Flag of the People's Republic of China

Flag of the People's Republic of China. The national flag of the People's Republic of China, commonly known as the Five-star Red Flag, is a potent symbol of the Chinese Communist Party-led state and its people. Adopted on 27 September 1949, shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China following the Chinese Civil War, its design embodies core ideological principles. The flag is governed by strict protocols and is a ubiquitous presence across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Design and symbolism

The flag features a vibrant red field charged with five golden-yellow stars in the canton. The large star represents the Chinese Communist Party, while the four smaller stars symbolize the four social classes—the working class, the peasantry, the urban petite bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie—united under the party's leadership, as theorized by Mao Zedong. This arrangement signifies the great unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The color red traditionally symbolizes revolution and the blood shed by martyrs during the Xinhai Revolution, the Northern Expedition, and the Second Sino-Japanese War. The explicit symbolism was officially articulated in a document by the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference upon the flag's adoption.

History

The current flag was selected from nearly 3,000 design submissions following a public contest announced by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in July 1949. The winning design was created by Zeng Liansong, a citizen from Zhejiang and a former economist at the Shanghai Modern Economic Communications Agency. His design was slightly modified by removing a hammer and sickle emblem from the large star. It was formally ratified by the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on 27 September 1949, and was first hoisted publicly in Tiananmen Square by Mao Zedong on 1 October 1949, proclaiming the establishment of the People's Republic of China. It replaced the flag of the Republic of China, used since the Wuchang Uprising, as the Chinese Civil War concluded with the Chinese Communist Party securing control of the mainland.

Protocol and use

The use of the national flag is strictly regulated by the Law on the National Flag of the People's Republic of China. It must be displayed daily at Tiananmen Square, all government buildings including the Great Hall of the People, ports, and railway stations. It is raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. During important national days like the National Day and the Chinese New Year, citizens and organizations are encouraged to display the flag. The flag is used in all official diplomatic settings, at the United Nations, and during state visits by figures like the President of the People's Republic of China. Desecration of the flag is a criminal offense. Special protocols govern its use alongside the flags of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Production and specifications

Official manufacturing standards are set by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. The standard flag size ratio is 2:3. The precise shades of red and yellow are defined using the CIE Standard Illuminant D65 and other colorimetric systems. The construction details, including the exact positions and angles of the stars, are geometrically defined; the four small stars each have one point aimed at the center of the large star. Factories authorized by the State Council produce all official flags, which are made from durable materials like nylon or polyester. The National Flag Guard of the People's Liberation Army uses specific, high-quality versions for ceremonies at Tiananmen Square.

Related flags

Several flags are historically or administratively related. The flag of the Chinese Communist Party features a golden sickle and hammer on a red field. The flag of the People's Liberation Army incorporates the national flag's design elements. The former flag of the Soviet Union influenced the socialist symbolism. Within the People's Republic of China, the flags of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (a bauhinia flower design) and the Macau Special Administrative Region (a lotus flower design) are used under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems." Historical precursors include the flag of the Republic of China (now used in Taiwan) and the flag of the Qing Dynasty.

China Category:National symbols of the People's Republic of China Category:Flags introduced in 1949