The dragon, a symbol of strength, wisdom, and auspicious powers, has captured the imagination of cultures worldwide. But nowhere is it as prominently celebrated as in the national flag of Bhutan, a country that proudly bears this mythical creature as its emblem.
Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan, often referred to as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, offers a unique blend of ancient culture, deep spiritual traditions, and breathtaking natural beauty.
This article will delve into the fascinating aspects of Bhutan, from its dragon flag that represents the protection of the country to its commitment to Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.
We will explore what makes Bhutan a must-visit destination for travelers seeking tranquility, adventure, and a deep connection with nature and spirituality. Join us as we unfold the stories, traditions, and landscapes that lie beneath the dragon’s wings in Bhutan, where cultural heritage and environmental preservation go hand in hand.
Table of Contents
Bhutan Has a Dragon on the Flag
The orange and yellow of Bhutan’s flag complement the dragon image of the nation. A white stencilled dragon sits in an orange and yellow triangle on the Bhutanese flag, which is otherwise a stunning design.
Buddhism’s flag has orange, a colour associated with fire and force. It is stated that the flag’s yellow tint represents Bhutanese culture and history.
The Kabney is a special accessory worn by the dragon on this flag. The white hue represents the untouched, unclouded mind of the Bhutanese people.
The many jewels adorning the dragon are a further symbol of optimism for Bhutan’s prosperity. When the dragon snarls, it shows that Bhutan is prepared to defend itself from any potential threats and that the country is at peace with itself.
The Dragon on the Flag of Wales
The flag of Wales, United Kingdom, also has a dragon, albeit this one is more active than the dragons on the flag of Bhutan. One side of this dragon is read against a white backdrop, while the other side is read against a green background.
This particular dragon dates back to the reign of King Henry VII, who famously used various representations of the dragon as a weapon.
When the Romans invaded Britain, they included the flaming dragon in their arsenal, and the creature quickly became an image of the Roman Empire. According to legend, this is what prompted King Henry VII to deploy the dragon in combat.
King Henry V also used dragon iconography at the Battle of Agincourt, therefore he was not the first. In addition to his military triumphs, Henry Tudor is remembered for adding the dragon sign to Saint Paul’s Cathedral.
Dragons are also a symbol of triumph in a war in the United Kingdom, and in Wales in particular.
Also See: Countries with Red, White, and Green Flags
Malta’s Dragon Flag
Malta’s flag, which also has a dragon, has a somewhat different meaning. There is a little red cross with a dragon on it in the top left corner of this flag, which also has the colours red and white side by side.
One legend has it that the dragon in the cross’s centre was the same one that Saint George vanquished. Since then, Maltese citizens have been honoured with the Saint George’s Cross for acts of valour.
Country | 2022 Population |
---|---|
China | 1425887.3370 |
India | 1417173.1730 |
United States | 338289.8570 |
Indonesia | 275501.3390 |
Pakistan | 235824.8620 |
Nigeria | 218541.2120 |
Brazil | 215313.4980 |
Bangladesh | 171186.3720 |
Russia | 144713.3140 |
Mexico | 127504.1250 |
Japan | 123951.6920 |
Ethiopia | 123379.9240 |
Philippines | 115559.0090 |
Egypt | 110990.1030 |
DR Congo | 99010.2120 |
Vietnam | 98186.8560 |
Iran | 88550.5700 |
Turkey | 85341.2410 |
Germany | 83369.8430 |
Thailand | 71697.0300 |
United Kingdom | 67508.9360 |
Tanzania | 65497.7480 |
France | 64626.6280 |
South Africa | 59893.8850 |
Italy | 59037.4740 |
Myanmar | 54179.3060 |
Kenya | 54027.4870 |
Colombia | 51874.0240 |
South Korea | 51815.8100 |
Spain | 47558.6300 |
Uganda | 47249.5850 |
Sudan | 46874.2040 |
Argentina | 45510.3180 |
Algeria | 44903.2250 |
Iraq | 44496.1220 |
Afghanistan | 41128.7710 |
Poland | 39857.1450 |
Ukraine | 39701.7390 |
Canada | 38454.3270 |
Morocco | 37457.9710 |
Saudi Arabia | 36408.8200 |
Angola | 35588.9870 |
Uzbekistan | 34627.6520 |
Peru | 34049.5880 |
Malaysia | 33938.2210 |
Yemen | 33696.6140 |
Ghana | 33475.8700 |
Mozambique | 32969.5180 |
Nepal | 30547.5800 |
Madagascar | 29611.7140 |
Venezuela | 28301.6960 |
Ivory Coast | 28160.5420 |
Cameroon | 27914.5360 |
Niger | 26207.9770 |
Australia | 26177.4130 |
North Korea | 26069.4160 |
Taiwan | 23893.3940 |
Burkina Faso | 22673.7620 |
Mali | 22593.5900 |
Syria | 22125.2490 |
Sri Lanka | 21832.1430 |
Malawi | 20405.3170 |
Zambia | 20017.6750 |
Romania | 19659.2670 |
Chile | 19603.7330 |
Kazakhstan | 19397.9980 |
Ecuador | 18001 |
Guatemala | 17843.9080 |
Chad | 17723.3150 |
Somalia | 17597.5110 |
Netherlands | 17564.0140 |
Senegal | 17316.4490 |
Cambodia | 16767.8420 |
Zimbabwe | 16320.5370 |
Guinea | 13859.3410 |
Rwanda | 13776.6980 |
Benin | 13352.8640 |
Burundi | 12889.5760 |
Tunisia | 12356.1170 |
Bolivia | 12224.1100 |
Belgium | 11655.9300 |
Haiti | 11584.9960 |
Jordan | 11285.8690 |
Dominican Republic | 11228.8210 |
Cuba | 11212.1910 |
South Sudan | 10913.1640 |
Sweden | 10549.3470 |
Czech Republic | 10493.9860 |
Honduras | 10432.8600 |
Greece | 10384.9710 |
Azerbaijan | 10358.0740 |
Portugal | 10270.8650 |
Papua New Guinea | 10142.6190 |
Hungary | 9967.3080 |
Tajikistan | 9952.7870 |
Belarus | 9534.9540 |
United Arab Emirates | 9441.1290 |
Israel | 9038.3090 |
Austria | 8939.6170 |
Togo | 8848.6990 |
Switzerland | 8740.4720 |
Sierra Leone | 8605.7180 |
Laos | 7529.4750 |
Hong Kong | 7488.8650 |
Serbia | 7221.3650 |
Nicaragua | 6948.3920 |
Libya | 6812.3410 |
Bulgaria | 6781.9530 |
Paraguay | 6780.7440 |
Kyrgyzstan | 6630.6230 |
Turkmenistan | 6430.7700 |
El Salvador | 6336.3920 |
Singapore | 5975.6890 |
Republic of the Congo | 5970.4240 |
Denmark | 5882.2610 |
Slovakia | 5643.4530 |
Central African Republic | 5579.1440 |
Finland | 5540.7450 |
Lebanon | 5489.7390 |
Norway | 5434.3190 |
Liberia | 5302.6810 |
Palestine | 5250.0720 |
New Zealand | 5185.2880 |
Costa Rica | 5180.8290 |
Ireland | 5023.1090 |
Mauritania | 4736.1390 |
Oman | 4576.2980 |
Panama | 4408.5810 |
Kuwait | 4268.8730 |
Croatia | 4030.3580 |
Georgia | 3744.3850 |
Eritrea | 3684.0320 |
Uruguay | 3422.7940 |
Mongolia | 3398.3660 |
Moldova | 3272.9960 |
Puerto Rico | 3252.4070 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3233.5260 |
Albania | 2842.3210 |
Jamaica | 2827.3770 |
Armenia | 2780.4690 |
Lithuania | 2750.0550 |
Gambia | 2705.9920 |
Qatar | 2695.1220 |
Botswana | 2630.2960 |
Namibia | 2567.0120 |
Gabon | 2388.9920 |
Lesotho | 2305.8250 |
Slovenia | 2119.8440 |
Guinea-Bissau | 2105.5660 |
North Macedonia | 2093.5990 |
Latvia | 1850.6510 |
Equatorial Guinea | 1674.9080 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1531.0440 |
Bahrain | 1472.2330 |
Timor-Leste | 1341.2960 |
Estonia | 1326.0620 |
Mauritius | 1299.4690 |
Cyprus | 1251.4880 |
Eswatini | 1201.6700 |
Djibouti | 1120.8490 |
Reunion | 974.0520 |
Fiji | 929.7660 |
Comoros | 836.7740 |
Guyana | 808.7260 |
Bhutan | 782.4550 |
Solomon Islands | 724.2730 |
Macau | 695.1680 |
Luxembourg | 647.5990 |
Montenegro | 627.0820 |
Suriname | 618.0400 |
Cape Verde | 593.1490 |
Western Sahara | 575.9860 |
Malta | 533.2860 |
Maldives | 523.7870 |
Brunei | 449.0020 |
Bahamas | 409.9840 |
Belize | 405.2720 |
Guadeloupe | 395.7520 |
Iceland | 372.8990 |
Martinique | 367.5070 |
Vanuatu | 326.7400 |
Mayotte | 326.1010 |
French Polynesia | 306.2790 |
French Guiana | 304.5570 |
New Caledonia | 289.9500 |
Barbados | 281.6350 |
Sao Tome and Principe | 227.3800 |
Samoa | 222.3820 |
Curacao | 191.1630 |
Saint Lucia | 179.8570 |
Guam | 171.7740 |
Kiribati | 131.2320 |
Grenada | 125.4380 |
Micronesia | 114.1640 |
Jersey | 110.7780 |
Seychelles | 107.1180 |
Tonga | 106.8580 |
Aruba | 106.4450 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 103.9480 |
United States Virgin Islands | 99.4650 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 93.7630 |
Isle of Man | 84.5190 |
Andorra | 79.8240 |
Dominica | 72.7370 |
Cayman Islands | 68.7060 |
Bermuda | 64.1840 |
Guernsey | 63.3010 |
Greenland | 56.4660 |
Faroe Islands | 53.0900 |
Northern Mariana Islands | 49.5510 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 47.6570 |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 45.7030 |
American Samoa | 44.2730 |
Sint Maarten | 44.1750 |
Marshall Islands | 41.5690 |
Liechtenstein | 39.3270 |
Monaco | 36.4690 |
San Marino | 33.6600 |
Gibraltar | 32.6490 |
Saint Martin | 31.7910 |
British Virgin Islands | 31.3050 |
Palau | 18.0550 |
Cook Islands | 17.0110 |
Anguilla | 15.8570 |
Nauru | 12.6680 |
Wallis and Futuna | 11.5720 |
Tuvalu | 11.3120 |
Saint Barthelemy | 10.9670 |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 5.8620 |
Montserrat | 4.3900 |
Falkland Islands | 3.7800 |
Niue | 1.9340 |
Tokelau | 1.8710 |
Vatican City | 0.5100 |