Last modified: 2006-01-07 by victor lomantsov
Keywords: kazakhstan | eagle | sun | national ornamentation |
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by Mark Sensen
Proportions: 1:2
Flag adopted1992-JUNE-4, coat of arms adopted 1992-JUNE-4
Full name: Republic of Kazakhstan
Location: Central Asia
Status: Internationally recognized independent state since 16 December 1991. Member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Notes: The region we now know as Central Asia was conquered by Russia in, for the most part, the period between 1730 and 1850. After the Bolshevik revolution, the Kirghiz ASSR (not to be confused with what is now Kyrgyzstan) was set up. This changed its name to the Kazakh ASSR in 1924 and became a full Union Republic in 1936.
Kazakhstan's post independence flag is light blue, symbolizing the blue skies of the country and its hopes for the future. On this field is a stylized eagle beneath a golden sun. At the hoist is a complex pattern called a 'national ornamentation' - also in gold. ('National ornamentations' also appear on the flags of Turkmenistan and on the Soviet-style Belarusian flag, which has recently been re-introduced.)
Stuart Notholt, 26 September 1995
According to Pierre Lux-Wurm, the word "Kazak" appeared in the Turkish
language and in Russian documents around the XIVth century. Its original
meaning was "independent, tramp" and it was used to designate the
nomadic peoples from Central Asia. The history of the Kazaks before the
XVIIIth century is less-known due to the lack of local written sources.
The Kazak tradition says that their common ancestor divided them into
three hordes ("jouz"), the Greater Hord (Oulog Jouz), the Middle Horde
(Orta Jouz) and the Lesser Horde (Kichi Jouz). The names of the hordes
were not related to their size but to the relative age of the three sons
of the ancestor, the elder, the second, and the younger.
In 1602, the Kalmuks led by Khan Urluk and the Djungar Mongols devasted
the steppes. The Kazaks call this era "aktaban choubroundi" (the big disaster).
The Djungars came back in 1710 and 1713 and seized between 1722 and 1727
most of the lands of the Greater and Middle Hordes. The Lesser Horde
called for the Russian protection, which was acknowledged in 1734.
Following a revolt in 1860, Kazakstan became a colony, officialy
regulated in 1868 and considered as a "zone of agricultural colonization".
Ivan Sache, 30 May 2003
I've found what seems to be the project of "technical specifications" for the construction of the Kazakh flag. The site is entirely in Russian. The most interesting pages are as follows:
The starting page shows the text of the Law about State symbols of 24 January 1996 and also links to two other "specifications" devoted to the
State coat of arms, also with construction diagrams at http://www.geraldika.kz/gost.htm.
Antonio Gutierrez, 13 December 2005
Here's http://www.religio.ru/news/11720_photo_1133537617.html a nice
photo of the flag of Kazakhstan flying in strong wind.
Note the curious finial.
António Martins, 4 December 2005
Ancient flag of Kazak Khanate (1456-1822) from
http://members.tripod.com/~kz2000/history/histflags.html
David Straub, 30 May 2003
This flag was published on the website of the Turkish government and
series of Turkish postage stamps. They were very common in the
Turkish official iconography.
Ivan Sache and Onur Ozgun, 30 May 2003
There wasn't actually a Kazakh Khanate but there
were independent Kazakh Tribes in Central Asia during that time. I don't know the origin of the
flag but it is certainly possible that it existed. These were located in what is today
modern Kazakhstan.
David Straub, 25 May 2003
Is it only me, or does a flag with three five-pointed stars neatly
aligned down the hoist look suspiciously modern for a flag purporting
to date to 1456? But then again, the khanate itself did not exist.
Joe McMillan, 30 May 2003
According to Pierre Lux-Wurm, the word "Kazak" appeared in the Turkish
language and in Russian documents around the XIVth century. Its original
meaning was "independent, tramp" and it was used to designate the
Nnomadic peoples from Central Asia. The history of the Kazaks before the
XVIIIth century is less-known due to the lack of local written sources.
The Kazak tradition says that their common ancestor divided them into
three hordes ("jouz"), the Greater Hord (Oulog Jouz), the Middle Horde
(Orta Jouz) and the Lesser Horde (Kichi Jouz). The names of the hordes
were not related to their size but to the relative age of the three sons
of the ancestor, the elder, the second, and the younger.
In 1602, the Kalmuks led by Khan Urluk and the Djungar Mongols devasted
the steppes. The Kazaks call this era "aktaban choubroundi" (the big disaster).
The Djungars came back in 1710 and 1713 and seized between 1722 and 1727
most of the lands of the Greater and Middle Hordes. The Lesser Horde
called for the Russian protection, which was acknowledged in 1734.
Following a revolt in 1860, Kazakstan became a colony, officialy
regulated in 1868 and considered as a "zone of agricultural colonization".
Ivan Sache, 30 May 2003
The law-effective Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 24.01.1996 has established the following national symbols:
The national flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a a piece of right-angled cloth of sky-blue colour with a picture of a golden sun with its 32 rays in the centre, under them - a soaring steppe eagle. Flagstaff has vertical line with national ornament.The picture of sun, its rays, eagle and ornament are of golden colour. Width/length ratio of the flag is 1:2.
The national emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a picture of a shanyrak ( the cupola of a yurta) on a blue background, from which uyks (body bracket) like sun rays are being radiated in framing of wings of mythical horses. At the bottom of the emblem there is an inscription "Kazakhstan". In colour picture the National Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan are of two colours: golden and blue-and-sky-blue.
submitted by Dov Gutterman, 12 March 1999Article 4.
National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a rectangular piece of cloth of sky-blue colour bearing (in its centre) a design of the sun with rays, with a soaring eagle undeneath. All along the flagstaff there runs a vertical band of national ornament. Images of the sun, its rays, the eagle and the ornament are of golden colour. Width/length ratio of the flag is 1: 2.
National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its design, whatever their size, must strictly conform with the colour and schematic designs of the reference standard of the National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan kept at the Residence of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
by Mark Sensen and Victor Lomantsov
First flag of Republic of Kazakhstan adopted by Law of
June 4, 1992 had red national ornament.
This Law Law was officially published in the newspaper 'The
Kazakhstan truth' #130-131.
The author of this flag - Shaken Nijazbekov.
On July, 1992 the color of ornament was changed to golden and the
alterations were made in the text of the Law.
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 30 December 2002
by António Martins
image from http://www.kz/national/standarteng.htm located by Dov Gutterman
Description of the flag: the Standard of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a light blue rectangular field with the proportions 2:3. The middle of the field is charged with a golden circle in which is inscribed the image of a young tribe leader of the Saks era [first century B.C.]. His right hand is raised, he is sitting on a winged snow leopard. The hand of the man has a bracelet, the neck has a necklace, the head is wearing a pointed hat. The image of the man and of the leopard is in gold. Under the leopard are some mountains with snow. [These are probably gold].
On the bottom of the standard are written the words in Kazakh "Standard of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan" in gold.
The flag is has a gold fringe on three of its sides. The hoist has a peak in bronze of the "kochkar mouilliz" (?) type to which is attached a decorative tassel.The hoist is ornated with silver nails bearing the engraved names, surnames and patronimic names of the Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the official language and the dates of taking office and resigning.
This flag is put in the President's office in the new capital. It is also put on its residence in the capital, on all other residences and its means of transport. It is used in all ceremonies with the Head of State.
It was adopted by decree n°2736 of the 29 December 1995.
(Source: Das Flaggenkabinett informiert nr 8/98 [Jiri Tenora, Berlin])
Pascal Vagnat, 03 March 1998
Dark blue (i.e., clearly darker than the national flag, and as such
shown when displayed toghether), with the national emblem in golden on
the center (approx diam.: half the flag's height) above an inscription
reading "Казақстан
Республикасы
Президентікіқ
Байрагы" ("Kazak,stan
Respublikasy Prezidenti.ki.k, Bai~ragy") in golden cyrillic handwriting
letters.
António Martins, 16 February 2004
I saw this flag on Customs Office near village of Ilek (border of Orenburg Region (Russia) and West-Kazakhstan Region). The Inscriptions on the flag: CUSTOMS - in english and "KEDEN" - "customs" in the Kazakh language) There is an element of national COA in the centre of the flag.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 July 2000
More info on this flag: it was adopted by Government on 6, July, 1997 (Decision #932).
According to the Decision the light-blue colour symbolizes national flag of Kazakhstan,
green colour is a "international sign of state borders". Inscriptions must be made in white letters. But in fact letters usually blue.
Ratio 2:3.
Victor Lomantsov, 28 December 2002
The refered eight pointed star seems to be the symbol "Start of Rub el Hizb".
This is an islamic sign (one
more) and is found in other emblem and flags.
António Martins, 17 December 2002
The CoA of Astana City - http://avtopark.astanafoto.com/
Unfortunally no flaginformations.
Falko Schmidt, 24 November 2002
Flag of the city from http://www.vexillography.narod.ru/
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 19 April 2005
found by Olivier Touzeau at http://www.rakhattv.kz/show_news.asp?NewsID=9124
2, June, 2003, during the "Up to the Minute" news program this morning they showed
a close-up of the flag flying at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The flag looked green, with a crescent moon facing up and slightly to the left.
There was writing of some sort around the moon, but what language is was I am not certain.
However, at the hoist, in white letters stacked one letter over another to the bottom of
the hoist (with space between the edges of the flag) was BAIKONUR (ÁÀÈÊÎÍÓÐ).
Steve Stringfellow , 2 June 2003
IMHO, on web-page
http://www.tarbagatay.freenet.kz/index.php (in Kazakh language)
displayed absolutely not a flag, but a logo.
We have no base to think, that it is a real flag of
Tarbagatay audany (county) in East-Kazakhstan Region
of Republic of Kazakhstan.
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 12 August 2005
I don't agree with opinion of Mr.Revnitsev for several reasons.
1. Kazakhstan rayons and cities don't use logos as their official symbols
2. Coat of arms are in different shape and composition
3. This is obviously made under half soviet half modern kazakh proto-heraldic influence
4. Image file name "logo.jpg" doesn't mean this is logo. I've found thousands flags, coat of arms, crests and seals with file name "logo"
I am still on my opinion that this is flag!
Valentin Poposki, 12 August 2005
I am ready be agree with you in this question only in one of three cases:
1. If we shall have the document on adoption of this flag;
2. If we shall manage to find a photo, which show this figure as a flag on a flagstaff;
3. If we shall manage to find a website, which have inscription in any language "It is a flag of Tarbagatay".
Until this time this figure is not a flags for me. It is only a simple picture.
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 12 August 2005
Flag and COA of city Ust-Kamenogorsk / Oskemen (Kazakhstan)
are found at http://www.oskemen.kz/uk1_4_6.htm
Gvido Petersons, 14 November 2005
Photo of the flag of city Pavlodar
is found at
http://galagraphics.kz/image_produce.php?id=89
Olivier Touzeau, November 2005
Flag of the "Adilet" Academy of Jurisprudence
in Almaty, the previous capital of
the country, from http://www.adilet.kz/html/vuz/simvolika/simvoliks.htm.
Dov Gutterman, 13 July 2005