The categories are heritage sites, heritage objects and figures.
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Javanese shadow puppet show (corbis.com) |
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VIVAnews - Malaysia has patented various national heritages starting from foods, art works and customs. Besides ketupat (rice cakes) and nasi tumpeng (rice cone), Malaysia has also registered shadow puppets and gamelan orchestra.
Citing www. warisan.gov.my on Monday, September 28, Malaysia’s national heritages that have been included in the List of Heritages and National Heritages are divided into three categories.
The categories are heritage sites, heritage objects and figures. Heritage sites contain historical buildings with high archaeological values while heritage objects consist of foods, art works, customs and Malaysia’s original valuable paintings.
Under the national figures category is the list of Malaysia’s prominent figures who are still alive. The figures are considered having crucial roles in the country’s history.
For the category of national objects, most of the items were registered in late 2008 and early 2009. Shadow puppets are listed in number P.U. (A) 85 while Gamelan in number P.U. (A) 78.
Malaysian gamelan is similar to the one from Java. The instruments include Gong Agong, Gong Sawokan, Gendang Ibu, Gendang Anak and Saron.
In Malaysia, gamelan was firstly introduced in Pahang during the era of Sultan Ahmad Muaddzam Shah. His queen, Fatimah and second wife Che Bedah also contributed to promote the orchestra.
Around 1913, gamelan’s popularity spread to Terengganu, brought by the daughter of Pahang Sultan, Mariam, who was married to Terengganu Sultan at that time, Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Syah.
Sultan Sulaiman even created various songs and dances including lambang sari, geliung, ketam renjong, togok, gagak seteru, lancang kuning and others.
Here is the list of Malaysia’s art and cultural works which were registered on February 23, 2009.
1. Boria
2. Zapin Dance
3. Gamelan
4. Bhangra Dance - The Sikhs
5. Bharata Natyam Dance – The Indians
6. Twenty Four Celebrations Drums (Chinese Drums)
7. Western Prayers
8. Malayan Verses
9. Poems
11. Jawi Writings
12. Malaysian Wau
13. Congkak
14. Gasing
15. Shadow Puppets, registered on February 26, 2009
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
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