民国三十一年西藏大东亚战争银章。重27.51克。直径45.96毫米。正面高浮雕，西藏狮朝右，铭文程进明 村田武一 李贵发 敬赠环绕。背面：大东亚战争、纪念、民国卅一年。西藏狮图活灵活现，铭文经精心雕刻。 反面中央莲花高浮雕，铭文端正。 表面包浆呈浅灰色，图文之间色泽更深。 两面均见轻微积土及铜绿。 仔细检查可见正面1点方向的其中一个字样被抹去，辨认困难。 虽有瑕疵，但仍能为集藏添光溢彩。 别具趣味的是铭文大东亚战争多指日本发起的亚洲太平洋战争，而此章是由中国官员发行，纪念其组织的阻止西藏独立政治活动。 1942年，西藏向国民政府总统蒋介石发信，表示会坚守边境。国民政府并不满意并採取镇压以求结束分裂。在蒋介石的直接命令下，马步芳同意将其麾下回民军调至西藏边境。蒋介石更威胁如不遵守边界，将会轰炸西藏。饶有趣味而鲜少遇见的第二次中日战争时期纪念章，必定能令资深藏家心潮澎湃。<p>(t) CHINA. Tibet. Great East Asia War Silver Medal, Year 31 (1942). VERY FINE.Weight: 27.51 gms; Diameter: 45.96 mm. Obverse: high relief Tibetan lion right legend around, 敬明進程__田武一李貴発贈 (__ __ process __, gift from Tian Wuyi and Li Guixi); Reverse: 大東亞戰爭 (Great East Asia War), 紀念 (Commemorate), 民國卅一年 (Year 31 [1942] of the Republic of China). This highly interesting commemorative displays attractive finely engraved high relief Tibetan lion with carefully inscribed legends. While the reverse exhibits a high relief Lotus follower in the center with neatly engraved legends. The surfaces displays a pleasing light gray tone with richer coloration amongst the devices. Minor earthen deposits and verdigris are noticed on both sides mentioned for accuracy. Close inspection reveals that one of the characters on the obverse at 1 oclock has been effaced making identification quite difficult. Despite its shortcomings a pleasant and obscure piece that is sure to add depth to the next collection it enters. <p><em>It is interesting to point out that while the inscription is for the Great East Asia War, a term generally considered a war time name by the Japanese, this particular piece was issued by Chinese officials for their campaign in Tibet to prevent their secession from China. In 1942, The Tibetans sent a letter to the Chairman of the National Government Chiang Kai-shek stating that they would safeguard their borders. This was clearly not taken well and the National Government acted appropriately to squelch the secession. Under direct order from Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, Ma Bufang agreed to transfer his Muslim forces to the Tibetan border while Chiang Kai-shek threatened to bomb the Tibetans if they did not respect the borders. A very interesting and seldom encountered artifact from the second Sino-Japanese war that is sure to excite many advanced collectors.</em>
