It is believed that this is a footprint of Admiral Zheng He, housed at the Sam Poh Tong Footprint Temple in Batu Maung, Penang. — KT GOH/The Star
FROM the rule of the Srivijaya Empire to Melaka’s rise as a bustling entrepôt, and through the occupations that followed the industrialisation of war – long before the formation of the federation – Malaysia’s folklore has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange.
The stories passed down for generations are an amalgamation of influences from around the world, reflecting the country’s rich multicultural heritage.
Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Malay Studies director Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi explains that Hindu religious and cultural elements, for instance, remain prevalent in Malaysian folklore, particularly in character names and storytelling.
“For example, in the Javanese tales of Panji Semirang, which was made into a film in 1961, you see names such as Mahadewi, Galuh Candra Kirana and Prabu Daha.
“The Javanese were influenced by Hinduism, and as they travelled across the region, they spread their culture, values, and history. Along the way, their tales made their way into local communities.”
Another example, says Prof Awang Azman, is the Merong Mahawangsa epic.
“The story goes that during one of Merong Mahawangsa’s travels from Rome to China, his ship was attacked by the giant bird Garuda. You see, the Garuda is one of the Hindu deities.”
According to him, it was common for civilisations to absorb elements of other traditions and cultures as they evolved.
“We can see this through the use of language. A chief example is how the Malay language itself has evolved, even with the dominance of Islam as the community’s religion and way of life.
“Many words in Malay are derived from Sanskrit. For example, ‘syurga’ [paradise] and ‘neraka’ [hell] come from Sanskrit.”
Storytelling in the past was largely an oral tradition, passed down through memorisation. Prof Awang Azman explains that as these stories were retold across generations, they were often adapted to remain relevant.
“There are stories meant to teach life lessons, such as values like kindness, courage, honesty, and respect – like what you see in the tale of Si Tanggang.”
He agrees that Malaysian folklore, over centuries, has been enriched by various cultural influences.
“Our cultures borrow from one another. We can see that smaller traditions often take after or are influenced by larger traditions.
“This is obvious when it comes to food. Sushi has become a mainstream dish worldwide. The same goes for kimchi, which is now readily available in Malaysia, even though it was originally fermented for winter storage.”
He sees this blending of cultures in folklore as a natural part of civilisation’s progress.
“Any culture that wishes to stand the test of time must be ready to accept change, infusing elements of other cultures to adapt for the future.”
Malaysia’s multicultural folklore evolved further after the migration of Chinese and Indian communities hundreds of years ago, says Dr Nagathisen Katahenggam, deputy director of Taylor’s University’s Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab.
“A lot of local culture among the Chinese and Indians has developed over time. For example, the Chinese community has its own folklore and local legends as well.
“In Batu Maung, Penang, there’s the Sam Poh Footprint Temple, which was built around a giant footprint believed to belong to the legendary 15th-century explorer Admiral Cheng Ho.
“Meanwhile, the Indians believe the footprint belongs to the Hindu deity Hanuman. In the Ramayana legend, there’s a story about Hanuman landing after a great leap. Some say he landed in Sri Lanka, others say Langkawi, or even Penang.”
