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Flag of Palau
National flag of Palau From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Flag of Palau was adopted on 1 January 1981, when the island group separated from the United Nations Trust Territory. As with the flags of several other Pacific island groups, light blue is the color used to represent the ocean and the nation's place within it. While this puts Palau in common with the Federated States of Micronesia and other neighboring island groups, the disc on the flag similar to that on Japan's flag is off-centre like that of the flag of Bangladesh, but in this case the disk represents the moon instead of the sun. The current flag was introduced in 1981 when Palau became a republic.
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Previously, the flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was flown jointly with the United Nations and American flags. The explanation for the choice of colors is rooted in the history and customs of the Palauan people. The light blue of the field symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, and also represents the transition from foreign domination to self-government.[1] The golden disk, which sits slightly off-center toward the hoist, represents the full moon. The Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity. At this time of the month, celebrations, fishing, sowing, harvesting, tree-felling, and the carving of traditional canoes are carried out. The full moon is a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility.[2]
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Construction

According to the Palauan government website, the flag is a golden-yellow full moon slightly off-centered on a field of sky blue. The width of flag is 13β5 of the flag's height, meaning the aspect ratio is 5:8. The moon's diameter is 3β5 of the flag's height, its center is placed on the middle of the flag's height and the 7β10 part of the flag's height from the hoist side.[3][clarification needed]


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Supposed relationship to the Rising Sun Flag
Japanese international relations professor Futaranosuke Nagoshi has suggested that the Palauan flag (which depicts the Moon) pays tribute to the Rising Sun Flag of Japan and symbolizes amity between Palau and Japan.[4] Former Palauan President Kuniwo Nakamura responded to this theory in an interview with the ambiguous statement, "That's one way of putting it."[5] John Blau Skebong, the designer of the flag, denied such allegation, saying there is no special connection between the two flags.[6]
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Governmental flags
- Standard of the president of Palau
- Standard of the president of Palau (vertical)
Historical flags
Flag of Spain, until 1842
Flag of Spain, until 1813
Flag of Spain, until 1899
Flag of the First Philippine Republic, from January 23, 1899 to February 12, 1899
Flag of the German New Guinea Company, 1885β1899
Flag of the German colonial empire, in some of Palau from 1885 and all of the territory, 1899β1914
German Emperor's standard, from 1899 to 1914
Flag of Governor of the South Seas Mandate
Imperial standard of the emperor of Japan, from 1914 to 1944
Forty-eight-star flag of the United States, 1944β1959
Flag of the president of the United States, from 1944 to 1945
United Nations flag, 1947β1965
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 1965β1981
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia, 1978β1981
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Miscellaneous
See also
References
External links
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