Malaysian Traditional Games:Wau
Wau has existed since the rule of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Malaccan Sultanate ruler in the year 1500.
Wau is unique because it is decorated with a lot of interesting designs. The moon kite design has been adopted by the Malaysia Airlines as its symbol.
In Malaysia, usually, the wau is flown after the paddy harvesting season or when the fisherman could not go to the sea. In other words, the game is one of the favourite pastimes for the farmers and fisherman.
It is believed that in the olden days, they weaved light and big leaves to make a wau. The leaves were tied to the kite 's framework, which is made of bamboo.
TYPES OF WAU
Wau Kuching ( Cat kite )
It is called a cat kite , another popular shape in Malaysia and decorated in the same way as the wau bulan. It has a hummer attached at the top of the kite. This hummer is used to lul the kite flier to sleep, to frighten away evil spirits, and to forcast the following days weather
Wau Merak ( Peacock kite )
Wau Merak has completly different leaf and flower designe from other wau kites. It is more Indonesian than Malaysian, and reflects the supposed origin of the design. It also has head an tail. The tail is usually heavy colored yarn , and the head is wire or bam wrapped with the same.
Wau Bulan ( Moon kite )
Wau Bulan is the most famous in Malaysia. It is called Wau Bulan because of the crescent -shaped tailpiece. Wau bulan usually have 2.5 metres wing span and height measuring up to 3.5 metres. It is richly decorated with colourful pattern of flower and leaves. In a windy day, wau bulan can reach a height of more than 450 metres. Malaysian Airline System has chosen it as its logo, to symbolize controlled flight.
Wau Jalabudi ( Women kite )
The shape of Wau Jala Budi or woman kite is the same as the other wau. The difference lies at its tail. It is called the woman kite because the shape of the kite looks like a woman.
Wau Burung ( Bird kite )
It is called wau burung because the kite look like a bird flying in the sky. The kite is famous in Indonesia. The shape of the wau is different from the usual wau.
How to fly the wau?
The colourful kites are played in the open paddy fields and along the sandy beaches. These places are suitable for flying kites because there are no trees or tall structures around. In fact, the wind blows strongly in these places. Normally, the wau is played after the paddy harvesting seasons or when the fishermen cannot go to fishing due the conditions of the sea. The best time to play the wau is in August and September.
In order to fly the wau, we need to have a tukang tarik and tukang anjung. The tukang tarik will hold the strings whereas the tukang anjung will hold the wau and stands below the wind.
The tukang anjung will release the wau to the air when the wind is not too strong. At the same time the tukang tarik will pull the strings and let the wau soar upwards beautifully.
There are the few secrets to control the movement of wau on the air. Only the players of the wau themselves know how to tackle the problems faced. An experienced player knows how to handle his wau in the air. Labels: what's about
Malaysian culture : Silat Melayu
Silat is an umbrella term used to describe the martial art forms practiced throughout the Malay Archipelago. Silat is a combative art of fighting and survival and it has been evolved in Indonesia and Malaysia civilizations for centuries into social culture and tradition.[1] During the colonization era, both in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam as British colonies and in Indonesia as Dutch colonies, practitioners (locally known as pesilat) used the martial art as a form to liberate from foreign authorities.
The distinctive forms of silat with other Asian martial arts, such as kung fu, tae kwon do or karate, lie on the cultural aspect. Silat is not only for combative purposes. When accompanied with traditional instruments, such as kendang, silat transforms into a folk dance. In Minangkabau area (the West Sumatra province of Indonesia), silat was the oldest men's tradition known as silek and it is one of the components to perform the Minangkabau folk dance of randai.[2] In Malaysia, one form of silat known of silat pulut also shows the harmonic silat styles as a dance accompanied by traditional instruments. A silat form in West Java province of Indonesia, known as pencak, is usually accompanied with music, notably by the traditional Sundanese suling instrument.
Silat spread throughout the Malay Archipelago since the seventh century AD, but its origin is still uncertain. However, silat has been acknowledged as a genuine Malay art.[4] Malay people that have inhabited coastal cities of Sumatra island and Malay peninsula, from Aceh in the north to Kelantan, Kedah and Riau archipelago in the south, were the people who practiced silat. Contacts with other ethnic groups in the coastal cities had also influenced silat. There is evidence that Chinese and Indian culture had influence the martial art forms.[5] When Islam was spread throughout the archipelago in the fourteenth century, it was taught alongside with silat. Besides as a combative art and cultural folk dance, silat then became a spiritual training.[1]
Silat was gradually refined into the specialized property of sultans, panglima (prime-minister) and pendekar (warriors) during the Malacca Sultanate, Majapahit and Srivijaya empires. It was the time when silat spread through Malay peninsula, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Borneo. Malays, in particular in Malay peninsula, considers the legendary story of Hang Tuah of the fourteenth century as the father of silat.[5]
n ancient times, Silat was as much a part of Melayu culture as any other form of education and prepared young men for adulthood. Because of this, there is a strong emphasis in this art on self-defence. However, war was not always on the Melayu mind.
Silat sits at the nexus between all aspect of Melayu culture. A true pendekar (warrior) will often have an artistic soul and cultivate interests in cultural fields such as keris metalwork, woodcraft, traditional dancing, Melayu dress, medicine, music and many more. Because of this, Silat still plays an important role in the lives of thousands of people across the Melayu world particularly with the rural village dwellers practising and making it part of their daily routines.
These pendekar were synonymous with the local medicine man, religious teacher or blacksmith, indicating society’s regard for such people of knowledge. Usually, a pendekar can also play traditional musical instruments such as the serunai, gendang ibu, gendang anak and gong, which normally accompanies silat dance performances.
Performances are still held during wedding ceremonies, festivals, or official celebrations. In such occasions, it is known as Pulut, referring to the sticky, glutinous rice that is often eaten at Melayu parties and wedding receptions.
Silat shares the same history in Malaysia (incl. Singapore and Brunei) and Indonesia during the colonization era as a form to liberate from foreign authorities.[5] During post colonization era, silat has been evolved into formal martial arts. National organizations were formed, such as in Malaysia: Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA), in Indonesia: Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia (IPSI), in Singapore: Persekutuan Silat Singapore (PERSIS), in Brunei Darussalam: Persekutuan Silat Brunei Darussalam (PERSIB), as well as tens of silat organizations in US and Europe. Silat is now officially included as part of the sport game, particularly during the Southeast Asian Games.
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