Flag of Manchukuo

Manchukuo
	National flag of Manchukuo.
Use	Civil and state flag, civil ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	1 March 1932
Relinquished	17 August 1945
Manchukuo Naval Ensign.
Use	Naval ensign
Proportion	2:3
Flag of the Emperor of Manchukuo.
Proportion	2:3

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

Description[edit]

According to the Document of the Explanation of National Flag issued by state council of Manchukuo on 24 February 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 a 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, symbolises passion and courage, also Fire in Five Elements.
Blue represents the East, symbolises youthfulness and holiness, also Wood in Five Elements.
White represents the West, symbolises purity and justice, also Gold in Five Elements.
Black represents the North, symbolises will and determination, also Water in Five Elements.^[4]

The colours also represent the five major peoples in Manchukuo: