Flag of Manchukuo

Manchukuo


Name	National flag of Manchukuo.
Use	Civil and state flag, civil ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	March 1, 1932

Variant flag of Manchukuo
Name	Manchukuo War Flag and Naval Ensign.
Use	War flag and naval ensign
Proportion	2:3

Variant flag of Manchukuo
Name	Flag of the Emperor of Manchukuo.
Proportion	2:3

The flag of the now-defunct Empire of Manchukuo had a mustard yellow field with four horizontal stripes of different colors in the upper-left corner. The colors of the flag were based on the colors on the Five Races Under One Union flags used by the Beiyang government and the Empire of China. The flag is also similar to the flag used by the Fengtian clique.The flag was first established in Announcement of National Flag on March 1, 1932.^[1]

According to the Document of the Explanation of National Flag issued by state council of Manchukuo on February 24, 1933, the colours on the flag represent the four directions and center.^[2] The Study of Manchukuo National Flag published by state council of Manchukuo later also gave an representative based on Wu Xing.^[3]

Yellow represents the Center, symbolizes the rule of emperor of four directions and virtue of Ren in Confucianism, also Earth in Five Elements.
Red represents the South, symbolizes passion and courage, also Fire in Five Elements.
Blue represents the East, symbolizes youthfulness and holiness, also Wood in Five Elements.
White represents the West, symbolizes purity and justice, also Gold in Five Elements.
Black represents the North, symbolizes will and determination, also Water in Five Elements.^[4]

The colours also represents five major peoples in Manchukuo: