Indonesia’s “Sang Saka Merah Putih” is a horizontal bicolour—red over white—first raised nationally on 17 August 1945 and rooted in Majapahit heraldry. Red denotes courage and the physical aspect of humanity; white purity and the spiritual. The 1945 Constitution fixes a 2:3 ratio. Law prescribes protocol (half‑masting in mourning, precedence, dignified retirement). Similarities to Monaco and Poland are coincidental; Indonesia’s design has distinct proportions and history.
Indonesia’s flag, the Sang Saka Merah Putih, binds pre‑colonial heritage to the independence proclamation of 1945 through a spare but potent red‑white geometry.
Majapahit Antecedents and Cultural Memory Historical sources associate red‑white striping with the Majapahit Empire (13th–15th centuries), echoed in Javanese and Balinese regalia and textiles. The pairing acquired philosophical readings—courage (red) and purity (white); body and soul; earthly and spiritual—informing later nationalist interpretations.
Colonial Period and Nationalist Revival Dutch colonial ensigns dominated public life, but early 20th‑century movements reclaimed red‑white as a unifying emblem. Youth congresses and student societies displayed the bicolour in rallies, pamphlets, and badges, strengthening its association with collective self‑determination.
Proclamation of Independence (17 August 1945) As Sukarno read the proclamation in Jakarta, the red‑white was hoisted, inaugurating its status as the national banner. The original “Bendera Pusaka” became a revered relic, preserved and ceremonially replicated due to fragility.
Constitutional Status and Specifications Article 35 of the 1945 Constitution names the flag the Sang Merah Putih. The proportion is 2:3 with equal horizontal bands. Subsequent regulations prescribe sunrise‑to‑sunset flying, half‑masting by decree, precedence among flags, and dignified disposal of worn flags.
Symbolism
and Variants Red signifies bravery and the physical aspect of humanity; white, honesty, purity, and the spiritual aspect. Naval jacks recall Majapahit’s multiple red‑white stripes; service flags adapt the palette for military use, while the civil flag remains the simple bicolour.
International Comparisons Monaco’s bicolour resembles Indonesia’s but with different proportions and independent historical development; Poland inverts the colours. Indonesia’s claim rests on deep cultural memory and the 1945 constitutional settlement.
Continuity
in National Life Unchanged since 1945, the red‑white is ubiquitous on Independence Day and across government, education, and diplomacy, articulating unity amid vast geographic and cultural diversity.