The flag of Indonesia consists of two equal horizontal bands, red (top) and white (bottom) with an overall ratio of 2:3.
Symbolism[]
- The red stands for courage, for human's body or physical life.
- The white stands for purity. for human's soul or spiritual life.
Together these colours stand for a complete human being.
The flag is based on the flag of Majapahit Empire (9 alternating horizontal stripes of red and white). Alternative version states that the nationalists made this flag after they tore away the blue stripe from the flag of the Netherlands.
History[]
A national flag for Indonesia was discussed at the Indonesian People's Congress in 1939. At the congress, many participants voted for a red and white flag with a buffalo's head in the center. The buffalo had been used as a symbol by the Indonesian Association and the Indonesian National Party before. However, the congress decided to adopt the plain red-white final design. The national anthem and national language was also decided.[2]
Nickname[]
- Merah Putih (Red and White)
Trivia[]
- The flag of Singapore is based on the flag of Indonesia. [citation needed]
- If this flag was turned upside-down, it would look like the flag of Poland. It is also similar to the flag of Monaco.
References[]
Asia
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Nations Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei | Cambodia | China | East Timor | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Israel | Japan | Jordan | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Malaysia | Maldives | Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal | North Korea | Oman | Pakistan | Philippines | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Singapore | South Korea | Sri Lanka | Syria | Tajikistan | Thailand | Turkmenistan | United Arab Emirates | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | Yemen Transcontinental Nations Nations with limited/no recognition Territories |
Oceania
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Australia | Federated States of Micronesia | Fiji | Indonesia | Kiribati | Marshall Islands | Nauru | New Zealand | Palau | Papua New Guinea | Samoa | Solomon Islands | Tonga | Tuvalu | Vanuatu
Dependencies and other territories |