Flag of Myanmar
Encyclopedia
Burma, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, adopted a new state flag on 21 October 2010 to replace the former flag in use since 1974. The new flag was introduced along with implementing changes to the country's name, which were laid out in the 2008 Constitution.
The design of the flag has three horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a five-pointed white star in the middle. The three colours of the stripes are meant to symbolise solidarity, peace
and tranquility, and courage
and decisiveness.
. The new flag would have consisted of three equally sized green, yellow, and red horizontal stripes, with a white star in the hoist end of the green stripe.
In September 2007 another new design was proposed, this time with a larger white star in the middle and with the stripes in a different order, namely: yellow, green, red. That same order was used in the flag of the State of Burma
during the Japanese occupation of Burma
, which featured a green peacock in the centre.
The new flag is basically a fusion of the flag of the State of Burma without the royal peacock, taking instead the white star that symbolised the Union of Burma in the canton of its flag.
. Officials were told to lower the old flag in favour of the new one only shortly before 3:00 p.m. local time on 21 October 2010. Orders were also handed out to ensure all old flags were burned. The adoption of the new flag was announced on state media just prior to the flag changing.
The new flag is a horizontal tricolour flag of yellow, green and red charged with a five-pointed
white star in the middle of the field. The yellow represents solidarity; the green symbolises peace, tranquility and lush greenery; the red represents courage and determination; and the white star stands for the significance of the union of the country.
during World War II
.
The flag adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom
on 4 January 1948 consisted of a red field with a blue canton. The blue canton was charged with one large white star, representing the union, surrounded by 5 smaller stars representing the main ethnic groups found within the newly independent state. This flag remained in use until January 1974.
The new flag adopted on 3 January 1974 upon the declaration of a socialist republic by Ne Win
depicted 14 stars, encircling a gear and a rice plant in a blue-coloured canton against a red field. The rice stands for agriculture, the gear represents industry, and the 14 stars represent each of the 14 member states of the Union.
Earlier historical flags of Burmese monarchs featured the green peacock. The use of the green peacock was continued during British colonial times and the State of Burma
. The flag of the State of Burma (1943–1945) was the yellow-green-red flag with the peacock in the middle. During the last year of the war, a more simplified design of the peacock was also used, probably to rally support amongst the populace.
The flag of the banned National League for Democracy
party features both a peacock and a white star, while the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma used the 1948 flag.
The design of the flag has three horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a five-pointed white star in the middle. The three colours of the stripes are meant to symbolise solidarity, peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and tranquility, and courage
Courage
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation...
and decisiveness.
Colors
| Scheme | |Green | |White | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pantone | 116 | 361 | 1788 | Safe |
| RGB | 254-203-0 | 52-178-51 | 234-40-57 | 255-255-255 |
| HTML | #FECB00 | #34B233 | #EA2839 | #FFFFFF |
| CMYK | 0, 20, 100, 0 | 71, 0, 71, 30 | 0, 83, 76, 8 | 0, 0, 0, 0 |
Proposals for change
A new design for the national flag was proposed on 10 November 2006 during a constitutional conventionConstitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
. The new flag would have consisted of three equally sized green, yellow, and red horizontal stripes, with a white star in the hoist end of the green stripe.
In September 2007 another new design was proposed, this time with a larger white star in the middle and with the stripes in a different order, namely: yellow, green, red. That same order was used in the flag of the State of Burma
State of Burma
The State of Burma was created in 1943 under Japanese occupation.-Background:During the early stages of World War II, the Empire of Japan invaded British Burma primarily to obtain raw materials , and to close off the Burma Road, which was a primary link for aid and munitions to the Chinese...
during the Japanese occupation of Burma
Japanese occupation of Burma
The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces...
, which featured a green peacock in the centre.
The new flag is basically a fusion of the flag of the State of Burma without the royal peacock, taking instead the white star that symbolised the Union of Burma in the canton of its flag.
Adoption of new flag
The flag proposed in September 2007 was included in the new constitution, and was accepted with the 2008 referendumBurmese constitutional referendum, 2008
A constitutional referendum was held in Burma on 10 May 2008 according to an announcement by the State Peace and Development Council in February 2008. According to the military government, the new Constitution of Burma will ensure the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy"...
. Officials were told to lower the old flag in favour of the new one only shortly before 3:00 p.m. local time on 21 October 2010. Orders were also handed out to ensure all old flags were burned. The adoption of the new flag was announced on state media just prior to the flag changing.
The new flag is a horizontal tricolour flag of yellow, green and red charged with a five-pointed
Five-pointed star
A five-pointed star is a very common ideogram throughout the world. If the colinear edges are joined together a pentagram is produced, which is the simplest of the unicursal star polygons, and a symbol of mystical and magical significance....
white star in the middle of the field. The yellow represents solidarity; the green symbolises peace, tranquility and lush greenery; the red represents courage and determination; and the white star stands for the significance of the union of the country.
History
The two flags used by the country immediately prior to the 2010 flag both originated in the Burmese Resistance, which adopted a red flag with a white star when fighting the occupying Japanese forcesJapanese occupation of Burma
The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The flag adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 4 January 1948 consisted of a red field with a blue canton. The blue canton was charged with one large white star, representing the union, surrounded by 5 smaller stars representing the main ethnic groups found within the newly independent state. This flag remained in use until January 1974.
The new flag adopted on 3 January 1974 upon the declaration of a socialist republic by Ne Win
Ne Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
depicted 14 stars, encircling a gear and a rice plant in a blue-coloured canton against a red field. The rice stands for agriculture, the gear represents industry, and the 14 stars represent each of the 14 member states of the Union.
Earlier historical flags of Burmese monarchs featured the green peacock. The use of the green peacock was continued during British colonial times and the State of Burma
State of Burma
The State of Burma was created in 1943 under Japanese occupation.-Background:During the early stages of World War II, the Empire of Japan invaded British Burma primarily to obtain raw materials , and to close off the Burma Road, which was a primary link for aid and munitions to the Chinese...
. The flag of the State of Burma (1943–1945) was the yellow-green-red flag with the peacock in the middle. During the last year of the war, a more simplified design of the peacock was also used, probably to rally support amongst the populace.
The flag of the banned National League for Democracy
National League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
party features both a peacock and a white star, while the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma used the 1948 flag.
See also
- Flags of the Burmese states and regionsFlags of the Burmese states and regionsThe flags of the Burmese states and regions exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Modern state flags date from the 1940s when Burma was starting to gain its independence from the colonial British Empire...
- State seal of Burma