Crafts, Culture and Games of Malaysia
Crafts
Batik- Coloured designs on textiles, which can be either cotton or silk, are produced by applying wax to the parts that are left uncoloured. This traditional method is practiced in various forms throughout the Malay Archipelago, with Terengganu batik as a particular favourite with tourists. Its elegant print stand out as evening wear, and can be found as art pieces on bags and cushion covers.
Songket- A legacy of the courts of Pattani, the fabric is usually reserved for use on special and ceremonial occasions. Dubbed the “cloth of gold”, songket is produced when threads are interwoven with gold and silver strands, resulting in a brocade of intricate designs and patterns. Each length of cloth represents days of laborious and dexterous work using traditional looms and cotton-spinning devices.
Keris- The most important personal weapon of the Malays, the keris is a two-edged sheathed dagger with an ornate carved handle. Although it has become famous on account of its sinuous blade, the keris is intended to deliver a horizontal thrust, as distinct as a downward stab.
Culture
Wayang Kulit (Shadow Play)- Wayang Kulit is a traditional theater art-form using puppets and shadow-play to tell the epic tales of the Ramayana. The puppets are made of buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. There may be as many as 45 puppets - handled entirely by a single master puppeteer, known as the Tok Dalang.
Maggagong (Gong Ensembles)- Brass or bronze gong ensembles form an inherent part of Sabah’s ethnic music. The melody varies from district to district. The Kadazan Dusun group include six songs and a drum called the sopogogungan (Penampang) in their musical composition while the Bajau from Kota Belud add kulintangan, a set of kettle-bedded gongs.
Bergendang (Drumming)- In the traditional musical performances of the Malay community in Sarawak, it is the womenfolk who play the gendang or drums. Seated behind a screen, they drum out their beats in rhythm to songs sung by young maidens and dances performed by men.
Silat- Silat, the Malay art of self-defense combines a series of supple movements, which enables a person to defend himself under provocation. The aim of silat is to instill confidence in oneself in the face of adversity. Occasionally, a keris (small dagger) may be used.
Games
Wau (Kite Flying)- See the dazzling display of kites gliding and swooping across the azure sky! Once played by farmers on leveled ground after post-harvesting season, it now attracts people from all walks of life. Over the years, kite festivals have encouraged creativity in kite-making, thus resulting in kites that are designed in the shape of a fish, cat, caterpillar, and bird. But the Kelantanese wau-bulan (moon-kite) still remains as popular as it was years ago.
Sepak Raga Bulat (Rattan Ball Game)- Once a game of village youths, sepak raga bulat has become a popular sport among the young urban males. Players standing in a circle keep a rattan ball aloft with any part of their body except their hands. The ball is kept in constant motion without hands touching it.
Chingay (Balancing Giant Flags)- Malaysians of Chinese descent who are known for their acrobatic skills, display their prowess during the Chingay Procession, which is associated with the year-end Penang Festival. Performers balance huge poles with enormous triangular flags, on their forehands, chins, lower jaws and shoulders.
Gasing (Giant Top Spinning)- Giant top spinning is no child’s game! Each gasing or top weighs approximately 5kg. It calls for strength, coordination, and skill. The gasing, if expertly hurled, can spin for as long as 2 hours. Top spinning competitions are an annual feature in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia especially Kelantan and Terengganu.
Congkak (Board Game)- Congkak is a game of wit played by womenfolk in ancient times that required no more than holes in the earth and tamarind seeds. Today, it has been refined to a board game. It consists of a wooden board with two rows of five, seven, or nine holes and two large holes at both ends called “home”. Congkak, played with shells, pebbles or tamarind seeds, requires two players.