Flag of Cambodia: description and meaning

The Kingdom of Cambodia is a small country in Southeast Asia. Unlike the national symbols of many countries, the national flag of Cambodia does not reflect its historical or geographical features. He reports on the present country and unites the main principles and worldview of its inhabitants.

Flag of Cambodia: photo and description

Along with the anthem and the coat of arms, the flag is one of the national symbols of the state. It has a rectangular shape with proportions of sides 2: 3. The flag of Cambodia was first approved in 1948 and was abolished in 1970. Twenty-three years later it was approved again.

The main values of the country are laid down in its motto: "Nation, religion, king." This displays the flag of Cambodia. His cloth is divided into different in size horizontal strips. The upper and lower strips of ¼ width are painted blue. Between them is a red strip, half the size of the panel. In its center there is a temple.

Blue is associated with the sky and purity. Here he stands for monarchy and royal power, as the ruler of the country is considered to be a mediator between the Higher Powers and the people. Red denotes the inhabitants of Cambodia and speaks of their courage. The white temple is a symbol of religion, and its location in the center of the flag indicates its importance in the life of the population. It also means justice.

What is the temple on the flag of Cambodia?

The flag of the kingdom depicts not an abstract silhouette, but a concrete, existing in reality temple - Angkor Wat. This is one of the most significant religious buildings not only in Cambodia, but all over the world. The building appeared in the XII century and is a huge temple complex.

It is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu - the main keeper of the universe. Angkor Wat is built like a mountain temple, where, like the Greek Olympus, the gods dwelt. It consists of five towers, reminiscent of the lotus, and is surrounded by a moat almost two hundred meters wide. The central tower rises 65 meters above the ground.

The complex belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage. It is the most important monument of archeology in the world, and for Cambodians is not only historical, but also religious significance. And to this day this place is a shrine, to which local residents are treated with special respect and honor.

Historical flags of the kingdom

The period from the XV to the XIX century in the history of the country is called "dark times". Then the very first of the known flags operated. It looked like a white linen with a yellow triangle, the base of which began from the shaft. The triangle was surrounded by a thin green contour.

During the French protectorate in 1863 appeared close to the modern flag of Cambodia. White temple was located on a red background, and along the perimeter there was a blue thin strip.

After that, the flag composition changed more than once. During the Japanese occupation, for example, he acquired the appearance of a red cloth, on which were located four white squares. They were connected by a thin white line, and in the center was another white square.

During the reign of the Khmer Rouge the flag acquired a different gamut. The red canvas depicted the golden silhouette of Angkor Wat, and it was depicted quite approximately. From 1989 to 1991 In the country there was a flag with a golden temple against the background of a wide blue and red strip. The modern flag was approved twice, the last time it reliably entrenched itself as an official symbol.