CAMBODIA FLAG: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The Cambodian flag is the most important national symbol of this Asian kingdom. It is made up of two blue stripes at the top and bottom of the flag, and a red stripe in the center. Within the central strip stands a white image of Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple recognized as a national symbol.

The dimension of the blue stripes represents a quarter of the flag each. On the other hand, the red one occupies half of the pavilion. This symbol, with its current composition, was adopted for the first time in 1948, although a very similar flag was used since 1863.

Cambodia flag (1948-1970, 1993-present). (By Draw new flag by User: ទេព _ សុវិចិត្រ (File: Flag_of_Cambodia.svg), via Wikimedia Commons).

This flag was discontinued in 1970 with the beginning of the Khmer Republic and remained inoperative during the communist regime. It was only with the restoration of the monarchy in 1993 that the flag was fully recovered.

The choice of the colors of the flag has a monarchical origin. However, over time they have acquired meanings of their own. Blue is usually identified with freedom and brotherhood, in addition to the king. Instead, red is representative of courage and country. Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodian spirituality.

History of the flag

Cambodia's history has been marked by different stages, which have been characterized by having opposing political systems. The flags have decisively marked the representation of each of these systems.

Khmer empire

The Cambodian state dates back to the 9th century. In 802, the Khmer Empire, also known as the Angkor Empire, was founded. Its dominion extended to great part of Indochina and Southeast Asia.

The Empire fell in 1431 for reasons that are still debated among historians. Since then, historiography delimited the period known as the Dark Age of Cambodia, which lasted until 1863 with a preponderance of monarchical governments.

Their flag was a yellow triangle with a slight green border. Its validity ended with the beginning of French rule.

Flag of the Khmer Empire and in force in the Dark Ages of Cambodia. (By Blackcat, from Wikimedia Commons).

Kingdom of Cambodia in French protectorate (1863-1948)

The West came to Cambodia from the French in 1863. The monarchy signed a protection treaty with the French government, which was expanding its dominions in Indochina. Back then, a new flag was approved, quite similar to the current one.

The flag was a red cloth with the image of Angkor Wat, white, in the central part. The biggest difference with the current one is that this symbol did not have two blue stripes but a frame of that color. This flag remained uninterrupted until 1948.

Flag of the French Protectorate of Cambodia (1863-1948). (By No machine-readable author provided. Lexicon assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

However, during the Japanese occupation in World War II, a different flag was used. This symbol never enjoyed official status, and its use in the country is subject to doubts.

Flag of Cambodia during the Japanese occupation (1943-1945). (By By Lexicon (SVG file), from Wikimedia Commons).

Independent Kingdom of Cambodia (1948-1970)

After World War II, the French regained control of their colony. However, the demands for independence grew. In 1948, it was decided to change the national flag, from the previous blue arc to the two blue stripes.

Cambodia gained independence from French rule in 1953, and that remained its national flag. The insignia became a symbol of the monarchy and is the one in use today.

Cambodia flag (1948-1970, 1993-present). (By Draw new flag by User: ទេព _ សុវិចិត្រ (File: Flag_of_Cambodia.svg), via Wikimedia Commons).

After his independence, Norodom Sihanouk continued being king, but now like Head of State of the country. For his independence struggle, he is considered the Father of the Nation. The monarch abdicated in his father to be able to do politics, and he was elected prime minister.

Later, with the start of the Vietnam War, Shihanouk opted for neutrality. Although he rejected the Khmer Rouge communist Cambodian movement, he sympathized with Mao Zedong's communist movement in China. That inaction cost him his job.

Khmer Republic

While Shihanouk was on an official trip to China, General Lol Non overthrew him. Lol, Shihanouk's former ally and recently elected prime minister, proclaimed the Khmer Republic with the support of the United States.

With this change of government, the Cambodian Civil War increased, in addition to Cambodia serving as the US base for the War in Vietnam.

The flag chosen by the Lol Non regime was a blue cloth with a red rectangle in the upper left corner. As is traditional, this segment included Angkor Wat. At the top of the blue side, three white five-pointed stars were incorporated.

Flag of the Khmer Republic (1970-1975). (By Himasaram, via Wikimedia Commons).

Democratic Kampuchea

When US troops withdrew from Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge communist guerrilla took power. Saloth Sar, their leader, presided over the country under the name of Pol Pot. The dictator adopted a policy of terror, creating forced labor camps and generating one of the most tragic genocides of the 20th century.

Cambodia at that time was renamed Kampuchea. Their national symbols changed depending on the ideology. The flag became a deep red color, with a yellow silhouette of Angkor Wat present in the center.

Flag of Democratic Kampuchea (1976-1979). (By This (SVG on base of source) was created by me., Via Wikimedia Commons).

People's Republic of Kampuchea

The Pol Pot dictatorship was always the enemy of its neighbor Vietnam, despite the fact that both shared communism as an ideal. A Vietnamese invasion in 1979 deposed the regime in Democratic Kampuchea. In power were those Khmer Rouge exiles in Vietnam and the country became a satellite state of its neighbor.

The Vietnamese satellite government was supported by the Soviet Union and repudiated by China and the United States. For this reason, at the international level, the Khmer Rouge were still recognized as a government, who had withdrawn to the interior of the country and began to act as a guerrilla.

Cambodia was no longer a stable country, as the Khmer Rouge had partially allied with monarchists and anti-communists to fight against the Vietnamese. The conflict diminished until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the USSR caused the Vietnamese to leave the country.

The flag that was used was a variation of that of Democratic Kampuchea. The red color was kept, but the yellow Angkor Wan was much more detailed.

Flag of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. (1979-1989). (By Zach Harden (Based from Cambodian Flag History), via Wikimedia Commons).

Cambodia state

The Vietnamese regime mutated with constitutional changes. The People's Republic of Kampuchea became simply the State of Cambodia. This change led to the modification of national symbols, the reinstatement of Buddhism as a national religion, the abolition of the death penalty, among others.

The flag chosen for the new state included two horizontal stripes of the same size, colored red and blue. In the central part, the Angkor Wat was presented in a much more detailed and yellow color.

Cambodia State Flag (1989-1991). (By Xiengyod (self-made, based on an image at Flags Of The World), via Wikimedia Commons).

Return of the Kingdom of Cambodia

The four factions that fought in Cambodia against the Vietnamese, in addition to the previous monarchy, signed the Paris Accords. The UN was present until a transitional government was formed in 1993.

As this happened, a light blue flag with the map of the country flew across the country. This made reference to the UN mission, the United Nations Interim Authority in Cambodia.

Flag of the United Nations Provisional Authority in Cambodia. (1991-1993). (By No machine-readable author provided. Lexicon assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Finally, the constitution of the country that reinstated the constitutional monarchy was approved. For that reason, the flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia that was in force between 1948 and 1970 was adopted again.

Meaning of the flag

God, king and country are the main references to which the colors and symbols of the Cambodian flag make. The color blue is considered a symbol of freedom, cooperation and brotherhood. Its use in the flag refers to the king of the country and the monarchy as a symbol of union.

For its part, the color red is the hallmark of the bravery of the Cambodian people at different times in their history. For this reason, it refers to the country as a whole.

Finally, the drawing of Angkor Wat is the one that represents traditions, integrity and justice. This leads to it being the favorite symbol of religion, a momentous aspect in the lives of millions of Cambodians.

References

1. Arias, E. (2006). Flags of the world. Editorial Gente Nueva: Havana, Cuba.
2. Chandler, D. (2009). A history of Cambodia. Hachette UK. Recovered from books.google.com.
3. LaRocco, T. (February 10, 2015). National colors: Cambodia's ever-changing flags. Khmer 440. Recovered from khmer440.com.
4. Tully, J. (2006). A short history of Cambodia: From empire to survival. Allen and Unwin.
5. Smith, W. (2008). Flag of Cambodia. Encyclopædia Britannica. Recovered from britannica.com.