ACH뉴스레터-National Insignia of ASEAN: Overview

Brunei Darussalam

The top of the national insignia for Brunei Darussalam features the country’s flag and the royal umbrella, which stand for the fact that the king is the nation’s leader. The wings are each made up of four feathers, which represent justice, tranquility, prosperity and peace. The hands symbolize the government’s commitment to improving public welfare, peace and national prosperity. The crescent moon, which represents the national religion (Islam), bears a message that reads “Always Protected by God.” The inscription at the base of the insignia is the official title of Brunei Darussalam: Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Cambodia

Cambodia’s national insignia was adopted in 1993, the year that the constitutional monarchy was reinstated. The center shows the king’s gold cape and crown, with a stylized depiction of the sun at the tip of the crown. The blue section in the middle of the cape shows two phan, or gold pedestals, that are surrounded by two laurel branches. On top of the pedestals is a sacred sword and a Khmer character (“aum”), with a small medal below them. The left and right of the insignia are decorated with a gajasingha and singha, which are lions that have the nose of an elephant. Both lions hold a five-tiered royal Cambodian umbrella. The blue ribbon at the base of the insignia is inscribed with a motto in Khmer: Preah Chao Krung Kampuchea (“Monarch of the Cambodian Kingdom”).

Indonesia

Indonesia’s national insignia is dominated by the garuda, a mythical bird that symbolizes the country and appears in traditional tales. Gold represents Indonesia’s greatness, while black represents nature. The garuda’s neck has 45 feathers, with eight feathers on the tail and 17 on each wing, all of which signify the date that Indonesia declared independence from colonial rule: August 17, 1945. The shield on the garuda’s body represents independence of national defense. The illustrations inside the shield collectively represent the Pancasila, or Indonesia’s five founding philosophies. The star in the middle of the Pancasila symbolizes monotheism, while the gold chain represents love of humankind that is fair and lofty, the banyan tree the unification of Indonesia, the water buffalo representative politics, and the wheat stalk and cotton the realization of social justice. The banner in the garuda’s claws at the bottom reads “Unification within Diversity” in ancient Javan.

Lao PDR

The red banner at the central base reads “Lao People’s Democratic Republic.” The rice sheaves that encompass the insignia in semi-circles are wrapped in smaller banners that (collectively) read “Peace, Independence, Democracy, Solidarity, Prosperity.” The center of the insignia shows Pha That Luang, a Buddhist temple that represents the state religion, along with a hydroelectric power plant, highway, forest, rice paddy, and cogwheel—all of which represent national development and prosperity.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s national insignia features a star and moon at the top, a shield in the center, a banner at the base, and two large tigers—the traditional symbol of the Federation of Malaya. The crescent moon represents Islam, while the 14-pointed star represents the 13 states and the Federal Territories of Malaysia. The images in the shield (daggers, black/white/red/yellow rectangles, tree, small shield, and bird) represent the country’s states. The flower is the national flower, bunga raya, which is a type of hibiscus. The banner at the base, which is yellow to represent the Malaysian royal court, bears a motto that reads “Unity Is Strength.”

Myanmar

The center of the insignia shows an outline of Myanmar that is surrounded by laurel leaves, with a large star at the top that represents the eternity of the unified republic. The right and left of the insignia are decorated with a chinthe (mythical creature), both of which face away from the insignia. The banners at the base of the insignia reads “The Republic of the Union of Myanmar” in Burmese.

The Philippines

The sun, three stars, and white, red and blue sections in the national insignia of the Philippines have the same meanings as their corresponding parts in the country’s flag. The eight-pointed sun represents the eight states that were the first to resist Spanish martial law, while the three stars represent the three regions of Luson, Visayas and Mindanao. The white section represents freedom, equality and amity; the blue section represents peace, truth, and justice; and the red section represents patriotism and courage. The eagle and lion represent the country’s colonization by the United States and Spain, respectively. Government vehicles in the Philippines bear an insignia that do not have the eagle and lion images.

Singapore

The Singaporean national insignia has a red shield in the center that features five white stars and a crescent moon and is flanked by a lion on the left and a tiger on the right. The lion represents Singapore, while the tiger stands for the country’s historical ties with Malaysia. The phrase under the shield means “Onward, Singapore” in Malay.

Thailand

Phra Khrut Pha, also known as Garuda, is a mythical bird who swore to serve as the transport of the Hindu god Vishnu. According to legend, Garuda is described as a half-man, half-bird, possessing immense power. The story influenced Thai culture to adopt Garuda as a symbol of the divine power and authority of the king as far back as the 14th century. It was then officially adopted as the insignia of the Thai monarchy and Thai government in 1911.
A yellow flag featuring Garuda, which is called Thong Maharat, or the Royal Standards of His Majesty the King, usually flies above royal residences and in front of the royal motorcade to signify His Majesty the King’s presence. Garuda is also found on Thai legislation and government papers, including the front cover of Thai passports. Moreover, private businesses in Thailand may request a Royal Warrant to use the Garuda, which signifies royal authorization for their businesses – a great honor and a mark of distinction. Once granted this warrant, a Garuda insignia can hang in front of their office premises.

Viet Nam

Viet Nam’s national insignia is made up of a gold star and a cogwheel (which represents prosperity) in the center with a red background. The red banner at the base reads “Socialist Republic of Viet Nam” in Vietnamese. The insignia is encircled by two stalks of rice.