China Service 1933 (1900 戦争勲章 / 1900 Sensō kunshō). Instituted in 1901. Printed in black and red inks, on an off-white paper stock, dated 1933, illustrating the Imperial Seal of Japan in the centre along the top edge and framed within a floral wreath, the 1900 War Medal in the centre along the bottom edge and framed within a trophy of arms, measuring 458 mm in width x 365 mm in height, rolled, exhibiting edge wear and creasing.
2. China Incident War Medal Award Document, to an Army Infantry Sergeant for China Service 1940 (支那事変従軍記章, Sina jihen jūgun kishō). Instituted in 1939. Printed in black and red inks, on an off-white paper stock, dated 1940, officially stamped in blue ink on the reverse, measuring 295 mm in width x 208 mm in height, rolled, exhibiting creasing overall, along with three vertical fold marks.
Very fine and fine, respectively.
Footnotes:
1. The 1900 War Medal was instituted on April 21, 1901 and awarded for participation in or support of the Allied Relief Expedition of 1900 in which foreigners besieged in the Legations in Peking were rescued.
2. The China Incident War Medal was established by Imperial Edit No. 496 on July 27, 1939 and awarded for service in China at any time from the 12th through the 20th years of the Shōwa period (1937-1945). An amendment was promulgated by Imperial Edict No. 418 in 1944, and the decoration was abolished in 1946 by government ordinance No. 177. Although the Japanese government still uses "China Incident" in formal documents, media in Japan often paraphrase it with other expressions like Japan-China Incident (日華事変, Nikka jihen) or (日支事変, Nisshi jihen). This medal is one of the most commonly found Japanese awards, as millions were manufactured for those who served.