THE EPIC OF HANG TUAH - INTRODUCTION Part 1

The Hikayat Hang Tuah , The Epic of Hang Tuah is the great narrative of the Malay Archipelago and has always inspired strong passions in its readers and audiences. The protagonist, Hang Tuah, is the nonpareil of culture heroes. Over the centuries he has helped Malays, Malaysians, Singporeans, Southern Thais and Bruneians to define their social and moral ideals and given them pride in their national idendity.

For many generations he has been the model for old and young alike. Young boys playing at sword or keris fighting called themselves Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu, while the older men and women would debate his role in Melakan history.

In short, while Hang Tuah has been present in the minds of the Malays for at least the last six centuries, he is still very much alive there today, as their symbol of self-sacrifice, achievement, patriotism and, not least, as the foremost symbol of their survival.

Various artistic genres have attempted to reinterpret and reinvent this epic over at least the last hundred years. The Hikayat Hang Tuah, in full or in part, has been recast as movies, short stories or novels, comics, plays, musicals and poems. Now a discourse concerning his role in history, his duel and eventually the slaying of his comrade who was avenging his "death" often reappears in the pappers on cyber pages.

In Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and (Southern) Thailand, the Hikayat is regarded as one of their greatest literary germs. Its episodes touch on all these countries and their relationships, and the work transcends national boundaries and interes. Many Southeast Asians still deeply believe in the validity of his sacrifice and absolute loyalty and that he is their hero, their symbol, the epitome of what is possible when dedication is coupled with 'ilmu' knowledge and industry.

Renewed passion for him and what he means surges to the surface when Malays feel threatened in one way or another militarily or even economically.

End of Part 1