Flag of Bhutan

Flag origins

Bhutan’s flag is divided diagonally into yellow and orange, with a white dragon across the center. Yellow represents the secular authority and monarchy of the Druk Gyalpo, the king. Orange represents Buddhist spiritual and religious traditions. The dragon is the Druk, or Thunder Dragon. Bhutan is called Druk Yul, Land of the Thunder Dragon, in Dzongkha. Its white color represents the people’s purity and loyalty. Jewels, or norbu, in its four claws symbolize wealth, security and prosperity. Its position on the boundary expresses the equal importance of royal and religious traditions.

Flag story

The name Land of the Thunder Dragon is connected with Himalayan thunder. According to Drukpa Buddhist tradition, when the monk Tsangpa Gyare was founding a monastery in the twelfth century, thunder was interpreted as dragons roaring, giving the school its name Druk, Thunder Dragon. As the school became influential in Bhutan, the country became known as Druk Yul. The king’s title, Druk Gyalpo, means Thunder Dragon King. The flag’s dragon therefore links the country’s name, religion and royal title, rather than being merely a decorative mythical creature.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Bhutan — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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