National Education

Recognize the national flag, national emblem, national anthem, and regional flag.

 

(I) National Flag

• On June 16, 1949, the Preparatory Committee for the New Political Consultative Conference decided to establish a Preliminary Selection Committee for the National Flag and Emblem Designs, and published a call for submissions in newspapers such as the *People's Daily* from July 14 to August 15 of that year. During the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in September 1949, the Preliminary Selection Committee selected 38 designs from the 3,012 submitted designs and distributed them to all delegates for discussion. On September 27, 1949, the delegates to the First Plenary Session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference passed a resolution to adopt the Five-Starred Red Flag as the national flag.

• The red color of the national flag of the People's Republic of China symbolizes revolution. The five five-pointed stars on the flag and their relationship symbolize the great unity of the revolutionary people under the leadership of the Communist Party. The stars are yellow to make them stand out against the red background; yellow is brighter and more beautiful than white. Each of the four smaller stars has one point facing the center of the larger star, representing unity around a central point, and also creating a compact and aesthetically pleasing form.

(II) National Emblem

• On June 28, 1950, the Eighth Meeting of the Central People's Government Committee adopted the "Design of the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China and Explanation of the Design" proposed by the Second Session of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. On September 20 of the same year, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central People's Government, issued the "Order of the Central People's Government," announcing the national emblem and its design explanation.

• The design of the national emblem was officially stipulated in the 1954 Constitution of the People's Republic of China. The emblem features Tiananmen Square under five stars in the center, surrounded by ears of grain and gears. This design remains in use to this day.

(III) National Anthem

• The national anthem of the People's Republic of China is "March of the Volunteers." Originally, "March of the Volunteers" was the theme song of the 1935 film "Children of Troubled Times," a film about resisting Japanese aggression and saving the nation. The lyrics were written by playwright Tian Han, and the music was composed by renowned musician Nie Er (see footnote). The original story of "Children of Troubled Times" was created by Tian Han. This film depicts the heroic story of young people in the early 1930s who went to the front lines to save their motherland from the Japanese invasion.

• The 1930s marked the beginning of the War of Resistance against Japan in modern Chinese history, bringing the entire Chinese nation to a critical juncture of life and death. In 1931, under Japanese militarism, the Imperial Japanese Army launched the "September 18 Incident," occupying Northeast China and igniting fierce resistance from the Chinese people. Various anti-Japanese activities arose among the people, promoting the message of uniting to face the national crisis and resist Japan for national salvation in different ways. Among them, the "March of the Volunteers," composed by Tian Han and Nie Er, with its clear rhythm, soaring melody, and powerful expression, embodies the indomitable fighting spirit of the Chinese nation.

• "The March of the Volunteers" became widely popular throughout China after its premiere in May 1935 with the film "Children of Troubled Times." On September 27, 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference passed a resolution that, before the official formulation of the national anthem of the People's Republic of China, "The March of the Volunteers," with lyrics by Tian Han and music by Nie Er, would serve as the provisional national anthem. On October 1, 1949, the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was established. On Tiananmen Square in Beijing, as the five-starred red flag rose, "The March of the Volunteers" resounded for the first time.

(iv) Regional flag

• The regional flag is a red flag with a dynamic bauhinia flower pattern featuring five stars in the center. The red flag represents the motherland, and the bauhinia flower represents Hong Kong, symbolizing that Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China and prospers in the embrace of the motherland. The five stars on the flower's stamen symbolize the love of Hong Kong compatriots for the motherland, and the red and white colors embody the spirit of "one country, two systems."