China in WW2

Chinese Militaria: A Hot New Area for Collectors

• By Peter Harmsen
• 14 January, 2016
• 1 Comment

Chinese military items from WW2 have become more popular among collectors in recent years as China’s role in the war has become better known. However, collecting Chinese militaria involves unique challenges. We have talked to Hsin Chiang about his passion, and also asked him to share photos with samples from his collection:

What got you started collecting Chinese militaria?

It was when I first started doing Chinese WW2 reenacting. I was already interested in collecting military headgear, medals, patches, and other objects, and it just took off from there. I mostly collect Chinese items from the modern era.

How big is your collection of Chinese WW2 militaria?

I collect whatever I can find, ranging from ski caps to badges and medals. I don’t have a huge collection – for example, not enough to fill a collector’s “war” room – but I do know a few fellow collectors in China who have vast collections.

What’s your most serendipitous find?

I have some nice finds that mostly come from eBay, where they have listed with the wrong country of origin or unidentifiable. They include a lieutenant rank tab and near mint officer’s parade sword both of which were listed as Japanese.

Do you have any advice for people who want to start collecting Chinese militaria?

Just have a lot of patience and extra cash as a lot of the items are hard to find. Some of the common items include daggers and swords, Zhong Zheng Shi rifle, and cap badges, which are relatively easy items to find. CBI*) items are also a great way to start as a lot of items were made in China too. There are also a lot of fakes coming out of China. Usually, it’s easy to spot them – much easier than some of the fake items made for the market for German WW2 militaria. I would say Chinese WW2 militaria is the “wild west” of militaria collecting because there are many items that not all collectors have seen before!

Where to find objects? Mainland China? Taiwan?

There are some nice items being found around mainland China these days. Most have been dug up from the battlefield, or they were stowed away and forgotten and later rediscovered tucked away amongst old junk. Taiwan has some nice items but it seems to me more items are found on the mainland these days. Another big source is here in the US where a lot of CBI veterans brought back many items as souvenirs from their former Chinese ally.

Prices are rising steeply for Chinese militaria. What’s driving this? Wealthy mainland collectors? Growing interest in China in WW2?

The last two decades has seen a strong growth in China and prices have gone up quickly since then. Although there is a slowdown over there, I don’t think prices will drop significantly. A lot of the wealthy mainlanders and top dealers have driven up prices. I have a few friends who are big collectors in WW2 items, and they think it’s crazy how some things have gone up in price in such a short time period.

*) China Burma India Theatre. An American term for the China and Southeast Asia operational era during WW2, made popular after the US entry into the war in December 1941.