The design was chosen to be an orchid because it was reportedly
Puyi's favorite flower. The collar consists of one central large link and 20 small links, interconnected by figured intermediate links in the form of a Buddhist "endless knot". Small chain links are openwork slotted pentagons with rounded corners, symbolizing clouds. Eight of them are inscribed covered with green enamel "eight auspicious signs of Buddha": to the left of the central link - a lotus flower, a precious vessel, two fish and an endless knot; to the right of the central link - the shell, the wheel of learning, the precious umbrella and the banner of victory. The central link is an openwork slotted hexagon, symbolizing a cloud, into which a round medallion of blue enamel is inscribed. The medallion depicts a dragon "in the clouds" wriggling around the flaming Sun. The cordon is gold, with a diameter of 71 mm, it is a stylized image of the main imperial symbol - an orchid flower. On the obverse, the badge looks like a round jagged medallion of green enamel, on which a star of five narrow “petals” of yellow enamel is superimposed. A large pearl is fixed in the center of the star, between the "petals" there are golden stalks with fixed small pearls, five in each corner. On the reverse side of the badge there are four characters: "大勲位章" ("the highest award for merit"). Through a rectangular bracket on the upper "petal" the sign is attached to an intermediate link, which is a reduced copy of the sign itself, without enamels and pearls. At the upper end of the intermediate link there is a transverse eyelet for attaching to the order chain. The order was the highest award of the empire. The Order of the Orchid Blossom was divided into two classes: the collar (大勲位蘭花章頸飾) and the cordon (大勲位蘭花大綬章). The collar was intended for monarchs and heads of state on a large ribbon. == Recipients ==