Saturday, April 30, 2011

Peranakan Museum, Singapore 新加坡土生华人博物馆 ...



Peranakan Museum, Singapore 
新加坡土生华人博物馆 ...

The Peranakan Museum explores the culture of Peranakan communities in in Southeast Asia.

For centuries, the riches of Southeast Asia have brought foreign traders to the region. While many returned to their homelands, some remained behind, marrying local women. The Peranakan Chinese are descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Malacca and around the coastal areas of Java and Sumatra, as early as the 14th century. In the 19th century, the Peranakan Chinese, drawn by commerce, migrated to the bustling ports of Penang and Singapore. 


Faces of Singapore Peranakan 新加坡土生华人的面孔 ...


Faces of Singapore Peranakan 新加坡土生华人的面孔 ...

This must be a documented photograph of a "Peranakan Trader",
and costume of a business man ...


Faces of Singapore Peranakan 新加坡土生华人的面孔 ...

The faces of Peranakan descendent's in Singapore ...


Faces of Singapore Peranakan 新加坡土生华人的面孔 ...

A really old picture of a Peranakan family ...


Faces of Singapore Peranakan 新加坡土生华人的面孔 ...

Depiction of a wealthy Peranakan family and their
house decorations with the antiques ...


Peranakan Wedding ...

Peranakan marriages seems to be documented as
lavished and a parade of the married couple is
a normal practice ...


Peranakan Museum, Singapore 新加坡土生华人博物馆 ...

The museum is housed in a former school called Tao Nan Chinese School, built in 1912 ...


A kitchen in the old days ...

Well, in the old-days, you would not have those "spot-lights'
in a kitchen cum dining area
on the ceiling ...


Door Gods ...

Door Gods is something very Chinese, perhaps not just the
Peranakans. You can still find pictures of Door Gods at
entrances in many houses today especially families
with the elder generation around the house ...
Door Gods are a symbol of protection ...


An interesting hall way within the museum ...

A somewhat mysterious hall-way within the museum,
there is actually a replica of a coffin nearby ...



It is a wonderful clean museum with lots of information and
very educational ...




Installed in the former Tao Nan Chinese School, built in 1912,
this intimate museum possesses one of the finest and
most comprehensive collections of Peranakan objects.
Galleries on three floors illustrate the cultural traditions and
the distinctive visual arts of the Peranakans. 

Drop yourself at the City Hall MRT, and you will be within 10 minutes 
walking distance from the museum and many other prominent museums 
in Singapore around this area ...