The national flag of the Republic of China (commonly called Taiwan) features a plain red field with a navy blue canton in the upper hoist. Set inside the canton is a white sun whose rays are formed by twelve small triangular points. In Chinese the flag is often called Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth (青天白日滿地紅).
Design elements
The composition combines three principal colors and a simple geometric emblem. The blue canton contains the white sun emblem; its twelve rays are a repeated triangular motif. The remainder of the flag is a single unbroken red field.
Historical background
The emblem first appeared as a naval flag shortly after the fall of the Qing dynasty, being used by forces at sea in 1912. Later, in 1928, the flag incorporating the blue canton and white sun was adopted as the national flag by the Kuomintang government. When the Chinese Civil War resulted in the establishment of the People's Republic of China on the mainland in 1949, the Republic of China government retained this flag and continued its use from Taiwan.
Meaning and interpretations
The arrangement is traditionally read as symbolizing three realms: sky (blue), sun (white), and earth (red). The twelve triangular rays of the sun are commonly interpreted as representing the twelve months of the year and the traditional divisions of the day, a reading that appears frequently in official and historic explanations.
Usage today
- The flag remains the official national flag of the Republic of China and is displayed at government buildings, diplomatic missions representing the ROC, and on many public occasions within Taiwan.
- Its use is historically rooted in the early 20th century revolutionary and republican movements on the Chinese mainland and continues as a national symbol for the ROC government.