Discovers the new Peranakan museum

Have a good taste of the Peranakan culture at this largest museum dedicated to the Peranakans tucked along the quiet Armenian Street. Officially opened on the 25 April 2008, the Museum housed in the old Tao Nan school, was built in the last century through a donation from a wealthy Peranakan.

It is best to start on the ground floor at Origins, a room where Peranakans from different walks of life, age groups and ethnic blends as you discover their roots.

After that, climb the staircase or take the lift near the back to the third floor and work your way down.

There is a section on the third floor dedicated to the Nonyas where you can spend some time appreciating their beadwork. The section also features their famous kebaya and sarongs, with explanations on the subtle variations in style. And if you think that Peranakan beading was just limited to shoes, you're in for a big surprise.

Here at the third floor, visitors also get to see how the Peranakans assimilated to develop a culture that is completely their own. with altar tables for Chinese deities and ancestor worship that became altars for Christianity when many converted. Don't forget to turn around and pay attention to a mid-sized cross on loan from a local Catholic church, crafted out of rosewood with mother-of-pearl inlays, a style popular with the Chinese and Peranakans. At the centre of the rosewood cross is an oddly distracting circle inlay. This is said to contain a fragment from the true cross of Calvary. The cross used to be taken out only on special church festival days and not otherwise seen in public until now.

Take another turn down a gloomy corridor with a large X across a mirror. Beyond the X, you will stumble on a room decked out as a wake for a patriarch with his large Chinese style coffin drapped in a rare Peranakan funeral wrap.

Skip this if you must, for something more cheerful and close to the hearts of many - food and the porcelain ware which have become collector items. This stunning table was laid out for the family of Yap Ah Loy, the Kapitan China of old Selangor who held sway over the migrant Chinese during the tin-mining boom days and married to a Nonya. Take some time to examine the tableware to look for the family name woven into the intricate artwork that went into the porcelain pieces.

The second floor is largely dedicated to weddings, since the celebrations were not only elaborate, they also lasted for several days. Look out for a set of uniquely designed trays used to in the exchange of weddings gifts and a display of gowns in silk and gold threads, along with ornate head-dress for the bride.

At the same floor is the bridal chamber with an antique bed commissioned by a wealthy Peranakan for the wedding of his daughter. The ornate piece is adorned not just with carvings but also with embroidery and beadwork featuring symbols of fertility. In the wedding section, you will learn about Peranakan weddings in a fun way at one the few interactive stations set up around the museum to help you learn about the culture.

With its side activities, such as the upcoming "Junk to Jewels" exhibition, the Peranakan museum is a place you'll want to visit more than once to learn of a culture that is uniquely Asian. Be delighted with the set of modern paintings by local artisit Desmond Sim with his distinct interpretation of Peranakans and their culture at this section.

Opening of New Peranakan Museum

The Museum will indulge the visitors with a series of events to celebrate the opening. The celebration will spill over 3 weekends starting with Peranakan Heritage on the 26 & 27 April 2008 (Saturday and Sunday). What's more, entry to the museum for the 2 days is absolutely FREE! It is definitely in my to-do list for the weekend.

See you at the Museum!