The flag of

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the ...

was adopted on 1 January 1981, when the island group separated from the United Nations Trust Territory. As with the flags of several other Pacific island groups, light blue is the color used to represent the ocean and the nation's place within it. While this puts Palau in common with the

Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (; abbreviated FSM) is an island country in Oceania. It consists of four states from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosraethat are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise a ...

and other neighboring island groups, the disc on the flag (similar to that on Japan's flag) is off-centre like that of the

flag of Bangladesh The national flag, national flag of Bangladesh, was adopted officially on 17 January 1972. It consists of a red disc or sun on top of a dark green banner. The red disc is offset slightly toward the hoist so that it appears centered when the flag i ...

, but in this case the disc represents the moon instead of the sun. The current flag was introduced in 1981 when Palau became a republic. Previously, the flag of the

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994. History Spain initially claimed the islands that later composed the territory of the Trus ...

was flown jointly with the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

and

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

flags. The explanation for the choice of colors is rooted in the history and customs of the Palauan people. The light blue of the field symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, and also represents the transition from foreign domination to self-government. The golden disk, which sits slightly off-center toward the hoist, represents the full moon. The Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity. At this time of the month, celebrations,

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

, sowing, harvesting, tree-felling, and the carving of traditional

canoe A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle. In British English, the ter ...

s are carried out. The moon is a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility.

Construction

According to the Palauan government website, the flag is a golden-yellow full moon slightly off-centered on a field of sky blue. The width of flag is 1³⁄₅ of the flag's height, meaning the aspect ratio is 5:8. The moon's diameter is ³⁄₅ of the flag's height, its center is placed on the middle of the flag's height and the ⁷⁄₁₀ part of the flag's height from the hoist side. Team Palau Summer Olympics 2008

Tenuous relationship to the Rising Sun Flag

Japanese

international relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such a ...

professor Futaranosuke Nagoshi has suggested that the Palauan flag pays tribute to the Rising Sun Flag of Japan and symbolizes amity between Palau and Japan. Former Palauan President Kuniwo Nakamura responded to this theory in an interview with the ambiguous statement, "That's one way of putting it." John Blau Skebong, the designer of the flag, denied such allegation, saying there is no special connection between the two flags.

Governmental flags

File:Presidental Standard of Palau.svg, Standard of the

President of Palau The president of the Republic of Palau is the head of state and head of government of Palau. The president is directly elected to a four-year term, and can be reelected once in a consecutive manner. List of presidents Latest election ...

File:Presidential Standard of Palau (vertical).svg, Standard of the

(vertical)

Historical flags

File:Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg, Flag of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, until 1842 File:Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg, Flag of

, until 1899 File:Flag of the Philippines (1898–1901).svg, Flag of

First Philippine Republic The Philippine Republic ( es, República Filipina), now officially known as the First Philippine Republic, also referred to by historians as the Malolos Republic, was established in Malolos, Bulacan during the Philippine Revolution against ...

, 1899-1901 File:Flag of German New Guinea.svg, Flag of the

German New Guinea Company The German New Guinea Company (german: Deutsche Neuguinea-Kompagnie) was a German Chartered Company which exploited insular territory in and near present Papua New Guinea. History In the 1870s and 1880s German commercial firms began to site tr ...

, 1885-1899 File:Flag of the German Empire.svg, Flag of the German Colonial Empire, in some of Palau from 1885 and all of the territory, 1899–1914 Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg, Flag of Japan used during the South Seas Mandate, 1914–1944 File:Flag of the Governor of the South Pacific Mandate.svg, Flag of Governor of the South Seas Mandate File:US flag 48 stars.svg, Forty-eight-star flag of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, 1944–1959 File:US flag 49 stars.svg, Forty-nine-star flag of the United States, 1959-1960 File:Flag of the United States.svg, Fifty-star flag of the United States, 1960–1994 File:Flag of the United Nations.svg,

flag, 1947–1965 File:Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg,

Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands The flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands ( TTPI) consisted of a light blue field that contained six white stars centered in a circle pattern. The stars symbolized the six districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: t ...

, 1965–1981

References

External links

Introduction of the flag
at Palau National Government *
Republic of Palau Convention History of the National FlagSimilarities between flags of Bangladesh, Japan, and Palau
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flag Of Palau

National symbols of Palau