Who are the Peranakans?

What are the men and women known as?

      In the modern society of today, many Peranakans have become detached from their roots, especially the younger generation. They show little interest in their culture and do not have the faintest idea of their own heritage. Some of the younger Peranakans feel that the Baba culture is chaotic and confusing. They are completely out of touch with their roots. What has caused this?

       In our website, we will give some insight into the heritage of the Peranakans and hopefully provide an opportunity for both young and old to get in touch with their roots. The subtitles 'Those Born Here'  gives us an introduction to the Peranakans.  Next, 'Japanese Occupation' chronicles the downturn of the Peranakan culture. Finally, the floorplan will lead you to our website and give you an idea of the interior of a Peranakan house.

‘Those born here’

The term Peranakan simply means "those born here". Peranakans are the descendants of cross marriages between the Chinese and Malays. In the Sejarah Melayu ( Malay Annals), it was recorded that a   Ming Dynasty princess, Hang Liu, arrived in Malacca to be wed to the Malacca Sultan Mansur Shah (1446 - 1459). Part of the the princess's entourage included five hundred youths of noble birth who settled in the city. These youths in the early fifteenth century might have inter-married within the Malay community, therefore starting the first generation of Peranakans.The term 'Baba', is another name people widely used for Peranakans. However, 'Baba' can also refer to male Peranakans while the women are known as Nyonyas or if they are older, Bibiks.

          Often, people refer to the Peranakans as Straits Chinese and the terms, Peranakans and Straits Chinese, have been used interchangeably. There is actually a slight difference between these two terms. Straits Chinese refers to the Chinese born in the former Straits Settlements, comprising of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. A Straits Chinese is not necessarily a Baba.

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Japanese Occupation

The Japanese Occupation marked the downturn of the Peranakan culture, triggering important changes in the Peranakans’ cultural identity.

During the Japanese Sook Ching (which literally means clearing and purging) Occupation, many Babas were targeted. The Sook Ching Operation was when people and those suspected of being anti-Japanese were to be rounded up and massacred after a screening and inspection exercise. Inter-marriages were hastily arranged between Nonyas and non-Baba Chinese. This lead to radical changes in the Peranakan Culture as it was being surpressed. Even after the Japanese Occupation, at 1942, the vibrancy of Peranakan culture was never fully restored.

In addition, The Japanese Occupation forced many Nonyas into the labour force, inevitably causing true-bearers of Baba culture to become less confined to home. Also, the Peranakans considered the ceremonies to be too time-consuming and expensive in the "new environment", and were abandoned and simplified. As time passed, more Peranakans did not speak the Peranakan patois and did not practice the cultures. This led to the erosion of the Peranakan culture.

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