{"id":11401,"date":"2017-11-13T23:31:52","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T23:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/?p=11401"},"modified":"2017-11-14T00:07:31","modified_gmt":"2017-11-14T00:07:31","slug":"lets-find-out-more-about-baba-and-nyonya-at-singapore-peranakan-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/2017\/11\/lets-find-out-more-about-baba-and-nyonya-at-singapore-peranakan-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s find out more about Baba and Nyonya, a unique hybrid culture at Singapore Peranakan Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Peranakan Museum Singapore Vs Peranakan Mansion Penang Malaysia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been always interested to find out more about Peranakan culture and their community. I have been to the Peranakan Mansion in Penang<\/a> few years back, that mansion is truly awesome, it is more like a rich Peranakan mansion rather than a museum. You get to touch a lot of the artifacts and sit at the most beautiful wood furniture in the world. That’s why it was so real and so fun. You get to pretend as if you were eating at the expensive Peranakan dinning table with their exquisite tableware and silver or gold cutlery. Over here in Singapore Peranakan Museum, you don’t get to do that.\u00a0 The setting are more serious, just like a “museum”.\u00a0 There are 9 Galleries altogether in the Museum to showcase each events and lifestyle of Peranakan people.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Old Tao Nan School Became Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n

The beautiful architectural heritage is actually a former Tao Nan School which was built in 1912. You can see “1910” written at the top of the building. The architecture combines Western elements such as columns, capitals and arches, with open spaces and balconies reflective of its tropical settings.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Who are Peranakan – The Baba & Nyonyas<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Peranakan heritage is tale of adaptation. The term ‘peranakan’ in Malay means ‘locally born’ and refers to the descendants of foreign traders who married local women in Southeast Asia centuries ago. Female descendants are being called as “Nyonyas” and Male descendants are called “Babas”.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Dick Lee\u00a0 – Singapore Artist, also a proud Peranakan Descendant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dick Lee remark : “Keroncong music makes me feel Peranakan”<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Highlight of Peranakan Museum at first floor – Gallery 1 “Origin”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Peranakan Jewellery Collection – Gold Belt<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Children Kebaya<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Peranakan Batik Design<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

You will see few big walls with Peranakan Batik Design located first and second floor in the museum.\u00a0 These walls made beautiful backdrops for picture taking.\u00a0 The batik design showcasing their intricate artwork, stunning color and\u00a0 pattern.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Wedding Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Wedding Galleries show different stages of the wedding rites as well as items used in the full twelve-day peranakan wedding. Of course, less well-off families would make do with a simpler celebration.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

In this picture, the highlight is actually the perfume bottles, from Europe early 20th century. Don’t forget to check out the hair brush too.\u00a0 I hope the ‘ghost’ in the mirror do not frighten you \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Wedding Furniture<\/strong><\/p>\n

This display here presents furniture that could have been found in wealthy Peranakan household in the straits Settlements from the late 19th through the mid-20th century. The pieces would have been either ordered from China or made locally, but the style were inspired by European furniture from different periods, with some dating back to the 18th century.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Wedding Silver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Silver has been always a status symbol in the Peranakan Chinese culture and only the wealthier Peranakan families can afford to use them.<\/p>\n

The pieces featured here are objects that were used during special occasions such as wedding. They include pillow and bolster ends, curtain hooks, tempat sireh (sireh box), wine ewers, tea kettles and rose water sprinklers.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sam Kai Altar located at the Living Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sam Kai mean ‘three world’ and refers to Heaven, Earth and Moon, dedicated to Ting Kong (God of Heaven, Earth and Moon). What caught my attention was a large round bamboo tray placed on the floor between the sam kai and the family altars, some preparation for a wedding. Sorry, I did not manage to take the picture of the Sam Kai Altar, look similar to Chinese Buddha Altar. It is actually located at the far right hand side of this picture.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Two-tiered cabinet with a crown of Lions<\/strong><\/p>\n

This antique came from a mid 19th century bungalow that was the oldest house in Singapore when it was torn down in 1982. The panel features dragons, phoenix and Chinese coins.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Pair of Pagoda Trays<\/strong><\/p>\n

The shape of these pagoda trays is very unique, you don’t get to see them often. The trays is used in a grand procession of servants bearing symbolic gifts to be exchanged in the wedding.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop and Touch the Wedding Gifts<\/strong><\/p>\n

You get to experience to touch these artifacts and feel them.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Religion Gallery –\u00a0<\/strong>Deity Altar<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Altar Sideboard – an unusual piece<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an unusual piece of altar because it was being converted from traditional Taoist deity and ancestor worship to Roman Catholicism. So what we know is the owner is a Buddhist at first then convert to be a Catholic later. If you look closely, you can spot typical Taoist motifs such as dragons, qilin, phoenixes and the Three Star Gods of good fortune, prosperity, and longivity (Hock, Lock, Siew) on the crown of the altar.<\/p>\n

\"converted<\/a><\/p>\n

Food and Feasting Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artifacts used in the olden day at Peranakan Kitchen, check out the colorful “tingkat”\/ the multi layer container.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorful Nonyaware<\/strong><\/p>\n

The display of Nonyaware here are the best and colorful, used for special occasion so it reflect the Peranakan taste and abundance. There are many Nonyaware, but in this picture, only “Kamcheng” were shown, big and small size with different bright colors. Obviously these “kamcheng” Nyonyaware were used for happy occasion and celebration, not during funerals or mourning. What is “Kamcheng”? Kamcheng were used for storing drinking water, pickles such as achar pickles and other food, usually came with a cover at the top.<\/p>\n

\"Kamcheng<\/a><\/p>\n

Pinggan Mangkok from Jindezhen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pinggan Mangkok literally means “plates and bowls”, these set here was made in Jindezhen. Notice long rectangular tables referred as “Tok Panjang”, actually the word used for a big feast. “Tok” in Hokkien dialect mean “table” and “panjang” in the Malay word for “long”. You will notice a lot of mixture of Malay and Hokkien word in Peranakan language. Food served is a mixture of Chinese, local Malay and European cuisine at the special occasion of Tok Panjang feast.<\/p>\n

\"Tok<\/a><\/p>\n

Pick up the Black Phone\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pick up this old black telephone and listen to the Peranakan girl who speak in the phone.\u00a0 Foreigner won’t understand for sure.\u00a0 There is a lot of mixture of Baba Malay and Hokkien dialect used.<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/a><\/p>\n

Old Story Books<\/strong><\/p>\n

These little tiny story books translated from Chinese story “Journey to the West – Monkey King” into Malay.<\/p>\n

\"Story<\/a><\/p>\n

Building Layouts<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

The building\u2019s layout is based on Straits Settlements bungalows, where rooms sit around a central hall while toilets and kitchens are outside the main building. The museum is still using wooden floor so it makes some sound especially when you are walking with heels.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Lee Kuan Yew oil Canvas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dressed in the white uniform of the PAP is Lee Kuan Yew recites the oath of office to become the first prime minister of Singapore. Lee’s maternal grandfather, Chua Kim Teng, was a Peranakan Hokkien. This oil canvas was masterpiece by Lai Kui Fang, a Singaporean artist who studied on a French Government scholarship 1963.<\/p>\n

\"Peranakan<\/a><\/p>\n

Artifacts from Lee Kuan Yew and his wife\u00a0Kwa Geok Choo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Their barrister wigs used in court were also shown in the museum.<\/p>\n

\"Lee<\/a><\/p>\n

Ancestor portrait of Tan Kim Seng<\/strong><\/p>\n

You will see an oil painting with a guy dressed in blue traditional Chinese clothing in blue. He is a prominent Peranakan merchant and philanthropist in Singapore in the 19th century.\u00a0A special Victorian-style iron fountain named after Tan Kim Seng was built in 1882 in memory of him located at Esplanade Park Singapore.<\/p>\n

\"Tan<\/a><\/p>\n

True Blue Pantry<\/strong><\/p>\n

True Blue Pantry is at a corner in the museum, you may want to take some refreshment after the tour. It offer fruits juices, floral teas, coffee and soft drinks. They even sell nyonya kueh keuh\/cakes.<\/p>\n

\"True<\/a><\/p>\n

Admission Fees<\/a> :<\/strong><\/p>\n