The Thai Flag

[The Coder]

Every country loves their flag as it should be. But when I see the Thai flag my mind gets drawn not to Thailand, but to the western symbolism. The exact shades of red, white and blue found on flags in Europe & America and also the plain, uniform stripes. I have heard this is not the original Thai flag. What did the one that preceded it look like and why was it changed? Link to pics perhaps? It just seems crazy to have something as important as the national flag identify with far away places. It would be like entering a wat only to find the Buddha images have been swapped out for crucifixes in order to appear more like other countries. A Thai friend said a former king wanted a flag that could be raised upside down and still look the same but that sounds kind of sketchy so figured I would ask the experts.

[BambinA]

History of The Thai National Flag

When and how the first Thai flag was flown has never been determined by historians, although as in any other civilized nation flags must have been used since time immemorial. The earliest actual mention of flag raising appears in an account of events during the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya (1656-1688), but there is good reason to presume that flags had been used before this time.

Well before the reign of King Narai, for example, King Ekatotsarot, King Naresuan's younger brother and successor, despatched the first Thai embassy to the court of the Hague in 1608, thus paving the way for the arrival of European traders and missionaries in Thailand in subsequent years. It seems most probable that some kind of flag representing the Royal Kingdom of Ayutthaya was flown on this occasion, since all European nations had already evolved their own national flags by the beginning of the sixteenth century.

With the influx of European traders and vessels, coupled with the usual Chinese and Japanese merchants, Ayutthaya was turned into a cosmopolitan city, especially during the reign of King Narai. His reign has been called the golden age of Ayutthaya not only on account of the proliferation of arts and literary works but also on account of the open-door foreign policy which prevailed. It is thus not surprising that, as it is generally believed, the first Thai national flag "officially" made its appearance in 1680 when a French warship arrived at the mouth of the Chao Phya River on a good - will visit. An enquiry was made to the administration as to whether it would be acceptable for the French warship to fire gun salute as it passed theVichaiyendr Fort. King Narai graciously granted the permission and ordered Phra Saksong kram, then Governor of Bangkok, to return the gun salute. The story goes that as it was customary to raise the national flag over a fort before a gun salute was fired and as the order was given on such short notice, a piece of red cloth of appropriate rectangular shape (an item very common in a Thai home) was attached to a rope and raised to accept the French warship's salute. This, presumably, began a period in which the red flag was used as the Thai national flag. Although this may be just a speculation, it is certain that the red flag must have been a common sight long before.

According to Prince Damrong (one of King Chulalongkorn's brothers and one of the country's most renowned scholars) who conducted research into the origin of the Thai national flag, evidence clearly indicated that use of the flag could be traced to the reign of King Boromokot (1733-1758). At the request of the Ceylonese authority, a group of Thai monks led by Monk Upali went to Ceylon in 1752 to purify Singhalese Buddhism and to ordain monks. A memoir written at the time mentions that only red flags were flown on the barges used.

The red flag remained in use until the reign of King Rama II (1890-1824) of the Bangkok period. National rehabilitation and consolidation having been achieved after the sack of Ayutthaya by the Burmese army in 1767, the country now enjoyed relative peace and prosperity. Trade was almost at its height. Thai ships displaying the red flag could be seen on the high seas and in the ports of neighbouring countries, such as India, China, and Singapore. One fine day, however, a note was sent from the Singaporean authority to the effect that it could not differentiate the private merchant ships from the official ones. Could the Siamese authority issue a new flag for the official ships? The time was around 1816 - the year in which King Rama II had just acquired the third white elephant. This was an unprecedented phenomenon, heralding great and good things to come under his reign. To commemorate the event, the picture of a white elephant facing towards the hoist was placed at the center of the red flag. Thus, a new national flag was born. The Thai Elephant Flag was hoisted over official buildings and private houses, presenting a spectacular sight against the national flags of the foreign consulates whose number was on the rise.

In 1915 King Vajiravudh (Rama IV) observed during one of his boat trips up the Chao Phya River an elephant flag flown upside down over a hut. On returning to Bangkok, he began designing a simpler and modern-looking flag for the kingdom, the reason being that the flags of most European power were composed of stripes of the national colours. At the outset, he designed the five-striped red and white flag which has hoisted at the Suapa Field on the right of the Royal PLaza for a trial period. Later, the deep blue (the colour of his own birthday) was inserted. Hence the "Trairong" or tricolour, the present-day Thai national flag, came into being on September 28, 1917. It consists of five horizontal bands of, from the top, red, white, dark blue of double width, white and red. Red, white and blue signify the Thai Nation, Buddhism and the Monarchy respectively.

From Thailandlife

[calibanjr.]

Not that my opinion carries much weight, but I like the idea of the elephant flag. Red, white and blue stripes has to be the most common color scheme.

[BambinA]

K.Narai

K.1

K.2

K.4-K5 (B.E. 2398- 2459)

K6 (B.E.2459)

B.E 2460

BE2460-now

[Totster]

K.2

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like K.2

totster

[PeaceBlondie]

Wouldn't it be King Rama VI in 1915, rather than King Rama IV?

[Limbo]

Wouldn't it be King Rama VI in 1915, rather than King Rama IV?

I think so too.

At the peace negotiations of Versailles after World War 1 (the end of 1917, beginning 1918) still the old Siamese flag with the elephant was flying. The Thai belonged to the winning side: Some months before the war ended they sent about twohundred men for training to France. They were probably never engaged in battle. The Thai nurses who accompagnied the troops did however.

Two of the men lost their lives, but no indication how (French food?). The troops stayed in France to participate in the big parade in Paris in April 1918 and a week later they sailed home (I saw pictures showing the Siamese troops marching through the Arch de Triumph on the Champs Elysée).

Thanks to this brilliant move of King Rama VI, who hesitated long time before choosing side, Siam became member of the League of Nations from its beginning.

I red somewhere that in Versailles jokes were made about the elephant because many Europeans never visited a zoo before and didn't know how an elephant looks. They thought it was this little tiny itchy animal with six legs.

This is, by some, also explained as a reason to make the design of the Thai flag more in line with international standards.

Red, white, blue. The colours of the British, French, American, Dutch, Luxemburg aso flag.

Limbo.

[Neeranam]

AS the UK flag is the same colours as the Thai one, this is why the Thais love the Union Jack so much. Amazing that most of them think this is the English flag, which it is not. I asked a girl once, who was wearing a "God save the queen Sex Pistols t-shirt" why she was wearing a t-shirt which was offensive to my queen. Of course she hadn't a clue.

Anyone know, how do I paste a photo here?

Can you imagine if it were the other way around and a similar t-shirt was being sold in the UK! Imagine the uproar, there would be war.

Edited October 2, 2005 by Neeranam

[ilyushin]

Search Results similar to BambinA's.

A MULTICOLORED PIECE OF fabric fluttering from a pole, colorful triangular pieces of paper hanging on a line or a long rectangular banner decorated with animal figures suspended from a tall bamboo pole; all of these are flags "Thong" which are much in evidence throughout the countryside in northern Thailand. Flags can be signs of many things. They can be a sign of victory or defeat, a sign of rejoicing, motivation, sadness, emergency, direction or the announcement of a special event.

Many flags in Thailand were originally created for various religious ceremonies. Later on, flags were used for personal purposes, hung around homes or places of business, paraded by the armed forces, used to identify ships at sea, and generally used to symbolize the country. There are three main categories of flags which one can see suspended from poles or lines:

1. Strings of Pennants These flags are triangular in shape, and can be made from cloth, paper, tree leaves or metal. Many flags are attached to a straight line or long string. The base of each flag is attached to the line, while the pointed tapered end hangs downwards. Originally this type of flag was used for religious ceremonies, mostly as a substitute for the sacred white cord used to connect houses and buildings to the auspicious site of the ceremony. Currently, these hanging pennants are much in evidence at fairs and festivals, and even social gatherings, because their colors brighten up the surroundings and lend a festive air to the occasion.

2. Banners This flag is rectangular in shape and usually very long. It can be made from cloth, paper, thin wooden strips, silver, zinc plate, or combinations of these. Many have each piece decorated with hand-drawn or painted depictions of animals ranging all the way from caterpillars to crocodiles. The pictures of animals or other subjects vary according to the theme of the occasion. For example, the procession of a "Kathin ceremony"may be transported by boat; therefore a crocodile motif would be most appropriate.

It is believed that the ancient "Mon" people, an ethnic group originating in present-day Burma who migrated to north and south Siam, invented this type of banner. These banners are usually hung on a single bamboo pole, which is inserted in the top of a conical-shaped sand pile, or hung on a pole topped with a carved swan.

These banners are still very popular in northern Thailand, and can often be seen along the roadside near wats (Buddhist temples) at the time of various religious holidays or festivities. Northern people refer to these banners as "toong". This is actually the root word for"thong"which means "flag" in the Thai language. Many people in parts of the North believe that the toong banner represents a stairway to heaven for the soul to cross, and have one in their homes to prepare for their entry into the next world. These banners are very interesting with their large variety of symbols, colors, thickness and lengths.

3. Large Flags These may be square, rectangular or triangular in shape. In ancient times, this type of flag was used in warfare by armies and navies alike. They were also used to identify the country of origin of cargo ships. Later, these flags were used to decorate places and especially government buildings, and then became the standard for national identity. It is interesting to note that the triangular flag is used to symbolize victory and is called: "thongchai"("victory flag"). Armed forces used this flag at the front of their lines, hoping to inspire their foot soldiers onward to victory. Historically, the Siamese flag first appeared in the Ayuthaya period. During the reign of King Narai the Great, a ship from France sailed to the mouth of the Chao Phraya River to the south of yet-to-be-born Bangkok. While the ship was approaching a lighthouse, the Siamese military raised the Dutch flag in greeting and as a gesture of friendship, as the Siamese did not yet have a flag of their own. The Siamese soldiers did not realize that France and Holland were engaged in a serious conflict at the time, and the French undoubtedly misread the signal. The quick-thinking Siamese then raised another flag, solid red in color, to stop the French from invading Siamese territory. From that day, the first Siamese national flag was red. This red flag was also flown on cargo chips from the Ayuthaya, Thonburi and early Rattanakosin periods.

Aware that the red flags were being used both for commerce and government agencies, King Rama I wanted to make a distinction between the two. Therefore he added a white wheel design to the middle of the red flag to be used by the government and on royal ships. The private sector continued to fly the plain red flag. Even today, after all these years, plain red flags are still in use on cargo ships.

During the period of King Rama II, there was confusion between Siamese ships and vessels of British Singapore, both of which flew a plain, red flag. To resolve this problem, King Rama II added a white elephant to the center of the white wheel. The white elephant symbolized the enormously auspicious events of three white elephants being found during his reign on the throne.

As more and more contacts were made between the west and Siam during his reign, King Mongkut (Rama IV) wished to establish a genuine national flag. He removed the white wheel and enlarged the size of the white elephant figure in the middle of the flag. Since B.E. 2398, cargo ships from Europe and America have arrived in Bangkok, and foreign governments have been given permission to build embassies and consulates. Flags of each consulate were allowed to be displayed from flagstaffs. It was at about this same time that the modified Siamese flag was instituted.

In B.E. 2460, the beginning of World War I, King Vajiravuth (Rama VI) envisioned that Siam would become well known and gain respect if the country declared war against Germany, Austria and Hungary. The flag motif was then changed from a solid red color with a white elephant, to a design of red and white stripes. Initially, his design was five stripes, three red stripes alternating with two white stripes. Later Thailand's flag became "tri-rong"or three colored, as it is today. The outer red stripes stand for the country's unity; the two white stripes refer to purity of religious freedom (to practice Buddhism, Islam or Christianity), while the blue stripe, the heart of the flag, represents the Monarchy.

[mrreality]

History of The Thai National Flag

When and how the first Thai flag was flown has never been determined by historians, although as in any other civilized nation flags must have been used since time immemorial. The earliest actual mention of flag raising appears in an account of events during the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya (1656-1688), but there is good reason to presume that flags had been used before this time.

Well before the reign of King Narai, for example, King Ekatotsarot, King Naresuan's younger brother and successor, despatched the first Thai embassy to the court of the Hague in 1608, thus paving the way for the arrival of European traders and missionaries in Thailand in subsequent years. It seems most probable that some kind of flag representing the Royal Kingdom of Ayutthaya was flown on this occasion, since all European nations had already evolved their own national flags by the beginning of the sixteenth century.

With the influx of European traders and vessels, coupled with the usual Chinese and Japanese merchants, Ayutthaya was turned into a cosmopolitan city, especially during the reign of King Narai. His reign has been called the golden age of Ayutthaya not only on account of the proliferation of arts and literary works but also on account of the open-door foreign policy which prevailed. It is thus not surprising that, as it is generally believed, the first Thai national flag "officially" made its appearance in 1680 when a French warship arrived at the mouth of the Chao Phya River on a good - will visit. An enquiry was made to the administration as to whether it would be acceptable for the French warship to fire gun salute as it passed theVichaiyendr Fort. King Narai graciously granted the permission and ordered Phra Saksong kram, then Governor of Bangkok, to return the gun salute. The story goes that as it was customary to raise the national flag over a fort before a gun salute was fired and as the order was given on such short notice, a piece of red cloth of appropriate rectangular shape (an item very common in a Thai home) was attached to a rope and raised to accept the French warship's salute. This, presumably, began a period in which the red flag was used as the Thai national flag. Although this may be just a speculation, it is certain that the red flag must have been a common sight long before.

According to Prince Damrong (one of King Chulalongkorn's brothers and one of the country's most renowned scholars) who conducted research into the origin of the Thai national flag, evidence clearly indicated that use of the flag could be traced to the reign of King Boromokot (1733-1758). At the request of the Ceylonese authority, a group of Thai monks led by Monk Upali went to Ceylon in 1752 to purify Singhalese Buddhism and to ordain monks. A memoir written at the time mentions that only red flags were flown on the barges used.

The red flag remained in use until the reign of King Rama II (1890-1824) of the Bangkok period. National rehabilitation and consolidation having been achieved after the sack of Ayutthaya by the Burmese army in 1767, the country now enjoyed relative peace and prosperity. Trade was almost at its height. Thai ships displaying the red flag could be seen on the high seas and in the ports of neighbouring countries, such as India, China, and Singapore. One fine day, however, a note was sent from the Singaporean authority to the effect that it could not differentiate the private merchant ships from the official ones. Could the Siamese authority issue a new flag for the official ships? The time was around 1816 - the year in which King Rama II had just acquired the third white elephant. This was an unprecedented phenomenon, heralding great and good things to come under his reign. To commemorate the event, the picture of a white elephant facing towards the hoist was placed at the center of the red flag. Thus, a new national flag was born. The Thai Elephant Flag was hoisted over official buildings and private houses, presenting a spectacular sight against the national flags of the foreign consulates whose number was on the rise.

In 1915 King Vajiravudh (Rama IV) observed during one of his boat trips up the Chao Phya River an elephant flag flown upside down over a hut. On returning to Bangkok, he began designing a simpler and modern-looking flag for the kingdom, the reason being that the flags of most European power were composed of stripes of the national colours. At the outset, he designed the five-striped red and white flag which has hoisted at the Suapa Field on the right of the Royal PLaza for a trial period. Later, the deep blue (the colour of his own birthday) was inserted. Hence the "Trairong" or tricolour, the present-day Thai national flag, came into being on September 28, 1917. It consists of five horizontal bands of, from the top, red, white, dark blue of double width, white and red. Red, white and blue signify the Thai Nation, Buddhism and the Monarchy respectively.

From Thailandlife

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

massive yawn

[IvanLaw]

History of The Thai National Flag

When and how the first Thai flag was flown has never been determined by historians, although as in any other civilized nation flags must have been used since time immemorial. The earliest actual mention of flag raising appears in an account of events during the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya (1656-1688), but there is good reason to presume that flags had been used before this time.

Well before the reign of King Narai, for example, King Ekatotsarot, King Naresuan's younger brother and successor, despatched the first Thai embassy to the court of the Hague in 1608, thus paving the way for the arrival of European traders and missionaries in Thailand in subsequent years. It seems most probable that some kind of flag representing the Royal Kingdom of Ayutthaya was flown on this occasion, since all European nations had already evolved their own national flags by the beginning of the sixteenth century.

With the influx of European traders and vessels, coupled with the usual Chinese and Japanese merchants, Ayutthaya was turned into a cosmopolitan city, especially during the reign of King Narai. His reign has been called the golden age of Ayutthaya not only on account of the proliferation of arts and literary works but also on account of the open-door foreign policy which prevailed. It is thus not surprising that, as it is generally believed, the first Thai national flag "officially" made its appearance in 1680 when a French warship arrived at the mouth of the Chao Phya River on a good - will visit. An enquiry was made to the administration as to whether it would be acceptable for the French warship to fire gun salute as it passed theVichaiyendr Fort. King Narai graciously granted the permission and ordered Phra Saksong kram, then Governor of Bangkok, to return the gun salute. The story goes that as it was customary to raise the national flag over a fort before a gun salute was fired and as the order was given on such short notice, a piece of red cloth of appropriate rectangular shape (an item very common in a Thai home) was attached to a rope and raised to accept the French warship's salute. This, presumably, began a period in which the red flag was used as the Thai national flag. Although this may be just a speculation, it is certain that the red flag must have been a common sight long before.

According to Prince Damrong (one of King Chulalongkorn's brothers and one of the country's most renowned scholars) who conducted research into the origin of the Thai national flag, evidence clearly indicated that use of the flag could be traced to the reign of King Boromokot (1733-1758). At the request of the Ceylonese authority, a group of Thai monks led by Monk Upali went to Ceylon in 1752 to purify Singhalese Buddhism and to ordain monks. A memoir written at the time mentions that only red flags were flown on the barges used.

The red flag remained in use until the reign of King Rama II (1890-1824) of the Bangkok period. National rehabilitation and consolidation having been achieved after the sack of Ayutthaya by the Burmese army in 1767, the country now enjoyed relative peace and prosperity. Trade was almost at its height. Thai ships displaying the red flag could be seen on the high seas and in the ports of neighbouring countries, such as India, China, and Singapore. One fine day, however, a note was sent from the Singaporean authority to the effect that it could not differentiate the private merchant ships from the official ones. Could the Siamese authority issue a new flag for the official ships? The time was around 1816 - the year in which King Rama II had just acquired the third white elephant. This was an unprecedented phenomenon, heralding great and good things to come under his reign. To commemorate the event, the picture of a white elephant facing towards the hoist was placed at the center of the red flag. Thus, a new national flag was born. The Thai Elephant Flag was hoisted over official buildings and private houses, presenting a spectacular sight against the national flags of the foreign consulates whose number was on the rise.

In 1915 King Vajiravudh (Rama IV) observed during one of his boat trips up the Chao Phya River an elephant flag flown upside down over a hut. On returning to Bangkok, he began designing a simpler and modern-looking flag for the kingdom, the reason being that the flags of most European power were composed of stripes of the national colours. At the outset, he designed the five-striped red and white flag which has hoisted at the Suapa Field on the right of the Royal PLaza for a trial period. Later, the deep blue (the colour of his own birthday) was inserted. Hence the "Trairong" or tricolour, the present-day Thai national flag, came into being on September 28, 1917. It consists of five horizontal bands of, from the top, red, white, dark blue of double width, white and red. Red, white and blue signify the Thai Nation, Buddhism and the Monarchy respectively.

From Thailandlife

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

massive yawn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How Infantile

If you are not interested why try to read?

Grow Up

[Johpa]

K.1

I prefer the flag without the elephant. One reason the elephant was dropped was because too many flags were being made with elephants that looked like cartoons. It is not that easy to draw a good elephant. Besides, the Thais were dependent upon the real elephant folks, the Suay and the Karen, for their war elephants.

[britmaveric]

Current flag w/elephant would look lovely!!!

[Neeranam]

QUOTE(BambinA @ 2005-10-01 17:42:26)

K.1

I prefer the flag without the elephant. One reason the elephant was dropped was because too many flags were being made with elephants that looked like cartoons. It is not that easy to draw a good elephant. Besides, the Thais were dependent upon the real elephant folks, the Suay and the Karen, for their war elephants.

Is that flag rotating or has someone spiked my drink?

[Narachon]

AS the UK flag is the same colours as the Thai one, this is why the Thais love the Union Jack so much. Amazing that most of them think this is the English flag, which it is not.

I ( like most Americans do ) used to think that the Union Jack was the English Flag.

Now every time I see the Union Jack, I think of "The Who"....

I asked a girl once, who was wearing a "God save the queen Sex Pistols t-shirt" why she was wearing a t-shirt which was offensive to my queen. Of course she hadn't a clue.

Can you imagine if it were the other way around and a similar t-shirt was being sold in the UK! Imagine the uproar, there would be war.

I think that once you explain to those Thais that do that, they would be highly understanding, if not highly emabrassed over that, with a possible lose of face, or whatnot...

But then again, England/Britain and Thailand are at total opposite ends of the spectrum in their treatent of their repective Royalty ( with Japan I think, in the middle.... )

Now a war with England/Britain versus Thailand over something like that? I really don't think it would ever get that far, but it would be very funny to see, I guess.

But then again, you know how we Americans think about Royalty and Monarchies....

Anyone know, how do I paste a photo here?

And you've been here how long?

[h90]

Every country loves their flag as it should be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it is extremly childish to love a flag, beside the nationalistic thing. Imagine people stay arround a colored piece of fabric and greet to it. After greeting the flag they have the feeling that they are better people than foreigner. For me thats somehow crazy. As well as singing the national anthem all the time (in school instead of learning some mathematics).

It should not be insulting against any countries (or all at the same time) but for me this is somehow strange.

[Boon Mee]

Every country loves their flag as it should be.

I think it is extremly childish to love a flag, beside the nationalistic thing.

Typical of a left-wing Moonbat with no loyalty to his country.

Another man w/out a country, eh B-Fly?

[the scouser]

At the peace negotiations of Versailles after World War 1 (the end of 1917, beginning 1918).....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Off topic, I know, but surely 1918/19, Limbo?

Scouse.

[Girlfrombar]

thai flag = 2 dutch flag upside down!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Every country loves their flag as it should be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it is extremly childish to love a flag, beside the nationalistic thing. Imagine people stay arround a colored piece of fabric and greet to it. After greeting the flag they have the feeling that they are better people than foreigner. For me thats somehow crazy. As well as singing the national anthem all the time (in school instead of learning some mathematics).

It should not be insulting against any countries (or all at the same time) but for me this is somehow strange.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[DJ Moore]

REF:::: "It just seems crazy to have something as important as the national flag identify with far away places"

================================================

I look at the flag and I see Thailand............DJM

[terdsak_12]

K.2

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like K.2

totster

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does this represent the circular saw replacing the elephant in mass de-forristation?

[Erwin1011]

Every country loves their flag as it should be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it is extremly childish to love a flag, beside the nationalistic thing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"

Typical of a left-wing Moonbat with no loyalty to his country.

Another man w/out a country, eh B-Fly?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's what they said in Germany too, 60-70 years ago.

[The Coder]

I've always found the Thai Airways logo attractive. The colors of purple and gold signifying royalty and Buddhism and the shape derived from the orchid all come together to capture the essence of Thailand. Then I learned it was the work of a San Francisco consulting firm they hired to create it

[Limbo]

At the peace negotiations of Versailles after World War 1 (the end of 1917, beginning 1918).....

Off topic, I know, but surely 1918/19, Limbo?

Scouse.

Shit, shit, shit!

Ashes on my head!

It was a late as June 1919! Thanks Mr. Scouser

Limbo.