Soyombo symbol

The Soyombo symbol is a special character in the Soyombo script created by the Mongolian Buddhist monk Zanabazar in 1686. The name "Soyombo" comes from the Sanskrit word svayambhu, which means "self-born." This symbol is important because it represents Mongolia, Buryatia, and Kalmykia. You can see it on the flag and emblem of Mongolia, as well as on many official documents.

In the Soyombo alphabet, there are two versions of the Soyombo symbol. One marks the beginning of a text, and the other marks the end. Some people think the symbol might have been used even before the script was created.

Symbolism

The Soyombo symbol has ten special parts that tell a story. These parts include fire, the sun, a crescent moon, two triangles, two horizontal rectangles, the Taijitu (yin and yang), and two vertical rectangles.

Each part has a meaning. Fire stands for growth, wealth, and success, with its three flames representing the past, present, and future. The sun and crescent moon show that the Mongolian nation will last forever, like the endless blue sky. The two triangles look like an arrow or spear, showing strength against enemies. The horizontal rectangles give balance and stand for honesty and fairness for everyone in Mongolia. The yin and yang symbol shows how opposites can work together, like two fish that are always watching. The vertical rectangles are like fort walls, meaning unity and strength, reminding us that friendship is powerful.

Uses

The Soyombo symbol appears on the national flag of Mongolia and has done so since the country gained independence in 1911, except for a short break between 1940 and 1945. It was also used on the Emblem of Mongolia from 1911 to 1940, and then again starting in 1960. Vehicles of the Mongolian Armed Forces use the symbol as a marking.

You can see this symbol all over Mongolia, especially on a hillside near Ulaanbaatar. The top parts of the symbol (Flame, Sun, and Moon) are also shown on the flag and coat of arms of Buryatia, the flag of Agin-Buryat Okrug in Russia, and the Inner Mongolian People's Party.

Unicode

The Soyombo symbol is part of a special set of characters called Unicode. It was added to Unicode version 10.0 in June 2017. In Unicode, it is found in the Soyombo block and is used as a special punctuation mark.

The symbol has several related characters, including different head marks with moon, sun, and flame designs, and two terminal marks that go with them. These characters help write the Soyombo script correctly.

Flags incorporating Soyombo variants

The Soyombo symbol appears on several important flags. You can see it on the Flag of Mongolia, the Flag of the Republic of Buryatia, and the Flag of Agin-Buryat Okrug. It is also used on the Flag of the Democratic Party, the Flag of the Inner Mongolian People's Party, and the Flag of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee. Additionally, it appears on flags of areas such as Bayankhongor Aymag, Govi-Altai Aimag, Övörkhangai Amiag, Uvs Amiag, and the city of Ulaanbaatar.