April 4, 2020 is Tomb Sweeping Day. On the morning of April 4, the flag was flown at half-mast in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mourn the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the epidemic and the compatriots who died.
At 5:54 this morning in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the five-star red flag rose with the sun as usual. After a brief freeze, it slowly dropped to a position 1/3 from the top of the flagpole. We deeply mourned the martyrs and compatriots who died in the fight against the new coronavirus epidemic. , expressing respect for life in the most solemn way.
Condolence activities are held across the country, let us pay tribute and remember the heroes together.
In this anti-epidemic war, many people faced danger and decided to go retrograde and sleep in this winter forever.
But people will not forget it. You will always be our heroes.
Today, the whole country and embassies and consulates abroad will fly flags at half mast for you.
1. The definition of flying a flag at half-mast
Flying a flag at half-mast, also known as "lowering the flag at half-mast", is an important etiquette for the public to express condolences. According to the National Flag Law, all places, institutions and units that should raise the national flag on that day should fly the flag at half-mast in mourning. When the flag is flown at half-mast, the flag should be raised to the top of the pole first, and then lowered to a point where the distance between the top of the flag and the top of the pole is 1/3 of the total length of the flagpole; when lowered, the flag should be raised to the top of the pole first, and then lowered.
2. The origin of flying the flag at half-mast
Flying the flag at half-mast is a common way of mourning in the world today. When an important leader of a country dies, the flag is flown at half-mast to express condolences. This practice was first seen in 1612. One day, the captain of the British ship "Hazy Is" died while exploring the waterway leading to the Pacific Ocean from northern North America. The crew, as a mark of respect to the late captain, lowered the mast flag some distance from the top of the flagpole. When the ship sailed into the Thames, people saw the flag flying at half-mast on its mast, and they didn't know what it meant. Upon inquiry, it turned out that it was used to commemorate the deceased captain. By the second half of the 17th century, this mourning method spread to the mainland and was adopted by various countries. It is not difficult to see from this that the method of mourning with the flag at half-mast has been around since ancient times and has a history of nearly 400 years.
3. “To mourn” or “to mourn”?
From a literal sense, "to" means to deliver, and "to express condolences" is to use language to convey one's sorrow for someone or something to others, and the object of communication is determined. "Zhi" means to remember and engrave, and "Zhi" means to mourn in some way or activity. The object of mourning is uncertain, which is more serious than "to mourn", for example: flags at half-mast to mourn .
From this, we can see that "to mourn" refers specifically to an individual act of mourning, while "to mourn" is a collective and large-scale way of expressing condolences.
4. How does my country’s National Flag Law stipulate that the flag should be flown at half-mast?
For whom is the flag flying at half-mast?
According to Article 14 of the "Flag Law of the People's Republic of China", the following people have passed away, and the flag is flown at half-mast in mourning:
(1) President of the People's Republic of China, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Premier of the State Council, Chairman of the Central Military Commission;
( 2) Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference;
(3) Persons who have made outstanding contributions to the People's Republic of China;
(4) Persons who have made outstanding contributions to world peace or human progress.
When an unfortunate event with particularly heavy casualties occurs or a serious natural disaster causes heavy casualties, the flag may be flown at half-mast to mourn. Flags flying at half-mast in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 (3) (4) and 2 of this article shall be decided by the State Council. The date and place for flying the flag at half-mast in accordance with the provisions of this article shall be determined by the funeral organization established by the state or the State Council.
Therefore, the provisions of the "Flag Law" only clarify that the flag should be flown at half-mast when the current national leader dies. For outgoing national leaders, whether to fly the flag at half-mast will be decided separately by the State Council.
How to fly the flag at half-mast?
Lowering the flag to half-mast does not mean lowering the flag to half of the flagpole, nor does it directly raise the flag to half of the flagpole. So, how to fly the flag at half-mast?
The National Flag Law stipulates that when raising or lowering the national flag on an upright flagpole, it should be raised and lowered slowly. When raising, the flag must be raised to the top of the pole; when lowering, the flag must not be allowed to fall to the ground.
When the flag is flown at half-mast, the flag should be raised to the top of the pole first, and then lowered to a point where the distance between the top of the flag and the top of the pole is one-third of the total length of the flagpole; when lowering, the flag should be raised to the top of the pole first, and then lowered. lower.
5. What to do when flying the flag at half-mast on the Day of Mourning
Flying the flag at half-mast is a national act. It is usually used to express the grief and condolences of the people across the country when some important person dies or a major unfortunate incident or serious natural disaster occurs.
During this period, flags will be flown at half-mast across the country and at embassies and consulates abroad, and public entertainment activities will be suspended nationwide.
From 10:00 on April 4, people across the country observed a three-minute silence. Cars, trains, and ships blew their horns and air-raid sirens sounded.
Article source | Comprehensive from the Chinese Communist Party News Network, "National Flag Law", China Traditional Chinese Studies Network, etc.
