China has no modern western concept of "national flag". At first, Huanglong Banner was triangular, which was an informal flag of the government at sea. It is mainly used by government ships and navy, and civilian ships are not allowed to fly. Later, some foreign-related official organizations began to hang the triangle yellow dragon flag. 188 1 In September, with the approval of the Qing court, Li Hongzhang changed the Huanglong Banner into a rectangle.
According to the theory of five elements, it is considered that the center belongs to soil and is yellow. China is represented by yellow. Dragon is the symbol of China culture, and Huanglong Banner became the symbol of China in the late Qing Dynasty, which is closely related to China culture. Others think that yellow and dragon are the symbols of the Qing emperor, and the yellow dragon flag as the national flag means "I am the country".
191265438+1October 10 After the Qing government was overthrown, Huanglong Banner was replaced by a five-color flag.