The flag of the Kyrgyz Republic ( ky, Кыргыз Республикасынын Мамлекеттик Туусу, Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Tuusu, The State Flag of the Kyrgyz Republic, russian: Флаг Кыргызстана, Государственный флаг Кыргызской Республики) consists of a red field charged with a yellow sun that contains a depiction of a ''tunduk'', the opening in the center of the roof of a ''

yurt A yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger ( Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered and insulated with skins or felt and traditionally used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes and mountains of Central Asia ...

'' (traditional nomadic tent). It is actually a depiction of the first thing one sees when waking up in a yurt, namely the construction of the pinnacle of every Kyrgyz yurt with three crisscrossing laths across the circular opening at the top of the yurt. Adopted in 1992, just over seven months after the country's independence was declared, to replace the flag of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), it has been the flag of the

Kyrgyz Republic Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the east ...

since that year. The red on the flag is said to be inspired by the pennant lifted by Manas, the country's

folk hero A folk hero or national hero is a type of hero – real, fictional or mythological – with their name, personality and deeds embedded in the popular consciousness of a people, mentioned frequently in folk songs, folk tales and other folklore; a ...

History

Kyrgyz rebels wielded white banners (named "White Banner of National Liberation") during the Andijan uprising of 1898. Later, during the

Central Asian revolt of 1916 The Central Asian revolt of 1916, also known as the Semirechye Revolt and as Urkun ( ky, Үркүн, lit=Exodus, translit=Ürkün, , ) in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, was an anti-Russian uprising by the indigenous inhabitants of Russian Turke ...

, they used it again during an uprising in

Jizzakh , image_caption = , image_seal = Jizzax gerb.png , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Uzbekistan , pushpin_label_position = bottom , pushpin_map_caption = L ...

and during an attack on Prebechakenska. Under Soviet rule, the

Union Republic The Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the Union Republics ( rus, Сою́зные Респу́блики, r=Soyúznye Respúbliki) were national-based administrative units of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( ...

— coterminous with modern-day

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the ea ...

— utilized a flag derived from the

flag of the Soviet Union The State Flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (), commonly known as the Soviet flag (), was the official state flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1922 to 1991. The flag's design and symbolism are derived from ...

and representing Communism, that was adopted in 1953. It declared itself independent on 31 August 1991, approximately four months before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the Soviet-era flag maintained its status as the national flag for seven months after independence was declared. It was finally replaced by the current design on 3 March 1992, one day after Kyrgyzstan was admitted to the United Nations along with seven other post-Soviet states. File:White Banner of National Liberation.png,

Shahada The ''Shahada'' ( Arabic: ٱلشَّهَادَةُ , "the testimony"), also transliterated as ''Shahadah'', is an Islamic oath and creed, and one of the Five Pillars of Islam and part of the Adhan. It reads: "I bear witness that there i ...

Flag used in revolts in 1898 and 1916 File:Flag of the Kirghiz ASSR (1929-1937).svg, Flag of the Kirghiz ASSR (1929–36) File:Flag of the Kyrgyz SSR 1936-1940.svg, Flag of the Kirghiz SSR (1936–40) File:Variant flag of the Kirghiz SSR 1936-1940.svg, Variant flag of the Kirghiz SSR (1936–40) File:Flag of the Kirghiz SSR 1940-1952.svg, Flag of the Kirghiz SSR (1940–52) File:Flag of the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic.svg, Flag of Kirghiz SSR (1952–91) and the flag of Kyrgyz Republic (1991–92) File:Flag of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (reverse).svg, Flag of Kyrgyz Republic (1992) File:Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg, Flag of Kyrgyz Republic (1992–present)

Design

Symbolism

Kyrgyzstan 2011 Flag Proposals Set 5 Flag 2

The colors and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The red field stands for "bravery and valor", and alludes to the purported emblem hoisted by Manas, the

national hero The title of Hero is presented by various governments in recognition of acts of self-sacrifice to the state, and great achievements in combat or labor. It is originally a Soviet-type honor, and is continued by several nations including Belarus, Ru ...

of Kyrgyzstan. The sun epitomizes peace and prosperity, while its 40 rays stand for the number of tribes united by Manas to fight against the

Mongols The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal membe ...

, as well as the number of followers he had. The centre of the sun features a stylized illustration of the roof (''tunduk'') atop a traditional Kyrgyz tent (''

'') when viewed from the interior. Although these tents are less commonly used today, its incorporation into the flag is meant to symbolize the "origin of life", the "unity of time and space", as well as the people's " hearth and home" and their history.

Proposals to change

In recent years, a commission was established to examine proposals to modify the design of the flag. The head of this body observed how it was the object of conflict and disunity, and that the government did not want this

national symbol A national symbol is a symbol of any entity considering and manifesting itself to the world as a national community: the sovereign states but also nations and countries in a state of colonial or other dependence, federal integration, or even an e ...

to be the cause of further division in society. This partially stemmed from disagreement over the interpretation of the symbols on the current flag. For instance, modern-day Kyrgyzstan is ethnically diverse, with sizeable minority groups such as the

Uzbeks The Uzbeks ( uz, , , , ) are a Turkic ethnic group native to the wider Central Asian region, being among the largest Turkic ethnic group in the area. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, next to Kazakh and Karakalpak mino ...

(14.3%) and

Dungans Dungan, Xiao'erjing: ; zh, s=东干族, t=東干族, p=Dōnggān zú, w=Tung1kan1-tsu2, , Xiao'erjing: ; russian: Дунгане, ''Dungane''; ky, Дуңгандар, ''Duñgandar'', دۇنغاندار; kk, Дүңгендер, ''Düñgende ...

(1.1%) living there. These groups were historically conquered by Manas, and hence, the current flag – inspired by his emblem utilized in war – does not sit well with some of them. The red field has also been the source of much criticism. Some believe that it evokes the nation's tempestuous history, while others are of the opinion that it is a lingering remnant of communism in the country.

Colours scheme

Regional flags

Each

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

(''областы'', ''oblasty'' or ''облусу'', ''oblusu'') of Kyrgyzstan has its own flag. Batken obl flag.svg,

Batken Batken (also called Batkent) is a town in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, on the southern fringe of the Fergana Valley. It is the administrative seat of Batken Region. Since 2000, it is a city of regional significance, i.e. not part of a district. Howev ...

Flag of Bishkek Kyrgyzstan.svg, Bishkek (independent city) Flag of Chuy Province.svg, Chüy Jalal abad flag.svg, Jalal-Abad Issyk kul obl flag.svg,

Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul (also Ysyk-Köl, ky, Ысык-Көл, lit=warm lake, translit=Ysyk-Köl, , zh, 伊塞克湖) is an endorheic lake (i.e., without outflow) in the Northern Tian Shan mountains in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the seventh-deepest lake i ...

Naryn obl flag.svg,

Naryn Naryn ( ky, Нарын, translit=Naryn, Mongolian : Нарийн, Nariin, Traditional Mongolian ᠨᠠᠷᠢᠨ) is the regional administrative center of Naryn Region in central Kyrgyzstan. Its area is , and its estimated population was 41,17 ...

Flag of Osh.svg,

Osh Osh (Kyrgyz: Ош, romanised Osh; uz, O‘sh/Ўш) is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country and often referred to as the "capital of the south". It is the oldest city in the country (e ...

Flag of Talas Province Kyrgyzstan.svg, Talas

Other flags

File:Kyrgyzstan Border Service Flag Obverse.svg, Flag of Kyrgyzstan Border Service (obverse) File:Kyrgyzstan Border Service Flag Reverse.svg, Flag of Kyrgyzstan Border Service (reverse) File:Military Ensign of Kyrgyz Armed Forces (Kyrgyz).svg, Flag of

Kyrgyz Armed Forces The Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic (; Kyrǵyz Respublikasynyn Kuralduu Küctörü) is the national military of Kyrgyzstan. It was originally formed from the former Soviet forces of the Turkestan Military District stationed in newly independe ...

( Kyrgyz) File:Military Ensign of Kyrgyz Armed Forces (Russian).svg, Flag of Kyrgyz Armed Forces (

Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...

)

References

External links

*
Kyrgyzstan – Vexillographia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kyrgyzstan, Flag of Flags introduced in 1992 Flag Flags of Asia

Flags of Kyrgyzstan 1992 establishments in Kyrgyzstan