Flags of Myanmar

Since the adoption of its current flag, Myanmar has changed its name twice but its flag was never changed. With a red background and a blue square in the top left corner, the flag of Myanmar, known formerly as Burma, looks simple from afar. But a closer inspection would reveal rich symbolisms and representations. Within the blue square is a white emblem that features a rice paddy ear and a cog wheel surrounded by 14 five-pointed stars. The rice paddy and the cog wheel are symbols of agriculture and farming, Myanmar's main industry. It also represents peasants and workers, the two social classes represented by socialism and communism. The 14 stars surrounding the white emblem stand for the 14 states of the Myanmar Republic. Outside of the emblem, the blue color represents peace and endurance, the red symbolizes courage and gallantry and the white stands for purity and honor.

Myanmar adopted its current flag on the same day it officially became the Socialist Republic of the Burmese Federation, on January 3, 1974. The basic design of the flag though was already in existence for 60 years, being adopted by the country after gaining independence from Great Britain on January 4, 1948.