<<back
The
Coat of Arms
The Indonesian coat of arms consists of
a golden eagle, called "GARUDA," that is
a figure from ancient Indonesian epics.
It is also pictured on many temples from
the 6th Century. The eagle is a symbol of
creative energy. Its principal color, gold,
suggests the greatness of the nation. The
black color represents nature. There are
17 feathers on each wing, 8 on the tail
and 45 on the neck. These figures stand
for the date of lndonesia's independence
proclamation: 17 August, 1945.
The
motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal lka" (Unity in
Diversity), is enshrined on a banner held
in the eagle's talons. This old Javanese
motto was introduced by Empu Tantular, a
saint of the Majapahit Kingdom, in the 15th
Century. It signifies the unity of the Indonesian
people despite their diverse ethnic and
cultural backgrounds.
The shield symbolizes self-defense in struggle
or and protection of oneself. The red and
white colors on the shield's background
denote the colors of the Indonesian national
flag. The five symbols on the shield represent
the state philosophy of Pancasila, the foundation
of the Indonesian state.
The
bar across the center indicates the equator
which passes through the islands of Sumatra,
Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Halmahera. This
is a reminder of the fact that the Republic
of Indonesia is the only tropical country
in which the people have built a free and
sovereign state by their own hands.
The golden star on the black background
in the center of the shield represents the
first principle of Pancasila, belief in
the One and Only God. The chain symbolizes
successive human generations. The round
links represent women and the square ones
men. It is the symbol of the second principle,
just and civilized humanity.
The
"beringin," or banyan tree, symbolizes the
third principal, the unity on Indonesia.
The head of the "banteng," or wild bull
(bos javanicus), which is black on a red
background, represents the fourth principle,
democracy guided by the inner wisdom of
deliberations of representatives.
The
fifth principle, social justice for all
Indonesian people, is symbolized by the
gold and white paddy and cotton ears.
