Kim Khánh - Imperial Order of Merit, Royal Necklace, Nguyễn Dynasty Pendant
History:
Kim Khánh (lit. Golden Chime) was a prestigious order of merit bestowed by the emperor upon high-ranking officials of the Nguyễn Dynasty. It was also occasionally worn by members of the imperial family. The decoration typically featured a golden plaque shaped like a Chinese musical instrument known as the qing (磬, sounding stone), adorned with intricate carvings of dragons, clouds, unicorns, or lions.
Beneath the plaque hung the Kim Tòng (Golden Tassel) — an ornate, colorful piece of jewelry composed of gemstones, beads, and pearls, carefully embroidered into shapes resembling batwings or clouds.
At the center of each plaque was an inscription indicating the order's grade (e.g., 大項金磬 / Đại Hạng Kim Khánh / “Great Class Golden Chime”). The reverse side displayed the name of the issuer along with a phrase describing the purpose of the award (e.g., 同慶 敕賜 - 報義酬勳 / Đồng Khánh sắc tứ - Báo nghĩa thù huân / “Awarded by Đồng Khánh - In gratitude and recognition of service”).
Initially, the order had only two classes and was exclusive to high-ranking Vietnamese mandarins. Over time, it was expanded to four classes for Vietnamese officials and three classes for French dignitaries and foreign recipients.
To learn more about the historical Kim Khánh and view original inscriptions, please visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Khanh
Product Details:
Our pendants are made from wood or acrylic and are hand-painted. The sample pendant is based on a historical Kim Khánh titled "一項 金 磬 / First Grade Kim Khánh". These pendants are highly customizable for any occasion and are best worn with áo dài. When ordering, be sure to pay attention to the customizable options. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or requests regarding this order.
- Plaque: approx. ~3.75" W x 2.25" L
- Complete Length: approx. ~ 8.5"
- Wood or Acrylic
- Laser-cut & handpainted
- Gloss protective finish
- Red thread and/or tassels