Classical heraldry contains few examples where the main element of the coat of arms becomes an image completely created by the artist, although it contains a clear reference to the ancient national ornament.
The coat of arms of Chuvashia is the most striking example of a state symbol of this type. The originality and novelty of such a decision is connected with the fact that the history of self-determination of the Chuvash Republic does not take much time, although the isolated existence of this Volga nationality can be traced from the 15th century.
From the Volga Bulgars
Starting from the 7th century, a state called the Great Bulgaria existed in the Northern Black Sea Coast. It was inhabited by Turkic-speaking peoples, many of which by that time already had a developed special culture - Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans. Under the blows of nomadic tribes, mainly the Khazars, this state formation disintegrated, and the peoples who inhabited it moved to the Volga and Prikamye regions.
Here they assimilated with part of the Finno-Ugric tribes. As a result, the Volga-Bulgarian nationality was formed, which became the basis of many Volga and Ural peoples: Mari, Udmurts, Erzyans, Bashkirs. They were under double pressure: from the east - from the side of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate breaking away from it , from the west - from the Moscow state, which was gaining strength. Modern Chuvash are considered the "product" of mixing the Bulgars with the Mari.
Chuvash Autonomous Republic
After the capture of Kazan by the army of Ivan IV in 1552, the lands inhabited by the Chuvash entered the multinational state of Russia. Chuvashia was subsequently part of the Kazan and Simbirsk provinces.
The issue of the autonomy of the Chuvash people was first raised only in 1920. Then the Chuvash Autonomous Region was proclaimed , 5 years later transformed into the Chuvash Autonomous Republic. In 1927, the Congress of Soviets of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic approved the coat of arms of Chuvashia, created by the artist Pavel Yegorovich Martens.
Taking the emblem of the RSFSR as a basis , he replaced the traditional wheat ears framed with oak and spruce branches, and decorated the ribbons that intertwine them with a Chuvash national ornament. But by 1937, under the pretext of fighting local nationalism, even these small features from the symbols of the Chuvash Republic were removed. The emblem and flag of Chuvashia repeated the all-Russian Soviet heraldic attributes, differing only in duplication of inscriptions in the Chuvash language.
A new stage of statehood
The adoption in 1990 of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Chuvash Republic gave rise to changes in many areas of the life of the republic. The creative elite of the whole Chuvashia and representatives of other social strata of its population, including members of the Chuvash diaspora outside Russia, joined the process of creating the main characters.
Together, we developed the conditions for a competition to develop new state symbols, as well as the basic principles of the concept they express. The new flag and coat of arms of Chuvashia, its anthem were adopted in 1992, after numerous selections and discussions. The emblem, entered in the State Heraldic Register of the Russian Federation under number 207, was prominent Chuvash artist Elli Mikhailovich Yuriev.
The Tree of Life
Images of ancient Chuvash symbols made in the spirit of national ornament became the figurative basis of the new state attributes. The main one - the "Tree of Life" - has deep roots in Slavic history and culture. The emblem of Chuvashia thanks to him has acquired amazing ambiguity. This is the personification of the historical relationship of the past, present and future of the people, the constant movement forward, rebirth, resilience, based on the root ties with the native land.
This sign, silhouette resembling an oak particularly revered by the Chuvash, consists of five elements that personify the various nationalities that inhabit the Republic of Chuvashia. The central line, starting from the base and dividing into two processes ending in curls from the national pattern, is a symbol of the indigenous population. At the bottom and in the middle of the tree, two signs are located in pairs, meaning other nationalities, as well as Chuvashs living outside the republic.
Coat of arms description
The modern emblem of Chuvashia is crowned with another ancient symbol - a triple-repeated eight-pointed star that personifies the sun. Three repetitions of the solar sign means the ancient Chuvash concept - “Pulna. Pur. Pulatpar "translated as" Were. There is. We will be. ”
Under it is a complex cut-out form of a heraldic shield, on which there is a symbolic image of the "tree of life." From below, the shield is framed by a red and yellow border ribbon with figured broadening at the bottom. The name of the republic in Chuvash and Russian is written on yellow ribbon on the tape: "Chavash of the Republic - Chuvash Republic." The upper edges of the ribbon are decorated with stylized images of golden leaves and hop cones - beer has always been a traditional holiday drink of the Chuvash.
Flag description
A rectangular panel divided into yellow and red fields, with a centrally located image of the “Tree of Life” and “Three Suns” - this is one of the main state symbols that the Republic of Chuvashia possesses.
Of great importance is the color symbolism. Yellow - in the Chuvash "sara" - one of the most beautiful in Chuvash folklore. It is identified with sunlight, with all the most beautiful and bright. In classical heraldry, this color is called gold and has its own interpretation - wealth, strength, loyalty, constancy, justice, etc.
Another color of the coat of arms and the flag of Chuvashia is sandalwood red. It also belongs to the most popular in Chuvash folk art. In heraldic practice, it is called purple and means power, courage, dignity.
Possessing great artistic expressiveness and significant semantic fullness, this state symbolism has entered the practice and culture of the people. It is actively used both in festive decoration and in everyday urban environments, while the capital of the Republic of Chuvashia - Cheboksary - is considered one of the most comfortable and beautiful cities in Russia.