To find out the origin of the British "rice flag", we have to start with the "cross flag" of the Kingdom of Denmark, the oldest flag in the world that is still in use today.
In 1219, king Denmark led an army against the pagans in Estonia, and the Danish army fell into trouble during a battle on 15 June of that year. Suddenly, a red flag with a white cross floated from the sky, accompanied by a loud voice: "To grasp this flag is victory!" ”
In the ensuing battles, the Danish army won the final victory. Subsequently, the battlefield flag, and even the national flag, became "fashionable", which may be the earliest war public opinion propaganda. However, compared with the Chinese nation, which has more than 5,000 years, this kind of banner is nothing. Because, the flag of China existed in the Xia Dynasty.
Flag of China [Xia Dynasty].
China [Ancient] Three Dragon Flag (Sun, Moon, Star)
China [Qin Han] Black Dragon Flag
China [Sui and Tang Dynasty] Tuanlong Banner
China [Ming Dynasty] Sun and Moon Flag
China [Ming Dynasty] flag - [Note: The national flag of today's small days is not very similar, in addition, there is also the flag of Bangladesh]
China's [Ming Dynasty] flag for overseas trade - [Note: The flag of today's small days is not very similar, in addition, there is also the flag of Bangladesh]
Flags used by East Asian countries such as Ryukyu in China [Ming Dynasty] - [Note: The flag of today's small days is not very similar, in addition, there is also the flag of Bangladesh]
A bit farther away, back to the point. Under the influence of the "cross flag" of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Nordic countries also used a similar "cross flag".
However, the "fashion wind" of this "cross flag" also blew to the island countries of Great Britain. At the time, the flag used in Scotland was the Andrew Cross Flag.
The flag used in England is the "Flag of St George's Cross".
In 1603, queen Elizabeth died without heirs, and King James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne as James I, beginning Stuart rule. During the reign of James I, England and Scotland merged in 1707, forming the following flag.
The "cross flag" was used in Ireland at that time.
In the 19th century, with the continuous colonial expansion of Britain, in 1801, Ireland was merged, and the official name of the United Kingdom was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Since then, the combined Flag of The United Kingdom has also become the "Rice Flag" seen today.
In the subsequent colonial expansion, the British Empire, which was composed of the British mainland and its self-governing territories, colonies, territories, trusts and protectorates, was the largest country in history and the largest global colonial empire, with a territory of about 33.67 million square kilometers, a population and territory accounted for a quarter of the world, and was another major empire after the Spanish Empire, known as the "Empire of the Sun Never Sets".
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations
Due to the global colonization of the British Empire, this also laid the foundation for the formation of the international organization of the British Commonwealth, which consisted of 56 independent sovereign states (including vassals), and the British King is still the nominal monarch and head of state of 15 of the British Commonwealth countries. So far, there are still many countries and regions that use the element with the "rice flag" as the national flag.
1. Flag of Australia
2. Flag of New Zealand
3. Flag of the Republic of Fiji
4. Bermuda
5. Tuvalu
6. Liberia
7. British Virgin Islands
8. Anguilla
9. Cayman Islands
10. Governors of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
11. Montserrat
12. Pitcairn Islands
13. Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
14. British Indian Ocean Territory
In addition, it has to be said that the first flag of the United States was also full of British Empire "rice flag" symbols.
The flag of the United States, which broke away from British colonial elements, became today's "Star-Spangled Banner".