The Chinese Flag: Five-starred Red Flag

The flag of the People's Republic of China, also known as the Five-starred Red Flag, is a powerful symbol of the nation's unity, revolutionary history, and progress. Its distinctive design is recognized worldwide and holds deep significance for the Chinese people.

History

The current design of the Chinese flag was officially adopted on October 1, 1949, with the founding of the People's Republic of China.

• The flag was designed by Zeng Liansong, an economist from Wenzhou, Zhejiang.
• Zeng's design was chosen from over 3,000 submissions in a national flag design competition.
• On 27 September 1949, Zeng's modified design was selected unanimously by the First Plenary Session of CPPCC, which changed the flag's name to 'Five-star Red Flag'.
• The flag was officially unveiled and raised for the first time by Mao Zedong in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on 1 October 1949, at the formal announcement of the People's Republic of China.
• The flag replaced the previous "Five-colored Flag" used by the Republic of China.

Design and Symbolism

The Chinese flag features a red field with five golden stars in the upper left corner.

• The red color symbolizes the communist revolution and the spirit of the people.
• The large star represents the Communist Party of China's leadership.
• The four smaller stars that surround the big star symbolize the four social classes of China's New Democracy mentioned in Mao's 'On the People's Democratic Dictatorship': the working class, the peasantry, the urban petite bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie.
• The arrangement of the stars in an arc symbolizes the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party.

Cultural Significance

The Five-starred Red Flag holds immense cultural and political significance in China:

• It's prominently displayed in Tiananmen Square and at all government buildings.
• The flag is raised daily in schools across the country, often accompanied by the national anthem.
• It's a central symbol during national holidays and events, such as National Day celebrations.
• The flag is deeply associated with national pride and patriotism among Chinese citizens.
• In Hong Kong and Macau, the regional flags are flown alongside the national flag to represent the "One Country, Two Systems" policy.

Interesting Facts

• The exact shade of red used in the flag is specified as "Chinese Red" or "China Red" (国旗红).
• The flag's design is protected by law, and there are strict regulations governing its use and display.
• The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has its own regional flag, which features a white, five-petal bauhinia flower on a red background.
• The HKSAR regional flag's design includes five red stars on the bauhinia petals, symbolizing the connection to the national flag.
• The Chinese flag was carried to space on China's first crewed space mission in 2003.

The Five-starred Red Flag continues to be a powerful emblem of China's national identity, representing the country's journey through revolution to its current status as a global power.

References

1. 中华人民共和国国旗
2. 维基百科 - 中华人民共和国国旗
3. Flags, Emblems and Anthem
4. Wikipedia - Flag of China