Classical heraldry contains few examples when the main element of the coat of arms becomes an image completely created by the artist, although containing a clear reference to the ancient national ornament.
From the Volga Bulgars
Since the VII century in the Northern Black Seathere was a state called Great Bulgaria. It was inhabited by Turkic-speaking nationalities, many of which already had a developed special culture — the Scythians, Sarmatians, and Alans. Under the blows of nomadic tribes, mainly Khazars, this state formation disintegrated, and the peoples who inhabited it moved to the regions of the Volga region and the Kama region.
Here they were assimilated with partFinno-Ugric tribes. As a result, the Volga-Bulgarian nationality was formed, which became the basis of many Volga and Uralic peoples: Mari, Udmurts, Erzyan, Bashkir. They were under double pressure: from the east - from the side of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate breakaway from it, from the west - from the Muscovite state gaining strength. Modern Chuvash people are considered to be the "product" of the mixing of the Bulgars with the Mari.
Chuvash Autonomous Republic
После взятия Казани войском Ивана IV в 1552 году there was an entry of the lands inhabited by the Chuvash into the multinational state of Russia. Chuvashia subsequently became part of Kazan and Simbirsk provinces.
The issue of autonomy of the Chuvash people was for the first timeraised only in 1920. Then the Chuvash Autonomous Region was proclaimed, after 5 years it was transformed into the Chuvash Autonomous Republic. In 1927, the Congress of the Soviets of the Czechoslovakia approved the coat of arms of Chuvashia, created by artist Pavel Egorovich Martens.
Взяв за основу герб РСФСР, он заменил the traditional wheat ears are framed in oak and fir branches, and decorated the ribbons that are intertwined with the Chuvash national ornament. But by 1937, under the pretext of combating local nationalism, even these small features from the symbols of the Chuvash Republic were removed. The coat of arms and the flag of Chuvashia repeated the All-Russian Soviet heraldic paraphernalia, differing only in the duplication of inscriptions in the Chuvash language.
New stage of statehood
The adoption in 1990 of the Declaration of Statethe sovereignty of the Chuvash Republic gave rise to changes in many areas of the republic’s life. The creative elite of all 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 symbols.
Common efforts have been developed conditionsholding a competition for the development of new state symbols, as well as the basic principles of the concept expressed by them. New flag and emblem of Chuvashia, its anthem was adopted in 1992, after numerous selections and discussions. The author of the coat of arms, entered in the State Heraldic Register of the Russian Federation under the number 207, was a prominent Chuvash artist Ellie Mikhailovich Yuryev.
"The Tree of Life"
The figurative basis of the new state paraphernaliaThere were images of Old Chuvash symbols made in the spirit of national ornament. The main of them - “The Tree of Life” - has deep roots in Slavic history and culture. The coat of arms of Chuvashia thanks to him acquired an amazing polysemy. This is the personification of the historical relationship of the past, present and future of the people, the constant movement forward, revival, perseverance, based on root connections with their native land.
Этот знак, силуэтом напоминающий особо почитаемый Chuvash oak, consists of five elements, personifying the various ethnic groups that inhabited the republic of Chuvashia. The central line emanating from the base and divided into two shoots, ending with curls from the national pattern, is a symbol of the indigenous population. Below and in the middle of the tree there are two signs in pairs, meaning other nationalities, as well as Chuvash living outside the republic.
Description of the coat of arms
Современный герб Чувашии венчает другой древний the symbol is a three-fold repeated eight-pointed star, personifying the sun. Threefold repetition of the solar sign means the ancient Chuvash concept - “Pulna. Pur Pulatpar "translated as" There were. There is. We will.
Под ним располагается сложной вырезной формы heraldic shield on which is a symbolic image of the "tree of life". Below, the shield is framed by a red ribbon with a yellow border with a figured widening below. On the tape in yellow letters the name of the republic is written in Chuvash and in Russian: “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 the traditional festive drink of the Chuvash.
Description of the flag
Прямоугольное полотнище с разделением на желтое и red field, with the centrally located image of the Tree of Life and the Three Suns - this is one of the main state symbols that the Chuvashia Republic possesses.
Of great importance is color symbolism.Yellow - in Chuvash "Sara" - one of the most beautiful in the Chuvash folklore. He is identified with the sunshine, with all the most beautiful and radiant. 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 flag of Chuvashia -sandalwood red. He is also among the most popular in the Chuvash folk art. In heraldic practice, it is called purple and it means power, courage, dignity.
Possessing a large artisticBy expressiveness and significant semantic content, this state symbolism has entered the practice and culture of the people. It is actively used both in the festive decoration and in the everyday urban environment, while the capital of the Republic of Chuvashia - the city of Cheboksary - is considered one of the most comfortable and beautiful cities in Russia.
