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What is the National Emblem of Ireland?
The coat of arms of Ireland was adopted on November 9, 1945, with the harp coat of arms. A golden harp is painted on the sky blue shield.
Blue symbolizes the blue eyes of the Irish people, the sea and the sky, and the harp is the “harp of angels” loved by the Irish people. It symbolizes serenity, peace, and fraternity.
History
The history of the harp as a badge can be traced back to the original Irish coinage. The harp first appeared on a coin during the time of Henry VIII. From Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, the front pillar of the harp was very simple. During the time of James I and Charles I, the coin featured an animal head. The first time a naked woman appeared on a coin was during the reign of Charles II. This coin was used from then until the Irish currency was abolished in 1822.
Concept of design
The harp is a medieval musical instrument. It was adopted as the state coat of arms of the Free State of Ireland. The original version of this harp is the Brian Burrow harp, which is now kept at Trinity University Dublin.
Since this unique harp was requisitioned by the state as a national symbol, other individual units had to use the design of the harp as their own.
As a symbol, the use of the harp in Ireland is not only the national emblem but the image of the harp is also found in many other places. The following are the times when the harps are referenced by each sign:
Navy Pennant: December 1939
Presidential Flag: February 12, 1945
Coat of Arms (National Emblem): November 1945
Fleet Flag: July 1947
The harp on the Irish presidential flag is different from the traditional coat of arms. In comparison, the harp on the national emblem is more gorgeous, and it is placed obliquely backwards in the playing posture (the strings are perpendicular to the horizontal line), as if the chest is straight forward. The harp on the presidential flag is more simple, the body is bent forward, and the strings are at a certain angle to the vertical line.
Also, the shield harp uses silver strings rather than the gold strings of the harp on the Presidential emblem; the Presidential emblem harp has twelve strings, while the shield harp has more strings. The base color of the coat of arms is a brighter blue, while the base color on the Presidential emblem is a relatively darker blue, and the same blue is used for the lines of the harp ornament on the Presidential emblem.
Harp
The harp (English: Harp, Italian: Arpa, German: Harfe, Persian: چنگ) is a large plucked stringed instrument. The harp is one of the oldest plucked stringed instruments in the world, originating in ancient Persia (Iran). It was shaped like a bow with strings.
Early harps only had strings arranged in a natural scale and played in a limited tonality. The modern harp was designed in 1810 by the French piano maker S. Erard. It has forty-seven strings of different lengths. Seven pedals can change the pitch of the strings and can play all keys.
Due to its rich connotation and beautiful sound quality, the harp has become a special color instrument in symphony orchestras and musicals. It is mainly used for harmonic accompaniment and glissando-style decorative sentences. .
The harp is also an important solo instrument in chamber music. When playing solo, it can play soft and beautiful lyrical or cadenza, which is very infectious.
