About Malaysia - Arts & Culture Ethnic Games & Pastimes
Experience the Expressions of Communal Sharing
Malaysia's rich cultural heritage offers a wide range of traditional games and pastimes. In agrarian societies, these are activities enjoyed after working in the fields and orchards or during celebrations. Ranging from indoor and outdoor games to the martial as well as performing arts; these are expressions of communal sharing.
Silat - Malay Martial Arts This fascinating Malay martial art is not just for self-defense, but is also a recognized as international sport. It is also a dance form engaging the flowery movements originally meant to mesmerize opponents. Silat has been known in the Malay Archipelago for centuries . In this art of self defense, the practitioner also develops spiritual strength that is in accordance with Islamic tenets, and is popular with Malay youths. Silat is also performed at Malay weddings and cultural festivals, where it is often accompanied by drums and gongs. There are various different types of Silat which serves different function for example Pencak Silat is the formal martial art of self defense whereas.
Seni Silat is the aesthetic martial art and is commonly played in certain occasion such as wedding and is called Silat Pulut. The performer is always in dark colour costume with a turban tie on the head and there is always background percussion orchestra along the performance. Two performers will be involve in a Silat section which both of them will normally start the ‘fighting’ in a slow motion in their gentle martial steps together with the hand gesture. Occasionally, a Keris (small dagger) may be used. Although it looks slow and gentle, one can be killed by this martial art.
Sepak Raga In this traditional ball game, also called Sepak Takraw a ball about the size of an open hand and made of woven strips of buluh bamboo or even rattan is kicked about with the legs or any part of the body except the lower hands.
There are two main types the original form is Sepak Raga Bulatan or a circle where the team tries to keep the ball aloft as long as possible. The modern Sepak Raga Jaring or net court form is now played in international competitions. The players will gather in a circle and game will begin with one of the player throw the rattan ball to another participant who stands opposite of him.
Receiver can either kick, head or chest the ball for several time before sending it to another player as he wishes. It will be more interesting when any of the players able to keep the ball for a longer time without falling to the ground.
Congkak Congkak is a game of wit played by womenfolk in ancient times. This game is usually played by 2 girls sitting face to face on the ground, using rubber seeds, saga or small marbles as the seeds. Seeds are points for the players. Total seed used depends on the number of pit in the congkak set. Say, if there are 5 pits, the total seed in each pit will be five and so on. The left most is the ‘Home’ for the player. To start the game, player chooses to take all the seeds from one pit and place one at a time into another pit including the player’s Home, moving in clockwise.
Seeds are not to be put in opponent’s Home. The game will carry on till all the pits on one side are empty. The winner is the player who captured the most seeds.
If the last seeds in a play is placed in the player’s Home, she will be granted another turn on the other hand, if the last seed is placed in an empty pit on her side of the board, she will capture the seeds in the opposite pit and place in her own Home.
About Malaysia - Arts & Culture Ethnic Games & Pastimes
