NANING HERITAGE AND HISTORY MUSEUM
THE OPENING OF NANING TERRITORY
Naning was a Malay state, and a small territory located at the inner part of outer, northern Melaka, adjacent between Rembau (Negeri Sembilan) and Melaka. The size of Naning is around two hundred (200) miles, or appoximately two hundred and fifty (250) kilometers; and about thirty (30) kilometers from the city of Melaka.
The name Naning was derived from the local word for a poisonous insect, ‘naning’. It was a name which aptly described the state at that time; a name which relates to its poisonous nature and strength. ‘Taboh’ was made as Naning’s capital and the main administrative centre.
Back then, Naning boasted of a rich gold mine. It was also quite a fertile state, with yields in agriculture, tins, sticks, gambier, and fruits. The primary economic activity for the local society then was agriculture.
Naning has twenty-five (25) territorial divisions (Mukim) in which twenty-two (22) located in the district of Alor Gajah and the other three (3) in Jasin.
ADAT PERPATIH
Adat Perpatih was introduced to the Malay Peninsula in the 12th century. Datuk Perpatih Nan Sebatang had brought Minangkabau people to explore lands and opened up states. It was said that the first place which was settled in was the Taboh Naning area; and later on spread to Negeri Sembilan. The name of Adat Perpatih was derived from a title of Datuk Perpatih Nan Sebatang.
Adat Perpatih was created to facilitate peace and tolerance in the society It also highlighted the notion of democracy, wherein sovereignty was at the hands of the people. Rulings were made available throughout the conduct of meeting, by having the representatives from each of groups (suku-suku).
In reality however, Adat Perpatih was driven by two main factors; family or kinship; and land. Each of these factors complemented each other. It means that the Adat Perpatih society was a very strong agricultural society, among tightly knitted families. Minangkabau society, on the other hand, was very famous with an agricultural activity especially in cultivating a paddy fields.
