The national flag of

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...

( mn, Монгол улсын төрийн далбаа, Mongol ulsiin töriin dalbaa, ) is a vertical triband with a red stripe at each side and a blue stripe in the middle, with the Mongolian

Soyombo symbol The ''Soyombo'' symbol (; mn, Соёмбо, ; from sa, svayambhu) is a special character in the Soyombo alphabet invented by Zanabazar in 1686. The name "Soyombo" is derived from Sanskrit ''svayambhu'' "self-created". It serves as a national ...

centering on the leftmost stripe. The blue stripe represents the eternal blue sky, and the red stripes thriving for

eternity Eternity, in common parlance, means infinite time that never ends or the quality, condition, or fact of being everlasting or eternal. Classical philosophy, however, defines eternity as what is timeless or exists outside time, whereas sempit ...

. The Soyombo symbol is a geometric abstraction that represents fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and a

Taijitu In Chinese philosophy, a ''taijitu'' () is a symbol or diagram () representing Taiji () in both its monist ('' wuji'') and its dualist (yin and yang) aspects. Such a diagram was first introduced by Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhou Dunyi (; 1 ...

symbol representing the duality of

yin and yang Yin and yang ( and ) is a Chinese philosophical concept that describes opposite but interconnected forces. In Chinese cosmology, the universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of yin and ya ...

. The current flag was adopted on 12 January 1992, with the current official colour standards being set on 8 July 2011. Until 1992, the flag had a communist star above the Soyombo, during the final 47 years of the

Mongolian People's Republic The Mongolian People's Republic ( mn, Бүгд Найрамдах Монгол Ард Улс, БНМАУ; , ''BNMAU''; ) was a socialist state which existed from 1924 to 1992, located in the historical region of Outer Mongolia in East Asia. It w ...

. The flag was originally designed by artist Dodiin Choidog (). It has become common practice among Mongolians in the

Inner Mongolia autonomous region Inner Mongolia, officially the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Its border includes most of the length of China's border with the country of Mongolia. Inner Mongolia also accounts for a ...

to hang the Mongolian flag, although the

Chinese government The Government of the People's Republic of China () is an authoritarian political system in the People's Republic of China under the exclusive political leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It consists of legislative, executive, m ...

is allegedly against public displays of Mongolian national or cultural symbols due to concerns of separatism.

Historical flags

} , - , , , 1911–1920 , , Following the 1911 Mongolian declaration of independence during the fall of the Chinese

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-spea ...

, the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia adopted a national flag as symbol of this independence. The decision to adopt a national flag was also made to follow the international standard at the time in order to promote the image of a modern independent state. A decree established the colours and dimensions of the flag; a yellow oblong rectangle with religious prayer text and a Soyombo, the letters "E" and "Bam", and lotus flower in the middle, with red silk tails containing the letters "Ohm", "Aa", and "Hum". Larger flags were intended for government use while smaller versions were intended for ordinary people. Surviving flags can be seen with minor individual differences of the complex design. , - , , , 1920–1921 , , In late 1919 Chinese troops began occupying Mongolia. On 1 January 1920 a ceremony was held which revoked Mongolian autonomy and incorporated it into China, raising the five-striped flag of the Republic of China. , - , Flag of Bogd Khaanate Mongolia

, , 1921–1924 , , Following the communist Revolution of 1921 Mongolian independence was restored. The country was formally still a monarchy and its flag remained, which had been carried by many of the revolutionary soldiers. , - ,
, , 1924–1940 , , Following the death of the

Bogd Khan Bogd Khan, , ; ( – 20 May 1924) was the khan of the Bogd Khaganate from 1911 to 1924, following the state's ''de facto'' independence from the Qing dynasty of China after the Xinhai Revolution. Born in Tibet, he was the third most importa ...

in 1924, the

was proclaimed. The new republic's first constitution was adopted on 26 November 1924 and described its new flag. The flag's exact shape and design was not completely standardised and only defined as "the flag is red with the state emblem at the center." It can therefore be seen with some variations, such as without any text or using a rectangular shape without the three tails.https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/mn/1/14/Mongol-Manjur_border_conference_1937.jpg Photo from the Manzhouli conference (1935-1936) which shows the flag of Manchukuo and Mongolia , - , , , 1940–1945 , , In November 1939 Mongolian leader

Khorloogiin Choibalsan Khorloogiin Choibalsan ( mn, Хорлоогийн Чойбалсан, spelled ''Koroloogiin Çoibalsan'' before 1941; 8 February 1895 – 26 January 1952) was the leader of Mongolia (Mongolian People's Republic) and Marshal (general chief com ...

discussed the adoption of a new constitution with the leadership of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

while visiting there. On 30 July 1940 the second constitution of the Mongol People's Republic was adopted, and with it, the second flag. After having reviewed a draft of the new state emblem,

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretar ...

advised that "in order to show that there are many animals, the coat of arms should have a man with a horse in the middle and various animal figures around him". This new emblem was present on the new flag, stripped of any remaining religious symbolism, which was described as "consisting of 1:2 sized red cloth with the state emblem in the center and "Mongol People's Republic" written on either side". , - , , , 1945–1992 , , At the

Yalta Conference The Yalta Conference (codenamed Argonaut), also known as the Crimea Conference, held 4–11 February 1945, was the World War II meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union to discuss the post ...

, towards the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, it was agreed to preserve the status quo of Mongolia's existence. A new flag with national symbolism was then considered necessary to help the success of Soviet and Mongolian attempts at negotiating

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

recognition of Mongolian Independence. Choibalsan brought up the issue of adopting a new flag at the 43rd meeting of the Presidium of the State Conference on 10 July 1945, where the new flag's design was approved. Choibalsan chose to restore the Soyombo as a national symbol on the flag and described its adoption as a high celebration of Mongolia's independence. The new flag was amended into the constitution in 1949 and was included from the beginning in the constitution adopted in 1960. The flag was used until the adoption of the democratic constitution and current flag in 1992.

Other flags of Mongolia

Administrative divisions

File:Flag ulaanbaatar.svg , Flag of

Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar (; mn, Улаанбаатар, , "Red Hero"), previously anglicized as Ulan Bator, is the capital and most populous city of Mongolia. It is the coldest capital city in the world, on average. The municipality is located in north ce ...

File:Mn flag arkhangai aimag 2014.png , Flag of

Arkhangai Province The Arkhangai Province or Arkhangai Aimag ( mn, Архангай аймаг, Arhangai aimag, ; "North Khangai") is one of the 21 aimags of Mongolia. It is located slightly west of the country's center, on the northern slopes of the Khangai Mou ...

File:Mn flag bayankhongor aymag.png , Flag of

Bayankhongor Province The Bayankhongor Province or Bayanhongor Aimag, , "Rich Darling Province" is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. It is located in the southwest of the country and, at 116,000 square kilometers, it is one of the largest aimags. The cap ...

File:Mn flag bayan olgiy aymag.svg , Flag of Bayan-Ölgii Province File:Mn_flag_bulgan aimag.svg , Flag of

Bulgan Province Bulgan ( mn, Булган) is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in northern Mongolia. Its capital is also named Bulgan. Geography The aimag is surrounded by Russia (Buryatia) in the north, the aimags Khövsgöl in the no ...

File:Mn_flag_darkhan_uul_aymag.svg , Flag of Darkhan-Uul Province File:Mn_flag_dornod_aimag_2001.svg , Flag of

Dornod Province Dornod ( mn, Дорнод, ; "East") is the easternmost of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. Its capital is Choibalsan. Population Halh are the ethnic majority of the Dornod aimag, but Buryat ethnic group is 22.8% of population total ...

File:Mn_flag_dornogovi_aimag_2011.svg , Flag of

Dornogovi Province Dornogovi ( mn, Дорноговь, ''East Gobi'') is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. It is located in the southeast of the country, bordering PR China's autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. Dornogovi is located in the Gobi desert ...

File:Mn_flag_dundgovi_aimag.svg , Flag of DundGobi Province File:Mn_flag_govi-altai_aimag_2011.svg , Flag of Govi-Altai Province File:Mn_flag_govisümber_aimag.svg , Flag of

Govisümber Province ( mn, Говьсүмбэр, ; Gobi- Sümber) is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. It is located in the center of the country. Its capital is Choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singe ...

File:Khentii_aimag_Flag.svg , Flag of

Khentii Province Khentii ( mn, Хэнтий) is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the east of the country. Its capital is Chinggis City. The aimag is named after the Khentii Mountains. It is best known as the birthplace and likely final ...

File:Khovd_stars_flag.svg , Flag of

Khovd Province Khovd ( mn, Ховд, Howd, ) is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the west of the country. Its capital is also named Khovd. The Khovd province is approximately 1,580 km from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. It take ...

File:Mn_flag_khövsgöl_aimag_2014.svg , Flag of

Khövsgöl Province Khövsgöl ( mn, Хөвсгөл) is the northernmost of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. The name is derived from Lake Khövsgöl. Geography and history The round-topped Tarvagatai, Bulnain and Erchim sub-ranges of the Khangai massif do ...

File:Orkhon_Aimag_Flag.svg , Flag of

Orkhon Province Orkhon Aimag ( mn, Орхон аймаг) is one of the 21 Aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the north of the country. Its capital is Erdenet. The province is named after Orkhon River. This Aimag was cut out of Bulgan Aimag in 1994, to f ...

File:Mn_flag_selenge_aimag_1999.svg , Flag of

Selenge Province Selenge ( mn, Сэлэнгэ) is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and C ...

File:Mn_flag_sükhbaatar_aimag.svg , Flag of

Sükhbaatar Province Sükhbaatar ( mn, Сүхбаатар) is one of the 21 aimags of Mongolia, located in the east of the country. Its capital is Baruun-Urt. It is named after Damdin Sükhbaatar. Population Transportation The Baruun-Urt Airport (UUN/ZMBU) h ...

File:Tov_aymag_flag.svg , Flag of

Töv Province Töv ( mn, Төв, , ; "central") is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. The national capital Ulaanbaatar is located roughly at its center, but the city itself is administrated as an independent municipality. Geography The Aimag inc ...

File:Mn_flag_ömnögovi_aimag_2011.svg , Flag of

Ömnögovi Province Ömnögovi ( mn, Өмнөговь ''Ömnögovǐ'', ''South Gobi'') is an aimag (province) of Mongolia, located in the south of the country, in the Gobi Desert. Ömnögovi is Mongolia's largest aimag. The capital is Dalanzadgad. The province is ...

File:Uvs_Aimag_Flag.svg , Flag of

Uvs Province Uvs (; mn, Увс аймаг, Uws aimag, ; xal, Увс әәмг, Uws äämg, ), is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. It is located in the west of the country, away from the national capital Ulaanbaatar. Its capital is Ulaangom whi ...

File:Mn_flag_Ovurhangai_aymag.svg , Flag of

Övörkhangai Province Övörkhangai ( mn, Өвөрхангай, ''Öwörhangai''; "southern Khangai") is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the south of the country. Its capital is Arvaikheer. The Shankh Monastery, one of the oldest and most i ...

File:Mn_flag_zavkhan_aimag.svg , Flag of

Zavkhan Province Zavkhan (; mn, Завхан, Zawhan, ) is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the west of the country, 1,104 km from Ulaanbaatar. Its capital is Uliastai. The aimag is named after the Zavkhan River, which forms the border ...

Colours

Official colour standards for the flag were approved in July 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mongolia, Flag Of Flag National flags Flags introduced in 1911 Flags introduced in 1992 Flags introduced in 2011

Historical flags

Other flags of Mongolia

Administrative divisions

Colours

See also

References