Creating The Brunei Flag: A Simple Guide

The flag of Brunei is a powerful symbol of the nation and its sultan, with a design that has remained stable despite changes in the country's government. The flag features a yellow field, cut by black and white diagonal stripes, and the coat of arms of Brunei at its centre. This colour scheme and symbolism are steeped in the country's history and cultural context. In this discussion, we will delve into the meaning behind the flag's design and explore the steps to create your own version of the Brunei flag.

Choosing the correct colours

The Brunei flag features a yellow field, with black and white diagonal stripes and the national emblem in the centre. The colours and symbols on the flag are steeped in cultural and political significance.

Yellow is the dominant colour on the flag and is a traditional symbol of royalty in Southeast Asia. The yellow field on the flag represents the Sultan of Brunei. The black and white stripes represent Brunei's chief ministers, the Pengiran Bendahara (First Minister) and the Pengiran Pemancha (Second Minister). The white stripe is roughly 12% wider than the black stripe.

The national emblem placed in the centre of the flag in 1959 is a red crest featuring a crescent, a parasol, and hands on the sides. The crescent is a symbol of Islam, the parasol represents monarchy, and the hands signify the benevolence of the government. The crest also features the national motto of Brunei in Arabic: الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى; Ad-dāʾimūna al-muḥsinūna bi-l-hudā, which translates to "Always render service with God's guidance".

The flag's colours and symbols have remained consistent since the country's independence in 1984, with only minor artistic modifications.

Adding the emblem

The emblem of Brunei, placed in the centre of the flag, is a red crest consisting of a crescent moon facing upwards, joined with a parasol, with hands on the sides. The crescent moon is a symbol of Islam, the parasol is a symbol of monarchy, and the hands represent the benevolence of the government.

Below the crescent is a banner inscribed with the name of the country in Jawi: "Brunei Darussalam", meaning "Brunei, the Abode of Peace".

On the crescent is the national motto of Brunei in Arabic: "الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى" ("Ad-dāʾimūna al-muḥsinūna bi-l-hudā"), which translates to "Always render service with God's guidance".

The emblem was placed in the centre of the flag in 1959, when the country adopted a new constitution.

Getting the right ratio

The Brunei flag has a width-to-length ratio of 1:2. The flag features a yellow field, cut by black and white diagonal stripes, with the emblem of Brunei centred. The yellow field represents the sultan of Brunei, with yellow being the colour of royalty in Southeast Asia. The black and white stripes represent Brunei's chief ministers, with the white stripe being roughly 12% wider than the black one.

The emblem of Brunei features a red crest with an upward-facing crescent, joined with a parasol, and hands on the sides. The crescent is a symbol of Islam, the parasol represents monarchy, and the hands represent the benevolence of the government. The national motto of Brunei is inscribed on the crescent in Arabic: "Ad-dāʾimūna al-muḥsinūna bi-l-hudā", meaning "Always render service with God's guidance". Below the crescent is a banner with the name of the country in Jawi: "Brunei Darussalam", meaning "Brunei, the Abode of Peace".

The Brunei flag is one of the few national flags that incorporate a diagonal line, with other examples including the flags of the DR Congo, Tanzania, Namibia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Understanding the symbolism

The flag of Brunei is a powerful symbol of the country's history, values, and sovereignty. The flag's design and colours are steeped in meaning, reflecting the nation's cultural and religious identity. Here is an understanding of the symbolism behind the flag of Brunei:

The flag's background colour, yellow, is significant in several ways. Firstly, it represents the Sultan of Brunei, reflecting the traditional colour of royalty in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, whose flags and standards also feature yellow prominently. The yellow background also distinguishes Brunei's flag from others, as few nations use a yellow background due to its association with royalty and its use in quarantine flags. The original state flag of Brunei was a plain yellow design.

The flag features two diagonal stripes, one black and one white, cutting through the yellow field. These stripes represent Brunei's chief ministers, specifically the Pengiran Bendahara (First Minister) and the Pengiran Pemancha (Second Minister). The white stripe is slightly thicker, being around 12% wider than the black stripe.

At the centre of the flag is the National Crest of Brunei, featuring an upward-facing crescent joined with a parasol and hands on the sides. The crescent is a symbol of Islam, the state religion of Brunei. The parasol, or ceremonial umbrella, symbolises monarchy, and the hands represent the benevolence and duty of the government to preserve and promote the welfare of its citizens.

Inscribed on the crescent is Brunei's national motto in Arabic: "الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى" (Ad-dāʾimūna al-muḥsinūna bi-l-hudā), which translates to "Always render service with God's guidance". Below the crescent, a banner bears the name of the country in Jawi: "بروني دارالسلام" (Brunei Darussalam), meaning "Brunei, the Abode of Peace".

The flag of Brunei, with its symbolism and colours, serves as an enduring symbol of the country's sovereignty, cultural identity, and values. It is a source of pride and unity for the nation and its people.

Knowing the history

The Brunei flag is a yellow field with black and white diagonal stripes and a red crest in the centre. The yellow field represents the sultan of Brunei, with yellow being the colour of royalty in Southeast Asia. The black and white stripes symbolise the chief ministers, with the thicker white stripe representing the First Minister and the black stripe the Second Minister.

The red crest contains an upward-facing crescent, a parasol and hands on the sides. The crescent and parasol symbolise Islam and monarchy, respectively, and the hands represent the benevolence of the government. The crescent also features the national motto of Brunei in Arabic: "Always render service with God's guidance". Below this is a banner with the name of the country in Jawi: "Brunei, the Abode of Peace".

The flag has been in use since 1906 when Brunei became a British protectorate, although the crest was added in 1959 with the promulgation of the Constitution. The design was retained when Brunei gained full independence in 1984. The original state flag of Brunei was plain yellow.

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