The order consisted of five classes, the first three of which were divided into three grades.
The rules for award and the nature of the gradations was set out in the statues establishing the award in 1882.
The rules were modified somewhat in 1897.

First Class, First Grade: for emperors and kings of foreign nations
First Class, Second Grade: for princes, and royal family members and relatives (later limited to royal family members who had earned, and not inherited, senior positions in government)
First Class, Third Grade: for ministers of who had inherited their position, general ministers, and diplomatic envoys of the first rank.

Second Class, First Grade: for diplomatic envoys of the second rank
Second Class, Second Grade: for diplomatic envoys of the third rank and customs commissioners 
Second Class, Third Grade: for counselors of the first rank, consul-generals and military generals
Third Class, First Grade: for counselors of the second and third rank, the entourage of consul-generals, and second-tier military officers 
Third Class, Second Grade: for deputy consuls, and third-tier military officers
Third Class, Third Grade: for translators and military officers of the fourth and fifth tiers
Fourth Class: for soldiers and non-commissioned officers
Fifth Class: for businessmen and traders
The order consisted of five classes, the first three of which were divided into three grades. The rules for award and the nature of the gradations was set out in the statues establishing the award in 1882. The rules were modified somewhat in 1897.
First Class, First Grade: for emperors and kings of foreign nations
First Class, Second Grade: for princes, and royal family members and relatives (later limited to royal family members who had earned, and not inherited, senior positions in government)
First Class, Third Grade: for ministers of who had inherited their position, general ministers, and diplomatic envoys of the first rank.
Second Class, First Grade: for diplomatic envoys of the second rank
Second Class, Second Grade: for diplomatic envoys of the third rank and customs commissioners 
Second Class, Third Grade: for counselors of the first rank, consul-generals and military generals
Third Class, First Grade: for counselors of the second and third rank, the entourage of consul-generals, and second-tier military officers 
Third Class, Second Grade: for deputy consuls, and third-tier military officers
Third Class, Third Grade: for translators and military officers of the fourth and fifth tiers
Fourth Class: for soldiers and non-commissioned officers
Fifth Class: for businessmen and traders
Order of the Double Dragon