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  Baba and Nyonya

The Baba Nyonya community is one of the unique communities found in Malacca. Baba and Nyonya, also known as Peranakan or Straits Chinese, are the descendants of noble Chinese who migrated to the British Straits Settlements of Malacca and adopted the local Malay culture. Baba is the term used for the Peranakan male while Nyonya is used for the Peranakan female. This community has existed before the 15th century due to intermarriages between the Chinese traders and local Malays. Their existence and social standing have greatly increased with the marriage of Sultan Mansur Syah with Princess Hang Li Poh from China. (Ruby, 2008)

Traditional Baba and Nyonya family.

http://groupf-babanyonya.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

History

It applies especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who have adopted partially or in full Nusantara customs to be somewhat assimilated into the local communities. They are the elites of Singapore, more loyal to the British than to China. Most have lived for generations along the straits of Melaka and not all intermarried with the local Malays. They are usually traders, the middleman of the British and the Chinese, or the Chinese and Malays, or vice versa. They almost always have the ability to speak two or more languages. In later generations, some lost the ability to speak Chinese as they became assimilated to the Malay Peninsula's culture and started to speak Malay fluently as a first or second language. (Williamson, B., 2012)

Religion ( Ancestral Worship )

For the religion of Baba & Nyonya, they were Chinese-influenced; they adhere to ancestral Chinese religion and rituals. They worship their ancestors and pray to Chinese deities.  They are not Muslims, but whatever they practice, they adapted local Malay traditions, which create a harmonious relationship between two different customs and traditions. (Tieng Wei, 2013)

 

Why did they adopt local culture and language at all? It is said that many of the Peranakans are the product of Chinese men who took local brides. They were Chinese men from the working class, who did not have the means to get a Chinese wife from their homeland. The brides may be Malay women of the peninsula or those from Sumatra - it is also said that the British helped in importing Batak women to be brides for the single Chinese men. As a result, their offsprings display a mix of Chinese and Malay cultural traits.

There is also the Peranakan who did not intermarry with the local Malay population. Rather they imported brides from China, and sent their daughters back to China to find husbands. These are likely to be traders who were well off and had the means to execute such arrangements. Nonetheless they still adopted local cultural and way of life.  (Tye, T., 2005)
 

Baba Nyonya subscribed to Chinese beliefs: Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism, celebrated the Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival

Language

The language of the Peranakans, Baba Malay (Bahasa Melayu Baba), is a creole dialect of the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu), which contains many Hokkien words. It is a dying language, and its contemporary use is mainly limited to members of the older generation. English has now replaced this as the main language spoken amongst the younger generation. (Williamson, B., 2012)

Baba & Nyonya’s Name ( Influnced By Chinese )

They will add the Baba in front of the names of the guys and Nyonya for the ladies. Their names are like Chinese names. They have surname in front, a middle name which we follow the generations and a last name which is a given name. Then generation name means that, for female and male, they will have the same middle name. (Tieng Wei, 2013)

Clothing

Nyonya Kebaya

http://www.fashionvalet.com/leila-kebaya-nyonya-in-pink.html

The Straits Chinese wore similar clothing to the native Malay's Baju Panjang (long dress) with Batik Sarung (batik wrap-aroud skirt). Later, they adopted the Indonesian kebaya and developed it into their traditional clothing. (AiPheng, 2011)

http://www.funny-quotes.picphotos.net

The main difference of nyonya kebaya from other kebaya is that, the material used for the top is sheer. The material can be gauze cotton, voile or georgette. Since the top is made out of translucent material, it is necessary to wear an inner cotton camisole which is called "anak baju". (Nazlina Hussin, 2009)

http://izwanizzati.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=284

The top is embroidered with beautiful and refined motifs of flowers with extra emphasis at the collar, the sleeves and the hem of the jacket. The flowers represent the softness of women and create the lady like feel. The motifs are usually hand-made. As with other craft, machine-made embroidery would not look as good as the hand-made ones. (Nazlina Hussin, 2009)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/eken/3774303259/in/photostream/

As for the sarong, batik from Java is used. Locally known as "batik Jawa", there are several cuts to choose from. The more shapely ladies would love to show off their lovely legs with a sarong with a slit in front. The slit would only show as they walk. (Nazlina Hussin, 2009)

There are two basic styles of nyonya kebaya. The one with long jacket known as kebaya labuh and also another with the short jacket known as kebaya pendek. (Nazlina Hussin, 2009)

http://diyanafuad.blogspot.com/2011/10/kebaya-nyonya.html

Kebaya labuh is usually worn by elderly ladies. The cut is straight, and the length comes down to the knees, sometimes almost to the calves. The material is still sheer, and anak baju is also needed. A set of brooches (usually a set of three) are used to secure the front of the jacket. A chiffon embroidered handkerchief is cleverly tucked at the collar completes the look. (Nazlina Hussin, 2009)

http://diyanafuad.blogspot.com/2011/10/kebaya-nyonya.html

Kebaya pendek is much preferred by the younger nyonyas. The cut hugs the figure and the length of the jacket only reaches the hips. This costume shows off the shape of the women beautifully. (Nazlina Hussin, 2009)

Beaded Shoes

Traditional kasut manek design often has European floral subjects, with colors influenced by Peranakan porcelain and batik sarongs. These slippers are also handmade, and therefore not practical for daily use. (Nazlina Hussin, 2009) They are delicate and obviously not suitable for rough walking. But from the 1930s, modern shapes became popular and heels were added.

Kasut manek

http://kasutmanikstraitscraft31.blogspot.com/

Wedding

A traditional Baba Nyonya Wedding or Peranakan Wedding is loaded with complex rites preparations and numerous ceremonies which last up to 12 days. It’s a very tedious process in preparations, time and money. Similar like their Chinese counterpart, the Peranakan put a great emphasis on choosing auspicious dates and times. However, their taboos are much more and strictly observed than the Chinese. (Ruby, 2008)

Merisek

Before the wedding, there would be “merisek” group formed by the match-maker and few elderly relatives to inform the girl’s family of their intention and to seek approval. They will not talk formally (in normal daily conversations) but talk in a mixture of quatrain or pantun. (Malay influence). To ensure that the couple has a happy wedlock, they will ask for the intended girls’ date of birth or “Pek Zhi“. Later they will consult a Feng Shui Master to check the boy and girl compatibility with each other. (Ruby, 2008)

Lapcai Day

Lapchai Day is also known as engagement day. This day is the starting of the 12-days rituals. After everyone has come to an agreement, a ceremony of exchanging gifts between the two families will be held. (Ruby, 2008)

The Setting

The Gifts

http://www.slideshare.net/tiengWei/society-19796105

Cheo-thau Ceremony

Nowadays, the “merisek“ ritual has long been abandoned. The Baba Nyonya wedding ceremony starts with the performance of purification-and-initiation-into-adulthood rites. This ceremony or ritual is known as Cheo-thau. It is done by both parties (bride & groom) at their respective homes during auspicious hours agreed upon earlier. (Ruby, 2008)

Comb the bridegroom’s hair 3 times, and recite verses wishing health, fortune and happiness.

Flowers and hair pins placed on to the bride’s plain bun.

http://www.slideshare.net/tiengWei/society-19796105

Chim-pong Ceremony

Next is the Chim-pong or the coming-together-of-the-bride and bridegroom ritual. This is when the couple pays homage to heaven; earth and man before a special three-tiered alter called sam-kai. Elaborated preparations can be seen at the alter table. This ritual is very important as the marriage is dully solemnized during this stage.

 

The whole practice is guided by an elder known as Sang Kheh Umm or Mak Andam (Chief Mistress) to ensure the smooth flow of the marriage ceremonies and rituals. TheSang Kheh Umm is experienced in the obligatory rites & rituals of Baba Nyonya Wedding. 

 

Every gesture and movement of the couple has been carefully rehearsed to synchronise with music supplied by a Chinese clarinet. This music is known as “Seronee“. The trademark of Baba Nyonya wedding is when the couple will have to walk sideway.

The bride and bridegroom sitting on the prepare wedding alter.

http://www.chasingfooddreams.com/2013/07/a-southern-peranakan-wedding-affair_23.html

The First Look

The bridegroom will only get his first look at his wife when they meet in the bridal chamber. This is the time when the husband is allowed to lift the veil over his wife’s face with guidance from the Sang Kheh Umm. (Ruby, 2008)

The Bridal Chamber

http://www.slideshare.net/tiengWei/society-19796105

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