State symbols

The flag is one of the principal symbols of the state, embodying its sovereignty and identity. The term “flag” comes from the Dutch word “vlag”. A flag is a piece of cloth of prescribed dimensions and colors attached to a pole or cord, usually bearing a coat of arms or emblem. Since ancient times, flags have served to unite the people of a country and identify them with a particular state.

The State Flag of independent Kazakhstan was officially adopted in 1992. It was designed by artist Shaken Niyazbekov.

The State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a rectangular sky-blue field with a sun and its rays in the center, beneath which a soaring eagle (golden eagle) is depicted. Along the hoist is a vertical band with a national ornamental pattern. The sun, its rays, the eagle, and the national ornament are gold in color. The ratio of the flag’s width to its length is 1:2.

In heraldic tradition, each color symbolizes a particular concept. Sky blue symbolizes honesty, loyalty, and integrity. In addition, sky blue has profound symbolic meaning in Turkic culture. The ancient Turks revered the sky as their father-god, and their sky-blue banner symbolized devotion to the ancestral father. On Kazakhstan’s State Flag, this color symbolizes a clear sky, peace, and prosperity, while the single-color background symbolizes the unity of our country.

According to heraldic canons, the sun symbolizes wealth and abundance, life and energy. That is why the sun’s rays on the national flag are shaped like grain, a symbol of prosperity and well-being. The image of the sun in Kazakhstan’s state symbols confirms its commitment to universal human values and signifies that the new young state is full of life-affirming energy and open to all countries of the world for partnership and cooperation.

The image of the eagle (golden eagle) is one of the principal heraldic attributes long used in the coats of arms and flags of many peoples. It is generally perceived as a symbol of power, foresight, and generosity. The golden eagle soaring beneath the sun embodies the strength of the state, its sovereignty and independence, and its aspiration toward lofty goals and a sustainable future. The golden eagle occupies a special place in the worldview of Eurasian nomads. For them, it is associated with such concepts as freedom and loyalty, dignity and courage, strength and purity of thought. The stylized silhouette of the golden eagle reflects the young sovereign state’s aspiration to reach the heights of world civilization.

An important element of the State Flag is the vertical band with the national ornament located along the hoist. The Kazakh ornament is a form of distinctive artistic perception of the world that closely reflects the people’s aesthetic tastes. Combining different forms and lines in harmony, it is an expressive means of revealing the people’s inner world. The national ornament along the hoist symbolizes the culture and traditions of the people of Kazakhstan.

The coat of arms is one of the principal symbols of the state. The term “coat of arms” derives from the German word “erbe” (inheritance) and denotes an inherited distinctive emblem — a combination of figures and objects endowed with symbolic meaning.

History shows that even the nomads of the Bronze Age who lived in the territory of present-day Kazakhstan identified themselves with a special symbol — a totem, whose graphic representation later came to be known as a “tamga”. The term first came into use in the Turkic Khaganate.

The Coat of Arms of sovereign Kazakhstan was officially adopted in 1992. Its authors are renowned architects Zhandarbek Malibekov and Shot-Aman Ualikhanov.

The State Coat of Arms of the Republic of Kazakhstan is circular (wheel-shaped), symbolizing life and eternity, concepts that were held in special esteem by the nomads of the Great Steppe.

The central heraldic element of the State Coat of Arms is the image of the shanyrak (the upper domed part of a yurt) against a blue background, with uyks (supports) radiating in all directions like rays of the sun. Images of mythical winged horses appear to the right and left of the shanyrak. At the top is a three-dimensional five-pointed star, and at the bottom is the inscription “Қазақстан”. The star, shanyrak, uyks, mythical horses, and the inscription “Қазақстан” are rendered in gold.

The shanyrak is the main structural element of the yurt, resembling the dome of the sky and serving as one of the key elements of traditional life in the culture of Eurasian nomads. In the State Coat of Arms of the Republic, the image of the shanyrak symbolizes a common home and a shared Motherland for all peoples living in the country. Kazakhstan’s stable development depends on the well-being of every citizen, just as the strength and stability of the shanyrak depend on the reliability of all its uyks (supports).

The mythical winged horses — tulpars — are a key heraldic element of the State Coat of Arms. Since time immemorial, the image of the horse has embodied such concepts as courage, loyalty, and strength. The wings symbolize the centuries-old dream of Kazakhstan’s multiethnic people to build a strong and prosperous state. They represent pure intentions and the aspiration toward continuous improvement and constructive development. The horses’ golden wings also resemble golden ears of grain and embody the industriousness of Kazakhstan’s people and the country’s material prosperity. 

In past centuries, horns were widely used in the ritual practices of nomads and as finials on their battle standards. Images of heavenly grace, earthly fertility, and military fortune in the form of the horns of various animals have always occupied a significant place in the symbolic compositions of different peoples. Thus, the winged horse with a horn of plenty is an important typological image with deep semantic and historical roots.

Another element of the Republic’s State Coat of Arms is the five-pointed star. Humanity has used this symbol since ancient times, and it embodies people’s constant aspiration toward the light of truth and all that is sublime and eternal. The image of the star in the State Coat of Arms reflects the desire of Kazakhstan’s people to build a country open to cooperation and partnership with all peoples of the world. The hearts and arms of Kazakhstan’s people are open to representatives of all five continents.

The primary color used in the State Coat of Arms is gold, which symbolizes wealth, justice, and generosity. The color of the flag — sky blue — is also present; it harmonizes with gold and symbolizes a clear sky, peace, and prosperity.

The anthem is one of the principal symbols of the state. The term “anthem” comes from the Greek word “gimneo” and means “solemn song”. The anthem serves as an important auditory symbol and plays a key role in the effective socio-political consolidation and ethno-cultural identification of the country’s citizens.

In the history of independent Kazakhstan, the country’s State Anthem has been approved twice — in 1992 and in 2006.

After the Republic attained state sovereignty, a competition for the music and lyrics of Kazakhstan’s anthem was announced in 1992. As a result of the
competition, it was decided to retain the musical version of the anthem of the Kazakh SSR. Thus, the composers of Kazakhstan’s first anthem were Mukan Tulebayev, Yevgeny Brusilovsky, and Latif Khamidi. The competition for the best lyrics was also won by a team of well-known poets: Muzafar Alimbayev, Kadyr Myrzaliyev, Tumanbai Moldagaliyev, and poet Zhadira Daribayeva.

To promote the country’s auditory symbol, a new State Anthem was adopted in 2006. It was based on the popular patriotic song “Menıñ Qazaqstanym”. It was written in 1956 by Shamshi Kaldayakov to lyrics by Zhumeken Nazhimedenov. To give the song the elevated status and more solemn sound of a State Anthem, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev revised the original lyrics. At a joint session of its chambers on January 6, 2006, the Parliament of Kazakhstan adopted the relevant amendments to the Decree “On State Symbols” and approved the country’s new State Anthem.

Lyrics by: Zhumeken Nazhimedenov, Nursultan Nazarbayev

Music by: Shamshi Kaldayakov

Golden sun in the sky, 
Golden grain in the steppe, 
A legend of courage, 
Look upon my country! 
Since ancient times called brave, 
Our glory has spread far. 
Never surrendering its honor, 
My Kazakh people are strong!

Chorus: 
My country, my country, 
I will grow as your flower, 
I will pour forth as your song, my country! 
My native land — my Kazakhstan!

A land that opened the way for generations, 
I have a vast and boundless land. 
United in harmony, 
I have an independent country. 
It welcomes the times, 
Like an eternal friend. 
Our country is happy, 
This is what our country is like!

Chorus: 
My country, my country, 
I will grow as your flower, 
I will pour forth as your song, my country! 
My native land — my Kazakhstan!