Like the design shown previously, the large star represents the Communist Party while the four smaller stars represent the four occupations or categories of people within China: shì 士, nóng 农, gōng 工, shāng 商 (the working class, the peasantry, the petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie).

However, Chinese people living abroad have a different perspective. Because the blue and red flag was flown originally in post-imperial mainland China, some consider it to be the “grandmother” and the red and yellow flag to be the “mother.”

Did you know there are actually two Chinese flags? We say this with caution because it can become a complicated and heavily debated topic.

This flag existed prior to 1912 as part of the anti-imperialist revolution and was later adopted by mainland China starting in 1928.

After the fall of the last Chinese dynasty in 1911, the Republic of China was formed in 1912. During the Republic of China era, the flag looked like this:

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Following defeat in the Chinese civil war with the Communist Party, the Nationalist Party (the losing side) fled to Taiwan and established a government there. Hence, in 1949 a new Chinese flag was needed. Now you know why there was a flag designing competition.

Additionally, flags were used to mark one’s territory and the fall of a flag signaled defeat. Due to this, the royal flag-carrier was a highly regarded individual.

Completed by the time of the official founding of the PRC on October 1, 1949, the resulting design was raised over Tiananmen Square.

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The red color not only stands for communism, but also the blood of martyrs spilt during the Chinese civil war. The yellow color of the stars is said to symbolize imperial power of the historical dynasties.

Additionally, you’ll learn about the two flags of China (depending on your perspective) as well as a little background on Chinese political history.

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Unfortunately, neither of the two designs above were chosen. In fact, not even Mao Zedong’s favorite design below was chosen.

R 052137Z JUN 20 MARADMIN 331/20 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC IL// SUBJ/REMOVAL PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG// REF/A/DOC/CMC/20APR20// REF/B/DOC/DOD/20NOV15// AMPN/REF A IS COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS LETTER OF 20 APRIL 2020, REF B IS DODI 5200.08 CH3 DATED 20 NOVEMBER 2015, SECURITY OF DOD INSTALLATIONS AND RESOURCES AND THE DOD PHYSICAL SECURITY REVIEW BOARD// POC/D. AHN/LTCOL/JAD/TEL: 703-614-2510/EMAIL: DAVID.AHN@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS MARADMIN DIRECTS MARINE CORPS COMMANDERS TO IDENTIFY, AND REMOVE THE DISPLAY OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG OR ITS DEPICTION WITHIN WORK PLACES, COMMON-ACCESS AREAS, AND PUBLIC AREAS ON THEIR INSTALLATIONS. 2.  APPLICABILITY.  THIS MARADMIN APPLIES TO THE TOTAL FORCE. 3.  PURPOSE.  IN REFERENCE (A), THE COMMANDANT PROVIDED HIS RATIONALE TO EXCLUDE FROM OUR CORPS PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF THE BATTLE FLAG CARRIED BY THE CONFEDERATE ARMY DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.  REFERENCE (B) CHARGES COMMANDERS WITH THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND LAWFUL MEASURES TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER, AND TO PROTECT INSTALLATION PERSONNEL AND PROPERTY.  THE MARINE CORPS SHALL REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG FROM ALL INSTALLATION PUBLIC SPACES AND WORK AREAS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR CORE VALUES, ENSURE UNIT COHESION AND SECURITY, AND PRESERVE GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE. 4.  DEFINITIONS. 4.A.  THE TERM “CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG” REFERS TO THE BATTLE FLAG CARRIED BY CONFEDERATE ARMIES DURING THE CIVIL WAR, MOST NOTABLY BY THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, BUT ALSO WAS CARRIED BY OTHER CONFEDERATE STATES’ ARMIES.  THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG HAS VARIOUS COLOR SCHEMES AND CONFIGURATIONS AND IS GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS A FLAG WITH A RED OR BLUE FIELD WITH TWO BLUE OR RED DIAGONAL LINES (ALSO KNOWN AS THE HERALDIC SYMBOL SALTIRE) AND WHITE STARS.  SEE PARAGRAPH 6.C BELOW FOR EXAMPLES OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. 4.B.  THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION. 4.B.1.  DISPLAYS WHERE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IS DEPICTED, BUT NOT THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE DISPLAY.  FOR EXAMPLE, WORKS OF ART, EDUCATIONAL, OR HISTORICAL DISPLAYS DEPICTING A CIVIL WAR BATTLE WHERE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IS PRESENT, BUT NOT THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE WORK. 4.B.2.  STATE FLAGS WHICH INCORPORATE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. 4.B.3.  STATE ISSUED LICENSE PLATES WITH A DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. 4.B.4.  CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS’ GRAVE SITES. 4.B.5.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SPECIFY EVERY POSSIBLE EXCEPTION THAT MAY APPLY.  COMMANDERS ARE EXPECTED TO APPLY THEIR BEST JUDGMENT INFORMED BY THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THIS MARADMIN.  IF A COMMANDER ENCOUNTERS QUESTIONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE COMMAND STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE SHALL BE CONTACTED FOR LEGAL REVIEW AND ADVICE. 5.  ACTION. 5.A.  AUTHORIZED INSPECTION LOCATIONS.  ALL WORK PLACES, COMMON-ACCESS AREAS, AND PUBLIC AREAS.  WORK PLACES AND COMMON-ACCESS AREAS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 5.A.1.  OFFICE BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, NAVAL VESSELS, AIRCRAFT, GOVERNMENT VEHICLES, HANGARS, READY ROOMS, CONFERENCE ROOMS, INDIVIDUAL OFFICES, CUBICLES, STORAGE ROOMS, TOOL AND EQUIPMENT ROOMS, WORKSHOPS, BREAK ROOMS, GALLEYS, RECREATIONAL AREAS, COMMISSARIES, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS EXCHANGES, AND HEADS. 5.A.2.  SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION FACILITIES AND OTHER SECURE FACILITIES. 5.A.3.  OPEN-BAY BARRACKS, SHIPBOARD BERTHING, AND COMMON AREAS OF BARRACKS AND BACHELOR QUARTERS. 5.A.4.  ALL MARINE CORPS SCHOOL HOUSES AND TRAINING FACILITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, THE BASIC SCHOOL, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY, RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND, RECRUITING OFFICES, INSPECTOR AND INSTRUCTOR (I&I) FACILITIES, AND MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOTS. 5.A.5.  ALL AREAS IN PUBLIC OR PLAIN VIEW.  FOR EXAMPLE, THE OUTSIDE AREA THE WORK OFFICE BUILDING, STORE, OR BARRACKS TO INCLUDE PARKING LOTS.  THE FRONT YARD OR EXTERNAL PORCH OF GOVERNMENT OWNED – GOVERNMENT OPERATED HOUSING AND PUBLIC PRIVATE VENTURE (PPV) HOUSING.  THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, DEPICTIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG ON AUTOMOBILE BUMPER STICKERS, CLOTHING, AND OTHER APPAREL. 5.B. LIMITATIONS. 5.B.1.  THIS DIRECTIVE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS (NMMC), OR THE MUSEUMS AT MCRD SAN DIEGO, MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, OR ON ANY OTHER INSTALLATIONS WHICH ADDRESS THE CIVIL WAR FROM A NEUTRAL, HISTORICAL, OR EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, AND ARE THE APPROPRIATE VENUES FOR SUCH SYMBOLS. 5.B.2.  COMMANDERS WILL NOT INSPECT INSIDE ASSIGNED INDIVIDUAL BARRACKS ROOMS/LIVING QUARTERS, ASSIGNED DESK DRAWERS, ASSIGNED CABINET DRAWERS, ASSIGNED LOCKERS, BACKPACKS, PRIVATE AUTOMOBILES, GOVERNMENT-OWNED/GOVERNMENT OPERATED HOUSING AND PPV HOUSING. 5.B.3.  IN EXECUTING THIS MARADMIN, LEADERS SHALL APPLY THE DEFINITION IN PARAGRAPH 4.A NEUTRALLY AND OBJECTIVELY, AND SHALL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR OWN PERSONAL VIEWS OR OPINIONS, OR THAT OF ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP. 5.C.  REMOVAL OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. 5.C.1.  COMMANDERS SHALL ISSUE LAWFUL ORDERS TO REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG IAW WITH THIS MARADMIN. 6.  ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE. 6.A.  THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THESE INSPECTIONS RESIDES WITH INSTALLATION AND UNIT COMMANDERS.  ALL INSPECTIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTION CONTAINED IN THIS MARADMIN. 6.B.  COMMANDERS MUST EXERCISE BEST JUDGMENT AND DISCRETION CONSISTENT WITH THIS MARADMIN WHEN CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS.  COMMANDERS ENCOUNTERING QUESTIONABLE SITUATIONS SHALL CONSULT WITH THEIR STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE, WHO MAY CONSULT WITH HQMC, JUDGE ADVOCATE DIVISION, CIVIL & ADMINISTRATIVE LAW BRANCH (JCA), (703) 614-2510, AS APPROPRIATE. 6.C.  DEPICTIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG AS DEFINED IN THIS MARADMIN MAY BE FOUND AT HTTPS:(SLASH)(SLASH)WWW.HQMC.MARINES.MIL/SJA/BRANCHES/CIVIL-AND-ADMINISTRATIVE-LAW-BRANCH-JCA/. 7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN J. BROADMEADOW, DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS STAFF.//

Internationally and politically, mainland China is recognized as the one true China – in fact, only 15 countries officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.

For this reason, in Chinatowns in the United States for example, you can find the two flags flying next to each other – a sight you would never find in either mainland China or Taiwan.

Most likely when you hear the word flag, a rectangular shape comes to mind. Flags like these are considered to have originated in China during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). It is said that white flags of these shape were carried in front of the emperor of this time.

However, because lines were interpreted as a “divided China” (reminding people of the Chinese civil war), this design was considered inappropriate, and Mao’s preference was overruled.

In Mao’s favorite version, the designer chose a yellow star to symbolize the Communist Party and a yellow line to represent the Yellow River. It sounds pretty nice right? There was even talk about adding another line to symbolize the Yangtze River.

In 1949 the People’s Republic of China was founded and in the same year the Communist Party held a flag designing contest with the requirements that the flag must be red, rectangular and should have characteristics of China.

The simple red and yellow design of the modern day Chinese flag pacts a lot of history, albeit a complicated history. But by getting a glimpse of this, you can be more mindful and considerate when interacting with those who hold these symbols close to their hearts.

Yes, the Communist Party decided to remove the hammer and sickle because it bore too close a resemblance to the Soviet Union flag.