'Peranakan', 'Baba-Nyonya' (峇峇娘惹) and 'Straits Chinese' (土生華人; named after the
Straits Settlements) are terms used for the descendants of the very early
Chinese immigrants to the
Nusantara region, including both the
British Straits Settlements of
Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of
Java among other places, who have partially adopted
Malay customs in an effort (chronological adaptation) to be assimilated into the local communities.
The word Peranakan is also used to describe
Chinese Indonesians. In both
Malay and
Indonesian, 'Peranakan' means 'descendants'. Babas refer to the male descendants and the Nyonyas the female. The word ''nyonya'' (also commonly spelled 'nonya') may originate from the Portuguese word ''dona'', which means 'lady'.
Most Peranakan are of
Hoklo (Hokkien) ancestry, although a fair denomination of them are of the
Teochew or
Cantonese descent. Originally, the Peranakan were part Chinese, part Malay and part descended from the (non-Malay) original inhabitants of Singapore Island. Written records from the 19th and early 20th centuries show that Peranakan men usually took brides from within the local Peranakan community. Peranakan families also frequently imported brides from China and sent their daughters to China to find husbands. A small group of Indian Peranakans, known as the
Chitty, does exist as well. Another similar group of Eurasian Peranakans also exist as
Kristang people.
Language
The language of the Peranakans,
Baba Malay (''Bahasa Melayu Baba'') , is a dialect of the
Malay language (''Bahasa Melayu''), which contains many
Hokkien words. It is a dying language and contemporary use is mainly limited to members of the older generation; this is indicative also of the Peranakan culture at large.
In the
15th century, the city states of the Malay Peninsula often paid tribute to various kingdoms such as the kingdoms of China and
Siam. Close relations with China were established in the early 15th century, during the reign of
Parameswara, when Admiral
Zheng He (''Cheng Ho''), a Muslim Chinese, visited
Malacca. In return for such tribute, a princess of China,
Hang Li Po was presented as a gift to
Sultan Mansur Shah, the Sultan of
Malacca, at that time (c.1459 AD). The royalty and servants who accompanied the princess initially settled in
Bukit Cina and eventually grew into a class of straits-born Chinese known as the Peranakan. The Peranakan retained most of their ethnic and religious origins (ancestor worship), but assimilated the language and culture of the Malays. They developed a unique culture and distinct foods. A lot of sources claim that the early Peranakan inter-married with the local Malay population. However, the lack of physical resemblances have also led many experts to believe that the Peranakan Chinese ethnicity has hardly diluted. Some Peranakan distinguish between Peranakan-Baba (those Peranakan with part Malay ancestry) from Peranakan (those without any Malay ancestry). The Peranakan often sent their sons and daughters to China to look for spouses. Also, the religion of the local Malay population was Islam which forbids inter-marriage with other religions without conversion first. In the early 1800s, new Chinese immigrants to the Straits Settlements bolstered the Peranakan population.
History
Over the centuries, the Peranakans have evolved a unique culture that maintains many Chinese traditions, such as celebrating the
Lunar New Year and the
Lantern Festival, while adopting the customs of the land they settled in, as well as those of their successive colonial rulers. There are traces of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Malay and Indonesian influences in Baba culture.
By the middle of the twentieth century, most Peranakan were English educated, as a result of the British colonisation of Malaya, and the natural propensity of these people who were able to easily embrace new cultures. Because the Peranakans readily embraced English culture and education, administrative and civil service posts were often filled by prominent Straits Chinese. The interaction with the British also caused many in the community to convert to Christianity. The Peranakan community thereby became very influential in Malacca and
Singapore and were known also as the 'King's Chinese' due to their perceived loyalty to the British Crown. Because of the interaction of the different cultures and languages that Peranakans had, most Peranakans were (and still are) trilingual, being able to converse with Chinese, Malays and the British. Common vocations were as merchants, traders, and general intermediaries between China, Malaya and the West; the latter was especially valued by the British, since the Babas also enjoyed good relations with the Malay community and served as advisors to the royal Malay courts. In fact the term "Baba" is an honorific term in Malay; probably derived from Hindi/Sanskrit [Baba: literally means grandfather or father, and is used as a term of reverence and affection for an elderly gentleman].
Associations
Associations of Chinese Peranakan include the Peranakan Association of Singapore and the Gunung Sayang Association, a performing arts group. The Peranakan Association has about 1700 members, and the Gunung Sayang has about 200 members. Although the Peranakan Association consists of a mix of young and old, the Gunung Sayang Association has primarily elderly or retired members. In Malacca, there is an Indian Peranakan Association known as the Chitty Melaka. This is a tightly knit community of
Saivite Hindus. Chitty Peranakans display considerable similarity to Chinese Peranakans in terms of dressing, songs and folk dances.
Culture
Historical and cultural items from the Baba culture are displayed in cultural establishments on Heeren Street, Jonker Street and other streets in the same neighbourhood in
Malacca and in
Penang in Malaysia, and at the
Peranakan Museum in
Singapore. There one can find museums displaying furniture, food stuff, and even traditional clothes of the Baba and Nonya. There are also a small number of "Nyonya" restaurants in Singapore, Penang, Malacca, and the West. Free weekly street shows featuring Baba performances, and traditional and pop Chinese cultural performances are found in Jonker Street in Malacca (
Melaka). The shows are part of the night market scene, and are usually crowded with shoppers, both local and foreign.
The Peranakans were partially assimilated into the Malay culture (especially in food, dress, and language), while retaining some Chinese traditions (religion, name, and ethnic identity), thereby creating a fusion culture of their own. For instance, from their Malay influence, a unique
"Nyonya" cuisine has developed using the spices of Malay cuisine (examples are Chicken Kapitan, a dry chicken
curry, and Inchi Kabin, a Nyonya version of fried chicken). The women (Nyonyas) have taken to wearing the ''baju
kebaya'' (a Malay dress, seen most notably as the uniform of Malaysia and Singapore Airlines' female flight attendants). However, most of the Peranakans are not
Muslim, and have retained the traditions of ancestor worship of the Chinese; though some converted to
Christianity. The wedding ceremony of the Peranakan is largely based on Chinese tradition, and is one of the most colorful and fascinating wedding ceremonies in Malaysia and Singapore.
Peranakan culture is disappearing. Without colonial British support for their perceived racial neutrality, government policies in both countries following independence from the British have resulted in the assimilation of Peranakans back into mainstream Chinese culture. In Singapore, the Peranakans are classified as ethnically Chinese, so they receive formal instruction in
Mandarin Chinese as a second language (in accordance with the "Mother Tongue Policy") instead of Malay. In Malaysia, the standardization of Malay as
Bahasa Melayu — required for all ethnic groups — has led to a disappearance of the unique characteristics of Baba Malay.
The migration of some Peranakan families, particularly the well-to-do ones, has led to a small Peranakan disapora in neighbouring countries, from
Vietnam to
Australia. However, these communities are very small, and with the increasing use of the various languages in their respective countries, the use of Peranakan Malay or Baba Malay will be diluted.
See also
★
Sangley
★
Chinese Filipino
★
Chinese Malaysian
★
Chinese Indonesian
★
Thai Chinese
★
Overseas Chinese
★
Chitty
Bibliography
★ Lee Chin Koon: ''Mrs. Lee's Cookbook. Nonya Recipes and other favourite recipes.''
★ Mahmood, Datin Sari Endon: ''The Nyonya Kebaya: A Century of Straits Chinese Costume'', ISBN 0-7946-0273-8
★
Reconstructing Identities: A Social History of the Babas in Singapore, , Jürgen, Rudolph, Ashgate, 1998, costumes
★
The Straits Chinese: A Cultural History, , Joo Ee, Khoo, The Pepin Press, 1998,
External links
★
The Peranakan Association of Singapore
★
Singapore's Mother Tongue Policy
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