Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum
February 14th, 2006
Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya, and Straits Chinese are literally 3 different terms, but these names are all referring to the same unique community - the descendants of the early Chinese immigrants to the British Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang, who have partially adopted Malay customs in an effort to be assimilated into the local communities. Baba refers to the Male descendent, while Nyonya refers to the female.
The interesting intermarriage between the early Chinese settlers and local Malay has born a unique culture which is not commonly seen, especially in this modernized and urbanized city. Straits Chinese no longer speak the dialect of their ancestors but a language of their own known as Baba Malay – a Malay patois consists of many Hokkien words.
In Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (neighboring to Jalan Hang Jebat/Jonker Street) of Melaka, there’s a small museum comprising 3 adjacent townhouses called the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. Appearing to be similar in design with other old houses in the old Melaka Chinatown, this privately owned and managed museum is showcasing the best of distinctive cultural values and lifestyle inherited by the Baba Nyonya community and family. It’s not exaggerating to consider this small but comprehensive museum as the gateway of your discovery to the Baba Nyonya cultural establishments.
As mentioned above, this museum comprises of well-preserved townhouses. Thus, you will be finding yourself comfortably uncovering the astonishing cultures as if you are visiting a friend. This is a traditional homey feeling which is very much differing from visiting a conventional museum with items kept inside the cold glasses and enclosures. Housed in a beautifully restored ancestral home dating back to mid 19th century, this museum is a rare treasure which succinctly captures the aura of an interesting era.
The design of this house is influenced by the neo-classical European architecture, with the building mainly framed by heavy Greco-Roman columns. The interior of the house is complemented with a number of priceless old antique furniture made of finely carved hardwood. The furniture is extremely bulky and heavy, but featuring wonderful classic Chinese work of art.
The front area of the interior leads into an open courtyard where sunshine streams into the house on sunny days and raindrops patter during the rainy season. Yes, the olden traditional Baba Nyonya and Chinese village houses are usually having an open-aired courtyard, and some are also complemented with a well to provide water supply for daily consumption.
You will be able to see some of the traditional so-called ‘Nyonya-ware’ or ceramics that were specifically commissioned by the Straits Chinese from the craftsmen in the Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces in China. The Nyonya ceramics come in multi-coloured designs and normally have a combination of green, pink, dark blue and yellow colours.
At the heart of its charm is an archive of costumes and knick-knacks that once served the Baba Nyonya lifestyle.
The entrace rates is RM8.00 for adults, and RM4.00 for children (5-12 years old). For more information, contact Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum at +606-283 1273.
Opening times: 10am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm
Related Previous Posts
- Melaka Nyonya Kuih at Tengkera
- Map@Melaka - Chinatown
- WMW’s Travelogue
- Food@Melaka – Italian Foods at Coconut House
- Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat)
Entry Filed under: Historical Site
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14 Comments Add your own
1. LA | April 3rd, 2006 at 11:11 am
Hi, I just wanna say the museum was superb with its collection of Baba Nyonya architecture and decor. The only comment I had were the guides. The one who took us around was clearly a foreigner (Indon I think) dressed as a Nyonya. It was kinda hard to understand what she said and she spoke in a mechanical way that made her sound like a voice recorder. She did not sound passionate or interested in what she was doing. Another BIGGER complaint I have is there was one lady guide (a local) who was very RUDE and loud. Upon entering the premises, I wasn’t told that photographs were not allowed (there were no signs about btw) and when I took one with flash, she quickly walked over to me and shouted at me and also at the Indon guide for not telling me. Not only that, she told her colleague loudly in front of everyone (with myself in listening distance). She not only embarassed me and made me feel like a fool in front of strangers, it gave me a bad impression of the tour in general. I recently went on a tour of the Cheong Fatt Sze mansion in Pg, and I can say I enjoyed it so much more (and doubly impressed) than this one in Melaka. Moreover, photographs were allowed! The Pg guide was knowledgeable, passionate and friendly (tho quick to reprimand visitors who talked while she spoke) and I wld recommend it to everyone. However I would think twice about Melaka and the rude/ indifferent guides at the Baba Nyonya museum. Just my 2 sen!!!
2. Administrator | April 3rd, 2006 at 11:23 am
So sorry for the non-satisfying tour you had. This incident, again, proven that local resident is one of the critical factors of tourism development.
However, I’m sure that this is just an exceptional case you’ve met. Hope you didn’t have bad experience with other local residents to drive down your vacation
3. LA | April 3rd, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Thanks, appreciate the feedback but it turns out I’m not be the only one who felt the same way.
Click here for relevant review at Yahoo! Travel
Kinda ironic that foreigners were singing praises whereas local travellers had similar gripes of bein poorly treated by their own countrymen. A case of selective courtesy? (I wonder if the management of this museum is aware of the situation…)
Other than that, Melaka is indeed a tourist haven. Friendly locals, great food and a rich history and culture. Thanks again for hearing me out. Keep up the good work!
4. Administrator | April 3rd, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Hm… looks like an obvious selective courtesy. Hope the management of Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is aware of this issue.
After all, the unique Baba Nyanya culture is not only appealing to foreigners, but locals as well.
By the way, LA, I’ve edited the text shown in the above Yahoo! Travel link of your comment, so that the long URL string doesn’t clutter off the page layout.
5. Faizah | January 8th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Wow, Babanyonya is so good. It’s interesting!
6. Farhana Mohd Noor | January 8th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Dear Sir,
im architecture student from university malaya . can i do some research at Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum about malay influences in chinese shophouses in malacca. how can i get more information about the history??? for your information, im in architectural final year student doing the thesis in history about ‘ MALAY INFLUENCES IN CHINESE SHOPHOUSES IN MALACCA’. im very glad if u guys can help me in getting more information of this history…thanks
7. Administrator | January 9th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Farhana Mohd Noor:
I advise you to directly approach the management of Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. Best is you write in a letter of interest to them, and visit the museum, so you can collect more insight research data.
8. aswani sariman | July 16th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Hi…i’m student from UPSI.Could i take some picture to help my researh about baba & nyonya culture?
9. Administrator | July 16th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Aswani:
Do you mean copying some pictures displayed in this to complement your research?
We have no issue about it, as long as you clearly include an acknowledgment in your work
Thanks
10. eliz | August 2nd, 2007 at 1:18 pm
do you have pics of baba malays costumes?
11. Administrator | August 2nd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Eliz:
No we don’t have
12. So | August 20th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Hi
I am currently in KL. I wonder if there is a shop in KL selling some Baba Nyonya things including ceramic and clothes?
Thanks.
13. Anunitya | September 12th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Good Day.. I am Anunitya from Kolej Universiti Teknologi Pengurusan Malaysia .. Currently I am pursuing Bachelor In Hospitality Management - Tourism.. Next semester I need to do my thesis..My interest is to conduct research in Melaka. Currently I have no idea what my research title it is.. I will appreciate if you can suggest me some research title.. For further information kindly contact me at anuenitya3110 [at] yahoo.com or anue_dev [at] hotmail.com. Thanks for your co-operation. Hope to hear from u soon..
Regards ,
Anuenitya..
14. Administrator | September 15th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Anuenitya,
One of the interesting and resourceful titles that I would suggest, is Dutch Trail in Melaka.
As you know, due to foreign occupation in Melaka during the olden glorious days, the Dutch is one of the foreign influences that have left a lot of previous trails in Melaka, such as The Stadthuys and wall anchors on old Dutch buildings.
Of course, to make your research out-standing and worth-mentioning, it shouldn’t just be merely an introduction to the common Dutch buildings found in Melaka. But instead, an in-depth research to characteristics of the buildings, such as the less known wall anchors, would be interesting.
Besides, you may also include a suggestion of Dutch-themed Tourism Package.
Not just the architectures found in Old Melaka, but Dutch have also left some notable cultures in Melaka, such as food.
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