When you are here in Melaka, check out these forgotten traditional arts and crafts and understand the cultural value of these dying heritage.
√ Nyonya Beaded Slippers
Beaded slippers, also known as kasut manek-manek are a must have for the Straits-born women known as Peranakan Cina or Nyonya. It is a unique traditional arts and crafts to the Malaccan. These shoes are worn during formal occasions like weddings and special functions. The materials used include silk cloth, gold thread and multi coloured beads.
√ Wooden Clogs
From an era long gone by, these traditional clogs called“terompah“ were usually worn within the confines of the home. In Melaka town today, clog makers still hand made these pieces of footwear in a variety of sizes, colours and designs, with an addition of low or high heeled.
The wood used for the terompah base is usually senduk (Endospermum Malaccese), mahang (Macaranga sp.) while the top cover can be made from plastics or canvas.
The traditional Nyonya women preferred metal knobs. In some cases they use silver to give a dainty look to their footware. Each clog had a screwed-in metal knob instead of the rubber bands over ordinary clogs.
√ Bound Feet Shoes
Feet binding tradition begins during the Ching Dynasty in China. Young girls at the age of four and of noble lineage were subjected to this tradition. The bandages were only unwrapped when the feet were washed with “min fan“ a Chinese medicine. These girls were not allowed to perform any menial task as their tiny feet were considered the trade mark of beauty at that time. Today the custom made miniature shoes measuring 3 inches in length can be found at Jalan Tokong.
√ Drums
The kompang or gendang are two types of local drums. These drums are one of the Malay community’s traditional musical instruments. The kompang is the most popular drum that can be seen and heard! You could find it being beaten enthusiastically by youngsters at Malay weddings and official ceremonies. Drums are normally made from goat skin, which has been soaked, dried and cured. Then, the dried skin is stretched over local wood to create this unique musical instrument.
√ Spinning Tops or Gasing
Top spinning (main gasing) is a game that requires strength, precise timing and dexterity. This is a game played by men as it requires energy to spin the tops. It used to be the main pastime activity in the villages or “kampongs“. Definitely not children’s toys, a gasing or spinning top can weigh up to ten pounds and can be sometimes as large as a dinner plate.
However, nowadays there are smaller sized tops available for children that would like to try this traditional activity.
√ Congkak
This is a traditional game played by the women. In olden days, the women spend their free time playing this game while waiting for their husbands to come home from wars. Congkak is played by 2 players only and is made of wood.
Sometimes, the women can also dig holes in the sand to play this game. Normally they will dig the congkak holes beneath their houses.
√ Chinese Calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy is an oriental art and very much like a painting. The difference is that it uses Chinese characters to “express“ the spiritual world of the artist. If you do not know the Chinese Characters, no problem, just treat it as an art and simply look at them for enjoyment.
Aside as a practical technique for writing Chinese Characters, Chinese Calligraphy is rich in content and serves as important part of Chinese culture as it is being used largely in the Chinese community in different form and medium for their traditional arts and crafts. More on Chinese Calligraphy.
Come and share with us if you found any intresting traditional arts and crafts in Melaka, Malaysia. Click here to share.
