Singapore
National Flag
State Crest Lion
Symbol National Flower
SYMBOLISM AND WHAT THEY MEAN*
The
National Flag
The Origin
The National Flag of Singapore is a symbol of statehood. It replaced the
Union Jack, which had flown over Singapore for 140 years (1819-1959). It
was the committee headed by Dr Toh Chin Chye, the then Deputy Prime Minister,
which first conceived and created the flag. Together with the State Crest
and the National Anthem, it was unveiled on 3 December 1959, at the installation
of the new Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, at the City Hall
steps. Upon independence in 1965, it was adopted as the National Flag.
Its Meaning
Our National Flag consists of two equal horizontal sections, red above
white. In the upper left canton is a white crescent moon beside five white
stars within a circle. The features of the flag were not arbitrarily chosen
– each feature has its own distinctive meaning and significance: red symbolizes
universal brotherhood and equality of man; white signifies pervading and
everlasting purity and virtue; the crescent moon represents a young nation
on the ascendant; and the five stars stand for the nation's ideals of democracy,
peace, progress, justice and equality.
The
National Coat of Arms
( State Crest )
The Origin
The National Coat of Arms or State Crest was first launched on 3 December
1959 together with the National Flag and National Anthem at the installation
of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara at the City Hall steps.
Its Meaning
The State Crest consists of a shield emblazoned with a white crescent moon
and five white stars against a red background. Red is symbolic of universal
brotherhood and equality of man, and white signifies pervading and everlasting
purity and virtue. The five stars represent the five ideals of democracy,
peace, progress, justice and equality. Supporting the shield are a lion
on the left and a tiger on the right. Below the shield is a banner inscribed
with the Republic's motto, Majulah Singapura. The lion represents Singapore
itself and the tiger, the island's historical links with Malaysia.
The
Singapore Lion Symbol
The Origin
As recorded in the 13th century Malay Annals, a prince from Palembang was
shipwrecked and washed ashore to an unknown island. Subsequently, he saw
a creature which he believed was a lion and named the island "Singa Pura"
("Lion City") - from which the name Singapore was derived.
The Singapore Lion Symbol was first introduced in 1986 as an alternative
National Symbol. This is so since the National Flag and State Crest have
legal restrictions which prohibit their use for non-government and commercial
purposes. The then Ministry of Communications and Information had launched
a search among art institutions and advertising agencies for a logo that
could best exemplify the characteristics of a nation. Eventually, the Lion
Symbol was chosen because of the nation's reputation as the Lion City.
Its Meaning
The lion, from which the name Singapore was derived, symbolizes courage,
strength and excellence. It is in solid red against a white background
- the colours of the National Flag. Its mane's five partings, representing
the five ideals - democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality - are
as embodied in the five stars of the National Flag. The lion's tenacious
mien symbolizes the nation's single-minded resolve to face any challenges
and overcome any obstacles.
The
National Flower
The Origin
Vanda Miss Joaquim, an indigenous hybrid (between V teres and V hookeriana),
was first discovered in the Singapore garden of Miss Agnes Joaquim in 1893
and registered in the same year.
On 15 April 1981, it was chosen as the national flower of Singapore
following an announcement by the then Minister for Culture, Mr S. Dhanabalan.
The designation of a national flower was part of our overall effort to
foster national pride and identity.
Its Meaning
Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen from 40 other contenders, including
some 30 orchids, particularly because of its qualities of resilience and
year-round blooming. Indeed, these characteristics resonate Singapore's
continual strive for progress and excellence in all aspects of life.
*I've reproduced the above exactly from Introduction
to Singapore (which has since been taken down) - I DIDN'T write them!
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This page was:
Created on 14th September 1998
Modified on 3rd February 2000