According to the medal regulations, those such as Chang Ta-ch'ien, who are not in governmental services, are eligible for them when their contributions fall under one of six categories: technical invention, social welfare, culture and education, natural disaster prevention, business and scholarship.
他畢生致力國畫藝術，藝事精、境界高，有助於國際人士對我中華文化的瞭解，而於民國七十一年，他八十四歲生日當天，獲蔣總統經國先生親授中正勳章。