Prior to the Russian Revolution, the territory of Turkestan, of which Tajikistan was part, used the device of a black unicorn on a golden shield, blazoned or, a unicorn passant sable.

It was changed to the current version by the government of Emomali Rahmon, which came to power at the end of 1992.

Like other post-Soviet republics whose symbols do not predate the October Revolution, the current emblem retains some components of the Soviet one.

The crown at the center of the emblem is the same as the Tajik national flag, and refers to the Persian word taj, meaning crown, from which the name of the Tajik people is said to be derived, according to one interpretation.

The emblem is flanked by cotton on one side and wheat on the other, as well a banner of the national red-white-green colors of Tajikistan is wrapped around the cotton and wheat replacing the red color containing the motto of the Soviet Union "Workers of the world, unite!"