Flag of Thailand - Description of the Thailand Flag
The description of the Thailand Flag is as follows:
Five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Thailand flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Thailand flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The lefthalf of the flag ( viewer's left side ) is called the Hoist
The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton
The right half of the flag is called the Fly
The Meaning & History of the Thailand Flag - The three colors red/white/blue stand for nation/religion/king
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
Thailand Flag Etiquette
Thailand 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 Thailand as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Thailand
State Flag of Thailand
Military Flag of Thailand (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Thailand
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Thailand Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Thailand 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 Thailand flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Thailand should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Thailand flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Thailand, 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 Thailand Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Thailand flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Thailand flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Thailand flag to the top, then lowering the Thailand Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Thailand flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Thailand flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Thailand flag
The Thailand 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 Thailand 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 Thailand flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Thailand 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 Thailand Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Thailand
Location:
South-Eastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, south-east of Burma
Land Size of Thailand : 511,770 sq km
Climate / Weather of Thailand : tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Population of Thailand : 64,865,523
Former Name(s) : Siam
Capital City of Thailand : Bangkok
GDP of Thailand : $475.7 billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries : tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry, electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, world's second-largest tungsten producer, and third-largest tin producer
Main Colors of Thailand Flag : Red, white and blue
Commonly mis-spelt as Thaland
Concise History of Thailand & its Flag
10,000BC Upper Paleolithic (the Old Stone Age) period
5000 - 3000BC Neolithic (New Stone Age) period
3000BC - 1000BC Bronze age culture at Ban Chiang
600 B.C. Chinese T'ai migration recorded 300 B.C. Indian settlements bringing the Hindu religion
1000 AD The Mons, from Burma, had established themselves in Central Thailand
1150 Suriyavarman II built Angkor Wat in today's Cambodia
1497 July 8 - Vasco da Gama set out on expedidition to India via Africa stopping at Mombasa, Mozambique, Malindi, Kenya, and Quilmana trading centres
1516 Portuguese send an envoy to Thai Court and sign a treaty 1529 - 1569 War with Burma
1571 The Spanish settle in Manila to trade and spread Christianity
1575 - 1650 The Dutch, French, Danish, Arabs, Chinese and British established trade agreements
1833 - 1847 Thai-Vietnam war
1833 First American envoy to the Thai Court
1905 Slavery was abolished
1909 Great Britain establishes protectorates
1914 - 1918 WWI - Thailand joins the Allies
1932 Revolution and the obsolete monarchy is abolished
1939 - 1945 WWII Thailand declares war on the Allies
This information focuses on the history of Thailand and does not address contemporary events
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The Flag and Nation of Thailand
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Flag and Country of Thailand 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!
