Thailand’s
national flag, ceremoniously raised each morning in every town and
village, is composed of five horizontal bands of red, white, and blue.
Outer bands of red representing the nation enclose equal inner bands
of white evoking religion. The blue band, occupying the central one-third
of the total area, symbolizes the monarchy. The harmony of design
expresses the complimentary nature of these three pillars of the Thai
nation.
This
tri-colored flag, called in Thai the “trirong”, first introduced
by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917, succeeded an earlier design
that placed a white elephant (emblem of the absolute monarch) on a
red background.
The
national anthem is played on all ceremonial occasions of national
importance and while the national flag is being raised and lowered.
Professor Phra Jenduriyang composed its music in 1932, while the lyrics,
as presently constituted, were written in 1939 by Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandh.
A literal translation is as follows:
