The military ribbon bars of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China (Chinese:中华人民共和国军人勋表;pinyin:Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó jūnrén xūnbiǎo) are a set of around 200ribbon bars ([勋表], sometimes called badges [略章]) used by thePeople's Liberation Army and thePeople's Armed Police to mark a number of awards, accomplishments, positions, and time in service on their uniforms. The current standard was issued in January 2023, and it's called the "Type 23" ribbon system, intended to be used as formal components of the "Type 19/21" uniforms.[1] The Type 23 system supersedes the Type 07 system, that only had 22 ribbons.[1]: 17
The Type 23 ribbon system includes four categories of ribbon bars: 97 military honors ribbons, 63 service experience ribbons, 24position grade ribbons, and 14 ribbons to show years of service.[1]: 4 The system is somewhat broader in use than most Western ribbon bar systems, as while some ribbons do correspond to specific awards and medals, many are indicators of posts and occupations, closer in use to theservice stripes,tabs, andbadges used in the US and other Western militaries.
On 28 January 2023, Xi Jinping, chairman of theCentral Military Commission, signed an order to issue the "Regulations on the Administration of Military Medals" (军人勋表管理规定), which were implemented retroactively from 1 January 2023.[2] The ribbon bars are meant to emphasize the highlights of every career, showing not just the seniority but the career development paths and accomplishments of every officer and soldier, using a system of 39 sets (项目) of ribbons, each set fitting in one of the four overall categories (类).[3]
Military ribbons may be awarded to active officers, NCOs, conscripts (enlisted), and cadets of military academies, but not tocivilian cadres,reserve personnel, or retired veterans.[1]
Officers and servicemen should wear the ribbons when wearingformal uniforms (礼服),daily uniforms (常服), andwork uniforms (作业服). They should not wear the ribbons when wearing other military uniforms (i.e. combat/operations/training and athletic), or with casual clothes.[1]: 7
NCOs, enlisted, and cadets may not wear national defense service experience ribbons. Enlisted may not wear military service time ribbons. When wearing the ribbon bars, the corresponding merit medals, award medals, and commemorative medals may be worn at the same time.[4]
According to guidelines issued byMinistry of Defense in April 2023, the four types of ribbon are typically arranged from top to bottom and from left to right in the order of: position grade, military honors, service experience, and service years. Ribbon bars are organized into rows on an officer's ribbon rack, with each row holding up to three ribbons, and no more than seven rows allowed in total. If the wearer is entitled to more than 21 ribbon bars, priority is given to job grade and honors ribbons.[1]: 7
Position grade ribbons are placed in the center of the first row of ribbons, which may hold either one, two or three ribbons. Rules for honors ribbons include placing personal honors first, followed by collective honors (unit awards); wartime honors first, followed by peacetime honors; military-wide awards first, followed by service branch or People's Armed Police ribbons; medal ribbons in the same category go orders (勋章), awards (奖章) and commemorative medals (纪念章). Within a set, top-class awards go first and lower classes second. Military service experience ribbons are arranged in the order of the 14 items specified in Article 8 of the Regulations.[5] A “digital accessory” (数字配件), meaning a small Arabic numeral pin attached to the face of the ribbon (similar to British and Americandevices), is used to mark multiple awards of the same type awarded in the same "situational context".[1]: 7
Years-of-service ribbons are worn additively in pairs (so, twelve years of service mean one 10-years ribbon plus one 2-year ribbon), with the larger number on the left.[1]: 7
| Type | Name | Example | Comments | Times awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order of the Red Banner |  | The top wartime honors | 2023－ | |
| Order of the Red Star |  | |||
| Wartime honorary titles, and model unit honors | Special class combat hero |  | ||
| First class combat hero |  | |||
| Second class combat hero |  | |||
| Special class heroic exemplar unit |  | |||
| First class heroic exemplar unit |  | |||
| Second class heroic exemplar unit |  | |||
| Peacetime merit awards Collective merit honors | Individual First Class |  | ||
| Individual second class |  | |||
| Collective |  | |||
| Honorary titles for majormilitary operations other than war Collective merit titles | Individual |  | ||
| Collective |  | |||
| Wartime merit awards Collective merit honors | Individual First Class |
| The flag marks award for commanding operations, a red start marks award for participating in combat, and a red bastion around a silver star marks award for support actions. The silver star marks a general award.[1]: 12 | |
| Individual Second Class |
| |||
| Individual Third Class |
| |||
| Individual Fourth Class |
| |||
| Collective First Class |  | |||
| Collective Second Class |  | |||
| Collective Third Class |  | |||
| Collective Fourth Class |  | |||
| Peacetime merit awards Collective merit honors (may be granted 2-20 times) | Individual First Class |
| A shield with guns insaltire marks merit in combat readiness training; a book marks merit in education management, an atom marks merit in national defense science and technology, and a bastion marks merit in service support. A blank ribbon does not differentiate between situations.[1]: 12 | |
| Individual Second Class |
| |||
| Individual Third Class |
| |||
| Collective First Class |  | |||
| Collective Second Class |  | |||
| Collective Third Class |  | |||
| MajorMOOTW meritorious service awards Collective merit honors (may be granted 2-20 times) | Individual |
| ||
| Collective |
| |||
| Peacetime citations Collective honor citations (May be added 2-20 times) | Individual |
| A shield with guns insaltire marks commendable combat readiness training; a book marks commendable education management, an atom marks commendable national defense science and technology, and a bastion marks commendable service support. A blank ribbon does not differentiate between situations.[1]: 13 | |
| Collective |  | |||
| MajorMOOTW citations Collective honor citations (may be added 2-20 times) | Individual |  | ||
| Collective |  | |||
| Commendations (may be added 2-20 times) | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Collective First Class |  | |||
| Collective Second Class |  | |||
| Collective Third Class |  | |||
| Outstanding grassroots officer or soldier (may be added 2-20 times) | First Class |  | For junior officers or enlisted | |
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Medal of Valor |  | For those disabled in combat.[6] | ||
| Dedication to National Defense Commemorative Medal |  | For those disabled in the line of duty.[7] | ||
| Army Vanguard Honors | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Navy Deep Blue Warrior Honors | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Air Force Sky and Space Iron Fist Honor | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Rocket Force Sharpening Sword Vanguard honor | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Strategic Support Vanguard Honor | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Joint Logistics Support Pioneer Honor | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| PAP Loyal Guardian Honor | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Source[1]: 11–14 | ||||
| Type | Name | Example | Comments | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat experience |
| The name and date of the battle are engraved in the back of the ribbon. | 2023－ | |
| Experience in majorMOOTW (may be added 2-20 times) |  | |||
| Major special mission experience (may be added 2-20 times) |  | |||
| Overseas service experience | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Border defense service experience | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Unit command experience | Theater Command grade |  | ||
| Theater Command deputy grade |  | |||
| Corps grade |  | |||
| Corps deputy grade |  | |||
| Division grade |  | |||
| Division deputy grade |  | |||
| Regiment grade |  | |||
| Regiment deputy grade |  | |||
| Battalion grade |  | |||
| Battalion deputy grade |  | |||
| Company grade |  | |||
| Administrative or functional organ work experience | Central Military Commission |
| The main leaders of the organs have a silver star to the left. The leaders of bureau-level internal departments have a golden star to the right. The leaders of division-level internal departments have a bronze star to the right.[1]: 14–15 | |
| Theater Command grade organizations |
| |||
| Theater Command deputy grade organizations |
| |||
| Corps grade organizations |
| |||
| Division, brigade, and regiment grade organizations |
| |||
| Joint post experience | Senior |  | ||
| Intermediate |  | |||
| Junior |  | |||
| PLA and PAP service experience | PLA Ground Force |  | ||
| PLA Navy |  | |||
| PLA Air Force |  | |||
| PLA Rocket Force |  | |||
| Strategic Support Force |  | After the dissolution of the SSF, it is unclear what ribbons the three new arms will use. | ||
| Joint Logistics Support Force |  | |||
| People's Armed Police |  | |||
| National Defense Mobilization Department unit experience |  | |||
| Military institution educational officer (instructor) experience | Full-time |  | ||
| Part-time |  | |||
| Specialized technical position service experience | Senior |  | ||
| Deputy senior |  | |||
| Intermediate |  | |||
| Junior |  | |||
| Command education and training experience | Senior |  | ||
| Intermediate |  | |||
| Junior |  | |||
| Special technical officer training experience | Senior |  | ||
| Intermediate |  | |||
| Junior |  | |||
| NCO promotion-related training experience | Senior |  | ||
| Intermediate |  | |||
| Junior |  | |||
| International education and training experience (may be added 2-20 times) |  | |||
| Source[1]: 14–15 | ||||
| Type | Name | Example | Comments | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Command officer | CMC Vice-chairman grade |  | 2023－ | |
| CMC member grade |  | |||
| Theater Command leader grade |  | |||
| Theater Command deputy leader grade |  | |||
| Corps leader grade |  | |||
| Corps deputy leader grade |  | |||
| Division leader grade |  | |||
| Division deputy leader grade |  | |||
| Regiment leader grade |  | |||
| Regiment deputy leader grade |  | |||
| Battalion leader grade |  | |||
| Battalion deputy leader grade |  | |||
| Company leader grade |  | |||
| Deputy company leader grade |  | |||
| Platoon leader grade |  | |||
| Specialist technical officer | Senior |  | ||
| Deputy senior |  | |||
| Intermediate |  | |||
| Junior |  | |||
| NCO Administrative Position | Staff sergeant |  | ||
| Platoon leader |  | |||
| Deputy platoon leader |  | |||
| Squad leader |  | |||
| Deputy squad leader |  | |||
| Source:[1]: 16–17 | ||||
| Type | Name | Example | Comments | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time in service ribbon | 1 year |  | 2023－ | |
| 2 years |  | |||
| 3 years |  | |||
| 4 yrs |  | |||
5 years |  | |||
| 6 years |  | |||
| 7 years |  | |||
| 8 years |  | |||
| 9 years |  | |||
| 10 years |  | |||
| 20 years |  | |||
| 30 years |  | |||
| 40 years |  | |||
| 50 years |  | |||
| Source[1]: 17 | ||||
The system of military honors in the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police consists of merit medals (勋章, also called "Order medals"), award medals (奖章, usually called Awards), commemorative medals (纪念章), and a complementary system of honorary titles (荣誉称号), plus citations (嘉奖), commendations (表彰), and certificates (证章).[8]
Even though the early Communist Party was adverse to individual awards as damaging to the collectivist revolutionary spirit, the earliest awards of medals, awards, and commemorative medals can be traced back to theFirst Civil War between the Kuomintang and the CCP. In the history of the Chinese Communist armed forces, there have been three large-scale awarding events, namely: the August 1st Army Day of 1933, when the Chinese Soviet Republic was founded: theRed Star Medal was awarded to officers and soldiers of theChinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army who had made special contributions. In 1955, the People's Republic of China awarded the August 1st Medal (1955 version), theOrder of Independence and Freedom Medal and theOrder of Liberation Medal to meritorious personnel who had served in the First Civil War between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the Anti-Japanese War, and the Second Civil War.[9][10][11] In 1988, the Medal of Honor (a commemorative medal) was awarded to retired military personnel in three leveles, depending on whether they had joined between 1927 and 1937, 1937–1945, or 1945–1949.[12]
In addition, at various points in time, the Central Military Commission and various military departments had awarded various standard medals and commemorative medals in a relativelyad hoc manner. It was not until 23 March 1979 that theGeneral Political Department of the People's Liberation Army issued the "Notice on the awarding of wartime Heroic Exemplar Medals and meritorious service medals" and then on 20 October of the same year, the "Notice on the awarding of meritorious service medals and Heroic Exemplar Medals to personnel who have made meritorious service and are awarded honorary titles in peacetime" was issued and implemented in December. Only then did the central government unify the standards and rules of military awards.[13]
The revised "Discipline Order" (纪律条令) in 2010 adjusted and integrated the names of some medals, awards and commemorative medals. The Heroic Exemplar Medal was adjusted up to theOrder of the Heroic Exemplar, and five new commemorative medals were added, including medals for national defense service, defending the country and guarding the border, dedication to national defense, peace missions, and executing combat and major tasks.[14]
On August 1, 2011, new medals, awards and commemorative medals were issued. The new rules and regulations only exchanged the original Heroic Exemplar Award to the Order of the Heroic Exemplar Medal, and adjusted the overall styles of the medals, awards and commemorative medals. They were designed by the General Political Department and approved by the Central Military Commission.
In 2017, the new August 1 Medal was re-established as the highest honor of the military.[15] In April 2018, a new version of the "Discipline Regulations" was promulgated, exchanging the original Second Class honor titles to First Class, and merging the two levels of Heroic Exemplar Medals into a single Heroic Exemplar Award Medal.[16]
The ribbon separately awarded with the Order of August 1 medal is different to the ribbon used in the standard Type 23 ribbon rack to represent the honor.
| Type | Name | Example | Comments | Dates awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order of August 1st |  | The highest honor available for members of the military. | 2017–present | |
In 2007, active-duty officers andcivilian cadres of the People's Republic of China began to wear grade and service time ribbons, to indicate the length of service and grade of the military personnel. This badge system was discontinued in 2023 due to the promulgation of the "Regulations on the Management of Military Ribbon Bars".[1]: 18
| Type | Name | Example | Comments | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade ribbons | Vice-chairman of theCMC |  | Golden stripe | 2007－ 2023 |
| Member of theCMC | | |||
| Theater Command grade |
| Yellow-orange stripe | ||
| Corps grade |
| Orange stripe | ||
| Division grade |
| Red stripe | ||
| Regiment grade |
| Purple stripe | ||
| Battalion grade |
| Deep blue stripe | ||
| Company grade |
| Light blue stripe | ||
| Platoon grade |  | Light green stripe | ||
| Time in service ribbons | 一 |  | ||
| 2 years |  | |||
| 3 years |  | |||
| 4 years |  | |||
| 5 years |  | |||
| 10 years |  | |||
Padding ribbon |  | |||
| Source:[1]: 18 | ||||
| Type | Name | Example | 说明 | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order of the Heroic Exemplar | First Class |  | 2011－ 2018 | |
| Second Class |  | |||
| Heroic Exemplar Medal | Please upload image | 2018－2022 | ||
| Meritorious Service Medal | First Class | _-_ribbon_bar.png) | 2011－2022 | |
| Second Class | _-_ribbon_bar.png) | |||
| Third Class | _-_ribbon_bar.png) | |||
| Medal of National Defense Service | Gold Medal |  | ||
| Silver medal |  | |||
| Bronze Medal |  | |||
| Medal of Guarding the Frontiers | Gold Medal |  | ||
| Silver Medal |  | |||
| Bronze Medal |  | |||
| Medal of Devotion for National Defense | Gold medal |  | ||
| Silver medal |  | |||
| Bronze medal |  | |||
| Commemorative Medal of Peace Mission |  | |||
| Medal of Performing Combat Mission |  | |||
| Medal of Performing Vital Mission |  | |||
| Air Force Meritorious Flight Officer Gold Medal of Honor | Please upload image | |||
| Meritorious Flight Officer Medal | Gold Medal | Please upload image | ||
| Silver Medal | Please upload image | |||
| Bronze Medal | Please upload image | |||
| Air Staff Medal of Honor | Gold Medal | Please upload image | ||
| Silver Medal | Please upload image | |||
| Bronze Medal | Please upload image | |||
| Source:[17][18][19][20][21] | ||||
| Type | Name | Example | Explanation | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Star Medal of Honor and Merit | First class | Please upload image | 1988 | |
| Second class | Please upload image | |||
| Meritorious Service Medal of Independence |  | |||
| Meritorious Service Medal of Victory | Please upload image | |||
| Source:[12] | ||||
| Type | Name | Example | Comment | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heroic Exemplar Medal | First Class | _-_ribbon_bar.png) | 1979－2011 | |
| Second Class | _-_ribbon_bar.png) | |||
| Meritorious Service Medal | First Class | | ||
| Second Class | | |||
| Third Class | | |||
| Special Class | Please upload image | 1979－1988 |
| Type | Name | Example | Comment | Period awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order of August 1st | First Class |  | 1954－1957 | |
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| August First Medal |  | |||
| Order of Independence and Freedom | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Order of Independence and Freedom Medal |  | |||
| Order of Liberation | First Class |  | ||
| Second Class |  | |||
| Third Class |  | |||
| Order of Liberation Medal |  | |||
| Sources:[22] | ||||
| before 1949 |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s |
| |
| 1970-1980s |
| |
| 1990-2000s |
| |
| 2010s |
| |
| Current | ||
