The Story of ROC National Flag – From the relevant documents of the National Government Archives

Tags: Lu Hao-tung | national flag | Republic of China | Sun Yat-sen

The core of the Republic of China's national flag -- the white sun in a blue sky -- was originally designed by Lu Hao-tun in 1893 for the Chinese revolutionaries. And a crimson background was added by Dr. Sun Yet-sen in 1906. Following the successful completion of the Northern Expedition and the unification of China, the flag with complete symbolic image was formally adopted by the national government on December 17, 1928. Thereafter, it was used nationwide.
 
On the basis of the plentiful precious firsthand historical materials of the “National Government Archives”, we will show you this entire process and background.
 

The “Blue Sky with a White Sun” and “Red Earth” flag become official when it was announced by the National Government in December 17, 1928, and has been used still date. The flag was also specified in Article Six of the Constitution. Most people are not very clear on the regulations about the size and the desing of the flag, therefore, we have examine the precious firsthand historical materials of the “National Government Archives”, and use it to specify the details on the size, measurement, ratio, production and the production of this flag.

 
The “Blue Sky with a White Sun” and “Red Earth” originated from the design by Lu Hao-tung on the Autum of 1893, and it's used by the revolutionary army. In 1906, the assembly of the Chinese revolutionary alliances had discussed about the flag, Huang Shin had argued that the “Blue Sky with a White Sun” was not appropriate and because of it looked like Japan's sun rise flange, the “Red Earth” was later added by Mr Sun Yat-Sen, and that became the design for the flag we see today.
 
The “Blue Sky with a White Sun” and “Red Earth” only became the official flag in 1928 (17 years after ROC was established.) During the Wuchang Uprising and the overthrown of warlord government, temperary National Government was establish at Nanjing. In January 1912, the Senates assemble a meeting to discuss on a flag to represent the National Government. Due to the Wuchang Uprising, various revolutionary armies had different flags, therefore, it had created some disputes among the representatives of the different provinces. The flags from varies provinces such Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi used a flage with 18 yellow stars, which is also know as the “Nine Point” flag represents the 18 administrative division at that time. Alliances in the central China usch as Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui and other nearby provinces used a “Five-Colored Flag”. The five colors were red, yellow, blue which and black, the colors represents five major nationalities of China: Han, Manchu, Mongol, Hui and Tibetan.
 
Guangdon, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan and Guizhou had followed Dr. Sun Yet Sen on using the “Blue Sky with a White Sun” and “Red Earth” flag. When Chen Tong-Ming wads in charge of Huizhou , he used a “Hash Flag” , but was never used again after the army got to Guangzhou.
 
At the end of the meeting the Senates had chosen the “Five-Colored Flag” as the national flag, the “18-Star Flag” became the army flag, and “Blue Sky with a White Sun” and “Red Earth” flag was adopted as a navel ensign. General of the army used the blue square white “Hash Flag” and the deputy General of the army used the white squire blue “Hash Flag”, and also asked the president to issue the bill. However, the Temporary president Sun Yat-sen considered the “Five-Colored Flag” inappropriate due to that the horiszontal order implied a hierecy or class like that existed during that time, therefore, he vetoed the bill. He then issued a letter to the Senates on asking them to rechoose after the official congress was formed. After Yuan Shikai became the next temporary president, the National Government location moved to Beijing, and on May 10, the Senates gathered again to discuss the flag issues, but then it came to the decision remained the same as last time.
 
On April 10, 1921, the Senate at Guangzhou had chosen Dr. Sun Yat-sen as the president, and assumed the office of May 5, he made the modern flag as the national flag. In 1926, Guangzhou government started their Northern Expedition and suceeded on December, 1928, then had the national flags flown throughout China. On November 2, on the fifth senate assembly, the “National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act” was established, and was officially announced on December 17 on using the modern flag as the national flag.
 
On December 25, 1946, the flag was specified in Article Six of the Constitution: Red symbolizing earth, and the “Blue-Sky and White Sun” is put on the top left corner of the flag. 1954 the legislation was amended, and announced by the President on October 23, and been used up till today.
 
National Government Archives has provided the graphic files including “National Government Senate's letter to the National Government”, “Official Announcement and Regulations on the National Flag”, “National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act”, “National Government's Draft Plans and Illustrations on the Emblem & the Symbol of the Flag”, “Illustration on the Size, Ratio and Drawing Technique of the National Flag's Emblem and Symbol”, “KMT and National Flag's Fabrication & Usage Act”, “Graphic File of KMT Flag”, “Graphic File of the National Flag”, “Graphic File of the KMT Flagand its Ratio” and “KMT's Flag Sizes for Different Functions”, “Size of the National Flag”, in total of 24 graphic files. The reason of includeing the letters from the KMT senates and the KMT's emblem, the outlines of Article Five of the Constitutes are according to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's formula for the establishment of the the state: military government period, political training period, and legislative period. After the success of the Northern Expedition, National Government has replaced the old government. Government training period the followed, having representative to express for the citizens, and the flag thus changed from the “Five-Colored Flag” to the modern flag. From National Government Archives we can see the regulations on “National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act” and “KMT and National Flag's Fabrication & Usage Act” were agreed by the KMT Senates, then announced by the National Government.
 
The origin and the history of “Blue Sky with a White Sun” and “Red Earth” flag is all inter-connected with what was happening during that period of time. When understanding the origin and the history background, we will understand better the meaning of the history during that time.
 
Copyrights: National Government Archives
Designed by: Digital Archives Project of National Files & Presidential Drafts
 
 

國史館典藏國家檔案與總統文物計畫

 

 
Story of the National Flag ~ Relevant Documents of the National Government Archives on the history of the National Flag

 

 

 

National Flag and KMT Flag's Fabrication & Usage Act
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Jurisdiction - Legislation
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: Central Implementation Council's Stipulation on the hanging position of the National Flag, and the fabrication and usages of the KMT and National Flag
  • Data ID: 001010013001

 

 

 

National Flag and KMT Flag's Fabrication & Usage Regulations
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Jurisdiction - Legislation
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: National Flag and KMT Flag's fabrication & usage regulations
  • Data ID: 001010013002

 

 

 

Regulations of hoisting and lowering of the National and KMT Flag
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Jurisdiction - Legislation
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: regulations of ceremonial hoisting, lowering and folding the KMT and National Flag
  • Data ID: 001010013003

 

 

 

Draft Proposal on the National Emblem of the National Flag (1)
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Jurisdiction - Legislation
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: The Process of National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act and its graphic files
  • Data ID: 001010013004

 

 

 

Draft Proposal on the National Emblem of the National Flag (2)
  •  
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Administration – National Decrees and Regulations
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: All provincial governments have complied with the National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act. The letters sent by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the law of the National Flag to all foreign embassies, Department of the Interior to check and rectify on situations for half-mast flag.
  • Data ID: 001010013005

 

 

 

Ceremonial hoisting, hanging and lowering of the National Flag
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Interior Domestic Affairs – Ceremonial rites and it's restrictions
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: (Chiang Kai-Shek) To pay respect to the flag while it's been hoisted or lowered whether indoor or outside, the military committee has filed application for the music composition for the flag ceremonies, central implementation committee's decisions on situations for half-mast flag, drafts by the Ministry of Interior Domestic Affairs for the hanging of the flag at all the governmental institutions.
  • Data ID: 001051611002

 

 

 

Disputes on Overseas Chinese for hanging of the National Flag on the National Day
  • Topic & Key Words: Topic: Foreign Affairs – Affairs concerning nationals living abroad
  • Description & Explanation: Description of the Contents: Opposing of overseas government on hanging of Taiwan's national flag in Mexico area. Letter sent to ROC ambassador in Mexico on advising cease the situation.
  • Data ID: 001067008001

 

 

 

Letter of KMT senates to the National Government on announcing the decision on the amendment on the size and ratio of the National Flag and KMT flag. (October 12, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of KMT senates to the National Government on announcing the decision on the amendment on the size and ratio of the National Flag and KMT flag. (October 12, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of KMT senates to the National Government on announcing the decision on the amendment on the size and ratio of the National Flag and KMT flag. (October 12, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order of the National Government to the institutions on the implementation and the announcement of National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act (November 17, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constituents of National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act – Signitures from the the ministers fo the Five Government ministries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instruction of the National Government to all the institutions on the implementation of the National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A letter from the National Government to the KMT senates committee on formulating the National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act and its implementations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act (November 2, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Emblem and National Flag of the Republic of China Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Government's Draft Plans and Illustrations on the Emblem & the Symbol of the Flag (Drafted by: Wang Chong-Hui & Ku Ing-Feng)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Government's Draft Plans and Illustrations on the Emblem & the Symbol of the Flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Government's Draft Plans and Illustrations on the Emblem & the Symbol of the Flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrations of the National Flag's emblem, size, ratios and it's drawing techniques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrations of the National Flag's symbol, size, ratios and it's drawing techniques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A letter from the KMT senates committee to the National Government regarding the implementation of the “Regulations on fabrication and usages on KMT flag and National Falg” during their 148th assembly. (July 7th, 1931)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A letter from the KMT senates committee to the National Government regarding the implementation of the “Regulations on fabrication and usages on KMT flag and National Falg” during their 148th assembly. (July 7th, 1931)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabrication and Usages of the KMT and National Flag (July 2, 1931)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabrication and Usages of the KMT and National Flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabrication and Usages of the KMT and National Flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic file of the KMT flag with its size and drawing technique (October 8, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic file of the National Flag with its ratios and size (October 8, 1928)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustration on the various sizes of KMT Flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustration of the various sizes of the National Flag