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My name is Raja Azrina, though you probably know me as Ina. This project was pretty fun to do so I hope my Padlet will informative and insightful about the diverse cultures in our nation. <3 <3

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✲ Bidayuh

✲ Chetty

✲ Siamese

✲ Peranakan Chinese

✲ Orang sembilan

The focus of this Padlet will be about the various handicrafts made by the people who live across our nation — the Bidayuhs, Chetty, Siamese, Peranakan Chinese, and Orang Sembilan.

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Last but not least, Orang Sembilan is the oldest ethnical group of Negeri Sembilan – their settlement dates back even before the arrival of the Minangkabaus in the 15th century! ╭(⚆ᗝ⚆)╮

The Sembilan people and the Malays could seem similar at first look. Their beliefs, customs, and even attire might share similarities! Don't worry, the Orang Sembilan have a distinct artistic take of their own. ヾ(☆▽☆)

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╰┈➤ Firstly, the sticks itself would be soaked beforehand or weaved during cool weathers as the material would be softer and more pliable to shape. If making coloured rattan, they would boil it in water with dye before drying it out in the shade.

╰┈➤ As for the weaving process, the stages involved are 'kelarai' weaving, regular and embroidered weaving while the 'lepih' process is done on the edge or frame to end the weaving work.

╰┈➤ This Bako also may serve as a fruit basket, a wedding gift, or an elegant-looking decoration.

»»----► The two main techniques employed are ukiran timbul and ukiran tebuk – traditionally, it would be for a natural or abstract look. Also, their standard tools used include saws, planes, files, borers, shavers and knives.

╰┈┈➤ It is commonly used during Panta Berkucung, where round trays of food could be covered to seem polite when being brought up to guests.

The Peranakan Chinese, are referred as Peranakans or Baba Nyonya --descendants of mainly Hokkien Chinese traders who settled in Melaka and coastal areas of Java during the 15th century.

Nyonya beadwork and embroidery patterns in Peranakan culture can be apparent in ordinary household decorations as well as complex pieces for ceremonies like weddings. d(･∀･○)

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5. Azis, Z. (n.d.). Menyusuri adat & kehidupan orang asli temuan Kampung Tohor, Negeri Sembilan. JEJAKAKAULA. http://www.jejakakaula.com/2020/03/menyusuri-adat-kehidupan-orang-asli.html

Peranakan Chinese homemade crafts were mostly created by female Nyonyas for decorations and accessory items. As marriages then were arranged, the Peranakan ladies had more time on their hands to improve their crafting and sewing skills. Some even believed it would help in preparing them for their roles as a mother and a wife.

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◈◈◈▣ Nyonya beading utilizes 1 - 2mm colored glass and metal seed beads. The most popular glass seed beads are rocaille and charlotte. They can be embroidered separately (bead couching) or sewed to the cloth a few at a time (lane stitching).

◈◈◈▣ Peranakan Chinese beadwork is not only decorative but also functional since it gets integrated into clothing such as footwear or kebayas. For instance, its implemented-on parts of men’s clothing, specifically on their shoes and at both ends of their sash, even until the mid-20th century.

»»┈⋟ Nyonya ware can be made out of kaolin (white clay), along with feldspar, glass, steatite, quartz, petuntse or alabaster. Porcelain pieces can be thrown on a pottery wheel or poured into moulds before being burned in a kiln to develop their forms and solidify the clay body.

»»┈⋟ When applying color to porcelains, a touch of stain or oxide was added to the clay mixture or made into a paste, then painted onto the piece before the glazing process.

»»┈⋟ Commonly owned pieces by Nyonya families are extra-large kamchengs (bowls with lids), chupus (jars) and vases, with finely detailed and complex decorative motifs on the porcelain, such as the phoenix, eight Buddhist symbols and the cartouche.

2. Nyonya Beadwork and Embroidery. (n.d.). https://www.roots.gov.sg/ich-landing/ich/nyonya-beadwork-and-embroidery

3. The art and craft of the Peranakan culture. (2020, July 13). Mysite. https://chpt2020.wixsite.com/mysite/post/the-art-and-craft-of-the-peranakan-culture#:~:text=Nyonya%20beadwork%20and%20embroidery%20are,1mm%20to%202mm%20in%20diameter.

4. Limited, A. (n.d.). Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Malay-Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era.  Members of this community in Malaysia identify themselves as 'Nyonya-Baba' or 'Baba-Nyonya'. Nyonya is the term for the females and Baba for males. It applies especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who adopted partially or in full Malay-Indonesian customs to become partially assimilated into th. Alamy Images. https://www.alamy.com/peranakan-chinese-and-baba-nyonya-are-terms-used-for-the-descendants-of-late-15th-and-16th-century-chinese-immigrants-to-the-malay-indonesian-archipelago-of-nusantara-during-the-colonial-era-members-of-this-community-in-malaysia-identify-themselves-as-nyonya-baba-or-baba-nyonya-nyonya-is-the-term-for-the-females-and-baba-for-males-it-applies-especially-to-the-ethnic-chinese-populations-of-the-british-straits-settlements-of-malaya-and-the-dutch-controlled-island-of-java-and-other-locations-who-adopted-partially-or-in-full-malay-indonesian-customs-to-become-partially-assimilated-into-th-image344248211.html

5. Peranakan - Nyonya by Mr-Vin on DeviantArt. (2014, March 16). DeviantArt. https://www.deviantart.com/mr-vin/art/Peranakan-Nyonya-440687807

The Malaysian Siamese are an ethnicity group that closely relates to the cultures of Burma and Thailand. They primarily reside in the northernmost states of Peninsular Malaysia, namely Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Penang, Terengganu and Kelantan. ♡೭(´∀｀)

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Their handicrafts reflect the unique mix of Thai and Malay artistry -- mostly surrounding their performance arts such as for theatre plays and musical instruments.

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╰┈➤ The puppets are carved with a mallet to tap special tools, called tatah, to punch the holes and scratching the outline and details of the puppet figure. Next, the figures are painted in layers of water-based paints before being attached to the bamboo sticks.

╰┈➤ They are used for performance arts purposes, specifically for Wayang Kulit plays, inspired by Malay oral and literary versions of the ancient Thailand tales.

➤•➤ There are three main steps to the drum-making process: -

≫ Firstly, the wooden frames of the drums are crafted using local varieties of wood;

≫ Secondly, the drum membranes (or drum heads) are prepared and affixed to the frames;

≫ Thirdly, the tuning parts are added to the drums. Sometimes, the round frame is decorated with gold embroidery.

2. FCI academic explores lesser-known Kelantan Siamese community, awed by its zeal for cultural maintenance. (n.d.). https://news.utar.edu.my/news/2023/March/23/05/05.html

3. Siamese community in Kelantan enjoy living in harmony. (2023, October 9). www.thesundaily.my. https://www.thesundaily.my/local/siamese-community-in-kelantan-enjoy-living-in-harmony-ED11473799

4. Thailand Instruments. (n.d.). Music of Thailand. https://thailandmusicproject.weebly.com/thailand-instruments.html

(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ The 'Malacca-born Hindu Community' or known more as Chetty, is one of the Melaka’s oldest ethnic groups. They have adopted mostly Malay and Chinese cultural practices while still maintaining their Tamil heritage.

Over time, this community adapted to the multicultural surroundings and resulted in unique handicrafts by the Chetty. ＼(･o･＼)

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⚛》》》 These items were often crafted by Tamil goldsmiths such as addiggai (a choker with stones), thali (a wedding pendant), and silambu (anklets) etc.

⚛》》》 Handcrafted gold jewelry is created by melting gold using a burner. Next, the goldsmith uses tweezers to extract the gold and place it in acid and water. Craftsmen would then mould and carve the gold.

⚛》》》 These jewelry also reflects some British influence since in the 20th century, British gold sovereigns were often worn as pendants.

╭┈◦•◦•❥ The right shape for their kites is diamond-shaped. Two sheets of paper are aligned on top of each other, then either wooden sticks or straws, are placed and tied horizontally and vertically onto the kite.

╭┈◦•◦•❥ This is a common activity for Chetty children to paint and craft their own kites at school or at home.

2. Facebook. (n.d.). https://www.facebook.com/ChettiMelaka?locale=zh_CN

3. Instagram. (n.d.). https://www.instagram.com/chettimelaka/

4. Rahim, A. (n.d.). Keunikan kaum Chetti. prezi.com.

https://prezi.com/p/zvnbqtyez-b8/keunikan-kaum-chetti/

5. Shruti. (2021, May 16). Sankranti Kite craft - Artsy Craftsy Mom. Artsy Craftsy Mom. https://artsycraftsymom.com/sankranti-kite-craft/

To begin this padlet, the Bidayuh people are one of the ethnic groups of Borneo, primarily found in Sarawak, Malaysia. They have a rich culture, known for their ceremonies, arts and music. Also, they are one of the major Dayak tribes in West Kalimantan.

Despite development of their traditional lands, the Bidayuh have managed to retain much of their culture, tradition and intangible heritage through their handicraft.

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░░► Skilled weavers would use ‘Balok’ bark and thin strips of rattan. When making dark colored strips, it would be soaked with different types of pandan leaves for weeks. Afterwards, the strips are dried under the sun and ironed at high temperatures.

░░► Typically, Bidayuh women created kasah in their spare time, frequently in the evening after returning from their farms or during rainy seasons when farming was impossible.

⋆ ★ A longer version of the necklace is called a Sombon, which has dark and green, round glass beads – stringed together with fishing lines, wild boar’s fangs and old bells.

⋆ ★ The beads are placed into the string individually, by hand, with the help of ‘besi lubang sembilan’, which is a small metal plate with nine holes. Sewing scissors are also used to cut excess string when the process is completed.

⋆ ★ These handicrafts are commonly sewn and styled by women for ceremonies like weddings or Gawai festivals.

2. Ajien Nyigor. (2023, June 8). How to make a PANGIEH,  Bidayuh traditional necklace. (Part 1 of 2) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFiQ0srE8Oo

3. PressReader.com - digital newspaper & magazine subscriptions. (n.d.). PressReader. https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post-sabah/20150913/281788512842589

4. Unknown. (n.d.). The costume of Dayung Bisingai. https://veekyleonora.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-costume-of-dayung-bisingai.html