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Indonesian Flag

Indonesia flag
The Flag of Indonesia - Description of the Indonesian Flag

  • As the above picture of the Indonesian Flag indicates the overall background is Red and white

  • The description of the Indonisian Flag is as follows:

    • Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white

  • According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Indonesian flag represent the following:

    • White - peace and honesty

    • Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour

  • All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right

  • The shape and flag ratio of the Indonesian flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )

  • The Meaning & History of the Indonesian Flag

    • The colors of the Indonesian flag are derived from the colours of the 14th century Majapahit Empire

    • The Indonesian flag is called Sang Saka ("lofty bicolour") Merah Putih ("red white") in Indonesian

    • The Indonesian flag was first used by students and then Indonesian nationalists in the early part of the 20th century under Dutch rule

    • The Indonesian flag was adopted on August 17 1945 when Indonesia achieved Independence

Flag Terminology

 Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
  • The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
  • Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
  • The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
  • Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
  • Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:

  • The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield

  • Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe

  • Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted

  • An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification

  • The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms  were born

  • These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags

  • The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed

  • The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag

Indonesian Flag Etiquette

  • Indonesian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly

  • Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Indonesian as follows:

  • Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag

    • National Flag of Indonesian

    • State Flag of Indonesian

    • Military Flag of Indonesian (in order of creation date)

    • Other Flag of Indonesian

  • The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Indonesian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag

  • The National flag of Indonesian should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another

  • The Indonesian flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground

  • A tattered or faded flag of Indonesian should be removed and replaced with a new flag

  • Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Indonesian flag is always flown the correct way up

  • A Flag of Indonesian, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect

Terminology & Etiquette in Indonesian Flag display
  • Hoist - the act or function of raising the Indonesian flag, as on a rope
  • Half Staff or Half Mast - the Indonesian flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
    • Performed by first raising the Indonesian flag to the top, then lowering the Indonesian Flag halfway
  • Distress - denoted by flying the Indonesian flag upside-down
  • Manner of hoisting - The Indonesian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
  • No disrespect should be shown to the Indonesian flag
  • The Indonesian flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
  • The Indonesian flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
  • The Indonesian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
  • International Flag relating to Indonesian Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
  • We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Indonesian Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource

Indonesia

National Flags of the World Map

Location:

South-eastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean  

  • Indonesian Land Size : 1,826,440 sq km

  • Indonesian Climate / Weather : tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

  • Indonesian Population : 238,452,952 (July 2004 est.)

  • Indonesian Capital City: Jakarta

  • Indonesian GDP: $758.1 billion (2003 est.)

  • Indonesian Main Industries : petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism

  • Indonesian Agricultural products : rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, poultry, beef, pork, eggs

  • Indonesian Currency : Indonesian rupiah (IDR)

  • Main Colors of the Indonesian Flag : Red and white
Concise Indonesian History & its Flag
  • 425 Buddhism reaches Sumatra
  • Melayu kingdom flourishes on Sumatra
  • 670 Chinese traveller, I Ching, visits Srivijaya
  • 670 Hindu temples built in central Java
  • 686 Stone tablets are carved creating the oldest known writings in any Malayo-Polynesian language
  • 770 King Vishnu (or Dharmatunga) begins building Borobudur
  • 898 Stone tablets of King Balitung are the first mention of "Mataram" in central Java
  • 910 Building of the Hindu temples at Prambanan begins
  • 1017 Rajendra Chola, king of Coromandel in India, attacks Srivijaya
  • 1135 King Joyoboyo rules until 1157 and is remembered for a prophecy that Indonesia would be ruled by a white race for a long time, then a yellow race for a short time, then be independent
  • 1281 Muslims from Jambi send an embassy to Kublai Khan
  • 1292 Marco Polo visits Sumatra and Java
  • 1297 Sultan Malek Saleh is the first Muslim ruler
  • 1377 The King of Palembang sent a courier to China, offering his kingdom to the emperor in exchange for Indonesian protection
  • 1509 Portuguese traders visit Melaka
  • 1522 Survivors of Magellan's expedition around the world visit Timor
  • 1527 Expeditions from Spain try to drive the Portuguese from Maluku
  • 1529 Kings of Spain and Portugal agree that Maluku should belong to Portugal, and the Philippines should belong to Spain. Catholic conversion commences
  • Francis Drake visits Sulawesi and Java and the Dutch visit Indonesia
  • December 31 Elizabeth I of England charters the East India Company
  • 1602 March 20 Dutch companies combine to form Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC)
  • 1870 - 1942 Netherlands Indies government
  • 1914 -1918 World War I
  • 1925 - New constitution is established
  • 1931 - Perhimpunan Indonesia is taken over by Communists
  • 1938 - Netherlands government rejects the autonomy petition for Indonesia
  • 1939 - 1945 World War II 
  • 1940 - Japanese troops move into French Indo-china
  • 1944 - Allied forces land on Halmahera
  • 1945 August 17 - Indonesia achieves Independence
  • 1939 - 1945 WW11
  • August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
  • 1956 - Constitutional union between Indonesia and the Netherlands is dissolved
The Indonesian Flag and Nation

We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Indonesian Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!

Indonesian Flag

Indonesian Flag - Picture - Information - Facts - History - Indonesian Flag - Emblem - Coat of Arms - Meaning - Colors - Flag Terminolgy and Protocol  - Indonesian Flag - Culture - Geography - Info - Picture - Information  - Indonesian Flag - Pictures - Facts - History - Emblem - Coat of Arms - Meaning  - Indonesian Flag - Colors - Flag Terminolgy and Protocol - Hoist - Fly - Canton - Indonesian Flag - Culture - Geography - Info - Picture - Indonesian Flag - Indonesian Flag