The National Flag of Tibet served as the flag of the government of Tibet at Lhasa until 1959. It remains the emblem of the government of Tibet in exile headquartered in Dharamsala, India. As a symbol of the Tibetan independence movement, it is banned by the Chinese government currently occupying Tibet. Over the past 60 years the Tibetan people, under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have been carrying out a non-violent movement to preserve their culture and to regain their lost freedom and dignity under the banner of the Tibetan National Flag.
All the elements of the flag of the Tibetan nation have a symbolic significance:
· The glorious snow mountain in the center symbolizes the land of the great
nation of Tibet.
· Across the dark blue sky the six red rays of light symbolize the six original
tribes of ancient Tibet.
· At the tip of the snow mountain, the sun’s brilliant rays shine in all
directions, representing the impartial enjoyment of freedom, prosperity and
happiness by all beings in the land of Tibet.
· On the slopes of the mountain a pair of snow lions with turquoise manes
represent fearless victory and the accomplishment of a unified spiritual and
secular life.
· The snow lions hold above them the flaming triple gem, representing the
Tibetan people’s reverence toward the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
· The surrounding yellow border represents the the purified gold- like
teachings of the Buddha which spread and flourish in all directions and in
all times.