History of the Chinese Republic flags

Last modified: 2005-04-09 by phil nelson
Keywords: china | chinese republic | taiwan | naval rank |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• China, 1912
• China, 1913
• China, 1928
• Other Republic flags
• Chinese double flags

• Bibliography on Chinese Flags for works cited on this page
• China
• Taiwan

The Manchu [Ch'ing] dynasty, which ruled China for more than three and a half centuries was over thrown. So, the days of the "dragon" flags were ended, replaced by the Sun Yat-sen Republic.

This brought about the establishment of some new flags, both national and rank flags.

State Ensign: One of the flags adopted at this time was the State Ensign. Although, the dates are unknown to me, the indications were that it was used very sparingly.

Merchants' Ensign: Some reports have indicated that the canton of the State Ensign was used as the merchant ensign. I could find no evidence, not to say there is none, to substantiate this claim. I believe that Mario Fabretto agrees with this statement based on his post shown on the web site. This flag known as a historical war flag.

Naval Ensign: The naval ensign adopted was the red flag with the KMT [Nationalist China] flag used in the canton. This flag is the same flag as posted to the FOTW web site as the Republic of China national flag. The Royal Navy Signaling Handbook, of 1913, shows this flag as the only naval flag for China at that time. Also, there are several editions of Jane's Fighting Ships 1919 & 1925 & 1927 and according to the post of Mr. Glen Robert-Grant Hodgins, he confirms the claim in the 1919 as well as the 1930 editions. However, the 1930 edition may have been a roll-over from a couple of years earlier.

Jack: The quinta-color national flag was adopted as the Jack. This is supported by the National Geographic, 1917, page 347, item #566. I have no further documentation to draw from but, I am of the opinion that this flag remained the Jack until Chiang Kai-shek of the Chinese Nationalist assumed the head of Government in 1928. The jack being replaced at that time.

Rank Flags: Therefore, having stated some basic underlying conditions, we approach the Naval Rank Flags. Here, the National Geographic of 1917 , page 347, item #559 -#560 - #561 - #562 - #564 and #565 reflects the full complement of rank flags. These were apparently adopted in the mid-1913 time-frame and accounts for the fact that the Royal Navy Signaling Handbook of 1913 illustrated only the Naval Ensign.

1.) Secretary of the Navy [NG #559] - This flag is a dark blue field with crossed anchors of white, centered. I have no further information on this flag, but like so many others, indications are that it survived until the Nationalist tak