Flag of the Republic of China
Flag ratio: 2:3
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2 Symbolism 3 Uses |
The canton originated from the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" Flag (青天白日旗 qīng tīan bÃÂái rÃÂì qÃÂÃÂ) designed by Lu Hao-tung in 1895 to represent the revolutionary army, and later became the Kuomintang party flag and coat of arms.
The "red earth" portion was added by Sun Yat-sen in winter of 1906, bringing the flag to its modern form.
In 1911, the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" Flag became the navy flag of the new Republic of China in Nanjing, with the national flag being a "Five-colored Flag" (五色旗) (a popular choice supported by the Senate) of five horizontal stripes that represents the five nationalities of China with the longest history: the Han (red), the Manchus (yellow), the Mongols (blue), the Hui (white), and the Tibetan (black). Sun Yat-sen, however, did not consider the five-colored flag appropriate, reasoning that horizontal order implied a hierarchy or class like that which existed during dynastic times.
In 1913, as Yuan Shikai overtook China, Sun moved the nominal government to Tokyo and employed the modern flag as the national ROC flag. But even after the ROC was re-established on the Mainland in 1928 and the modern flag was made the official national flag in December 17, the Five-colored Flag still continued to be used by locals in an unofficial capacity. One reason for this discrepancy in use was linguring regional biases held by officials and citizens of northern China, who favored the Five-colored Flag, against southerners such as the Cantonese Sun.
During World War II, the flag was used by both the Nationalist government in Chongqing under Chiang Kai-shek and the Japanese-sponsored collaborationist government in Nanjing under Wang Jingwei.
In October 23, 1954, the Law of the National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China (「中華民國國徽國旗法」) was promulgated to specify the size, measure, ratio, production, and management of the flag. The gist and the details of flag making described in this legal document are taught in the mandatory scout classes held in Taiwanese junior high schools.
In the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" Flag by Lu Hao-tung, the twelve rays of the white sun symbolize the twelve months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (時辰 shÃÂÃÂchen), each of which corresponds to two modern hours (小時 xĭaoshÃÂÃÂ, literal meaning: "little shi").
The "Red Earth" Sun Yat-sen added to the flag signifies the blood of those revolutionaries who sacrificed themselves in order to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and create the ROC.
Together, the three colors of flag correspond to the Three Principles of the People:
The ROC flag is not commonly seen at international gatherings in which the People's Republic of China (PRC) participates due to pressure from the PRC over the political status of Taiwan and resulting minimal political influence of the ROC in such circles.
The use of the flag is also somewhat political signficant and controversial in Taiwan. Because it was formerly used as the flag over all of China, it has been associated with the ideologies of Chinese nationalism and Chinese reunification. In addition, the facts that the flag is derived from the seal of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party, or KMT) and the color of the field of the flag is associated with the KMT party color also contribute to controversy of the flag's general use.
One major concession that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chen Shui-bian have made to demonstrate that they have moderated their position on Taiwan independence is to use the flag on state occasions. Nevertheless, the ROC flag and its colors are almost never seen in DPP political rallies while they are usually given great prominence in political rallies of the KMT and Pan-Blue Coalition.
The hoisting and lowering of the flag are accompanied by The Flag Song.
History
Flag of the ROC
(1912-1928)Symbolism
Uses
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