Flag of Thailand

Thailand (Kingdom of Thailand) is a state located in the southwest of the Indochinese Peninsula. The country was called the Kingdom of Siam until 1939. It is the only state in the region that has retained its sovereignty, while the others have become colonies of the European powers. Its area is 514 thousand square meters and its population is about 69 million people.

This is what the modern flag of Thailand looks like:

History of the flag

The history of the country begins in the 13th century. The whole period was marked by military events with the construction of a strong and influential state on the peninsula. It is largely due to this and the fact that Siam was a buffer between the colonies of France and Great Britain, the country managed to maintain its independence. The first flags of Siam were red cloths with emblems that changed their appearance at different times:

• 1656 – 1782 (Ayutthaya Kingdom);

• 1782 – 1817;

• 1817 – 1855 (the white elephant inscribed in the chakra is considered a symbol of royalty);

• 1855 – 1916;

• Siam 1916.

The collection of the national symbol of Siam (Thailand) in 1917 was supplemented with a new version of the flag, consisting of five horizontal stripes, without any emblems on it. This version was used as the national symbol during 1917, but the design was changed the same year – the central red stripe was replaced by a blue one. The explanation for this change was that blue was considered the color of the king, and its overall appearance, with red and white stripes in addition, bore a resemblance to the national symbols of the Allies involved with Thailand in World War I.

The new symbol, known as “Thong Trairong,” is still in effect today, except for a brief period from 1941 to 1945, when the territory was invaded by the Japanese. During those years, a version of the symbol approved in 1855 and in effect until 1916 was used.

Description

The national symbol is a rectangular-shaped cloth, which is divided into six equal parts by width. The upper and lower sectors are colored red. Next to the red stripes are white sectors. The remaining two parts in the center are colored blue. The ratio of the sides of the flag to each other is 2 to 3.

Flag colors

The country’s tricolor flag (“Thong Trairong”) uses three colors: red, white, and blue.

Meaning of colors and flag symbol

The colors of Thong Trairong symbolize concepts central to Thailand:

• red – the people;
• white – religion (represents purity and refers to all religions in the country);
• blue – the king (the symbol of the monarchy).

The order of the colors has its own meaning. “Understanding” the flag should begin with the center. The monarchy, represented by the color blue, is protected by religion (Buddhism), and the extreme stripes of red symbolize the unity of the nation and the blood shed for it. The monarchy, religion, and nation are reflected in the symbolism of the official symbol.

Other Flags

The vexillology of the flags of Thailand has a rather diverse picture. In particular,

1. The standards of the king and members of the royal family;

   

2. Prime Minister;

   

3. Secretary of Defense;

   

4. Speaker of the National Assembly;

   

5. Chief Justice.

   

Of the military options, there are flags:

1. The Royal Military (Garuda and Hanuman);
2. Royal Army and its commander-in-chief;
3. Royal Navy.

Similar flags

Among similar symbols of other countries, an interesting one is the Costa Rican. The similarity consists of:

• in the colors used – blue, white, red;
• in the size of the lanes and their number – five lanes, four of which are equal, and the central one is twice as wide.

The only difference is in the order of the colors. The blue and red colors are rearranged.

Interesting facts about the flag

According to legend, in 1916, during the King’s visit to the flood-stricken provinces, villagers mistakenly hung the flag upside down. The white elephant depicted on the red background “appeared” on its back, which was perceived as a bad omen. Shocked by this sight, the king decided to design a new symmetrical flag with which such a thing could never happen.

General information about Thailand

Map of Thailand