Flag of Bhutan

Meaning and history of the flag of Bhutan

The flag of Bhutan is divided diagonally into two triangles: saffron-orange in the upper left and reddish-orange in the lower right. Astride the diagonal line stands a white dragon clutching jewels in its claws. The dragon, called Druk, or Thunder Dragon, is Bhutan's national symbol, and the country's official name in Dzongkha, Druk Yul, means 'Land of the Thunder Dragon.'

The saffron-orange represents Buddhist tradition and the spiritual authority of the monasteries, while the reddish-orange stands for secular authority and the power of the Wangchuck dynasty, which has ruled the country as a monarchy since 1907. The jewels held in the dragon's claws represent the country's wealth and perfection, and the dragon's white color symbolizes the purity and loyalty of the kingdom's various ethnic groups.

Bhutan's flag is one of the few in the world to feature a dragon as its central element, alongside that of Wales, part of the United Kingdom. Where the Welsh dragon is red and rendered in a European heraldic style, however, Bhutan's dragon is white and rendered in an Eastern style. The flag's diagonal division is likewise uncommon among national flags. The current design was adopted in 1969, and its striking, singular look makes it one of the most recognized and admired flags among vexillology enthusiasts worldwide.

You can view the flag of Bhutan in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Bhutan profile, its map, or the current local time in Thimphu.