Order of Liberation (China)

The Order of Liberation (解放勋章, Jiěfàng Xūnzhāng) was a military decoration of the People's Republic of China awarded to officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) who participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949). It was awarded in three classes, distinguished by the period of participation in the conflicts.

• First Class: Awarded to those who participated in revolutionary war for eight years or more, from July 7, 1937 to September 2, 1945.

• Second Class: Awarded to those who participated in revolutionary war for four to eight years, from July 7, 1937 to September 2, 1945.

• Third Class: Awarded to those who participated in the anti-Japanese war for less than four years, or participated in the Liberation War for one year or more from September 3, 1945 to June 30, 1950.

The order was awarded in 1955 and represented significant service and contribution to the communist victory. Recipients were also typically awarded accompanying benefits and recognition. The design and symbolism of the medal incorporated elements representative of the period, such as a red star (symbolizing communism), Tiananmen Gate (symbolizing the capital), and gears and wheat (symbolizing workers and peasants). The Order of Liberation, along with other awards from that period, is a significant symbol of the Chinese communist revolution and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.