Bringing To Life: The Peranakan Story (Parts 1 & 2)

Part 1

Part 2

The above shows a documentary about the ancient South East Asian culture of the Peranakans who are a mix of Chinese and Malays in the Archipelagos of Malaysia and Singapore. It talks about the Peranakan culture, food and historic significance in the area's history.

A Peranakan artiste in Singapore

Photo credit: http://www.mainwayang.com/articleST23Nov2008.jpg

Highlights of Siapa Baba?

The above is a 3-minute video featuring the highlights of the multimedia Peranakan musical 'Siapa Baba?' that is performed on 21-22 Nov 2008 at the Republic Cultural Centre. It is proudly produced by The Main Wayang Company that is Singapore’s first professional Peranakan cultural arts and community theatre company. You may visit their official website at http://www.mainwayang.com/ for more upcoming events.

Famous traditions or beliefs

In the past, it was common for the Peranakan parents to make arrangements for their children's marriages.

As for the wedding ceremony, it is mainly based on Chinese traditions and has been one of the most colourful and elaborate ceremonies in Malaysia and Singapore.

Photo credit: A baba wedding by Cheo Kim Ban

Pre-wedding traditions

There are many distinct Peranakan practices that have been passed down from one generation to the next generation.

Food forms quite an important part of bridal gift exhanges from the engagement day through to the marriage rituals. Apart from a roast piglet, wine and jewellery, a bowl of kueh ee (red and white glutinous rice balls in syrup) will be included in the multi-tier bambook or lacquered baskets. By giving kueh ee, you are also sending an invitation to the wedding as it signifies fortune, purity, sweetness and a rosy life for the bride and groom.

Photo credit: A baba wedding by Cheo Kim Ban

Berandam is another important ceremony and it involves the ritual combing of the Peranakan bride's hair by the sang kek um (also known as the hairdresser or mistress of wedding ceremonies). The latter will start by combing a fringe for the bride before trimming it neatly. She will then tie some hair at both ends of the fringe with a piece of white or red ribbon. The ribbon is taken off during that night but the fringe on the forehead remains throughout the entire wedding ceremony.

According to the Peranakan traditions, an experienced sang kek um is able to tell if a bride is a virgin or not by looking at the hairline along the bride's forehead. The Peranakans also believed that the white ribbons symbolise purity and the red ones signify the joyous occasion.

Photo credit: A baba wedding by Cheo Kim Ban

Wedding traditions

During the wedding ceremony, the food or dessets are contained in kam cheng (a type of Nyonyaware) that are of various colours and sizes.

Photo credit: A peranakan legacy by Peter Wee

Dondang Saya is performed and danced by the guests. It is a type of rhyming song in Malay sung. To begin with, someone would start a romantic theme that was carried on by others and they would dance and sing at the same time.

During the actual wedding day, nasi lemak is also served during the wedding feast to mark the important occasion of verifying the bride's virginity on the night of consummation. This food item is prepared by the groom's family and then presented to the bride's family only when all are in happy agreement.

Photo credit: A peranakan legacy by Peter Wee

Just in case you're wondering, a Peranakan wedding costumes are also very fashionable. A typical Nyonya bridal gown has an elaborate cape collar, with three to four overlapping layers of materials resting on the shoulders, complete with a pleated skirt. The bride will be wearing accessories like gold brooches, diamond earrings, bracelets and anklets and they make her look like a “phoenix”. As for the groom, he will be wearing a three-quarter length embroidered tunic over an ankle-length gown. It is also part of the Peranakan wedding custom to wear an ornate silver belt or gold buckle under his gown. Both the bride and groom will also wear a special undergarment under their heavy layered costumes for ventilation purposes.

Photo credit: A baba wedding by Cheo Kim Ban

References:

Cheo, K. B. (2009). A baba wedding. Singapore: Times Graphics.

Gwen, T. H. (1953). A nonya mosaic: My mother's childhood. Singapore: Times Books International.
Wee, P. (2009). A peranakan legacy. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.

Some notable Peranakans from the past

Mr Tan Tock Seng (1798-1850)
Merchant and philanthropist. He founded the Tan Tock Seng Hospital 'for the sick poor of all nations' and contributed towards the construction of the Thian Hock Keng Temple. He was the first Asina to be appointed a Justice of the Peace.


Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock (1883-1960)
Member of the Straits Settlement Legislative Council. Initiated the formation of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in 1949 and became its first president. A Baba who fought for teh rights of Malaysian Chinese in particular and served the multiracial community in general. A road in Malacca is named after him.


Dr Lim Boon Keng (1869-1957)
Doctor and social reformer. He was the first Chinese to win the Queen's scholarship and the first president of the Xiamen University. He also co-founded the Singapore Chinese Girls' School with Sir Song Ong Siang.


Mr Tan Jiak Kim (1859-1917)
Businessman and philanthropist. An avid supporter of the British during the First World War, he was the founding president of The Peranakan Association in Singapore, then known as the Straits Chinese British Association.

Photo credits: http://uncledicko.blogspot.com/2010/04/tan-tock-sengs-neglected-tombnewsclip.html, http://www.gess.edu.sg/gess/main/ganengseng.php, http://www.gess.edu.sg/gess/main/limboonkeng.php, http://www.huayinet.org/page.php?en,57,1,10,4,6

(Adapted from Gateway to peranakan culture by Catherine Lim GS)


Reference:
Lim, C. G. S. (2003). Gateway to peranakan culture. Singapore: Asiapac Books.

What is a sarong kebaya?

The above colourful sarong kebaya is one of my favourite attire. I have kept it properly in my wardrobe.

This traditional costume is the Nyonya's first modern dress back in the 1920s. It was first worn by the Chinese women who lives in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The top of this two-piece outfit is the kebaya while the sarong is the accompanying wraparound skirt. What makes the sarong kebaya unique is its floral patterns and embroidery. Embroidery refers to the patterns that are sewn onto cloth using threads of various colours. It usually takes around two years to master the art of the embroidery. On average, a skilled tailor requires at least two weeks to think of a pattern for the sarong kebaya.

Here are some tips for buying a sarong kebaya:
- Choose one that is ideal for your body shape, height and age.
(If you are a young Nyonya, then you should try sarong kebayas that have pastel shades.


Reference:
Khoo, J. E. (1996). The straits chinese: A cultural chinese. Singapore: The Pepin Press.

Being Peranakan

A Peranakan, a word derived from the Malay root word anak which means child, is a descendant of early Chinese migrants who settled historically in the Straits Settlements of colonial Malaya. The Straits Settlements consisted of the territories of Malacca, Penang and Singapore.

It is popularly accepted that a Peranakan, whether a Baba (male) or a Nyonya (female) is distinguished by four features:
- Descent from the marriage of a Baba to a Nyonya
- Ability to speak the Baba Malay language
- Preference of the Nyonya cuisine
- A liking for the sarong kebaya and kasut manek (beaded slippers)
Photo credits: http://www.challenge.gov.sg/2011/03/coming-up-march-2011/, http://www.haiwaiyou.com/haiwaiyoublog/?p=2589

As for ancestors, I can go as far back as my paternal grandparents. Both of them came from Fujian province in southern China, and the later generations were all born in what is today modern Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia.

As a Peranakan, I speak the Baba Malay language that contains borrowings from the languages or dialects of Chinese, Malay, Portuguese and English. Sadly, most of my family and friends lost the ability to speak the original Chinese dialects.

Spending a day with a Peranakan family is perhaps the best way to learn about the culture. However, chances are that it will take much more than 24 hours to fully appreciate the richness and diversity of the Peranakan culture. For instances, the daily life of the Peranakans, leisure activities of the Peranakans, Peranakan food, wedding, special occasions, the Peranakans today, as well as the Do's and Don'ts in Peranakan culture.

I hope this website will help you appreciate the beauty of the Peranakan culture. Whatever your interests, you are bound to find something that fascinates you.