Flag of the Qing dynasty
ensign    | |
| Proportion | 2:3[1] |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1889 |
| Relinquished | February 12, 1912 |
| Design | Blue dragon on plain yellow, with a red pearl at the upper left corner. |
| Earlier version of Yellow Dragon Flag | |
| Proportion | 56:87 |
| Adopted | 1862 |
 | |
| Use | Imperial Standard  |
| Proportion | 56:87 |
| Adopted | 1862 |
| Design | The Imperial Standard for the Emperor of China |
The flag of the Qing dynasty was an emblem adopted in the late 19th century featuring the Azure Dragon on a plain yellow field with the red flaming pearl in the upper left corner. It became the first national flag of China and is usually referred to as the "Yellow Dragon Flag" (traditional Chinese: 黃龍旗; simplified Chinese: 黄龙旗; pinyin: huánglóngqí).
Ruling China from 1644 until the overthrow of the monarchy during the
Designs
Since the Ming dynasty, yellow was considered the royal color of successive Chinese emperors. Members of the imperial family of China at that time were the only ones allowed to display the color yellow in buildings and on garments. The Emperor of China usually used a Chinese dragon as a symbol of the imperial power and strength. Generally, a five-clawed dragon was used by emperors only.
In Chinese culture, a flaming pearl is shown on top of the dragon's head. The pearl is associated with wealth, good luck, and prosperity.
The design of the flag was largely based on the Plain Yellow Banner, one of three "upper" banner armies among the Eight Banners under the direct command of the Emperor of China himself, and one of the four "right wing" banners.[2]
- The Eight Banners
The Eight Banners were administrative/military divisions under the Qing dynasty into which all Manchu households were placed. In war, the Eight Banners functioned as armies, but the banner system was also the basic organizational framework of all of Manchu society.
Triangular version (1862–1889)
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The
The triangular version of the yellow dragon flag was restricted to naval and governmental use only, no civilian ships were permitted to fly the yellow pennant, and it never formally became the national flag.[4] However, on some diplomatic occasions and at international exhibitions, this flag was used to represent China.
Rectangular version (1889–1912)
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In September 1881, when the two cruisers Chaoyong and Yangwei ordered from Birkenhead, England were sent to China, Li Hongzhang realized a triangular ensign was unique among naval flags of other countries. As a result, he petitioned the imperial court for permission and subsequently altered the triangular naval flag into a rectangular one.[5]
Seeing Western countries flying national flags on official occasions, Li Hongzhang also asked
Influence
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The notion of yellow as representative of Manchu ethnicity was used in the flags of the
The blue dragon was featured in the Twelve Symbols national emblem, which was the state emblem of China from 1913 to 1928.
- Horatio Nelson Lay's Proposal (1862)
When the Qing dynasty purchased warships from the United Kingdom in 1862, Horatio Nelson Lay designed several naval flags based on the custom flag he designed.[8] These proposals were not recognized by the Qing dynasty government.[9]
-
Proposed Chinese naval ensign, designed by Horatio Nelson Lay.
- Beiyang Fleet (1874–1890)
The Beiyang Fleet was created in 1874, and several rank flags were introduced based on the traditional five color officials' flags of the old Chinese navy.
-
Admiral's Flag -
Deputy Commanders's Flag -
High-ranking Official's Flag, for officials other than navy
- Beiyang Navy (1890–1909)
The Beiyang Fleet became the national navy by Regulations of the Beiyang Fleet in 1888. However, rank flags were not updated until 1890, when William Metcalfe Lang and
-
Proposed Admiral's Flag -
Proposed Vice Admiral's Flag -
Proposed Rear Admiral's Flag -
Proposed Commodore 1st Class's Flag -
Proposed Commodore 2nd Class's Flag
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However these proposals were not adopted by the Qing dynasty.[11] New rank flags were introduced later in 1890.[12]
-
Admiral's Flag -
High-ranking Official's Flag -
Commander of Torpedo Boats' Flag -
Commodore's Flag
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- Imperial Navy (1909–1911)
After the total defeat of the Beiyang Navy in First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, the new imperial navy was reorganized following the establishment of the department of the navy in 1909. The Imperial Chinese Navy adopted the national flag in the canton of naval flags in 1909.[13]
-
Secretary's Flag -
Admiral's Flag -
Vice Admiral's Flag -
Rear Admiral's Flag
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Senior Officer's Flag -
Fleet Leader's Flag
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Flags based on the Qing dynasty flag
- Chinese Eastern Railway
The flag of the Chinese Eastern Railway adopted a combination of Qing dynasty and Russian flags. The flag was not updated until 1912.[14]
-
Flag of the Chinese Eastern Railway (1897−1912)
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See also
- Flag of Bhutan
- Flags of China
References
- ^ "Dimension of first yellow dragon flag from Wuhan Custom Archive". Archived from the original on 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
- ^ a b 施爱东 (Shi Aidong) (2011). Qing dragon flag flourished through 50 years of sorrow (哀旗不幸 怒旗不争 大清龙旗50年). 民族艺术. p. 6. (in Chinese)
- ^ 肖吟新 (Xiao Yinxin) (2002). The story of the Qing dynasty national flag (清代国旗的故事). 世纪. p. 63. (in Chinese)
- ^ "係為雇船捕盜而用，並未奏明定為萬年國旗", "[the flag] is used for ferry and policing, but is not explicitly designated as the permanent national flag", from 《北洋水師章程》(Regulations of the Beiyang Fleet) (in Chinese)
- ^ "今中國兵商各船日益加增，時與各國交接，自應重定旗式，以祟體制。應將兵船國旗改為長方式，照舊黃色，中畫青色飛龍。", "Nowadays the number of both Chinese military and commercial ships is growing. When our ships meet those of other nations they should display a flag based on a conformed system. [The government] should change the military flag to a pennant with an azure dragon in the middle",《北洋水師章程》(Regulations of the Beiyang Fleet) (in Chinese)
- ^ 《清朝国旗考》(Study on the Flag of Qing), 育民 (in Chinese)
- ^ "Story of the National Flag, official website of the Kuomintang". Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2014. (in Chinese)
- ^ The London Gazette, 13 February 1863
- ^ Lay-Osborne Flotilla (China)
- ^ Drawings of the flags in use at the present time by various nations, Royal Navy Admiral
- ISBN 9787545811544
- ^ 清国北洋海軍実況一班
- ^ Chinese Eastern Railway Company (China)
External links
Media related to Flags of the Qing Dynasty at Wikimedia Commons