Item number: M405

Year: AD 1907–1916

Material: Gold

Size: 61.6 x 45.8 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 16.2 g

Provenance: Morton & Eden 2024

This is an Order of Kim-Bội, a decoration issued exclusively to women during the reign of Emperor Duy Tân, the 11th ruler of the Nguyễn Dynasty (AD 1907–1916).

The Order of Kim-Bội has an elongated oval shape with eight petal-like sections. The obverse and reverse are symmetrically adorned with phoenix motifs, symbolising elegance and nobility, while the top features a flaming sun emblem.

At the centre of the Bội, there is a rectangular frame. The obverse bears the inscription “琼瑶永好”, a phrase from the ancient Chinese classic Shijing (The Book of Songs) that uses fine jade as a metaphor for a virtuous woman. The reverse is engraved with the inscription “維新年造”, indicating that the medal was manufactured during the reign of Emperor Duy Tân (Vệ Tân).

The Kim-Bội is suspended from a red cord, allowing the recipient to wear it around the neck or attach it to their garment. The lower part of the Bội features an intricately woven floral knot, from which hang four tassells in shades of blue, pink, and beige.

In the traditional reward system of the Nguyễn Dynasty, there were no decorations specifically designated for women. However, starting in AD 1889, during the reign of Emperor Thành Thái, a special honour known as “Bội” was introduced exclusively for women. The Bội held the same prestige as the highest-ranking male decoration, the “Khănh.”

In AD 1907, Emperor Thành Thái was deposed by the French colonial authorities due to his dissatisfaction with their interference in his appointment of officials. The French then installed his seven-year-old son, Emperor Duy Tân, as the new ruler.

However, as Duy Tân grew older, he became increasingly discontent with French dominance over Vietnam. In AD 1916, the Vietnamese resistance group Quang Phục Hội (Restoration Society) secretly reached out to him, planning an uprising to take advantage of France’s preoccupation with World War I and the growing resentment among Vietnamese conscripts being sent to fight in Europe. Duy Tân expressed his support for the rebellion, but the uprising ultimately failed.

Following the failed insurrection, Duy Tân refused to remain a puppet of the French and chose to abdicate. He was then exiled to Réunion Island, a French colony in the Indian Ocean, along with his father, Thành Thái.

During his exile on Réunion Island, Emperor Duy Tân refused the assistance of the French government. Instead, he sustained himself by repairing radios and later became self-taught in foreign languages and enrolled in law school.

In AD 1942, during World War II, Duy Tân chose to ally himself with the Free French Forces and joined the Free French Navy, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the end of the war. At the same time, Emperor Bao Dai, who had collaborated with the Japanese during the war, was opposed by the Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh and was forced to abdicate. The French government under Charles de Gaulle hoped to restore Duy Tân to Vietnam to continue French influence, but tragically, the plane transporting Duy Tân back to Vietnam crashed in Central Africa, and he died at the age of 45.

物件編號: M405

年代: 公元 1907–1916 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 61.6 x 45.8 x 1.2 mm

重量: 16.2 g

來源: 莫頓與伊登 2024

這是一枚越南阮朝第11任皇帝，維新帝統治年間 (公元1907至1916年)，專門頒發給女性的「琼瑶永好金佩」。

金佩外觀為八瓣花狀的長型橢圓，正反兩面的周圍以對稱的鳳凰作為裝飾，頂部則是帶有火焰的太陽圖騰。佩的正中央有一個長方形方框，正面打印出自中國古籍《詩經》以美玉形容女子的「琼瑶永好」，背面則是製造年代「維新年造」字樣。

金佩頂端以一條紅線穿繫，供得獎者穿掛於脖子或是繫在衣襟上。佩的下方則有一套精細的花結以及藍色、粉色和米色四條流蘇。

越南阮朝傳統的獎賞制度上，並沒有針對女性頒發的獎賞。但是公元1889年起，成泰帝在位期間設置專門獎勵女性的「佩」獎賞，「佩」的地位等同於最為尊貴的男性獎賞「磬」。

公元1907年，成泰帝不滿法國人干涉其任命官員的權力，遭到法國人罷黜並改立其年僅七歲的兒子維新帝成為新統治者。然而維新帝成年之後，對於法國人在越南的跋扈行為不滿日益增加。恰巧公元1916年，越南反抗組織光復會秘密連繫到維新帝，決定利用法國投身第一次世界大戰無暇關注越南和越南籍士兵不想派駐歐洲的情緒發動起義，維新帝表達支持但是起義最終失敗。起義失敗後，維新帝不甘擔任法國人的魁儡決定退位，後續隨同父親成泰帝一同被流放到法國於印度洋的殖民地留尼旺島。

維新帝於留尼旺島流亡期間，拒絕法國政府的援助，以修理收音機維持生計後續更自學外語和考取法律學校。公元1942年，第二次世界大戰期間，維新帝選擇投靠自由法國陣營，並且加入自由法國海軍在終戰時成為中校軍銜。同一時間，第二次世界大戰期間選擇跟日本人合作的保大帝遭到胡志明為首的越盟反對被迫退位，法國戴高樂政權希望維新帝返回越南延續法國的影響力，然而載運維新帝歸國的運輸機在中非遭遇空難，維新帝不幸罹難享年僅45歲。