Chinese Flag Meaning

Flags represent a country and are a nation's pride. The colors of flag and the symbols on the flag have specific meanings associated with the country's culture and history. Similarly, there is a specific Chinese flag meaning that represents the Chinese culture and history. In this article, you will learn more about the meaning of Chinese flag.

Chinese Flag Description
Before we go into the details of Chinese flag meaning, let us first understand how does the flag looks. The Chinese flag is red in color with a large five-pointed star placed on the upper left hand corner. This large star is surrounded to its right side by four smaller yellow five-pointed stars. These four small stars are placed around the large star in an angle. The four stars each have one of their five points pointed towards the center of the large star.

Meaning of Chinese Flag
The Chinese flag meaning has many conflicting interpretations. It is said that the red color base of the Chinese flag represents the blood of the heroes who gave up their lives during the revolution. This bloodshed by the revolutionary martyrs led to the political change in the country. The largest star is said to be a representation of Communist Party of China. The ethnic groups of China (Manchurian, Mongolian, Tibetan, and Muslims) are represented by the four smaller stars. The point of each star that is pointing towards the large star symbolizes that all Chinese people are under the leadership of the Communist Party. The indication that China's bright future lies with socialism is represented by the yellow star.

Another meaning associated with the four stars is that they represent the four classes of the Chinese people. These classes include workers, peasants, petty bourgeoisie and national bourgeoisie. In a more historical context, the four stars may represent the four categories of the people. These are the gōng (workers), nóng (farmers), shì (intellectual) and the shāng (businessmen). The colors red symbolizes communism and revolution. The color gold or yellow represents the Chinese nation's yellow race. The white flag staff means that flawless purity and loftiness.

Chinese Flag Facts
In July 1949, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) placed an advertisement in the newspaper. This ad called for entries from the people of China for designs of the Chinese flag. There were over 3,000 entries received from all over the country. Of these 3,000 entries, only 38 were finalized for the representatives of the CPCC committee. Then after a lot of scrutiny and thoughts, a design by Zeng Liansong was chosen by the CPCC committee. This flag became a representation of the People's Republic of China. However, the committee made a small change in the flag's design. They deleted a hammer and sickle from the center of the large star. The credit for the design of the flag is still remains with Mr. Zeng. History of China is rich and varied and is very interesting too.

On the 1st October 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong raised the Chinese flag over the Tian'anmen Square at 3.00 pm. There were over 300,000 Chinese citizens who witnessed the Chinese flag flutter over Beijing. Soon, this task of raising the flag every morning and bringing it down at sundown was given to two workers of the History Museum. Later on, the flag hoisting was passed on to Beijing garrison soldiers in 1969. And after a few years, squad of armed police got the job.

On the morning of 28 December 1982, 96 honor guards raised the Chinese flag in 2 minutes and 7 seconds. This is the exact time it takes for the sun to rise above the horizon. The number 96 represents the 9.6 million square Kms of Chinese territory. The 56 poles placed at the base of the flag represent the 56 ethnic groups living along the borders of China. Every morning and evening, the flag is hoisted and lowered. Apart from this, a grand flag hoisting ceremony with 60 piece military band is carried out on the first, eleventh and twenty-first of every month.

This was all about the Chinese flag meaning. The red color is a traditional color of ancient China and dates back to the Han Dynasty in 206 BC. The yellow colors were chosen as they radiate over the red background. I hope this article has helped you learn the meaning of Chinese flag and a bit about the Chinese flag history.