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According to a document from CBS, the origin of Bhutan’s first national flag can be traced back to a request made by Jigme Wangchuck, the second Druk Gyalpo of the 20th-century Kingdom of Bhutan. This flag was introduced in 1949 during the signing of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty. While the document doesn’t provide a visual representation of the original design, black-and-white photographs taken during the historic event show the flag.

However, the document’s description of the 1949 flag is somewhat inconsistent with the surviving photographs from that time. It mentions the flag as “square,” while the photos suggest proportions closer to 4:5. The document also describes the dragon as “facing the fly end,” while the dragon in the photos faces the hoist. Additionally, it mentions the dragon as “green,” but the shade in the photos appears very pale, if green at all.

In 1956, a second version of the national flag was developed, mainly for the visit of the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuk to eastern Bhutan. The dragon’s color was changed from green to white during this time.

To formalize the flag’s design and establish protocols for acceptable flag sizes and proper flag-flying practices, the National Assembly of Bhutan implemented a code of conduct in 1972.

Changes continued in the late 1950s when Dasho Shingkhar Lam, a former Secretary to His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, was tasked with modifying the flag’s design. These changes aimed to make the flag flutter more like the rectangular Indian flag. The standard measurements of the Bhutanese flag were altered to match the Indian flag’s size (9 feet by 6 feet). The dragon was repositioned to spread across the diagonal dividing line between the background colors to avoid facing the earth when hanging limp.

As per the CBS document, the original Bhutanese flag was a square divided diagonally into yellow and red fields. In the center, at the intersection of these colors, there was a green dragon facing the fly end and parallel to the bottom edge of the flag.

The 1972 rules mandate that every district headquarters (dzongkhag) hoists the national flag. For areas without a dzongkhag, the flag is raised in front of the main government officer’s office.

In 1968 or 1969, the king ordered the lower half of the flag to be changed from red to orange. This modification was carried out.

On June 8, 1972, the National Assembly of Bhutan approved Resolution 28, which introduced National Flag Rules, outlining various aspects of the flag’s description, symbolism, and usage. These rules also specify flag protocol, including where and when the flag may be flown and who may display it on vehicles. The flag is treated with great respect, similar to the Bhutanese state and the head of state.

The national flag of Bhutan, known as the “Druk Yul” in Dzongkha (the Bhutanese language), is a significant emblem of the country. It prominently features a depiction of a dragon from Bhutanese folklore, which is referred to as “druk” in Dzongkha. This design is a nod to Bhutan’s name in Dzongkha, “Druk Yul,” meaning “Dragon Country” or “Dragon Kingdom,” as well as its connection to the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, the predominant religion in Bhutan.

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In 2002, The Centre for Bhutan Studies and GNH Research, an independent research institution based in Bhutan, published a document referred to as the “CBS document.” This document stands as a unique and readily accessible source of information concerning the historical development of Bhutan’s national flag. It extensively relies on firsthand accounts gathered through interviews with individuals who played pivotal roles in creating and modifying the Bhutanese flag. These interviews span from the late 1940s to the introduction of the current flag in approximately 1970. Consequently, this report holds significant importance as a primary source for understanding the history of Bhutan’s flag.

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Furthermore, the jewels held in the dragon’s claws symbolize Bhutan’s prosperity and the security and well-being of its people. Lastly, the fierce expression on the dragon’s face represents the unwavering commitment of Bhutanese deities to the defense and protection of Bhutan.

The only designated flag day in the 1972 rules is National Day, celebrated on December 17th, commemorating the crowning of Ugyen Wangchuck as the first king of Bhutan in 1907.

The dragon, depicted differently in this variant, extends across the boundary between these two colors. Its central placement on the flag’s dividing line signifies the equal significance of both civic and monastic traditions within the Kingdom of Druk (Bhutan), emphasizing the profound connection between the sovereign and the people. The dragon’s white hue signifies the purity of inner thoughts and actions that unify the ethnically and linguistically diverse population of Bhutan.

The credit for designing the flag in 1947 goes to Mayum Choying Wangmo Dorji, while Lharip Taw Taw, a royal court painter at the time, is said to have embroidered the flag. The green color of the dragon, referred to as “turquoise druk” in traditional and religious terms, was chosen. Today, a modern reproduction of this historic flag is displayed behind the throne in the National Assembly Hall in Thimphu.

Officials above the rank of minister are allowed to fly the flag at their residences if they do not live near the capital. The tradition of flying the national flag in front of government offices was established in Bhutan in 1968.

The Bhutanese flag was first flown alongside another nation’s flag during a state visit to India by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1961, marking a new level of relations between the two countries.

A small vexillology symbol or pictogram, depicted in black and white, illustrates the various symbolisms associated with a variant of the Bhutanese flag. According to the legal provisions outlined in Resolution 28 of the 36th Session of the National Assembly on June 8, 1972, and reiterated in the 2008 Constitution, the color yellow represents the civil tradition and temporal authority embodied by the Druk Gyalpo, the Dragon King of Bhutan, whose royal attire traditionally includes a yellow kabney (scarf). The orange segment symbolizes the Buddhist spiritual tradition, particularly the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma schools.

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the document’s description of the flag from 1949 does not entirely align with photographic evidence of the flag, as discussed later in the text. This discrepancy complicates the interpretation of some of the document’s claims. Nonetheless, as a record of one of the few remaining primary sources, specifically the accounts of those involved in the flag’s history and the limited existing government records, it serves as a valuable resource for shedding light on the otherwise poorly documented evolution of the Bhutanese flag.

The initial design of the flag, created by Mayum Choying Wangmo Dorji, dates back to 1947. A version of this flag was proudly displayed in 1949 during the signing of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty. In 1956, a modified version was introduced for the visit of Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck to eastern Bhutan. This variation was based on photographs of the 1949 flag and featured a white dragon in place of the original green one. Bhutan later decided to redesign its flag to match the dimensions of the Indian flag, which was believed to flutter more gracefully. Over time, additional changes were made, such as altering the red background to orange, resulting in the current flag design that has been in use since 1969.