During the early Republic of China, the rank of "grand marshal of the army and navy" (陸海軍大元帥; 陆海军大元帅; lùhǎijūn dàyuánshuài) was assumed by Yuan Shikai in 1913, Sun Yat-sen in 1917 and Zhang Zuolin in 1927.

[1] The rank was replaced by the Nationalist government with the "general special class" or "generalissimo" (特級上將; 特级上将; tèjí shàngjiàng) and awarded to Chiang Kai-shek in 1935.

[3] After modern China, the "General Marshal" became the honorary or post title of the head of state or the supreme commander of the national armed forces, but they were not official military ranks, for example: Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty Zaiyun and Emperor Xuantong's father Jianguo regent The prince Zaifeng was appointed as the 'Marshal of the Navy and the Army'.

The Northern Government of the Republic of China, such as Yuan Shikai, Li Yuanhong, Duan Qirui, and Zhang Zuolin, all served as the "Marshals of the Navy and Army."

The emergence of such an embarrassing situation also shows the urgency of China to establish a military rank system to facilitate international exchanges.

In October of the same year, the Central Committee The Military Commission instructed the entire army to carry out cadre rating work.