Behind every banner, there is a story waiting to be discovered inside. Have you ever given any consideration to the cultural and political connotations that are associated with the many colors that are used on the flag of the Kingdom of Thailand? Please allow us to provide you with some information by providing a concise synopsis of the historical setting.
When Thailand was still known as Siam, the country’s first flag had a light red color; however, this design was later abandoned since it was not considered powerful enough to be used in international affairs. The current flag of Thailand is a blue and yellow horizontal bicolor. After then, in the year 1855, King Mongkut, also known as Rama IV, formally designed the first flag that Thailand would ever use. The stage was set with a crimson backdrop and a white elephant in the center of the stage. Thailand’s royal family has long used the elephant as their official emblem, and the elephant is also the country’s national animal.
The nation made the decision in 1917 to adopt the design of the flag that is still in use today; however, back then, the middle stripe was also red. Today, the middle stripe is always white. Historians are of the opinion that King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) observed that the flag was flying in an inverted position during a flood, which prompted him to design a new flag with symmetrical stripes in order to ensure that this would never happen again. This theory is based on the fact that King Vajiravudh observed the flag flying in an inverted position during the flood. On September 28, 1917, King Rama VI signed a royal proclamation that paved the way for Thailand to officially adopt its current flag as the nation’s official emblem. The flag became an official symbol as a result of this order, giving it the distinction of being one of the oldest flags in the world. A short time later, in the following year, it was put into operation. The natives have given the national flag the name Thong Trairong, which literally translates to “tricolour.” Thong Trairong is the official name of the flag. The stripes on the flag run horizontally and are coloured as follows: red, white, blue, red, and white. The width of the blue stripe that runs down the middle of the flag is equal to that of all the other stripes put together.
What does the design of the flag represent?
The phrase “nation-religion-king” is a kind of unofficial motto that the people of Thailand aim to conduct their lives by, and the flag of Thailand features a graphic representation of the phrase. Chastity and the Buddhist religion, which is the most practised faith in Thailand, are symbolised by the colour white. The blue colour symbolises the Thai royal family in the flag. The crimson stripes represent the blood that was shed throughout Thailand’s struggle to protect its independence and preserve its sovereignty. The blue stripe also has a dual significance, as it shows solidarity with and honours Thailand’s World War I allies, namely Britain, France, the United States of America, and Russia, all of which fly flags with red, white, and blue stripes. In addition, the red, white, and blue stripes on Thailand’s flag represent the blood shed by Thai soldiers during the war. The colours of the Thai flag are red, white, and blue; these colours are represented by the horizontal stripes on Thailand’s flag.
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