Flags of East and Southeast Asia
Recognise the 16 national flags of East and Southeast Asia by their colours and design, one family at a time.
16 cards · Geography
Each Zap teaches up to 5 new cards, so you learn the chapter a few at a time.
Checked by the Brain Zap team · reviewed 27 Oct 2026
Sources: Gallery of sovereign state flags (Wikipedia), flag-icons by Lipis, MIT licence (the pictures)
Preview
Red, with one big and four small yellow stars
Show answerHide answer: Red, with one big and four small yellow stars
China
Learn more: The big star stands for the Communist Party; the four small ones around it for the people.
White, with a red disc in the middle
Show answerHide answer: White, with a red disc in the middle
Japan
Learn more: Called Hinomaru, "circle of the sun". The country's own name means "origin of the sun".
Red, blue and red bands, a gold symbol at the pole
Show answerHide answer: Red, blue and red bands, a gold symbol at the pole
Mongolia
Learn more: The gold symbol is the Soyombo: fire, sun, moon and other signs that stand for the nation.
Blue, red and blue bands, a red star in a white disc
Show answerHide answer: Blue, red and blue bands, a red star in a white disc
North Korea
Learn more: Adopted in 1948, when Korea was split in two. The red star stands for communism.
White, a red and blue circle and four black symbols
Show answerHide answer: White, a red and blue circle and four black symbols
South Korea
Learn more: The circle is a taegeuk, a yin and yang; the black trigrams stand for heaven, earth, water and fire.
About this topic
This chapter of Flags of the World covers the national flags of East and Southeast Asia. Each card shows a flag and asks which country flies it, with a hint and a short story of where its colours and shapes come from.
Red and gold stars, a rising sun and a yin and yang mark East Asia. To the south, red and white run through the islands, from Indonesia to Singapore, and two flags show a temple and a full moon.
Learn the family first, then the one detail that sets each flag apart: the order of the colours, a shade of blue, a cross, a star or an emblem. Once you know most of this chapter's flags, the next chapter of the Book starts arriving in your Daily Zap.
All 16 cards
Red, with one big and four small yellow stars
China
Learn more: The big star stands for the Communist Party; the four small ones around it for the people.
White, with a red disc in the middle
Japan
Learn more: Called Hinomaru, "circle of the sun". The country's own name means "origin of the sun".
Red, blue and red bands, a gold symbol at the pole
Mongolia
Learn more: The gold symbol is the Soyombo: fire, sun, moon and other signs that stand for the nation.
Blue, red and blue bands, a red star in a white disc
North Korea
Learn more: Adopted in 1948, when Korea was split in two. The red star stands for communism.
White, a red and blue circle and four black symbols
South Korea
Learn more: The circle is a taegeuk, a yin and yang; the black trigrams stand for heaven, earth, water and fire.
Yellow, with white and black diagonals and a red crest
Brunei
Learn more: Yellow is the colour of its sultan, one of the last rulers in the world with full power.
Blue, red and blue bands, a white temple in the middle
Cambodia
Learn more: The white building is Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.
Red over white, two equal bands
Indonesia
Learn more: Monaco's flag is almost the same, only a little shorter; Poland's is the reverse, white over red.
Red, blue and red bands, with a white disc
Laos
Learn more: The white disc is said to be the full moon over the Mekong River.
Red and white stripes, a crescent and star on blue
Malaysia
Learn more: Its 14 stripes and the 14 points of its star stand for the 13 states and the federal government.
Yellow, green and red bands, with a big white star
Myanmar
Learn more: Adopted in 2010. A few years before, the capital had moved from Yangon to the new city of Naypyidaw.
Blue over red, a white triangle with a sun and stars
Philippines
Learn more: In time of war the flag is flown upside down, with the red band on top.
Red over white, with a crescent and five stars
Singapore
Learn more: The five stars stand for democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
Red, white and blue stripes, a wide blue band in the middle
Thailand
Learn more: Adopted in 1917. The blue band was added partly to show support for the Allies in the First World War.
Red, a black triangle on a yellow one, a white star
Timor-Leste
Learn more: One of the youngest countries: it became independent from Indonesia in 2002.
Red, with a yellow five-pointed star
Vietnam
Learn more: The five points stand for farmers, workers, intellectuals, young people and soldiers.
Image credits
- Red, with one big and four small yellow stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, with one big and four small yellow stars
- White, with a red disc in the middle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, with a red disc in the middle
- Red, blue and red bands, a gold symbol at the pole: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, blue and red bands, a gold symbol at the pole
- Blue, red and blue bands, a red star in a white disc: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, red and blue bands, a red star in a white disc
- White, a red and blue circle and four black symbols: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, a red and blue circle and four black symbols
- Yellow, with white and black diagonals and a red crest: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow, with white and black diagonals and a red crest
- Blue, red and blue bands, a white temple in the middle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, red and blue bands, a white temple in the middle
- Red over white, two equal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red over white, two equal bands
- Red, blue and red bands, with a white disc: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, blue and red bands, with a white disc
- Red and white stripes, a crescent and star on blue: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red and white stripes, a crescent and star on blue
- Yellow, green and red bands, with a big white star: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow, green and red bands, with a big white star
- Blue over red, a white triangle with a sun and stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue over red, a white triangle with a sun and stars
- Red over white, with a crescent and five stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red over white, with a crescent and five stars
- Red, white and blue stripes, a wide blue band in the middle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and blue stripes, a wide blue band in the middle
- Red, a black triangle on a yellow one, a white star: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, a black triangle on a yellow one, a white star
- Red, with a yellow five-pointed star: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, with a yellow five-pointed star
More geography decks
Essential capitals: Europe
Capitals of Europe: a chapter of the Capitals of the World Book, with the capitals people get wrong and the stories behind them.
10 cards · meet them all in 2 days
About 1 min a day
Ancient wonders
Ancient wonders: a chapter of the Wonders of the World Book, with a photo of each wonder and the story behind it.
10 cards · meet them all in 2 days
About 1 min a day
Capitals of Central and East Africa
Every capital of Central and East Africa beyond the essentials: a chapter of the Capitals of the World Book, with the traps and the stories behind them.
15 cards · meet them all in 3 days
About 2 min a day