Peranakan - Its Historical Beginning And Culture At A Glance

Why are there different terms and how did they originate and used interchangeably?

The word "Peranakan" is also used commonly to describe Indonesian Chinese back in those days (am not sure if it still apply now). In both Malaysia and Indonesia local languages, "Peranakan? means descendant. "Baba" refers to the male descendants and "Nyonya" the female. "Straits-born Chinese" simply means the descendants of Peranakan people who were originally born in Malacca (like me and my big family), and also extended to Penang and Singapore as these places are also located along the shore lines of the Straits of Malacca.

Why did some spell it as "Nyonya" while some others in Penang and Singapore may spell it as "Nonya"?

Well, the answer is simple. "Nonya" (no-nee-yah) is the simplified version to ease its pronunciation. "Nyonya" (nee-yo-nee-yah - and you have to say it fast and not by syllable) is the original spelling and pronunciation which is still being retained in Malacca. According to sources, "Nyonya" was rather tongue-twisting to say for many Chinese (who are non-Peranakans) whose mother-tongue is not Malay in places like Penang and Singapore. Thus, the simplified version emerged. Please note that Peranakans are also Chinese in race, thus I specified the above as non-Peranakan Chinese (other dialects like Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, Hakka, Hokkien etc). However, majority of the Peranakans are part Hokkien (probably due to the ancestral heritage of China's Princess Hang Li Po - see History below).

History: How did this unique culture first emerged?

Well, in the early 15th century, close relations with the kingdom of China was established during the reign of Parameswara (the founder of Melaka way before Malaya -now Malaysia- was formed). Great tributes were given during the visit by China's Admiral Cheng Ho (Zheng He) to Malacca. In return for such tributes, a princess of China called "Puteri Hang Li Po" ("Puteri" means Princess) was presented as a gift to the ruling Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mansur Shah circa 1459 AD. The Princess and her entourage of servants then settled in Bukit Cina (means "Chinese Hill"). With the Princess having married the Sultan and later her entourage also followed suit by marrying local Malays, thus eventually emerged the beginning of this centuries-old culture called "Peranakan" or "Baba-Nyonya". In addition, records also show that following the successful union of China and Malacca through the marriage of Sultan Mansur Shah and Princess Hang Li Po, more Chinese immigrants had come to Malacca, leading to more inter-marriages and the continuous development of this unique Peranakan heritage.

By the middle 20th century, most Peranakans were English educated as a result of British colonisation of Malaya (which included Singapore at that time). They filled jobs in civil service as they had embraced English culture and education openly. The interaction with the British also resulted in some Peranakans converting to Christianity, thereby they became influential under the British colonisation. The Peranakan communities were also known as the King's Chinese due to their perceived loyalty to the British Crown. The culture and heritage then developed further and flourished to Penang and Singapore as Malacca Peranakans were transferred to fill administrative and civil jobs at these places. At that time, Malacca, Penang and Singapore were treatised as the British Straits Settlements.

However, records show that in the 19th century even before British colonisation of Malaya, some Peranakans from Malacca, drawn by commerce, had also migrated to the bustling ports of Penang and Singapore, and settled there. During this time, many Peranakans became traders and merchants and had amassed great wealth, mainly by the 1st generation of Peranakans. Unfortunately today, the Chinese proverb proved to be quite true - the 1st generation builds, the 2nd gathers, and the 3rd squanders! Up till the mid 1900s, many Peranakans were really wealthy and the community had colonised most of the large Dutch-influenced houses on Hereen and Jonker streets in Melaka. Fyi, apart from the British, Malaya was also colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch and Japan once upon a time in history.

Suffice to say that today, Malacca, Penang & Singapore remain the 3 distinct locations where the Peranakan heritage is firmly established, preserved and appreciated. And proudly, till today Malacca continues to be known as the original birthplace of the Peranakan heritage and where its culture most well preserved, not through newly built museums or acquired cultural artifacts but through the generation of thousands of Peranakan families who are still living there and living out the culture through normal everyday lives.

Pic: An old map of British Straits Settlements in Malaya.

Culture & religion

The Peranakans were partially assimilated into the Malay culture, especially in food, dress and language used, while retaining some of the Chinese traditions and culture, like religion, name, folk medicine and festival celebrations they brought from China, thereby creating a new kind of mixed culture of their country of origin with local. Among those, like Peranakan cuisine which has developed with strong influence of the spices of Malay cuisine and the famous Sarong Kebaya clothing for the ladies.

Peranakans are not Muslims despite the inter-marriage with local Malays because in those days, there wasn't any sort of law that requires any religious conversion. Thus, till this day and age, original Peranakans have retained their ancestral worship tradition of the Chinese (unless they are Christians), especially of their wedding ceremony which is largely based upon the Chinese tradition.

The Peranakan culture has lived through centuries and it is so unique that there is almost a kind of 'exclusive status' prescribed to it now. This is so evident that many would claim to be descendants of Peranakans through the bloodlines of their deceased ancestry although they may not be all too familiar with its history, customs and language. Nevertheless, it is important to keep this heritage alive.

Looks

Because the early Peranakans inter-married with the local Malay population, most Peranakans are tan in skin color, albeit in this modern day and age where the culture has been diluted, it may not necessary be so anymore.
Pic: Nyonyas in Sarong Kebayas in the early days. No Nyonyas would be dressing this way anymore as the Sarong Kebaya has sinced evolved throughout the years. Sarong Kebayas in those days were normally in light shades of transparent pastel colors with small floral embroideries all around the edges. Kebayas are now bold in colors and huge on floral designs, and its cutting has changed quite a bit too since it re-emerged as a fashion lately.

Personally, for me and most of my siblings, we are a little tan and there's an endless number of times where I'm often thought of as a Malay. This happened again just this morning at the wet market in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore. I was buying fruits when a Chinese aunty saw a packet of dried shitake mushrooms I was holding and she asked in Malay "Melayu ada masak ini kah?" (translation "Do Malays cook this?"). That's because dried mushrooms are typically used in Chinese cooking, not Malay. So, I politely corrected her (countless times I've done this!) that I'm not a Malay and am a Baba-Nyonya. Then, she went "Ohhhh!". :)

Language

Because of the interaction with different cultures and as well as retaining their own, Peranakans, up to the mid 1900s, were trilingual. They were fluent in Malay, English and Chinese. However, Peranakans have their own language which is Peranakan Malay. Many of the words are different from the actual Malay language, and contains the influence of several Hokkien (a dialect of mainstream Chinese) and Indonesian words. The slang of the language and the way it is spoken are also somewhat different from the official Malay language in Malaysia. An example of Indonesian influence, an elderly Peranakan Nyonya in Malacca is often called a "Bibik" or in short "Bik" which means 'aunty'. It is also kind of a term of endearment and respect for the elderlies. Hence, my mom was so fondly known as "Bibik Chwee" (Chwee is her middle name) to many.

The Peranakan way of speaking is very informal and sometimes can be perceived as rude. There are 2 contrasting ends of a Nyonya's character. Before that, let me outwardly say that Peranakan ladies have reputations that preceed them. They are either very gentle and softspoken or the complete opposite! My 3rd sis' late mother-in-law is like the first description, whilst my late maternal granny whom I've never met was exactly like the latter description. My mom was just gentle and loving with us but never incur her wrath, as she can also be truly fiesty and fierce with whomever that bullied her children :D. My mom used to relay to us that when she was a young girl, she had once a while peered at the door when my granny was trying to bun up her hair. Each time the 'bunning' failed (in this case it means having just a strand of hair out of place!), my granny would grab her comb or her slipper and fling it right across the room at my mom and asked her to go out and start pounding the spices. In this day and age, that is called 'child abuse'!!

Most, if not all, Peranakan families in Malacca still speak Peranakan Malay today. One can hear it at many corners of or across Malacca's many narrow streets or in coffee shops etc. We speak it at home, with relatives, and even with other non-Peranakan Malacca Chinese. Infact, a typical Peranakan person could not speak Chinese, just like my dad. Meanwhile, Peranakans in Penang speak more Hokkien (as I was told by a Penangite). The older generation of Peranakans in Singapore can still speak Peranakan Malay but generally, this is not the case with the younger generation who are mainly English and Mandarin speaking.

Anyway, there are a lot to talk about this unique heritage of mine and many other Peranakans alike, from its elaborate wedding customs to crockery to architecture to fashion. I shall post these bit by bit as I do more research. Like any other modern-day Nyonyas attacked by modernity and pop culture, there is a whole lot for me to discover as well, as I live to share more about All Things Peranakan. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed reading this.

Sources: my own recollection and knowledge passed down by my parents, relatives and family friends, my own interactions and observations with other Peranakans, various Internet research and Google images.

Caveat emptor: many other relevant information may be missing. my above post is meant to give a quick glimpse only.