Tibet is a region in East Asia covering much of the Tibetan Plateau that is administered by People's Republic of China as the Tibet Autonomous Region and claimed by the Republic of China as the Tibet Area and the Central Tibetan Administration. The CTA uses the snow lion flag of the independent Tibetan state from 1912 to 1951. The snow lion flag has become a pro-independence symbol and is outlawed in the People's Republic of China after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. The PRC uses its national flag instead to represent Tibet.
Flag used by the independent Tibet and the Central Tibetan Administration
The flag of Tibet (), also known as the "Snow Lion flag" (gangs seng dar cha), was used by the de facto independent polity of Tibet from 1916 to 1951. It was adopted by the 13th Dalai Lama in 1916 and used until 1959. While the Tibetan flag is illegal in Tibet today, it continues to be used by the Central Tibetan Administration, based in Dharamshala in India.
The Government of the People's Republic of China considers it to be a symbol of separatism; however, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, said in recent years that he hoped that Tibet would achieve true autonomy and would not ask for independence. He believes that the symbolism of the flag is similar to that of the Hong Kong regional flag and does not represent the Tibetan independence movement, but the concept of pursuing religious freedom and pursuing national equality and mutual respect.
Symbolism
According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the flag has the following symbolism: The white triangle at the center of the flag symbolises a snow-clad mountain. The six red stripes exist atop a blue sky representing the original ancestors of the Tibetan people: the six tribes called Se, Mu, Dong, Tong, Dru, and Ra. The yellow sun represents the equal enjoyment of freedom, spiritual and material happiness and prosperity by all beings in Tibet. The pair of snow lions represent Tibet’s victorious accomplishment of a unified spiritual and secular life. The three-coloured jewel held by the snow lions represent the three "supreme gems," the objects of refuge: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The two coloured swirling jewel held between the two lions represents the people’s guarding and cherishing of the self discipline of correct ethical behaviour. The flag’s yellow border symbolises that the teachings of the Buddha are flourishing and spreading.
Flag used by the People's Republic of China
As the People's Republic of China took over Tibet in 1951, the PRC has outlawed the Snow Lion flag after the 1959 Tibetan uprising and has used its national flag in the Tibet Autonomous Region to represent Tibet. It contains a Chinese red field with five golden stars charged at the canton. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in an arc set off towards the fly.
Design and early use
In February 1913, shortly after the fall of the Qing dynasty, the 13th Dalai Lama, Tibet's political and spiritual leader, declared independence from China and began modernising the Tibetan army. According to Tsarong Dasang Dadul, the commander-in-chief of the modern Tibetan army, in 1916, a new national flag was adopted by the Dalai Lama and all army regiments were ordered to carry the flag in its present form. Gyalten Namgyal, tailor to both the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas wrote, "When I was fourteen, the Dalai Lama decided he wanted a Tibetan national flag made, and designed it himself. When a prototype was approved and the first flag commissioned, I was the one to execute the work."
In addition to being carried by Tibet's army, the flag was displayed on public buildings of the Ganden Phodrang government. Historical footage shows the flag flying at the foot of the Potala Palace, the site of the Dalai Lama's government in Tibet. The snow lion flag motif was also used on a flag seen by English diplomat, Sir Eric Teichman, flying above a Tibetan government building during the 1917–1918 hostilities between Sichuan and Tibet: "Over the Kalon Lama’s residence... floats the banner of Tibet, a yellow flag bearing a device like a lion in green, with a white snow mountain and a sun and moon in the corner."