The national emblem of Brunei is a national symbol featured prominently on the flag of Brunei. It was adopted in 1940. There are five main components to the national emblem: the

flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...

, the royal parasol (ceremonial umbrella), the wings, the

hands A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each " ...

, and the crescent. Below the crescent is a banner; both are inscribed with yellow lettering in Arabic: * On the crescent, Brunei's national motto: ; , meaning "Always in service with God's guidance" (

Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...

: ""). * On the banner (scroll), the state's name: ; ', literally "Brunei, the Abode of Peace".

Design

All elements on the emblem are red. On some versions they have black outlines; others have colourless outlines. # The small swallowtail flag and parasol ('), regalia of the sultanate's monarchy, have been the royal insignia since the creation of the emblem. # The wings symbolise protection of justice, tranquility, prosperity and peace. # Below these is the crescent, a symbol of

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

, the state religion of Brunei. # On the sides, the upturned

indicate the government's duty is to preserve and promote the welfare of the citizens and to protect the people.

Personal emblem of the Sultan

After the Constitution was enacted in 1959 the

Sultan of Brunei The sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state of Brunei and head of government in his capacity as prime minister of Brunei. Since independence from the British in 1984, only one sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates bac ...

adopted a different emblem from the emblem of state, in that the two hands were superseded by two golden '' sejant'' cats (''kuching emas''). At his coronation in 1968, Sultan

Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III ( Jawi: ; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei since 1967 and the Prime Minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is one ...

used a crown (''mahkota'') with an original design due it is based on the brocade turbans used by previous sultans. It is made of precious metal, decorated with pendilia and a sarpech consisting of a crescent-and-ten-pointed star and topped with a seven-pointed ornament. An excerpt from the Quran in Arabic text is inscribed upon the crescent, the opening verse of the '' surah'' '' Al-Mulk'': ; ''Tabāraka al-ladhī bi-yadihi al-mulku'', meaning "Blessed is the One in Whose Hands rests all authority". Around 1999 a highly elaborate achievement was adopted. It maintained the inscribed crescent, since that time ''

vert Vert or Verts may refer to: * Vert (heraldry), the colour green in heraldry * Vert (music producer) (born 1972), pseudonym of Adam Butler, an English music producer * Vert (river), in southern France * Vert (sport), a competition in extreme vers ...

'', and the winged umbrella as core elements but the Sultan's crown was added over them. This set is surrounded by a garland of ears paddy '' or'' and is displayed the name of God (Allah) in ''

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

''. On the yellow standard of the Sultan, the emblem is all red.Vries, Hubert de. ''National Arms and Emblems, Past and Present. Brunei''
Retrieved 27 July 2016.

Past emblems

Image:Emblem of Brunei (1932-1950).svg, Emblem from 1932 to 1950 Image:Emblem of Brunei (1950-1959).svg, Emblem from 1950 to 1959 Image:Emblem of Brunei.svg, Emblem from 1959 to present

References

{{Coats of arms of Asia National symbols of Brunei Brunei Brunei Brunei Brunei