Jiang (formerly romanized chiang and usually translated general) is a general officer rank used by China and Taiwan. It is also used as jang in North and South Korea, shō in Japan, and tướng in Vietnam.
Chinese[]
People's Liberation Army[]
The same rank names are used for all services, prefixed by haijun (simplified Chinese: 海军; traditional Chinese: 海軍; literally: "naval force") or kongjun (simplified Chinese: 空军; traditional Chinese: 空軍; literally: "air force").
| Rank group | General/flag officers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 上将 | 中将 | 少将 |
| Pinyin | Shàngjiāng | Zhōngjiāng | Shàojiāng |
| Literal translation | Upper commander | Middle commander | Lower commander |
 PLA Ground Forces[1]
|
General | Lieutenant General | Major General |
 PLA Navy[1]
|
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 PLA Air Force[1]
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|
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 People's Armed Police[1]
|
General | Lieutenant General | Major General |
| 上将 Shàngjiāng |
中将 Zhōngjiāng |
少将 Shàojiāng | |
| Rank group | General/flag officers | ||
Dajiang[]
Under the rank system in place in the PLA in the era 1955–1965, there existed the rank of dajiang (Chinese: 大将; literally: "Grand commander"). This rank was awarded to 10 of the veteran leaders of the PLA in 1955 and never conferred again. It was considered equivalent to the Soviet rank of army general. The decision to name the equivalent rank yiji shangjiang (Chinese: 一级上将; literally: "Upper commander first class") when it was briefly re-established in 1988-1994 was likely due to a desire to keep the rank of dajiang an honorary one awarded after a war, much as General of the Armies in the United States Army. It was offered to Deng Xiaoping who declined the new rank. Thus it was never conferred and scrapped in 1994.
Republic of China Armed Forces[]
Main article: Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia
Japanese variant[]
The same rank names are used for all services, prefixed by riku (Japanese: 陸, lit. 'land'), kai (Japanese: 海, lit. 'sea') or kū (Japanese: 空, lit. 'air'). The rank insignia of the Bakuryōchō-taru-shō (Japanese: 幕僚長たる将) was enacted on December 1, 1962, and before that, it was the same three-star as other Shō (Japanese: 将). The English notation of the Shō in the English version of the Defense White Paper is as follows.
- Tōgōbakuryōchō-taru-Rikusho, Kaishõ,mata-ha Kũshō (Japanese: 統合幕僚長たる陸将、海将または空将) GEN, ADM or Gen serving as Chief of Staff Joint Staff Office.
- Rikujõbakuryōchō-taru-Rikushõ (Japanese: 陸上幕僚長たる陸将) General serving as JGSDF Chief of Staff.
- Rikushō (Japanese: 陸将) General.
- Kaijōbakuryōchō-taru-Kaishō (Japanese: 海上幕僚長たる海将)) Admiral serving as JMSDF Chief of Staff.
- Kaishō (Japanese: 海将) Vice Admiral.
- Kōkūbakuryōchō-taru-Kũshō (Japanese: 航空幕僚長たる空将) General serving as JASDF Chief of Staff.
- Kūshō (Japanese: 空将) General.
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 幕僚長たる将 | 将 | 将補 | |
| Romanization | Bakuryōchō-taru-shō | Shō | Shō-ho | |
| Literal translation | Commander serving as Chief of staff | Commander | Supplementary commander | |
 Japanese Army[4]
|
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| U.S. equivalent[5] | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | |
| Japanese Navy[4]
|
File:JMSDF Admiral insignia (b).svg File:Japan-Navy-OF-9.svg | File:JMSDF Vice Admiral insignia (b).svg File:Japan-Navy-OF-8.svg | File:JMSDF Rear Admiral insignia (b).svg Error creating thumbnail: | |
| U.S. equivalent[5] | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | |
| Japanese Air Force[4]
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| |
| U.S. equivalent[5] | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | |
| 幕僚長たる将 Bakuryōchō-taru-shō |
将 Shō |
将補 Shō-ho | ||
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
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Korean variant[]
See also: Comparative military ranks of Korea
| Jang | |
| Hangul | 장 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 將 |
| Revised Romanization | jang |
| McCune–Reischauer | chang |
North Korea[]
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangul | 대장 | 상장 | 중장 | 소장 |
| Hanja | 大將 | 上將 | 中將 | 少將 |
| Romanization | Daejang | Sangjang | Chungjang | Sojang |
| Literal translation | Grand commander | Upper commander | Middle commander | Lower commander |
| File:Flag of the Korean People's Army.svg Korean People's Army[6] | Captain general | Superior general | Middle general | Junior general |
| Army general | Colonel general | Lieutenant general | Major general | |
| Error creating thumbnail: Korean People's Navy[6] | File:DPRK-Navy-OF-9.svg | Error creating thumbnail: | File:DPRK-Navy-OF-7.svg | Error creating thumbnail: |
| Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | |
 North Korea Air Force[6]
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|
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| Army general | Colonel general | Lieutenant general | Major general | |
| 대장 Daejang |
상장 Sangjang |
중장 Chungjang |
소장 Sojang | |
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
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South Korea[]
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangul | 대장 | 중장 | 소장 | 준장 |
| Hanja | 大將 | 中將 | 少將 | 准將 |
| Romanization | Daejang | Jungjang | Sojang | Junjang |
| Literal translation | Grand commander | Middle commander | Lower commander | Given commander |
 Armed Forces[7]
|
File:SouthKorea-Collar-OF-9.svg | File:SouthKorea-Collar-OF-8.svg | File:SouthKorea-Collar-OF-7.svg | File:SouthKorea-Collar-OF-6.svg |
| English translation (Army)[8] |
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general |
| English translation (Navy)[8] |
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral (lower half) |
| English translation (Air Force)[8] |
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general |
| English translation (Marine Corps) |
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general |
| 대장 Daejang |
중장 Jungjang |
소장 Sojang |
준장 Junjang | |
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
Vietnamese variant[]
Main article: Vietnamese military ranks and insignia
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese | Đại tướng | Thượng tướng | Trung tướng | Thiếu tướng |
| Chữ Hán | 大將 | 上將 | 中將 | 少將 |
| Literal translation | Grand general | Upper general | Middle general | Lower general |
 Vietnam Army[9]
|
File:Vietnam People's Army OF-10.svg | Error creating thumbnail: | File:Vietnam People's Army OF-8.svg | File:Vietnam People's Army OF-7.svg |
| Translation[10] | Army general | Colonel general | Lieutenant general | Major general |
| Vietnam Air Force[9]
|
|
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| Translation[10] | Colonel general | Lieutenant general | Major general | |
| Vietnamese | Đại tướng | Thượng tướng | Trung tướng | Thiếu tướng |
| Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
South Vietnamese variant[]
Main article: South Vietnamese military ranks and insignia
| Rank group | General/flag officers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese | Thống tướng | Đại tướng | Trung tướng | Thiếu tướng | Chuẩn tướng |
| Chữ Hán | 統將 | 大將 | 中將 | 少將 | 准將 |
| Literal translation | Master general | Grand general | Middle general | Lower general | Quasi-general / Rear - general |
 South Vietnam Army(1967-1975)[11] |
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| Translation[11] | General of the Army | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general |
| South Vietnam Marines (1967-1975) |
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| Translation | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | ||
| South Vietnam Air Force (1967-1975)[11] |
|
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| Translation[11] | General of the Air Force | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general |
| Vietnamese | Thống tướng | Đại tướng | Trung tướng | Thiếu tướng | Chuẩn tướng |
| Rank group | General/flag officers | ||||
See also[]
Ranks used in Chinese character-using countries
- General officer: Jiang_(rank)
- Senior officer: Sa_(rank), Xiao (rank), Lyeong
- Junior officer: Wei_(rank)
- Non-commissioned officers: Shi_(rank)
- Enlisted ranks: Bing_(rank), Shi_(rank)
- Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force
- Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy
- Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
- Ranks of the People's Armed Police
- Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ping, Xu (7 August 2017). "我军建军九十年军衔制度沿革" (in zh). Ministry of National Defense. http://www.mod.gov.cn/education/2017-08/07/content_4788037_8.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Lùhǎikōng jūnfú zhì tiáolì fù tú". 7 November 1996. pp. 65–67. https://www.president.gov.tw/Portals/0/Bulletins/paper/PDF/6769-2.PDF.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Act of Commission for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces". Ministry of Justice. 4 December 2019. https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=F0030002.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "自衛官の階級" (in ja). Japanese Ministry of Defense. https://www.mod.go.jp/j/profile/mod_sdf/class/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Dolan, Ronald E. (1999). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L.. Japan: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 449. LCCN 91029874. https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.japancountrystud00dola/?sp=505&st=image. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L.. North Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 266, 268. LCCN 2008028547. https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.northkoreacountr00word/?sp=312. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ↑ "gyegeubjang-ui jesig(je7joje2hang gwanlyeon)" (in ko). https://www.law.go.kr/lsSc.do?section=&menuId=1&subMenuId=15&tabMenuId=81&eventGubun=060101&query=%EA%B5%B0%EC%9D%B8%EB%B3%B5%EC%A0%9C%EB%A0%B9#AJAX.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Katz, Rodney P. (1992). "National Security". In Savada, Andrea Matles; Shaw, William. South Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 292. LCCN 91039109. https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.southkoreacountr00sava_0/?sp=342. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Quy định quân hiệu, cấp hiệu, phù hiệu và lễ phục của Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam". Ministry of Defence (Vietnam). 26 August 2009. http://www.mod.gov.vn/wps/portal/!ut/p/b1/vZTbcqJAEIafJQ9gMcOZSxiOg6AcBW4sEVSECEEU5OmXbLJbm9RuvMk6fdVVf9fX_c_0EAkREclpcy32m66oT5vqNU_YtSraLi9BEQDgMcCgRDOYC1MicpMgngRIE3WamwPAz7VJIOqBKzgUBUTqY_2C0_mpHiGGCikIJECsiOgY0wM6W70i-ruynFfb1fYQX7ZNdtn5qHA8c6zP5WWtN7JZeulq7Id0jm6zQejicQQsiZnxbA4Q57NTs-r7sKUaVLQlv5USsiPHDjJShYe9dkQvriL39cy8OujA12x08P2QCfHIXDr1KPJw3aZRs1ueQ_tk1k_vs4F_HBHcm-2t_gvBHW9XRPJRoomhCgzsARFxDIlo7l3wlf0_BV_MEE8C7o8mfZ6bujBCgZZpCESW8IkI0GvveGuMsRzdI-iBPzrQBh0GXGhZnB7YQYXtbAE9ObRgG_RWig3Lx5Y3BqQn6MssdANJlOTL3r_eA3KPBjL_G6gt9Ndb8zHjLRwS0NSDJ3TobwdiItlXdTp9EGESU5JcG72ieOtDsFh6TK4Vy7piTSpNvZtbVTG5P_HXbTEfbE3I8eGUsfDs3MJcRU1WvTi52SWXoj-uFptwE0eD1SaoWy27ss1UyzsBf5fBgyr07TEdcUpK82dnN-SoyGZNv0CIXxou1HKc-HzKIoVLcXNBNuhNeNhYAPdT3oc2ZexMrbAYdqf6oTq-bBF5fiJsvX7OP9v3aRGdvz2QwVb6wR-xAUswWEHr2r5yswTJ9mXlBgJoW21meWUNvbIxz538yz4v4oToDpClHwx0uP8N_LwC4NGWst8ObJ6DqzlnXX2MfkeuXZ_fYv_0AytYOeM!/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Pike, Douglas (1989). "National Security". In Cima, Ronald J.. Vietnam: a country study. Area Handbook (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 256. LCCN 88600482. https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.vietnamcountryst00cima_0/?sp=310&st=image. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Armed Forces Information and Education (1968). Uniforms of Seven Allies (DOD GEN-30). Department of Defense. pp. 26-28. https://archive.org/details/UniformsOfSevenAllies01/Uniforms%20of%20Seven%20Allies%2026.jpg. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
The original article can be found at Jiang (rank) and the edit history here.