The design of four smaller stars surrounding a bigger one signifies the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Empire of China during the Manchu-led Qing dynasty did not have an official state emblem, but the flag featured the azure dragon on a plain yellow field with a red sun of the three-legged crow[citation needed] in the upper left corner.

Following the end of Manchu rule, new national symbols were deemed necessary by the leaders to represent the changed circumstances.

The renowned writers Lu Xun, Qian Daosun, and Xu Shoushang from the Ministry of Education were tasked with designing a new national emblem.

Since the ROC government moved to Taiwan and especially in the years since the end of martial law the Kuomintang flag has lost some of its prominence.

Above the earth and the five-pointed star is written the "Chinese Soviet Republic" on the top, and the "Workers of the world, unite!"

The committee suggested the groups include the Tian'anmen Gate, a symbol of Chinese revolution that served as the location of the May Fourth Movement and foundation ceremony of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

The second round proposals from Tsinghua University were based on standardized design of the Tian'anmen Gate on the emblem and red and yellow were chosen as the main colours.

[8] Tsinghua University presented their new design and their proposal was selected and officially made the national emblem on 20 September 1950 by the Central People's Government.

Under Chinese law since November 1997, only Hong Kong and Macau are allowed to have their own emblems and other localities that had them had to stop using theirs.