Flag of Indonesia

The national flag of Indonesia is a simple two colored flag with two equal horizontal bands, red (top) and white (bottom). The flag is similar to the flag of Poland, and is identical to the flag of Monaco (except for the ratio).

History of the Flag

Its colors are derived from the banner of the 13th century Majapahit Empire. These colors were revived by students and then nationalists in the early 20th century as an expression of nationalism against the Dutch. The red-white flag was flown for the first time in Java in 1928. Under Dutch rule, the flag was prohibited. It was adopted as the national flag on August 17, 1945, when independence was declared.

Name of the Flag

The official name of the flag is Sang Merah Putih ("The Red White") according to Article 35 of the 1945 Constitution. The flag is also called Sang Dwiwarna ("The bicolor") by the people. Sang Saka Merah Putih ("The Lofty Red White") refers to the historical flag (also called Bendera Pusaka (heirloom flag)) and its replica. The Bendera Pusaka is the flag that was flown in front of Soekarno's house a moment after he proclaimed Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945. The original Bendera Pusaka was sewn by Mrs. Fatmawati Soekarno, and was hoisted every year in front of the presidential palace during the independence day ceremony. It was hoisted for the last time on August 17, 1968. Since then it has been preserved and replaced by its replica because the original flag was deemed to be too fragile.

Meaning of the Flag

The red stands for courage, while the white stands for purity. The red represents human's body or physical life, while white represents human's soul or spiritual life. Together they stand for a complete human being.

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History of the Flag

Name of the Flag

Meaning of the Flag

See also