20 ms·

Mysterious, mathematical origins of world’s most unusually shaped national flag

21 points by rustoo 2y ago

jey 2y ago
The actual geometric description of their flag: https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/np-law.html https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/np-law.html
tobr 2y ago
> But the flag is also studied by mathematicians. > “It’s the nerdiest mathematical flag that is out there,” Kaye adds. > In 1962, King Mahendra asked a mathematician to develop precise specifications for the size and shape of the Nepali flag that would be used to standardize the flag. Those specifications are enshrined in Nepal’s constitution. > Among the rules: the sun must have 12 rays […] And that’s all we get about the mysterious, mathematical origins of the flag.
- SiempreViernes 2y ago
  It's not very clear what is supposed to be mysterious about it, seems like its just a traditional design. Admittedly the origin is somewhat unclear, but I'm guessing its that more mundane sort of mystery where you don't know something because it was done long ago and you don't know who has a copy of the receipt.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
jxy 2y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-rectangular_flags https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-rectangular_flags
rbanffy 2y ago
The goal was to annoy software engineers ;-)
Mordisquitos 2y ago
> Nepal’s flag is a popular one among flag obsessives, who refer to themselves as vexillologists I'm not even into vexillology, but that description is so offensive that the shockwave offended me as collateral damage. While it may be true that vexillology isn't a strictly defined academic field, calling people who are interested in it "flag obsessives" is quite demeaning — all the more so considering that not only are fans of vexillology not necessarily "obsessed", but also that one can well be obsessed by flags and yet have no knowledge of vexillology.
- andrewflnr 2y ago
  The writer was just trying to come up with a cute, colorful phrase for "people who like flags", because writers like cute, colorful phrases. It's not A+ journalism, but I don't think it's offensive and it almost certainly wasn't meant to be offensive.
  - psunavy03 2y ago
    "I didn't mean it" doesn't really excuse offending someone.
    - andrewflnr 2y ago
      It definitely weakens the impact. Anyway, there's no evidence that anyone relevant is actually offended. Random commenters getting "offended" on behalf of others don't count.
- NooneAtAll3 2y ago
  1) being obsessed is not offensive 2) being offended for others only increases the issue, as it becomes political
tdeck 2y ago
The older version with faces looks even cooler IMO https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal#/media/File%3AFlag_of_Nepal_(1743%E2%80%931962).svg https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal#/media/File%3A...

21 points by rustoo 2y ago

jey 2y ago

The actual geometric description of their flag: https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/np-law.html https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/np-law.html

tobr 2y ago

> But the flag is also studied by mathematicians. > “It’s the nerdiest mathematical flag that is out there,” Kaye adds. > In 1962, King Mahendra asked a mathematician to develop precise specifications for the size and shape of the Nepali flag that would be used to standardize the flag. Those specifications are enshrined in Nepal’s constitution. > Among the rules: the sun must have 12 rays […] And that’s all we get about the mysterious, mathematical origins of the flag.

SiempreViernes 2y ago
It's not very clear what is supposed to be mysterious about it, seems like its just a traditional design. Admittedly the origin is somewhat unclear, but I'm guessing its that more mundane sort of mystery where you don't know something because it was done long ago and you don't know who has a copy of the receipt.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

jxy 2y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-rectangular_flags https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-rectangular_flags

rbanffy 2y ago

The goal was to annoy software engineers ;-)

Mordisquitos 2y ago

> Nepal’s flag is a popular one among flag obsessives, who refer to themselves as vexillologists I'm not even into vexillology, but that description is so offensive that the shockwave offended me as collateral damage. While it may be true that vexillology isn't a strictly defined academic field, calling people who are interested in it "flag obsessives" is quite demeaning — all the more so considering that not only are fans of vexillology not necessarily "obsessed", but also that one can well be obsessed by flags and yet have no knowledge of vexillology.

andrewflnr 2y ago
The writer was just trying to come up with a cute, colorful phrase for "people who like flags", because writers like cute, colorful phrases. It's not A+ journalism, but I don't think it's offensive and it almost certainly wasn't meant to be offensive.
- psunavy03 2y ago
  "I didn't mean it" doesn't really excuse offending someone.
  - andrewflnr 2y ago
    It definitely weakens the impact. Anyway, there's no evidence that anyone relevant is actually offended. Random commenters getting "offended" on behalf of others don't count.
NooneAtAll3 2y ago
1) being obsessed is not offensive 2) being offended for others only increases the issue, as it becomes political

tdeck 2y ago

The older version with faces looks even cooler IMO https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal#/media/File%3AFlag_of_Nepal_(1743%E2%80%931962).svg https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal#/media/File%3A...