MUZIUM KECANTIKAN / MUSEUM OF BEAUTY
SUSUPAN BIBIR YANG DIPAKAI OLEH KAUM FALI DI CAMEROON UTARA
LABRETS WORN BY THE FALI OF THE NORTHERN CAMEROON
Pemakaian labret atau susupan bibir, walaupun masih meluas tetapi tidak seragam dalam kalangan suku-kaum Fali. Di sesetengah kawasan, hanya sebilangan kecil wanita tua yang dilihat masih memakai labret kecil yang diperbuat daripada batang sekoi. Di wilayah yang lain pula, labret logam berbentuk paku dengan torehan hiasan merintangi kepala akan dipakai pada bibir atas atau kedua-dua bibir. Bentuk paku ini mempunyai kepala leper atau tirus serta mempunyai satu atau dua mata.
Di kawasan Peske, labret yang dibuat daripada jerami atau logam kadangkala digantikan dengan jenis plastik yang selalunya berwarna merah. Di daerah Kangou, jenis labret yang sering dilihat diperbuat daripada batu kapur yang digilap dan berbentuk serombong. Beberapa orang kanak-kanak perempuan telah ditindik bibir atas sebanyak lima kali dan ditindik bibir bawah sebanyak sekali supaya dapat disusupkan batang sekoi. Kini, batang sekoi digantikan dengan penggores api yang berwarna hijau.
Di kawasan Kangou, labret bukan sahaja sebagai perhiasan batu semata-mata, tetapi ada kaitan dengan mitos penciptaan. Menurut mitos tersebut, wanita pertama yang melahirkan semua insan telah menerima kurniaan pertuturan daripada Tuhan melalui pengantara yang berupa seekor katak. Atas nasihat katak itu, ibu tersebut menebuk bibir anak perempuannya yang sulung dengan duri, yang keesokan harinya digantikan dengan batang jerami sehingga gadis itu dapat memakai susupan daripada batu kapur dari ‘Bandar Bidzar’ yang berbentuk seperti serombong serta digilap.
Adat yang lahir daripada mitos ini terus diamalkan oleh kaum wanita yang ingin meniru rupa katak. Ceper atas yang bergaris pusat kira-kira tiga sentimeter melambangkan lelangit mulut katak, manakala yang disusupkan ke dalam bibir bawah separuh luas melambangkan lidah binatang itu. Dengan mengetuk kedup susupan ini, ia menghasilkan bunyi katak. Secara perlambangan, ia mengesahkan tugas mereka sebagai penyebar ilmu ketuhanan, manakala kaum lelaki hanya sebagai pelaksana kerja.
Apabila seorang wanita meninggal dunia, susupan bibirnya ditanggalkan dan diturunkan kepada saudara perempuannya atau kepada gadis yang belum baligh. Susupan itu tidak boleh diberi kepada orang luar.
Pentingnya labret yang melambangkan ilmu ketuhanan yang disampaikan oleh katak ditekankan melalui cara orang Fali mendirikan tempat simpanan rumput kering yang terbahagi antara ketua keluarga dan isteri-isterinya. Reka bentuknya melambangkan seorang wanita hamil dengan bahagian-bahagian yang melambangkan anggota tubuh wanita. Sebuah tempat simpanan dalaman yang lebih kecil berbentuk botol pula melambangkan anak yang belum lahir. Tempat simpanan ini digunakan sepenuhnya untuk menyimpan kacang tanah dalam keadaan hancur yang diumpamakan sebagai benih lelaki.
Tempat simpanan juga disebut “tempat simpanan bagi katak” atau “tempat simpanan bagi firman”. Untuk tujuan ini, dua biji tembikar digunakan. Tembikar yang besar digunakan untuk menutup bahagian atas dan yang kecil untuk menutup rapat tempat simpanan dalaman yang kecil. Ini melambangkan susupan bibir yang juga bermaksud katak dan ajaran ketuhanan yang dibawanya kepada manusia.
Although it is still widespread, the wearing of labrets is neither uniform nor universal among the Fali sub-groups. In some areas, only a few old women are seen wearing small labrets made of mille stalks. In other regions, metallic nail-like labrets with ornamental incision across the head are worn on the upper lip or both lips. The nails may have flat or conical heads, with one or two points.
In the Peske area, metal or straw labrets are sometimes been replaced by plastic materials, oftenly red in colour. In the Kangou district, the type of labrets most frequently seen is made from polished limestone of cylindrical shape. Some little girls had their upper lips been pierced five times and their lower lip once so that the mille stalk can be inserted. Nowadays, it is replaced by matchsticks preferably green in colour.
In Kangou, labrets are not merely stone ornaments, but it is related to the myth of creation. According to the myth, the primordial mother, the women who gave birth to all beings received the gift of speech from god through the intermediary of a toad. On the toad’s advice, she herself pierced the lips of her eldest daughter with a thorn, which she replaced on the following day with the stalks of the straw until the girl could wear labrets made of limestone from the town of Bidzar, shaped into the cylindrical form and polished.
Custom born of this myth has been kept alive ever since. The upper disc, with a diameter of about three cm symbolizes the toad’s plate whereas the one inserted into the lower lip which is only half of the size represents the animal’s tongue. Then, by clicking the two labrets together, the women evoke the toad’s croaking. Symbolically, it reaffirms their functions as the diffusers of divine knowledge, while the men merely carry out their routine.
When a woman dies, the labrets are removed from her corps and bequeathed to her sister or to a girl below the age of puberty. They are not to be given to outsiders.
The importance of these labrets, which symbolize the divine knowledge transmitted by the toad, is emphasized by the way the Fali built their storage silos, divided between the masters of the household and among his wives. Its design represents parts of the female body. An inner, much smaller silo shaped like a bottle represents an unborn child. It is used exclusively to store crushed peanuts, which is likened to the male seed.
The silo is also called “silo of the toad” or “silo of the word”. Thus, for the purpose, two types of potteries are used. The larger is used to close the top part while the smaller one is used to seal the small inner silo. This symbolizes the labrets used which indirectly signify the toad and the divine teaching brought to men.
PEMAKAIAN PIRING BIBIR
THE WEARING OF LIP PLATES
Pemakaian piring bibir sedikit sebanyak menimbulkan kesulitan kepada pemakainya. Ini kerana sebelum makan, makanan yang hendak dimakan perlu dihancurkan atau dipotong kecil dan diletakkan di belakang lidah sebelum mengunyah. Tambahan pula, apabila hendak minum lidah akan diletakkan di atas piring dan di bawah pinggir bekas minuman. Jika merokok, rokok tersebut akan diselitkan di tepi mulut. Piring ini menekan gigi dan boleh menyebabkan gigi tertolak keluar dari barisan atau melonggarkan gigi pemakai. Semasa perayaan atau upacara tertentu, perhiasan baru biasanya akan dibuat ke atas piring bibir yang dihias dengan rerambu, tali dan pelbagai corak. Piring bibir dipakai siang dan malam. Sewaktu tidur, piring bibir akan dicondongkan ke atas bagi melindungi sebahagian muka dan keadaan ini akan mendedahkan bahagian bawah yang terhias. Piring bibir akan ditanggalkan sewaktu membersihkan tepi bibir, pinggir piring dan ketika mandi.
The lip plates cause some inconvenience to the wearers. It is because the food had to be crumbled or cut into small pieces and then put at the back of the tongue before eating. Moreover, if they want to drink, they had to place their tongue on the plate and under the rim of the drinking container. If they want to smoke, the cigarette is wedged in a corner of the mouth. The pressure of the plate against the teeth can force the teeth out of alignment or loosen them. During the ritual festivals new ornaments are made and decorated with tassels, strings and patterns. Lip plates are worn throughout the day. When sleeping, the plate is often tilted upwards concealing part of the face and exposing the decorated underside. Plates are removed perhaps only to clean the margin of the lips, the rim of the plate and when bathing.
KAUM SURMA
THE SURMA
Tempat tinggal kaum Surma ialah di Habshah, bersempadan dengan Barat Daya Sudan dan mempunyai seramai 30,000 orang penduduk. Kawasan ini mempunyai banjaran gunung setinggi 7,000 kaki dan tanah rata yang luas. Kaum Surma merupakan kumpulan yang hidup secara separa pindah-randah. Mereka bercucuk tanam dan menternak lembu. Bagi kaum ini, bilangan lembu yang dimiliki membayangkan kekayaan seseorang itu dan keupayaan mereka untuk membeli isteri. Walaupun mereka hidup menternak di barat Sungai Omu, pertempuran di antara kaum Bumi di selatan dan kaum Diai di sebelah utara sering berlaku.
Kaum Surma tidak mempunyai peralatan perang yang lengkap untuk mempertahankan diri dan mereka pernah dihalau dari penempatan mereka. Ini telah mengakibatkan mereka kehilangan lembu ternakan kerana dirampas oleh musuh. Keadaan ini telah memaksa mereka menduduki kawasan yang kurang sesuai untuk menternak lembu. Walau bagaimanapun, mereka dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan keadaan ini dengan mencarigali emas untuk mengganti lembu yang hilang atau untuk membeli senapang untuk pertahanan.
The home of the 30,000 Surma of Ethiopia lies on the Southwestern border of Sudan. The area has a-7,000-foot mountains and wide expanses of lowlands. The Surma are a semi-nomadic people. They cultivate crops and breed cattles. The number of cattle owned reflects a man’s wealth and his ability to buy wives. Despite supporting their living by breeding cattles on the west of the Omu River, inter tribal clashes often occur between the tribe of Bumi in the south and the tribe of Dizi in the north.
Generally, the Surma are poorly equipped when it comes to self defence and they also have been driven out of their settlement. Thus, they have lost their cattles to the enemy. This circumstance forced them to settle on a land less suitable for breeding cattles. However, they are able to adapt to this situation by mining gold in order to replace the cattles lost or to buy gun for defence.
MERIAM-MERIAM KOTA MELAKA
CANNONS OF KOTA MELAKA
Mengikut sejarah orang-orang Melayu di Nusantara telah menggunakan senjata api seperti meriam dan senapang semenjak abad ke-7 lagi. Senjata api ini telah digunakan oleh kerajaan Srivijaya (Sumatera) Langkasuka (Semenanjung Tanah Melayu), Tarumanegara, Mataram dan Majapahit (di Jawa). Meriam atau bedil ini bersaiz sederhana dikenali dengan nama rentaka, lela dan lain-lain. Orang-orang Melayu telah mula menggunakan Meriam-meriam yang lebih canggih setelah kedatangan Turki, Portugis, Belanda dan Inggeris dalam abad ke-16.
Setelah Portugis menakluki Kota Melaka pada tahun 1511, kapten tentera Portugis, Alfonso de Albuquerque, melaporkan yang beliau telah menemui diantara 2,000 ke 3,000 meriam di Kota Melaka. Sebahagian daripada meriam-meriam ini telah dipamerkan di Muzium Tentera, Lisbon.
Pihak Portugis telah membawa banyak meriam mereka untuk mempertahankan Kota Melaka. Namun tiada selaras pun dapat ditemui pada masa sekarang. Mungkin pihak Portugis telah mengalihkannya ataupun meriam-meriam ini dicairkan atau dimusnahkan oleh pihak Belanda selepas mereka menawan Kota Melaka pada tahun 1641. Berikutan penjajahan Belanda di Melaka, ini bererti kemasukan meriam-meriam mereka pula disini. Beberapa meriam Belanda masih boleh dilihat di pintu gerbang Santiago. Kebanyakan meriam-meriam ini diperbuat sama ada daripada tembaga atau gangsa.
Pihak British pula telah membawa masuk meriam-meriam yang diperbuat daripada gangsa dan besi. Meriam besi telah digunakan mereka semasa peperangan Naning pada tahun 1831-1832. Walaupun beratus-ratus laras Meriam telah ditempatkan di Kota Melaka pada suatu masa dahulu, sekarang hanya terdapat beberapa pucuk sahaja boleh dilihat di kawasan Bukit St. Paul.
According to history, Malays of the Archipelago had used firearms such as cannons and guns since the 7th century. The firearms were used by the kingdoms of Srivijaya (Sumatera), Langkasuka (Malay Peninsular), Tarumanegara, Mataram and Majapahit (in Java). The medium-size cannons or rifles were known as rentaka, lela and others. The Malay had started using more advanced cannons after the arrival of the Turks, Portuguese, Dutch and English in the 16th century.
After the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, Alfonso de Albuquerque, captain of the Portuguese army reported that he had encountered 2,000 to 3,000 cannons in Kota Melaka. Several of the cannons are exhibited in the Army Museum, Lisbon.
The Portuguese brought many cannons to defend Kota Melaka. However, none of them could be found today. Perhaps the Portuguese had moved them or the cannons were melted down or destroyed by the Dutch after they captured Kota Melaka in 1641. The colonialization of Dutch in Melaka meant that they brought in their cannons here. A few of the Dutch cannons can be seen at the Santiago archway. Most of the cannons were either made of copper or bronze.
The British brought in cannons made of bronze and iron. They used the iron cannons during the Naning war in 1831-1832. Although hundreds of cannons existed in Kota Melaka a long time ago, only a few of them can still be seen in the St. Paul’s Hill area today.
BUSAR DAN PANAH
THE BOW AND ARROW
Sejak zaman prasejarah, busar dan panah adalah satu senjata tradisional yang digunakan dari jarak jauh. Asal-usul kewujudan ini, samada ia evolusi tempatan ataupun pengaruh luar, tidak dapat ditetapkan. Dari zaman dahulu kala lagi, kaum Orang Asli telah menggunakan busar dan panah, dan cerita-cerita mitologi tempatan juga ada menyebut beberapa orang pakar memanah. Ternyata ilmu penempahan dan penggunaannya sudah lama dipraktikkan di negara ini.
Busar diperbuat daripada kayu atau logam, dan dilentur dengan tali untuk menembaknya. Saiz busar juga berbeza mengikut keperluan tuan yang menghendakinya. Tali yang digunakan diperbuat daripada kulit pokok terap yang dipintal atau pun daripada sutera. Panah diperbuat daripada bahan-bahan ringan dengan bulu burung atau binatang ditambah di penghujungnya untuk menegakkan haluan. Kepala panah diperbuat daripada logam dengan bentuk-bentuk yang tertentu tetapi ia tetap tajam. Selalunya, kepala panah dicelup dalam getah ipoh, iaitu sejenis racun. Sekiranya terkena pada sasaran, mangsa akan mati.
Busar yang dipamerkan diperbuat daripada logam dan berusia lebih kurang 90 tahun.
The bow and arrow is one of the long-ranged traditional weapons used since pre-historic times. The origins of its existence here, whether through local evolution or through knowledge brought in from elsewhere, are unclear. The aboriginal people have used the bow and arrow for a long time, and many local myths mention these weapons. The Malay Annals too include the names of some expert local archers. From here, it can be concluded that the knowledge of making bows and arrows, and their usage have existed in this country for a long time.
The bow is made either of wood or metal, with a cord fixed in a curve from either end. The size of the bow is determined by its use. The cord is usually made from the inner bark of the ‘Terap tree’ or in some cases, silk. The arrow is normally made of light materials with feathers attached to it to provide stability when it is shot. The arrowhead is usually made of metal and comes with various shapes, but always with a pointed head. The arrowhead has usually been soaked in the sap of the ‘Ipoh tree’, which is poisonous enough to kill its target.
The bow displayed here is made of metal and approximately 90 years old.
LEMBING
MALAY SPEARS
Senjata Melayu dibahagikan kepada dua kategori, iaitu senjata-senjata panjang seperti lembing, tombak, keris panjang, pedang, parang dan senjata-senjata pendek yang meliputi semua jenis keris serta senjata tikam yang lain. Antara senjata-senjata panjang, hanya lembing dan tombak sahaja adalah senjata lontaran.
Terdapat pelbagai jenis lembing di negara kita hanya dibahagikan kepada dua kategori, iaitu lembing dan tombak. Lembing digunakan untuk berlawan dari jarak dekat. Ia boleh dikenali dari matanya yang lurus serta tajam, mempunyai tulang berjalur di tengah-tengah matanya, manakala tombak pula mempunyai mata yang papar dan lebar.
Sebahagian besar lembing dan tombak Melayu adalah ringan, lebih kurang 180 sentimeter panjang, dan mata logam yang nipis diikat kuat pada batang kayu dengan rotan atau simpai logam. Beberapa jenis tombak juga digunakan untuk upacara adat istiadat. Tombak-tombak yang digunakan untuk upacara tertentu mempunyai saiz dan kepanjangan yang berbeza, manakala tombak-tombak yang digunakan dalam upacara-upacara istiadat istana pasti mempunyai saiz dan kepanjangan yang sama.
Lembing dan tombak sudah digunakan pada zaman prasejarah. Pada zaman awal, matanya dibuat daripada buluh dan kayu. Kemudian logam seperti tembaga, gangsa, besi, ataupun emas telah digunakan sebagai mata lembing. Namun ia bergantung kepada status dan kemampuan pemilik. Pada masa sekarang, penggunaan lembing dan tombak dihadkan kepada upacara-upacara istiadat dan istana sahaja.
Malay weapons fall into two categories, the long weapons such as spears, long keris, sword, and the long parang; and the short weapons such as the different types of keris and daggers. Of the long weapons only the spear is a thrown weapon.
There are many types of spears found in this country. They are categorized into two main groups, namely the ‘lembing’ and ‘tombak’. The ‘lembing’ were used in fights at close quarters, and were distinguished by their long and sharp blades, with a ridge in the centre of the blade. On the other hand, the ‘tombak’has a smooth and flat blade.
Most of the Malay lembing/tombak are light, approximately 180cm long, with thin metal blades firmly tied to the shaft with rattan or metal bands. The tombak are also used for ceremonial purposes. They could be in different shapes and lengths, but those used for palace ceremonies were of uniform size and length.
The lembing/tombak has been used since pre-historic times. The blades were originally made either of bamboo or wood. Later, metals such as copper, bronze, iron and even gold were used, depending on the status and wealth of the owner. Today, the lembing/tombak is restricted to ceremonial and palace purposes only.
PERALATAN SERAMIK SWATOW
SWATOW CERAMIC WARES
Fukian adalah satu daerah di China Selatan yang mengusahakan pengeluaran seramik pada abad ke-16 dan 17. Namun begitu seramiknya tidak begitu dikenali seperti dinasti China iaitu Ming atau Ching, tetapi dikenali sebagai peralatan Swatow. Ia dinamakan mengikut pelabuhan dari mana peralatan tersebut dieksport ke pasaran luar seperti Malaysia, Indonesia, Filipina, Jepun, India dan lain-lain.
Perbezaan antara peralatan seramik Swatow dan peralatan seramik Ming boleh dikenalpasti dengan mudah. Pada kebiasaannya, seramik Swatow berbentuk besar dan kasar dengan pasir dan batu-batu halus terlekat pada dasarnya yang bersepuh. Peralatan Swatow juga menarik tetapi teknik pembuatannya kasar dengan warna merah, hijau kebiruan dan saduran warna hitam. Terdapat juga jenis-jenis buatan Swatow yang disalut dengan warna biru yang tidak terang atau bersepuh jenis ‘celadon’.
Swatow juga mengeluarkan peralatan seramik yang mengandungi motif, hiasan Islam, huruf-huruf dan ayat-ayat suci Al-Quran bagi pasaran negara Islam. Perusahaan seramik Swatow juga terbabit dalam pergolakan politik China dan akhirnya hilang identitinya.
Fukian was one of the districts in South China, which was actively involved in the ceramics industry during the 16th and 17th centuries. However, they are not connected to the ceramics produced by the Chinese Ming or Ching dynasties, but were called the ‘Swatow wares’, named after the harbour from which they were exported overseas to Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, India and elsewhere.
The differences between the Swatow ceramics and the Ming and Ching porcelain wares can be easily spotted. The Swatow wares are usually large and coarse, with sand particles or minute stones attached to the glazed base. They were attractive but were roughly made, in colours such as red, greenish blue and black. There are also other Swatow-made varieties such as those coated with a dull blue colour or celadon glaze.
The Swatow ceramics industry also produced wares with Islamic motifs and decorations as well as Arabic script and Quran verses for markets in the Muslim countries. The Swatow industry was also affected by the political upheavals in China and eventually lost its identity.
SERAMIK BELANDA
DUTCH CERAMICS
Negara Belanda juga terkenal dengan penghasilan seramik tradisi ‘miaolica’ serta ‘delft’. Seramik awal Belanda tidaklah begitu bermutu tinggi dan diusahakan untuk penggunaan tempatan sahaja. Kedatangan Belanda ke Asia Tenggara dan hubungan mereka dengan China membolehkan mereka menaiktaraf perusahaan seramik, kemudian mengeluarkan porselin-porselin yang setanding dan bermutu tinggi.
Kekuasaan Belanda di rantau Asia Tenggara yang bermula sejak awal kurun ke-17 mencapai kemuncaknya pada tahun 1682. Mereka menguasai Samudera Asia dan seterusnya memonopoli perdagangan rempah ratus serta menjadi pembekal utama porselin China bagi pasaran Asia dan Eropah. Menyedari keuntungan perdagangan porselin, pihak Belanda mengambil alih peranan sebagai pengeksport porselin China berikutan pergolakan politik di negara China pada pertengahan abad ke-17.
Kejatuhan Dinasti Ming serta kebangkitan Dinasti Ching pada tahun 1644 mengganggu pengeluaran seramik China dan memaksa pihak Belanda untuk mendapatkan bekalan porselin daripada Jepun. Corak pada seramik yang dibuat sedemikian kebanyakannya ditiru daripada porselin China dan disesuaikan untuk perdagangan. Mereka juga mengeksport porselin Jepun pada abad ke-17 dan 18 yang mempunyai tanda VOC iaitu lambang Kompeni Hindia Timur Belanda. Porselin-porselin seumpama itu dibawa ke Melaka, manakala di Tanah Melayu kebanyakannya ialah buatan Belanda semata-mata untuk dieksport ke Asia Tenggara.
Holland was also famous for its own ceramics tradition of early ‘maiolica’ and ‘delft’ wares. The early Dutch ceramics were not really in a high quality and were produced only for domestic consumption. The arrival of the Dutch in Southeast Asia and their relations with China enabled them to improve their ceramics industry and eventually produce high quality of porcelain.
The Dutch domination of Southeast Asia started in the early 17th century and reached its height in 1682. They ruled the seas of Asia, monopolized the spice trade and became the main supplier of Chinese porcelain to Asian and European markets. Aware of the profits of the porcelain trade, they took over as the exporter of Chinese porcelain when internal strife overcame China in the 17th century.
The fall of the Ming dynasty and the rise of the Ching dynasty affected the ceramics industry in 1644 and forced the Dutch to turn to Japan for its supply of porcelain. As such, the designs produced were mostly copied from contemporary Chinese porcelain and were modified to suit the markets. They also exported Japanese porcelain in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which carried the letters VOC, which was the insignia of the Dutch East India Company. These porcelains were brought to Melaka via Batavia (now Jakarta). The colourful Dutch porcelain wares found in Holland had mostly been meant for the Southeast Asian markets.
PERALATAN PORSELIN MING
MING WARES
Perusahaan seramik bermula di negara China semasa zaman Dinasti Shang (1523 – 1038 S.M). Sejak itu, pengeluaran seramik China terus diusahakan oleh dinasti-dinasti yang berikutnya sehingga ia mencapai kualiti yang tinggi dan terkenal di benua Asia. Porselin-porselin Ming (1368 – 1644) juga mencatatkan nama sebagai pengeluaran porselin biru-putih yang bermutu tinggi.
Pada zaman Yuan (1279 –1368), porselin-porselin dieksport ke seluruh benua Asia, tetapi apabila Dinasti Ming memerintah China pada tahun 1368, perusahaan porselin telah diberi pelindungan Diraja. Undang-undang digubal untuk menempatkan pedagang luar di bawah kawalan istana. Kesan daripada penempatan ini, ia telah menghasilkan pengeluaran seramik yang berbentuk asing dengan huruf-huruf bahasa asing telah dibuat atas permintaan pedagang-pedagang ini.
Semasa dibawah pemerintahan Dinasti Ming, sebagai langkah mempertahankan mutu perusahaan tembikarnya, ia dibahagikan kepada beberapa jenis. Satu daripadanya ialah tembikar rasmi atau Diraja yang bermutu tinggi dan hanya dibuat di tempat-tempat khas. Ianya khusus untuk kegunaan istana. Porselin popular sepatutnya dikeluarkan hanya untuk kegunaan tempatan, tetapi terdapat juga dieksport secara haram. Tembikar eksport turut dikeluarkan khusus untuk menampung permintaan dari negara luar. Berdasarkan penemuan tembikar di negara lain, memang jelas penyeludupan telah berlaku.
Tembikar Ming telah dieksport ke Tanah Melayu melalui pedagang-pedagang China. Apabila Kerajaan Melayu Melaka diwujudkan, hubungan di antara Melaka dan China menjadi lebih erat. Ini menyebabkan Melaka menjadi pusat impot-eksport peralatan Ming bagi kawasan Nusantara, benua India dan Arab.
Melaka terus menjadi pusat perdagangan porselin Ming walaupun Portugis menaklukinya pada tahun 1511. Peralatan Ming telah menembusi pasaran Eropah melalui Lisbon. Apabila pihak Belanda pula mengambil alih pemasaran tembikar Ming ke Eropah yang kemudiannya dinamakan peralatan ‘kreak’. Perusahaan porselin Ming telah terjejas akibat peperangan dinasti pada pertengahan kurun ke 17.
The ceramics industry began in China during the Shang Dynasty (1523-1038 B.C.) Since then, ceramics has been produced by the dynasties, which followed until it achieved high quality and fame throughout the Asian continent. The high quality blue-and-white Ming porcelains (1368- 1644) were too famous.
During the Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1368), porcelain was exported to the rest of Asia, but under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the industry came under royal patronage. Laws were enacted to bring foreign traders under direct court control, resulting in the production of Ming wares with foreign scripts as requested by the foreigners.
During the Ming Dynasty, the porcelain wares were placed under several categories so as to regulate the standards of the industry. There were three categories of Ming porcelain, official/imperial, popular and export. The official/imperial wares were manufactured only in special kilns to cater solely for palace use and were of high quality. The popular wares were supposedly produced only for domestic consumption but were also illegally exported. The export wares were specifically made based on the orders of foreigners. It was obvious that smuggling had occurred, as there were findings of wares of all three categories in places outside China. Ming porcelain was exported to the Malay Peninsular.
Through the Chinese sea merchants, during the Melaka Sultanate, relations between Melaka and China became closer. This enabled Melaka to become the export and import centre of Ming wares for the region as well as for the Indian and Arabian sub-continents.
When the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, Melaka continued to be the centre of the Ming porcelain industry. Ming wares were sent to European markets through Melaka and Lisbon. Later, the Dutch took over the marketing of Ming wares to Europe, calling it ‘kreak’ ware. During the mid 17th century, the Ming porcelain industry was badly affected by the dynasty wars in China.
PERALATAN NYONYA
NYONYA WARES
Peralatan seramik nyonya boleh dikenali dengan mudah melalui campuran dan kombinasi warna-warna terang seperti merah jambu, kuning, biru gelap, dan hijau. Pola-pola yang biasa ditemui pada peralatan Nyonya ialah ikan, burung phoenix, bunga mawar, bunga dahlia dan binatang-binatang yang disukai ramai.
Peralatan Nyonya mula dikeluarkan pada penghujung kurun ke-18. Peralatan seramik tersebut dibuat khas untuk keturunan orang-orang China yang telah lama menetap di Melaka dan kemudiannya di Singapura dan Pulau Pinang yang dikenali sekarang sebagai kaum Baba-Nyonya. Ini menjadi perkara biasa bagi peralatan Nyonya mengandungi nama-nama keluarga Baba.
Peralatan ini tidak digunakan setiap hari tetapi hanya pada hari-hari perayaan dan sambutan keluarga.
Peralatan seramik Nyonya yang bernilai tinggi ini dikeluarkan dari wilayah Jiangxi dan Guangdong di China. Peralatan Nyonya terdapat dalam pelbagai bentuk dan saiz yang berbeza, terutamanya set makan, set minum teh, pasu, dan lain-lain peralatan yang ditempah khas seperti kotak barang perhiasan, bekas bedak dan bekas keperluan diri. Kemerosotan kualiti akibat pergolakan politik pada akhir zaman Ching dan persaingan dari seramik Eropah mengakibatkan perusahaan seramik Nyonya pupus.
Their bright colour combinations of pink, yellow, dark blue and green can easily distinguish Nyonya wares. The designs generally found on Nyonya wares are fish, phoenixes, flowers such as roses and chrysanthemums and other favoured animals.
Nyonya wares were first produced during the late 18th century. They were specially made on consignment for the Straits-born Chinese of Melaka, and later of Singapore, known as Baba-Nyonya. Hence, it is common to find the surnames of the families on the wares. They were not meant for daily use but were only for celebrations and family gatherings.
These highly treasured wares were produced in Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces of China. Nyonya wares come in different shapes and sizes but were mainly dining sets, tea sets, vases and other specially ordered trinket boxes, powder cases and other personal items. The deterioration of their quality as a result of the political upheaval during the late Ching era and competition from European ceramics finally extinct the Nyonya ware industry.
PERALATAN CHING
CHING WARES
Selepas pihak Manchu dari Timur Laut Manchuria menakluki China, mereka memulakan dinasti imperial dan zaman keemasan pengeluaran seramik yang terakhir. Tembikar biru dan putih telah mencapai taraf pembuatan yang tinggi sebelum ia diganti dengan tembikar yang dihiasi dengan pelbagai warna.
Pada kurun ke-17 dan 18, banyak peralatan China telah dieksport ke Eropah kerana permintaan masyarakat Eropah untuk memilikinya. Kuasa-kuasa Eropah telah menguasai sebilangan besar negara-negara di Asia Tenggara ketika itu dan simpanan peralatan porselin China dianggap fesyen dan simbol status oleh masyarakat Eropah yang menyebut bahan-bahan seramik sebagai “China”.
Selepas tahun 1795, berlaku kekacauan dalam negeri, campur tangan orang-orang asing dan persaingan perusahaan porselin mengganggu kualiti peralatan China. Perusahaan porselin Ching telah pulih semula pada tahun 1864. Pengeluaran peralatan China bukan lagi tertumpu kepada biru-putih sahaja tetapi juga peralatan yang dihiasi dan berwarna-warni, khasnya bagi keturunan China yang tinggal di luar negara. Kemudiannya ia dikenali dengan nama peralatan Nyonya dan Bencharong. Sebahagian besar peralatan tersebut adalah bermutu tinggi dan sangat berharga di masa kini. Kejatuhan Dinasti Ching pada tahun 1912 mengakhiri riwayat perusahaan porselin Dinasti China.
The takeover of China by the Manchus from Northeast Manchuria saw the start of the last imperial dynasty and the last great period of ceramic production. The blue and white wares reached technical perfection; only to gradually lose popularity later to multicoloured decorated wares.
Large quantities of blue and white Ching wares were exported to Europe during the 17th and 18th century as the demand from Europeans for them grew. At that time, European powers controlled many of Southeast Asian countries. The Europeans who referred to them simply as ‘China’ considered the Ching wares fashionable and prestigious items.
After 1795, internal strife, foreign intervention and competition from overseas ceramics industries affected the quality of the Ching wares. It recovered in 1864, but the porcelain industry no longer concentrated on the production of blue and white wares but also produced decorated colourful wares to cater to the needs of overseas Chinese. These colourful ceramics came to be known as Nyonya and Bencharong wares. Many of them are excellent quality and are prized items today. The fall of the Ching dynasty in 1912 ended the era of the porcelain industry in China.
PENEMUAN TEMPAYAN BERISI TULANG MANUSIA
THE DISCOVERY OF AN EARTHENWARE JAR CONTAINING HUMAN BONES
Penemuan empat tempayan berisi serpihan tulang pada 15 Disember 2008 di Kampung Tengah, Bukit Rambai dipercayai digunakan oleh masyakarat Tiong-Hua sekitar 300 tahun yang lalu.
Tempayan tersebut ditemui oleh penduduk tertanam secara berderet di kawasan sekitar milik persendirian. Tiga daripada empat tempayan tersebut didapati bertutup dengan tiga pinggan seramik bercorak purba dan juga karektor menyerupai tulisan Cina tercatat tahun 1702 di salah satu pinggan seramik tersebut. Keunikan rekabentuk tempayan yang berukiran kepala singa menguatkan lagi fakta mayat tersebut milik masyarakat Cina.
Mengikut sejarah, pengebumian mayat dalam tempayan lazimnya diamalkan di Negara China dan sebahagiannya di Sabah dan Sarawak. Penemuan tradisi penanaman seperti ini merupakan yang pertama ditemui di Semenanjung Malaysia dan kemungkinan besar ia berpotensi bagi membuktikan kawasan berkenaan menjadi tempat persemadian menggunakan kaedah tersebut. Ia juga boleh dikatakan sebagai kawasan penempatan awal masyarakat Cina berdasarkan kedudukan penemuan tempayan tersebut terletak kira-kira 200 meter dari kawasan jirat Cina.
Perbadanan Muzium Melaka (PERZIM) dengan kerjasama Jabatan Warisan Negara (JWN) dan Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) akan menjalankan kajian lanjut termasuk ujian “carbon dating” untuk memastikan asal-usul sebenar tempayan berkenaan ditemui.
On 15th December 2008, the villagers from Kampung Tengah, Bukit Rambai, Melaka had found four earthenware jars which contained pieces of bone fragments and were believed had been used by Chinese people around 300 years ago. The all four earthenware jars were buried in lines at a private land. Three out of four of them were covered with three pieces of ceramic plates. The design of Chinese calligraphy note dated on 1702 also found at one of them. As the matter of fact, the unique lion head carved on the earthenware jar showed the artifact was from China.
According to the historical record, the body burial in earthenware jar usually found in China and some parts in Sabah and Sarawak. This unique ceremony of burial was first time found in Melaka. Thus, it might be the evidence that it was used as the Chinese cemetery many years ago. It is also a high possibility that the area was occupied by the Chinese people and became their settlement in accordance with the location of the earthenware jars were discovered as just 200 meters away from the Chinese cemeteries.
Melaka Museums Corporation (PERZIM) in cooperation with Malaysia Museums Department and National Heritage Department together also with University of Science Malaysia (USM) will be conducting a further investigation including “carbon dating” test to study the real information regarding the origins of the earthenware jars that were found.
PENEMUAN DI KERUBONG
THE KERUBONG FINDINGS
Bahan-bahan peralatan seramik termasuk tembikar-tembikar dan batu giling dengan anaknya yang dipamerkan di sini telah dijumpai di Kampung Kerubong, lebih kurang 13km dari Kota Melaka pada tahun 1960. Penemuan ini berlaku semasa pihak kontraktor binaan menjalankan kerja menggali parit di kawasan tersebut. Kesemua bahan penemuan ini telah diambil alih darinya untuk dipamerkan.
Bahan-bahan seramik ini ialah dari jenis Ming, batu giling dan anaknya merupakan peralatan bagi penyediaan bahan-bahan perhiasan. Asal-usul tembikar tanah pula tidak dapat dikenalpasti. Kesemua bahan tersebut ditemui di pedalaman negeri, jauh dari Kota Melaka.
Di sekitar Tampoi, berdekatan dengan Kerubong terdapat satu kawasan perkampungan sejak dari Zaman Kesultanan Melayu Melaka. Pihak Portugis juga telah mendirikan sebuah gereja di Tampoi yang telah dimusnahkan oleh Belanda pada tahun 1606. Serangan ke atas perkampungan ini oleh Portugis atau Belanda telah menyebabkan penduduk melarikan diri. Mengikut adat yang diamalkan ketika itu, sesiapa yang meninggalkan kampung halaman mereka dalam suasana huru-hara akan menanam harta benda mereka dengan harapan dapat mengambilnya kembali pada satu hari nanti. Apabila hasrat ini tidak tercapai kerana sebab-sebab yang tertentu, maka harta benda yang disembunyi akan tetap berada di tempat yang ditanam sehingga ia dijumpai semula.
The ceramic wares including the earthenware, and a grinder base with the grinder exhibited in this showcase were found near the Kerubong area, situated about 13km from Melaka town. They were discovered by a contractor during the digging work in the 1960s, and since then, they have been displayed in the Melaka museum.
The ceramics were from the late Ming period, while the grinding base and grinder were used for the preparation of beauty care. The origins of the earthenware cannot be determined. All these artefacts were discovered in an interior area far from the Melaka fort.
During the Melaka Sultanate, there was a village yet destroyed by the Dutch in the Tampoi area nearby Kerubong. The Portuguese had built a church in Tampoi but the Dutch destroyed it in 1606. The attack on the village by either the Portuguese or the Dutch could have forced the villagers to flee. According to the custom then, people who left a village in a hurry would bury their personal belongings, with the hope that they could reclaim them later. When these items are not reclaimed for whatever reasons, they will remain buried until discovered at a later date.
