NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF

V E X I L L O L O G Y

Online Edition

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THE FLAG AND ARMS OF TUVA

by Dave Martucci

The arms of Tuva show the traditional horseman riding into the sunrise, displayed in the national colors. The flag of Tuva was designed by Oyun-ool Sat. White suggests silver (clean thoughts) and the silver streamers draped over a hostess' arms as she greets guests. Yellow suggests gold (riches) as well as Buddhism. Light blue suggests the courage and firmness of the nomadic herdsmen (and the big blue Tuvan sky!). The stripes represent the confluence of the Bii-Khem and Kaa-Khem rivers at Kyzyl, where they form the Ulug-Khem (Yenisei). Source: Kerry Yackoboski (kerryy@bnr.ca).

The Friends of Tuva Web Site shows the flag with the hoist to the right, which has caused some confusion online. Some sites, like the Flags of the World web site incorrectly show the flag with the triangle at the fly. The text accompanying the drawing clearly states the triangle is at the hoist. Also, previously the drawing showed an additional white stripe in the center which has now been corrected, although the flag bumper stickers they sell still show this error.

The Tuvinian Flag appears in the photo of Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, a musician and member of the band Huun-Huur-Tu from their CD "60 Horses in my Herd" published by Schnachie Records, disk #64050.

Above are photos of the Tuvinian Coat of Arms as it appears on a lapel pin and on a tee shirt.These items are available from the Friends of Tuva Web Site (http://www.feynman.com/tuva/).

In 1994, Tuva issued stamps bearing an image of the flag and an image of the arms. According to "Deep in the Heart of Tuva: Cowboy Music from the Wild East" a book/CD published by Ellipsis Arts ..., the new flag "was consecrated by Tuva's spiritual leader, the XIVth Dali Lama of Tibet." He stated "having one's own flag flying over the capital--especially as a symbol of cultural freedom--was remarkable in itself."