Buddhist flag

The International Buddhist flag is a modern creation, and since 1950, on the occasion of the founding of the World Fellowship of Buddhists ( WFB) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, recognized as a symbol of international Buddhism.

History

The International Buddhist flag was first used on Vesakh day of the year 1885 (28 April 1885) in Colombo. It was designed by Buddhist activists of the " Colombo Committee" and should serve as a symbol of the revival of Buddhism in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), especially since this year also the enforcement of Vesakh day was managed as a public holiday. On the advice of the American Theosophist Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, the flag got the usual for national flags dimension and shape. His intention was also that the flag should serve as a symbol of the unification of the world represented in very different forms of Buddhism. Today the flag is recognized worldwide among Buddhists, where there are specific forms, such as the Burmese, who used instead of the orange color pink as a fifth color ( in the original design actually scarlet ).

As inspiration served the six colors in which the aura of the Buddha shone after he had attained enlightenment (see also Bodhi ). The first five vertical colors symbolize various Buddhist values ​​.

Over time, the flag became a symbol of the unity of Buddhists and found as such worldwide distribution. To see it is especially during the Buddhist festivals, such as the Vesakh Festival, the highest Buddhist festival, in commemoration of birth, enlightenment and death ( Parinibbana ) Buddhas.

A special place has the flag in Tibet, where it can be seen on many monasteries and houses of Buddhists. In the Tibetan version of the orange bar is however replaced by a red-brown, as the colors are based here those of the monks' robes of various orders (see Tibetan Buddhism ).

Nepalese form

Burmese form

Jōdo Shinshu form

Symbolism

The sixth vertical line symbolizes the unity of all colors, the one transcendent truth, or the "one taste - the taste of liberation", featuring the teaching of the Buddha.