The Order of the Paulownia Flowers (桐花章, Tōka shō?) is an order presented by the Japanese Government. Established in 1888 during the Meiji Restoration as the highest award in the Order of the Rising Sun; however, since 2003 it has been an Order in its own right. The only grade of the order is Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (旭日桐花大綬章, Kyokujitsu tōka daijushō?), which ranks higher than the Order of the Rising Sun but lower than the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Traditionally, the order has been conferred upon eminent statesmen, cabinet ministers, politicians and judges.
The badge for the Order is a gilt cross with white enameled rays, bearing a central emblem of a red enameled sun disc surrounded by red rays, and with three paulownia blossoms between each arm of the cross. It is suspended from three enameled paulownia leaves on a sash in red with white border stripes, and is worn on the right shoulder.
The star for the Order is the same as the badge, but without the paulownia leaves suspension. It is worn on the left chest.
Famous quotes containing the words order and/or flowers:
“In order to begin an analysis, there must already be a synthesis present in the mind.”
—Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)
“What is green? The grass is green,
With small flowers between.
What is violet? Clouds are violet
In the summer twilight.
What is orange? Why, an orange,
Just an orange!”
—Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830–1894)