Tibetan National Flag

The Tibetan national flag is intimately connected with the authentic history and royal lineages of Tibet which are thousands of years old.  Futhermore, in the Tibetan Royal year 820 or in seventh century of th Christian era, at the yime of the Tibetan religious King Song-tsan Gampo the Great, extensive land of Tibet was divided into large and small districts known as “goe-kyi tong-de” and “yun-g’mi-de”.  From these large and small districts, an army  2,860,000 men was chosen and satationed along the borders of Tibet, and the subjects thus live in safety.  The bravery and heroism of the Tibetan people  at that time in conquering and ruling even the adjacent empire of China is well-known in world history.
 At that time, it is recorded that th regiment of Yoe-ru toe had a military flag with a pair of snow-lions facing each other; that Yae-ru ma had a snow-lion with a bright upper border ; that of Tsang Ru-lao had a snow-lion standing upright, springing towards the sky; and the flag of Ue-ru toehad a white flame against a red background, and so forth.  In this way, the regiments of each area had its own individual military standard.  Countining with that tradition upto the beginning of the twentieth century, various regiments within the Tibetan army have had military flags with either a pair of snow-lions facing each other, or snow-lion springing upwards and so forth.
In the latter part of this period, during the rule of His Holiness the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama, this eminent spiritual and tempral ruler of Tibet enacted many modifications in administrative policies in accordance with international customs.  Based on the formats of previous Tibetan military flags, His Holiness improved upon them and designed the present, modern national flag.  With an official proclamation.  He declared that this would be the uniform, standard flag to be adopted by all Tibetan military defence establishments. Since the time of that proclamation, all Tibetan regiments have likewise adopted this flag as their standard.
 The colour scheme of the Tibetan national flag gives a clear indication of all aspects of Tibet in its symbolism such as the geographic features of the religious, snowy land of Tibet, the customs and traditions of Tibetan society, the political administration of the Tibetan government and so forth.
History attests to the fact that Tibet is one of the most ancient nations of the world.  Therefore, in all the three regions of Tibet, irrespective of caste and creed, this national flag inherited from our ancestors is universally accepted as a common,peerless treasure and even today still continues to be highly respected and esteemend as in the past.

Explanation of the Symbolism of the Tibetan National Flag.

1.The glorious, naturally beautiful snow mountain in the centre symbolizes the land of the great nation of Tibet which is well-known as the country surrounded by snow mountains.
2.The six red rays of light emanating in the sky symbolize the six orginal peoples of Tibet: the Se, Mu, Dong,Tong, Dru and Ra, who are known as the six tribes.
3.The alternating red colour of the peoples and the dark blue colour of the sky symbolize the unrelentlessaccomplishments of the virtuous conduct to guard and protect the spiritual and secular rule enacted by the two protector-deities, one red and one black, who have safeguarded from old.
4.The light rays emanating extensively from the sun rising over the peak of the snow mountain symbolize all the people of the Tibet’s equal enjoyment of the light of freedom, spiritual and material happiness and prosperity.
5.The valiant stance of a pair of fearless snow-lions glowing with five prominent features on their face symbolize the complete victory all by the deeds of the combined spiritual and secular ruling government.
6.The three-coloured jewel above, beautiful and radiant with light with light symbolizes all the Tibetan people’s continually revering the three Precious Gems; the objects of refuge.
7.The holding of the two-coloured jewel of bliss-swirls by the two snow-lions symbolizes the observance of self-morality in accordance with the exalted traditions which are represented principally by the ten divine virtuous actions and the sixteen human moral rules.
8.The adornment with a yellow border symbolizes the flourishing and increase of the Buddha’s teaching which are like pure, refined gold throughout limitless directions and time