Flag of Kyrgyzstan
A red flag with a golden sun in the middle that has 40 straight rays; inside the sun is the red crossed-lattice roof of a yurt.
At a glance
- Adopted
- December 26, 2023the sun was redrawn by a law signed on 22 December 2023 and in force from 26 December; the original flag dates from 3 March 1992
- Shape (height : width)
- 3:5
- Capital
- Bishkek
- Continent
- Asia
- Colours
- red
- yellow (gold)
What it means
- Red: bravery and valour; it recalls the banner said to have been raised by Manas, the hero of Kyrgyz legend
- Sun: peace and prosperity
- 40 rays: the 40 tribes that Manas united; another telling says Manas's 40 followers
- Tunduk (yurt crown): hearth and home, the unity of the people and their history
Where it came from
Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and adopted its own flag on 3 March 1992, replacing the flag of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. The sources do not name a single designer.
The pattern in the centre is a tunduk, the round wooden crown at the top of a yurt, the felt tent used by Kyrgyz herders, as you would see it from inside.
History
The 1992 sun had wavy rays. Some people felt it looked like a sunflower, which in Kyrgyz culture can mean a fickle person who changes sides.
In December 2023 a new law straightened the 40 rays and redrew the tunduk with four lines in each direction instead of three.
Fun facts
- The sun has exactly 40 rays.
- The flag changed in 2023 partly because the old sun looked like a sunflower.
- In 2011 some activists suggested a completely different flag with white mountains under a light blue sky, but it was not adopted.
Easy to mix up with
Vietnam
ChinaQuestions
What does the flag of Kyrgyzstan look like?
A red flag with a golden sun in the middle that has 40 straight rays; inside the sun is the red crossed-lattice roof of a yurt.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Kyrgyzstan mean?
Red: bravery and valour; it recalls the banner said to have been raised by Manas, the hero of Kyrgyz legend; Sun: peace and prosperity; 40 rays: the 40 tribes that Manas united; another telling says Manas's 40 followers; Tunduk (yurt crown): hearth and home, the unity of the people and their history.
When was the flag of Kyrgyzstan adopted?
The current flag of Kyrgyzstan was adopted on December 26, 2023. (the sun was redrawn by a law signed on 22 December 2023 and in force from 26 December; the original flag dates from 3 March 1992)
What colours are on the flag of Kyrgyzstan?
The flag of Kyrgyzstan uses red and yellow (gold).
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Kyrgyzstan?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Vietnam. Vietnam is also red with a gold symbol, but it is a five-pointed star
Famous landmarks in Kyrgyzstan
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)