14 Facts About Peranakan

One of the sub-groups of Chinese-Peranakan, Straits Chinese or Straits-born Chinese were defined as those born or living in the Straits Settlement: a British colony consisting of Penang, Malacca and Singapore which was established in 1826.

However, given that 'Straits Chinese' is a geographical designator specific to the former British colonies in the region, whereas 'Peranakan Chinese' is a broader genealogical designator covering all parts of the Nusantara region where Chinese people settled, the two terms cannot be said to fully overlap or be interchangeable.

In Indonesia, the Peranakan language is mainly based on Indonesian and Javanese, which is mixed with elements of different Chinese varieties, mostly Hokkien.

Peranakan retained most of their ethnic and religious origins, but assimilated the language and culture of the Malays.

Significant number of the modern Peranakan community have embraced Christianity, most notably in Indonesia.

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In 2019, a new branch of Singapore-specific Peranakan intermarriages were found to exist within the early Roman Catholic Church starting from 1834.

In Indonesia, Peranakan referred to all Indonesian Chinese who had converted to Islam up until the 19th century.

One organisation of Indonesian Peranakan Muslims is the Persatuan Islam Tionghoa Indonesia, which was formed in 1936 in Medan.

Some prominent Peranakan Muslims include the Indonesians Junus Jahja, Abdul Karim Oei Tjeng Hien and Tjio Wie Tay and from Pattani, the Peranakan convert to Islam, Datu Seri Nara, who according to Wybrand of Warwijck was the most important commercial and military figure in Pattani in 1602.

Wedding ceremony of the Peranakan is largely based on Chinese tradition, and is one of the most colourful wedding ceremonies in Malaysia.

Many Peranakan were active in trade and considered supportive of continued European rule in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Peranakan culture has started to disappear in Malaysia and Singapore.

Only three communities of Peranakan still uphold the traditional Peranakan wedding customs, Tangerang, Makassar and Padang.

Peranakan culture was first introduced to Hollywood in 2018 through the blockbuster movie Crazy Rich Asians .