The Kyrgyz Republic

The National Flag of Kyrgystan

Kyrgystan fell under Russian rule in the 1800's, and was placed within the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic upon the birth of the Soviet Union. This republic spanned all of The Soviet central Asian territories.

It was reorganised as the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast, and finally became the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic in 1926. The first flag featured the Soviet flag of a red banner with the hammer and sickle. Along the flag, in gold lettering, Кыргыз Советтик Социалисттик Республикасы  

Then, in 1952, the lettering was removed, and a blue stripe laid along the centre of the flag. A smaller white stripe placed along the blue.

Upon independence from the Soviet Union, a new flag was adopted on 3rd March, 1992. Consisting of a red banner, with a golden sun in the centre. In the centre of the sun is a red ring, with 2 sets of 3 stripes crossing. It is a representation of the Tunduk, the traditional Kyrgyz yurt. This represents the traditional family home, and by extension, the universe.

Surrounding the sun are 40 rays. These 40 rays represent the 40 tribes of Kyrgyzstan that where unified by the folk hero, Manas.