J004057 (IJA) CASED ORDER OF THE SACRED TREASURE, 8TH CLASS, WITH CASED AWARD DOCUMENT.  

The Order of the Sacred Treasure ("Zuihosho"), established in January of 1888, was awarded to either military or civilian personnel for long service with good conduct. It came in eight classes, of which the lowest two could be given to enlisted personnel. The die-struck silver medal takes the form of an eight-pointed star whose points terminate in small circles, with even smaller circles marking the intersections of the edge lines, forming a stylized necklace. To the center is a raised, silver "mirror" against a pebbled background. These are the "sacred treasures" from which the award takes its name: the "Yata" mirror, representing purity and wisdom, and the "Yasakani" jewels, which represent benevolence, obedience and affection. Its otherwise featureless reverse has four kanji characters impressed to it, translating to "Order of Merit decoration." A perforated ball is to the top of the medal’s uppermost point, through which passes the ribbon’s suspension ring. Fed unto the ring is a 1 7/16" wide, watered ribbon, in light grey (establishing it as an older award as later examples are in light blue), which has a 1/8" wide, vertical orange stripe 1/8" in from either edge. The ribbon is folded in a triangular fashion, and it has an elongated, vertical alloy hook is to its top, which folds down and mates with an alloy eye sewn near the base of its reverse. Light age soiling is evident to the ribbon, and verdigris may be seen to the medal’s obverse, pebbled background. They are nested into corresponding depressions to the purple silk covered interior base of its original presentation case, whose interior lid is also lined in padded, purple silk. The silk is lightly frayed to the base of its hinge covering, but is otherwise only lightly age and usage soiled. The exterior of the 2 3/16" x 3 5/8" x 13/16", black lacquered wooden case has a wide alloy hinge along its rear edge, and a hinged alloy closure device to its forward edge, although its corresponding stud is absent. A column of kanji characters is painted, in grey, to its cover, which includes the number "8." The exterior of the case exhibits light surface scratching and soiling, and has a small chip to the upper right corner of its lid. Accompanying the cased award is its original, 23 1/4" x 17 7/8" paper award document, within its original, 18 5/8" long and 1 3/4" square, wooden presentation case. To the top of the case is a sliding cover, unto which is printed eight, vertically arranged kanji characters, which include an "eighth class" designation. The rolled document within has a decorative floral border punctuated by alternating Chrysanthemums and Paulownia leaves and flowers printed to it, with an enlarged, sixteen-petaled Imperial Chrysanthemum, within a wreath of the same, breaking the top center of the border, and an image of the eighth class award itself, within a similar wreath, breaks the bottom center. The Imperial seal, in red and within a square, is beneath the Imperial Chrysanthemum. Eight columns of kanji characters are printed to the right of the document, and six to the left, with the sixth column from the right indicating that the award was bestowed during the 2579th year of the empire, or more specifically, as is indicated to both the seventh and ninth columns from the right, "Taisho era, eighth year, tenth month, twenty-fifth day," or, 25th October, 1919. The Bureau of Merit and Award seal, in red and within a circle, is to the upper left, beneath which is the name, title and red seal of the Director General (column ten from the right), the registry number 504877 on the roster of merits (column eleven), and then the names, titles and red seals of the secretaries (columns thirteen and fourteen). The paper is typically, lightly age yellowed and soiled, but has no tears, significant creasing or edge wear. A uniquely complete grouping, in very good condition.

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