Item number: M401

Year: AD 1901

Material: Silver

Size: 76.0 x 33.4 x 3.3 mm

Weight: 26.2 g

Provenance: Morton & Eden 2024

This is a silver medal issued on September 8, AD 1901, by Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire to commemorate his 50th birthday. It is known as the “Gojong 50th Birthday Commemorative Medal.”

The medal is circular in shape and is worn on the left chest with a ribbon featuring a light blue background accented by red and yellow stripes. The obverse of the medal depicts a Long-distance travel crown (遠遊冠), a ceremonial crown symbolising imperial authority. The Long-distance travel crown originates from ancient Chinese court attire. In AD 1392, after the founding of the Joseon dynasty by Gojong’s ancestors, the Ming dynasty bestowed the Long-distance travel crown as part of the royal regalia. Following Gojong’s transformation of Joseon into the Korean Empire, the Long-distance travel crown became a ceremonial headdress worn by the monarch during seasonal rituals and state sacrifices.

The reverse of the medal features six lines of Korean text explaining the reason for its issuance: “대한제국 대황제폐하 성수 오십년 칭경기념 은장 광무 오년 구월 칠일.” This translates to “Korean Empire, His Imperial Majesty, 50th Birthday Commemorative Silver Medal, Gwangmu 5th Year, September 7.”

Gojong, whose given name was Yi Myeong-bok (李㷩), ascended the throne in AD 1864 as the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. His reign coincided with the collapse of the traditional East Asian international order. Following the end of the First Sino-Japanese War (AD 1895), Gojong severed Joseon’s tributary relationship with the Qing Empire, but the kingdom soon became entangled in the geopolitical struggle between Japan and Russia.

In AD 1897, Gojong formally proclaimed the establishment of the Korean Empire (Daehanjaeguk, 大韓帝國) and accelerated modernisation efforts. However, after Japan secured control over the Korean Peninsula following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War (AD 1905), Gojong was forced to abdicate in favour of Crown Prince Sunjong. In AD 1910, Japan formally annexed Korea as a colony, and Gojong, along with other members of the Korean royal family, was granted imperial titles under the Japanese system.

Gojong passed away in AD 1919, and the unclear circumstances surrounding his death fuelled widespread dissatisfaction, sparking the March 1st Movement (三一運動)—a nationwide protest against Japanese colonial rule.

物件編號: M401

年代: 公元 1901 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 76.0 x 33.4 x 3.3 mm

重量: 26.2 g

來源: 莫頓與伊登 2024

這是一枚公元1901年9月8日，大韓帝國時任統治者高宗為了祝賀自己的五十歲壽辰，發行之銀質「高宗聖壽50周年記念章」。

獎章外觀為圓形，以淺藍底搭配紅色和黃色條紋的綬帶配戴於左胸處。獎章正面是一頂象徵皇帝權威的遠遊冠。遠遊冠源自中國古代的朝服，公元1392年，高宗的祖先創建李氏朝鮮王朝之後，得到明朝賞賜以遠遊冠作為帝王服飾。高宗將李氏朝鮮改制為大韓帝國後，遠遊冠變成一種君王在歲時祭儀時穿戴祭祀的禮帽。

獎章背面以六行韓文說明發行原因，「대한제국 대황제폐하 성수 오십년 칭경기념 은장 광무 오년 구월 칠일」意思是「大韓帝國 大皇帝陛下 聖壽五十年 稱慶紀念 銀章 光武5年 9月7日」。

高宗本名為李㷩，於公元1864年登基為李氏朝鮮第26任君王，在位期間面對傳統東亞國際秩序的崩解。公元1895年甲午戰爭結束後，高宗先是終止和清帝國之間的藩屬關係，但是朝鮮卻捲入日本和俄國之間的角力。公元1897年，高宗對外宣示國號改為「大韓帝國」並且加快現代化改革。然而公元1905年，日俄戰爭結束後確立日本對於朝鮮半島的控制權後，高宗先是被逼迫禪位給太子純宗，後續於公元1910年日本正式併吞韓國為殖民地，高宗等朝鮮皇室被日本封為皇族身分，最終於公元1919年駕崩。高宗的不明死因也引發韓國民眾不滿發起抗議日本統治的「三一運動」。