Jiang (rank)
Encyclopedia
Jiang (Wade-Giles: Chiang; traditional Chinese: 將) is the rank held by general officers in the military of both the People's Republic of China
and the Republic of China
. The People's Liberation Army
uses three grades at present while the Republic of China uses four, with the rank equivalent to the fourth being treated as a field officer
rank in the PLA (i.e. Senior Colonel
equivalent to Brigadier General and to ROC's 少将 Major General). This difference is found in other militaries as well. For example. in the British Army a brigadier is considered a field officer, while the equivalent rank in the United States Army, brigadier general, is considered a general officer. The PLA uses the same rank names for all services, prefixed by Hai Jun (海军) (Naval Force) or Kong Jun (空军) (Air Force). While the ROC does the same for enlisted ranks and company-grade officer
s, it has distinct names for the higher naval ranks. Because of the additional field officer rank in the PLA, ranks with the same Chinese name do not correspond to the same rank. A similar situation occurs in the militaries of North and South Korea with some ranks.
(大将) or Marshal. 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 Генера́л а́рмии (General of the Army
) which is generally considered a five-star rank, although the insignia itself had only four. The decision to name the equivalent rank Yi Ji Shang Jiang when it was briefly reestablished in 1988-1994 was likely due to a desire to keep the rank of Da Jiang an honorary one awarded after a war, much as General of the Armies
in the United States Army
.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. The People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
uses three grades at present while the Republic of China uses four, with the rank equivalent to the fourth being treated as a field officer
Field officer
A field officer is an army, marine, or air force commissioned officer senior in rank to a company officer but junior to a general officer; in some navies, it is an officer who is a Lieutenant Commander, Commander, or Captain....
rank in the PLA (i.e. Senior Colonel
Senior Colonel
Senior Colonel is a field grade officer rank placed between a regular Colonel and a Major General. The rank typically exists in militaries that do not maintain a rank of Brigadier General/Brigadier....
equivalent to Brigadier General and to ROC's 少将 Major General). This difference is found in other militaries as well. For example. in the British Army a brigadier is considered a field officer, while the equivalent rank in the United States Army, brigadier general, is considered a general officer. The PLA uses the same rank names for all services, prefixed by Hai Jun (海军) (Naval Force) or Kong Jun (空军) (Air Force). While the ROC does the same for enlisted ranks and company-grade officer
Company-grade officer
In US military usage, a company-grade officer is a Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, or Captain.In the Army, company-grade officers are typically assigned to a company as a platoon leader or executive officer or as a commander . They may also be assigned as staff officers. They may preside...
s, it has distinct names for the higher naval ranks. Because of the additional field officer rank in the PLA, ranks with the same Chinese name do not correspond to the same rank. A similar situation occurs in the militaries of North and South Korea with some ranks.
People's Liberation Army
| Rank | Literal translation |
Army translation |
Navy translation |
PLA Ground Force insignia |
PLA Naval Force insignia |
PLA Air Force insignia |
NATO rank equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yi Ji Shang Jiang (一级上将) Rank existed only 1988-1994; never held |
First Class Senior General | General of the Army | Fleet Admiral | OF-10 | |||
| Shang Jiang (上将) | Senior General | General | Admiral | OF-9 | |||
| Zhong Jiang (中将) | Middle General | Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | OF-8 | |||
| Shao Jiang (少将) | Junior General | Major General | Rear Admiral | OF-7 |
Da Jiang
Under the rank system in place in the PLA in the era 1955-1965, there existed the rank of Da JiangDa Jiang
Da Jiang was a rank conferred in 1955 to ten veteran leaders of the People's Liberation Army. It was never conferred again and the rank was abolished in 1965 along with all other ranks in the PLA...
(大将) or Marshal. 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 Генера́л а́рмии (General of the Army
General of the Army
General of the Army is a military rank used in some countries to denote a senior military leader, usually a General in command of a nation's Army. It may also be the title given to a General who commands an Army in the field....
) which is generally considered a five-star rank, although the insignia itself had only four. The decision to name the equivalent rank Yi Ji Shang Jiang when it was briefly reestablished in 1988-1994 was likely due to a desire to keep the rank of Da Jiang an honorary one awarded after a war, much as General of the Armies
General of the Armies
General of the Armies of the United States, or more commonly referred to as General of the Armies, is the highest possible officer rank of the United States Army.Only two soldiers have been granted the rank of General of the Armies; John J...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Republic of China Army
Insignia adopted in 1959. Rank names are given using Wade-Giles transliteration and traditional Chinese characters.| Rank | Army translation |
Navy translation |
ROC Army insignia |
NATO rank equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Chi Shang Chiang (一級上將) | General 1st Class | Admiral 1st Class |  |
OF-9 |
| Er Chi Shang Chiang (二級上將) | General | Admiral |  |
OF-8 |
| Zhong Chiang (中將) | Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral |  |
OF-7 |
| Shao Chiang (少將) | Major General | Rear Admiral |  |
OF-6 |
See also
- Ranks of the People's Liberation ArmyRanks of the People's Liberation ArmyThe People's Liberation Army has not always used ranks or insignia. In common with the practice of the Red Army at the time of its founding in 1927, neither were used until 1955 when a system of ranks was established. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, ranks were abolished in May 1965...
- Ranks of the People's Liberation Army NavyRanks of the People's Liberation Army NavyThe ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Navy are prefixed by 海军 meaning Naval Force or Navy. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article...
- Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air ForceRanks of the People's Liberation Army Air ForceThe ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Air Force are prefixed by 空军 meaning Air Force. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article...
- Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia