Flag of Bhutan

The field of the Bhutanese flag is divided diagonally into yellow and orange parts. In the middle of the division is the black and white mythological dragon Druk (Latin druk - thunder dragon).

What does the flag of Bhutan mean? Interpretation of the symbolism and colors of the flag

• The orange part of the flag represents the country's Buddhist heritage;
• The yellow comes from the traditional clothing of the King of Bhutan and symbolizes the power and strength of the state in the earthly world;
• The dragon has been a symbol of Bhutan and its people for hundreds of years, and its image has its roots in the country's traditional mythology. It is placed in the center of the flag to emphasize the equal importance of the nation's Buddhist heritage and state power in the modern country;
• In its claws, it holds precious stones symbolizing national prosperity and excellence.

The dragon was once green, but has now turned white, indicating the purity and loyalty of Bhutan's various ethnic groups.

The coat of arms of Bhutan

The coat of arms of Bhutan also has symbolism: a double diamond lightning bolt ("Dorje") in the center on a lotus flower surrounded by two dragons expresses harmony between secular and religious forces. The lotus flower symbolizes purity, the lightning bolt symbolizes harmony, and the gemstone on top expresses absolute power. 

History of the Bhutanese flag

The flag design, created in the 20th century, is based on a long tradition. It features the image of Druk, a thundering dragon from Bhutanese mythology. The first version of the flag was introduced in 1949. It depicted the dragon in green on a yellow and red background. 
In 1956, the Bhutanese made changes to the flag to match the size of the Indian flag. Color changes also took place - red was replaced by orange, which has been used in the modern flag since 1969. The white dragon with a green outline was replaced by a black and white counterpart. This flag accompanied the monarch during his travels around the country. The flag was placed on the saddle of every tenth horse when the sonarch traveled with his team. Every time he stopped, the Bhutanese flag was unfurled. These two versions of the flag are a symbol of the country's cultural heritage and its close connection to ancient traditions and religion.
In 1971, Bhutan introduced its modern flag, but the exact date of its creation is unknown. Until the 1960s, Bhutan was isolated from the world, but with its accession to the UN in 1971, it needed a national flag. In 1969, a new flag design was adopted to improve its visual appeal. Rules were also established to standardize the size of the flag and a code of conduct for flag raising, which were approved by the National Assembly of Bhutan in 1972.