Golden Chersonese Peninsula

 

The Malayan Peninsula was divided into various small kingdoms, influenced by Indo-China or Indonesian kingdoms. In the 16^th century, Ming expeditions from China visited the archipelago and set up trading contacts with Melaka, a Moslem kingdom on the Golden Chersonese Peninsula. They also left behind Chinese communities who adopted local customs and created a unique peranakan or baba culture. This culture was a blend of Chinese, Malay and Indian customs.

 

                  

Baba with overt Malay                              Baba with overt Chinese

costume features                                           costume features

 

Later, Portuguese, Dutch, Spaniards and English traders also came to set up their trading colonies which added further to the rich cultural mix.