Emblem of Uzbekistan

Emblem of Uzbekistan

The State Emblem of Uzbekistan was adopted on 2 July 1992 by the Government of Uzbekistan. It looks similar to an older emblem used when Uzbekistan was part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Though it is a new design, it keeps some parts from that older emblem.

The emblem shows Uzbekistan’s natural riches. On the left is a cotton plant, important to farming and industry since the Soviet era. Uzbekistan grew a lot of cotton for the entire USSR, earning it the name the white gold. On the right is a wreath of wheat ears, symbolizing the country’s wealth and good fortune. Both cotton and wheat are wrapped in the ribbon of the state flag, showing peace for all peoples in Uzbekistan.

At the top is a blue star with a white star and crescent inside, a sign of Islam, which most Uzbeks follow. In the middle is a bird called the Huma (or Khumo) with its wings out. This famous bird stands for peace, happiness, and freedom. Inside the bird’s wings is a picture of the sun rising over mountains, with green fields below. Two rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, flow from the mountains, and soft light shines from the rising sun at the back of the emblem.

The Huma rests on a banner at the bottom, showing the country’s colors and the name Oʻzbekiston in Latin letters.

History

Before the October Revolution and the Soviet regime, places like the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanat of Khiva did not use coats of arms like in the West. They used traditional symbols to show their rule.

In 1920, Young Bukharians and Bukharan communists started a revolt with help from the RSFSR. They set up a new government and later formed the Bukharan People's Soviet Republic.

In 1925, the first Uzbek Congress of the Soviets set up the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. They decided on the emblem and flag of the Uzbek SSR. The emblem's design changed over time because of changes in the Uzbek language and in politics within the Soviet Union.

The current state emblem of Uzbekistan was approved on July 2, 1992, after the country became independent from the Soviet Union.

The symbolism

In the middle of the emblem is a bird called Khumo with its wings spread. In Uzbek stories, this bird stands for happiness and freedom. A famous Uzbek poet named Alisher Navoi said this bird was the kindest of all living things.

The top part of the emblem shows an eight-sided shape, which stands for the unity of Uzbekistan. Inside this shape are a crescent moon and a star, important symbols from Islam.

The sun in the emblem represents the light that guides Uzbekistan. The green valley shows the beautiful and pleasant weather and land of the country.

Two rivers flow through the valley, representing the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya rivers that run through Uzbekistan. The wheat ears stand for food and the country's wealth and success. Open cotton boxes show the importance of cotton to Uzbekistan in the past. The wheat, cotton boxes, and ribbons from the country’s flag together symbolise the unity of all people living in Uzbekistan.