Last modified: 2020-07-11 by ian macdonald
Keywords: taiwan | independentist flag | chrysanthemum |
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During the past years, Taiwan has been gradually evolving
into a new country. The clearest signs yet came in the Spring
of 1994, when the democratic opposition initiated its "New
Name, New Flag, New Anthem" campaign. The flag depicted here
was selected after a wide competition in which 187 different
flags were entered. The green color symbolizes the natural
beauty of the island and the need to protect the environment.
The white color represents the original purity of the people
on the island, and the desire to preserve this natural
beauty. The symbol in the middle depicts four hearts in
harmony, representing the four population groups on the
island--aborigines, Hakka, Min-nan Taiwanese, and
mainlanders. The white lines between the four hearts join
centrally, meaning that the four groups have to learn to live
together in peace. The flag also has a nickname: `the eight
chrysanthemum-petal flag'.
Wen-Jer Wang, 3 July 1996