What does the flag of China look like. The meaning of the flag of China

One of the most ancient states is China. Many things that seem ordinary today, a native of this country - silk, gunpowder and paper, for example. It was the Chinese, according to historians, the first to use the flag, back in the hundredth century BC. For his thousand-year history, he changed his appearance and shape more than once until in the middle of the last century a modern flag of China appeared - a red canvas with five stars. But what is his value and what did not please the present government of the republic the previous one?

Flag of the times of the Qing dynasty

Despite the fact that the first Chinese flags from thesilk are mentioned even in the times of the Roman Empire, the only one was not long enough. Heraldry of Europe depicted the flag of China in completely different ways. Mostly they were different animals on a white background. Most likely, they have little in common with reality. In those days, it was unlikely to know exactly what the flag of China looks like. After all, the very Asian state for Europeans was surrounded by myths and legends.

The first single flag in China appeared only in 1862Thanks to the development of trade and military relations with Great Britain. It was a yellow triangle with a blue dragon and a sun depicted on it. Later, in 1889 and at the insistence of the European allies, the Chinese flag became rectangular. Yellow color symbolized the ruling dynasty of Qing, and the blue dragon and the sun - its power and wisdom. In this form it was preserved until the fall of the empire and the proclamation of the Republic of China.

Flags of an era of change

After the incident in 1911, the Xinghairevolution, this symbol simply could not remain in its original form. However, the government did not immediately come to a common opinion which flag of China to accept as one for the whole country. Only on January 1, 1912, the five-color version was finally selected. It symbolized the unity of the five peoples in one republic: the Han (red), the Manchus (yellow), the Mongols (blue), the Hui (white) and the Tibetans (blue). However, in this form, he did not like the founding father of the Republic of China, Sun Yatsen.

At his insistence in 1928 a newflag of China. On the red canvas depicted in the upper left corner of the white sun on a blue background. "Red Land" denoted sacrificed revolutionaries to overthrow the ruling Qing dynasty. The white sun is 12 months, or 12 Chinese hours. In general, the colors of the flag symbolized three basic principles of the republic's government: red - the people's welfare, blue - nationalism, white - democracy. Now it is used only in Taiwan, the former province of China.

Modern Flag

After the ruling Kuomintang partylost the civil war, and the leadership of the republic fled to Taiwan, then, as the flag of China looks like, the new government did not like it anymore. In 1949, a nationwide contest for a new banner was announced. In total, about 3000 variants were presented. After some changes, on October 1, 1949, a new flag was approved, sponsored by Tsuen Liansong, an economist from Shanghai.

According to his idea, the red color of the flag symbolizedspilled blood of revolutionaries, and five stars reflected the desire for a better life. The big star is the Chinese Communist Party, and 4 small ones are the bourgeoisie, the workers, peasants and the military. The idea of ​​Liansung was drawn from the article of Mao Zedong, where he mentioned the 4 classes of the Chinese people and their alliance. However, it was not possible to decide which flag China will have, party workers could not immediately.

Thus, one option was suggestedAdd to it a longitudinal yellow strip, indicating the Yellow River. It was suggested adding not one but three strips. Part of the party members did not like the presence of small stars, they wanted to remove them altogether. As a result, at the insistence of Mao Zedong, the flag of Tsuen Liansung was approved with minor changes. In the final version, the sickle and hammer from the big star were removed to make the flag of China less like the flag of the USSR.

Flags of Hong Kong and Macau

Despite the fact that China is a unitary state,and its provinces can not have their own flags, two of them in a special situation. This is Hong Kong, reunited with the republic only in 1996, and Macau, which became independent in 1999. This is a consequence of the popular policy for these provinces in mainland China - "one country, two systems." Only under such conditions it was possible to return previously lost lands.

The national flag of Hong Kong depicts a whiteflower Bauginia with five petals on a red background. It is a symbol of the reunification of the province with China, and 5 stars located on each of the petals, speak of the love of citizens to their city. The Macau Flag is green with a white lotus flower, blossoming over the bridge of Governor Nobre de Carvalho. This is the most recognizable place in Macao, and it also connects the island with mainland China. Above the flower are all the same 5 yellow stars. This detail reminds of what kind of flag China has, and also speaks about the connection of the province with the republic.

Flags of the military and other organizations of China

The People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) hasTheir flags for each kind of troops. The main background on them is the same red color. But next to the big yellow star are the hieroglyphs "eight one". Only this he does not look like the national flag of China. The meaning of this symbol is very simple. The order for the establishment of the PLA was signed on August 1, 1927, that is, on the first day of the eighth month. The flag itself appeared only 22 years later. In 1992, flags were approved for land forces - with a green strip, for the Navy - with white-blue stripes and for the Air Force - with a blue stripe.

Their flags are the ruling political party,Komsomol and Pioneer organizations of China. So, since 1942, the Chinese Communist Party has a single flag - a sickle and a hammer in the upper right corner on a red background. Komsomol members appear under the red flag with the emblem of the union - a yellow star in the same color ring. The Pioneers on the red flag depict a star with a torch in the center. These flags are very similar to those used earlier in the USSR.

Finally

China is the only country where it still rulesCommunist Party. Hard-working Chinese people work with pleasure for the benefit of their homeland and the ruling elite. The flag of this state for every Chinese is a symbol of freedom and independence. At the same time, high technologies and fidelity to traditions are side by side in China. And eastern flexibility has made it possible to adapt to changing economic and political conditions.