Last modified: 2006-08-12 by phil nelson
Keywords: islam | china | uighuristan | east turkestan | xinjiang | crescent | star |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
In 1933 ( when the Chinese central government had de facto ceased to exist)
there was a short-lived state country in present day Xinjiang with names
"Republic of Uighuristan" or "Islamic Republic of East
Turkestan" (both names were used although the state existed for less
than one year). This state has used a star and crescent flag of triangular
shape.
Harald Mueller, 28 August 1997
This flag uses the shahada out of the Saudi flag. An alternative rendering
is shown below.
Uighuristan existed for less than a year between 1932 and 1933. It issued
coins with national symbols on them: a triangular flag with a crescent and
star, if I recall the crescent faces the hoist. On some of the coins the flag
has a flamed border. Of course, no colors are provided.
Harald Mueller 1996-JUL-1
The flag of the 'Republic of Uighuristan' was also said to be like the
Turkish flag, with a blue background instead of red. Now, I have checked out
flag depictions on coins from this "state", and they look different.
The flag is triangular (like a diagonal cut of a normal oblong flag), and the
crescent looks towards the hoist. Sometimes there are a kind of flames
attached to the border.
Harald Mueller
I have seen two flags attributed to the Uighurs or East Turkestan, but I
don't know the official status of either. One is the same as the Turkish flag
but dark blue instead of red. The other is white with a dark blue crescent and
star in the upper half, centred horizontally. Both crescent and star point
toward the upper hoist. In the lower half is the Islamic Shahadah in Arabic
script (the same as on the Saudi Arabian flag).
David Lewellen 21 January 1996
From the Eastern Turkestan Information Center web site (http://www.uygur.com/english.htm), it is clear that this flag is used by Uygur nationalists.
Some historical facts from "Courrier International", 440, 08
April 1999: "In 1884, Turkestan was incorporated to Mandchu Empire as
Xinjiang ("New border"). Between 1884 and 1949, 42 armed revolts
occurred against the military governors. Independentists mention a short-lived
Islamic Republic of Eastern Turkestan established in the south in 1933, and a
second Republic of Eastern Turkestan in 1944. Seized in 1949 by the Chinese
troops, the Uygur autonomous region was created in 1955. Independentists claim
they never stopped demonstrations and clandestine actions until now."
Ivan Sache, 8 April 1999
The chart: Flags of Aspirant Peoples shows: 137. "East
Turkestan (Uighurs) - West-china, Xinjiang." Similar to the last flag
above, but with very dark blue field. The flag with light blue field is the
one used in Uighur demonstrations.
Ivan Sache, 16 September 1999
Franciae Vexilla (#17/63 - March 2000) reports additional flags.
Cheng-Chi-Tsai, first flag
image by Ivan Sache
During the civil war, the war lord Cheng-Chi-Tsai proclaimed an autonomous
province in Xin-Jiang (1933-1942). He was first influenced by Japan and used a
yellow flag with a red six-pointed star in the canton.
Cheng-Chi-Tsai, second flag
image by Ivan Sache
He later changed his flag under Soviet influence for a red field with a yellow six-pointed star in the middle.
The Islamic Republic of Eastern Turkestan was proclaimed on 12 December
1933 in Aksou (South Xin-Jiang) ans suppressed in February 1934 with Soviet
help. The flag sown in Franciae Vexilla differes from those above by having
the crescent facing the hoist and the shahadah written in Uighur.
Flag - Second Republic East Turkestan
image by Ivan Sache
The Second Republic of Eastern Turkestan (People's Republic of Eastern
Turkestan) was proclaimed on 11 November 1943 in Koudja by grouping the
provinces of Altai, Ili and Tarbagtai (Northern Xin-Jiang). The Republic,
which was proclaimed with Soviet helped, joined the PRC in 1949. The flag was
light blue with a light blue crescent and star fimbriated in white, pointing
to the upper hoist.
Yellow Bordered Uighur flag
image by Ivan Sache
Franciae Vexilla also shows the Uighur flag used in demonstrations. The
flag was also seen with a yellow border.
Znamierowski (Flags through the ages: A guide to the world of flags,
banners, standards and ensigns) shows for the same state in the same period
the same flag, but red instead of blue.
Ivan Sache, 15 March 2001
This must be a mistake or print error. Red flags with half moon and star
were used by the Khodjas (middle of XIX century), and by some sultanates
(Kansu, Tsinghai and Ninghsia, Sultanate of three Horses,
1911-1950) but half moon and star was in Turkey pattern.
All sources are according that the East Turkestan republic flag (existed
1944-1949 and not 1943-1949, but perhaps flags were used before this) was blue
and current nationalist (mainly Uighur) adopted this color c. 1990.
Jaume Ollé, 15 March 2001