The coat of arms of Chita: history and modernity

The territory where today's modern Chita is located, in ancient times was inhabited by Mongols and Turks. Later on these lands the Tungus nationality was formed. The Tungus (Evenki) were very strong and enduring people. That's why we were able to survive in such difficult natural conditions. In the XVII century on the Tungus land came the first Russian immigrants - the Cossacks Petr Ivanovich Beketov. Beketov's detachment was sent by Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich to the Shilka River to erect the first fortification in these places - Shilkinsky (Nerchinsk) prison.

Beketov's detachment stopped for a winter at the banks of the Ingoda river, before reaching Shilka, and set up a camp there. A few years later, a second Russian detachment came to the same lands - led by the commander Afanasii Pashkov. In a place not far from the confluence of the rivers of Ingoda and Chitinki, he set up a small settlement of Plotbishte, from which the history of Chita began.

History of the formation of the emblem

The first coat of arms of the city of Chita was approved in 1913. The decree on this was signed by Emperor Nicholas II on April 26 in the old style.

After the revolutionary events of 1917 and the formation of the young Soviet state, old state symbols, including coats of arms, were abolished.

In 1994, thanks to local historians, work was begun to restore the coat of arms of Chita. The arms were restored. Chita is one of the first among other Russian cities to establish its official symbols. The historical image of the city's coat of arms was reconstructed thanks to the active work of the Chita architect Viktor Ivanovich Kulesh.

Updated coat of arms

The coat of arms of Chita was legalized by the adoption of the First Statute of Chita, which implied the development of official symbols of the city. However, in 2002 the Heraldic Council of the Russian Federation developed new rules for heraldry. According to them, the symbols of the Chita emblem did not correspond to the territorial-administrative status of the modern state. As a result, a new Regulation on the coat of arms of Chita was adopted on November 15, 2007.

The draft of the new symbol was approved by the Chita State Duma in November, and legalized at the state level on December 15, 2007. Changes did not affect the whole coat of arms, but only some of its optional parts. Instead of ears, the crown was surrounded by a laurel wreath, the crown instead of three appeared five teeth, and the shield began to encircle the ribbon of the Order of the October Revolution. Order of this Chita was awarded in 1972. The ribbon of the order is red with blue longitudinal stripes. Such a ribbon adorns a significant award in the Soviet state - the Order of Lenin - and symbolizes courage, courage, self-sacrifice in defending the Motherland.

Description of the coat of arms

The coat of arms of Chita depicted in the photo is made up of parts approved by the Heraldic Bureau. The mandatory part of this coat of arms is the shield of the French (rectangular) form, divided into several parts. According to the description of the coat of arms of Chita it is indicated that the upper part of the shield is gold, the lower one is made of enamel of two colors - green and red in the form of a palisade. The palisade has eight teeth.

According to the history of Chita, their number is associated with the development in the 17th century of the Russian settlers and explorers of the Chita region and the establishment of eight jails - Selenginsky, Barguzinsky, Undinsky, Eravninsky, Telembinsky, Irgensky, Albazinsky. The colors for the palisade were chosen not by chance. There is a version that this color was border poles, separating the Chita land from Mongolia and China. It is connected with the historical role that Chita performed at the beginning of the 20th century. It was Chita that established trade relations between the Russian Empire and these states.

The optional parts of the coat of arms of Chita include: an image on the shield, crown, namet, ribbon. In the center of the upper field of the shield is the head of a red bull with silver tongue and eyes, depicted in full face. Above the shield is a golden three-toothed crown. As a corn, ears of gold were used. On the sides the shield is wrapped around the Alexander's ribbon - a two-color red with orange stripes. This tape is a ribbon of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and in arms symbolizes military valor. In addition, the ribbon of this order was often used in tsarist Russia in the arms of the provinces, city governors and county towns.

Symbols of the coat of arms of Chita

Coat of arms of Chita and coat of arms of Chita Region

An interesting fact is that the image of the Chita coat of arms is in the lower field of the shield of the coat of arms of the Chita region. It is depicted under a red one-headed eagle with a silver beak, paws and tongue, flying from right to left and carrying a red bow and arrow in its claws.

Red color on the arms of the city of Chita and the Chita region was not used accidentally. From ancient times, he personified courage and valor, fearlessness, love, generosity, love and beauty.

Gold, so abundantly used to create a coat of arms, symbolizes power, purity, wealth and abundance, constancy and respect, and silver - nobility, freedom, wisdom and hope. In addition, gold and silver on the arms also says that the Chita lands were rich in gold and silver mines.