Dai-gensui

Dai-gensui
大元帥 (Japanese)
The Shōwa Emperor in the dress uniform of a grand marshal (c. 1935)
Country Empire of Japan
Service branch Imperial Japanese Army
 Imperial Japanese Navy
Formation1872
Abolished1947
Next lower rankGensui (army and navy variant)

The Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy (Japanese: 大元帥陸海軍大将, romanized: Dai-gensui-riku-kai-gun-taishō) was the highest rank of the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1872 to 1945, when the Empire of Japan was dissolved. The rank of dai-gensui was the highest rank in the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces and was held solely by the Emperor of Japan in his capacity as Supreme commander-in-chief. It formally became obsolete in 1945 when the Imperial Japanese military was abolished.

History

The term originated from the Chinese military title da yuan shuai (大元帥), a title higher than yuan shuai (元帥, pronounced gensui in Japanese).

Decree No. 252 by the Dajokan, dated 7 September 1872, formally recognized the rank of dai-gensui; however, no appointments were made before the rank was abolished along with that of gensui on 8 May 1873. According to "Draft Ordinance No. 142" of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan (Chapter 1 Part 1) issued on 30 September 1889, the Emperor was officially granted the rank of dai-gensui and designated as supreme commander of the Army and Navy.

The kanji characters also refer to a Buddhist deity, Daigensui Myō'ō (大元帥明王), a Wisdom King worshipped by the Imperial Court since Emperor Ninmyō and by the Shingon sect, for its legendary miraculous power to quell foreign enemies and rebellions, much like a military leader.

Insignia

The insignia for the rank of dai-gensui were similar to those of an Imperial Japanese Army General or Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral, distinguished by the addition of the gold imperial chrysanthemum emblem.

List of holders

Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Meiji Emperor
(1852–1912)		 1889 30 July 1912 † 23–24 years
Taishō Emperor
(1879–1926)		 30 July 1912 25 December 1926 † 13–14 years
Shōwa Emperor
(1901–1989)		 25 December 1926 2 September 1945 18–19 years

See also

  • Other pronunciations of the characters 大元帥
  • The higher rank of gensui (元帥)

References

  • Donald Keene, Emperor of Japan, Meiji and his World 1852–1912
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