National Flag of Myanmar

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, adopted a new state flag on 21 October 2010 to replace the former flag in use since 1974. The new flag was introduced along with implementing changes to the country's name, which were laid out in the 2008 Constitution. The new flag has horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a big white star in the middle. The three colours of the stripes are meant to symbolise solidarity, peace and tranquility, and courage and decisiveness.

Old National Flag of Myanmar

The State Flag is rectangular in shape and its background colour is red with a dark blue canton at the top left corner. A pinion and ears of paddy encircled with fourteen white stars of equal size have been superimposed on the dark blue field of the canton.

The centre of the pinion coincides with the centre of the blue canton. The pinion has fourteen cogs of equal size and within it are two ears of paddy consisting of 34 grains. At the top of each cog of the pinion is a star with five vertices. The paddy represents the peasants while the pinion stands for the workers who form the majority of the people in the country, 14 uniform white stars symbolize the equal status and union spirit of the 7 States and 7 Divisions that constitute the Union of Myanmar.

Of the three colours of the flag, red signifies courage and decisiveness, white signifies purity and virtue and dark blue signifies peace and integrity.

National Emblem

The distinguishing features of the State Seal are as follows:-

a) At the centre of the State Seal is a pinion with fourteen equal-sized cogs on which the map of Myanmar is superimposed. The pinion and the map are encircled with two ears of paddy.

b) The ears of paddy are flanked on each side by an artistic Myanmar Lion. The lion on the right side faces towards the right and the one on the left side faces towards the left.

c) The words "The Union of Myanmar" are inscribed in Myanmar below the lions and the ears of paddy.

d) At the top of the State Seal is a star with five vertices.

e) Myanmar floral designs are etched on either side of the ears of paddy and the star.

Flags of Myanmar from time to time

	1948-1974 The big star was meant for the Union, and 5 smaller stars were for 5 states. This is the first flag of the independent modern Burma (Myanmar), which was proudly first hoisted at 4:25am, 4th January 1948!
	1945 Anti-Facist Revolutionary Flag
	1940-1945 Japanese flag
	1942-1948 Very similar to the previous. The only difference is the feathers of the peacock is redrawn in geometrical diamond-shape patterns.
	1930-1942 Do-Bamar Assiayone flag (We-Burmans Association flag), as well as Myanmar's national flag after Japan invasion.
	1939 British Ensign In the diarchy parliament of February 1939, the Governor of Burma officialised this ensign just like other British dominion states. The insignia of the Myanmars, the dancing peacock on that flag was taken from King Mindon's 1-kyat silver coin.
	1886-1948 British Union Jack flag
	1700-1885 Kongbaung Dynasty Flag The earliest records shows that this flag was hoisted in Yangon when Myanmar King bought Yangon back from the British for 10 million Kyats in silver coins (360,000 pounds or 163,293.25 kg of silver). This flag was also hoisted on top of the Myanmar ship when minister U Kaung (Kinwun Mingyee) went to Britain during 1800s. It has a white background, with a red peacock biting a branch of flowers. Hoisted with a golden tip at the top of the pole. This original flag was defined as 18 feet high and 27 feet wide.
	1300-1500 The early Mons hoisted this flag of golden Hinthar on a green background.