The flag of the Empire of Manchuria had a yellow field with four horizontal stripes of different colours in the upper-left corner.

The colours of the flag were based on the colours on the Five Races Under One Union flags used by the Beiyang government, the Empire of China, and by the Fengtian clique.

"[a][3] According to the Document of the Explanation of National Flag issued by the State Council of Manchukuo on 24 February 1933, the colours on the flag represent the four directions and centre.

[4] The Study of Manchukuo National Flag published by state council of Manchukuo later also gave a representative based on Wu Xing.

[5] Manchukuo naval rank flags were similar in design to those of the Soviet Navy but retained the national colours.