Theme:Singapore Traditions
Adults
by LearnX Singapore
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Traditional Costumes
Playlist: Traditional Costumes
Singapore’s traditional costumes reflect our multi-ethnic culture, as we may wear the traditional costumes particularly during festivals or special occasions. This playlist has videos on the maker, seller, and collector of traditional clothing in Singapore.
Check out these resources to help you gain some understanding of traditional costumes in Singapore.
The story of Lai Chan, Singapore’s master cheongsam maker | Remarkable Living (8 mins)
“Self-taught couturier Goh Lai Chan made his first cheongsam (or qipao) at the tender age of 14. Today, he dresses international public figures, including dignitaries, socialites and celebrities.”
Source: CNA (2022, Feb 8). “The story of Lai Chan, Singapore’s master cheongsam maker | Remarkable Living.” CNA. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
Tailored With Love – The Baju Kurung (3 mins)
A short and interesting introduction to the baju kurung, a traditional Malay costume, over the years. Chinese couple, Connie and Allan, shared their passion for the baju kurung and their business in the Malay clothing industry.
Source: OGS (2018, Jun 28). “Tailored With Love – The Baju Kurung.” OGS. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
This iconic shop in Singapore’s Little India is known for its saris, kurtas and more (6 mins)
Features “Dakshaini Silks,” an iconic shop selling different kinds of Indian ethnic clothing. Owner Rani Kumar explains the various kinds of sari and sari designs in this mini documentary.
Source: CNA (2023, November 12). “This iconic shop in Singapore’s Little India is known for its saris, kurtas and more.” CNA. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
A Discovery Of Vintage Kebaya | iCollect (15 mins)
This video focuses on Raymond Wong’s collection of vintage kebayas dating back to over 100 years from 1910. He mentions the significance of certain symbols such as pineapples in the embroidery and the development of colour in kebayas.
Source: A Discovery of Vintage Kebaya | iCollect (2023, Aug 24). iCollect. Retrieved 2024, Jan 11.
Leaning Package: Traditional Costumes
Singapore’s traditional costumes reflect our multi-ethnic culture, as we may wear the traditional costumes particularly during festive times, or special occasions. Racial Harmony Day, which is celebrated on 21 July, will have students dressing up in various ethnic costumes, sample ethnic food, and play traditional games in schools in order to foster community bonding and social cohesion.
Some patterns and types of traditional clothing may also be a marker of social identity, associating someone as part of certain group, or a certain social status, while others may have to conform to religious preferences with regards to the length of a skirt or sleeve. Colours may also have religious and social significance.
Did you know...
The baju kurong telok belanga, one of the earlier versions of the baju kurong, drew its name from the Telok Blangah area in Singapore, and may have been designed by Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor in 1866?
These curated set of articles and books will help you understand more about traditional costumes in Singapore.
Articles
The baju kurong is a distinctive Malay dress worn by both men and women. Generally, men wear the baju kurong as a shirt top with pants while women pair it with a sarong. It is thought to have originated in Indonesia.
Source: Koh, Jamie. (2013)."Baju Kurong."Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
This article describes the cheongsam and how it became popular in Singapore and the region.
Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013)."Cheongsam"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
The nyonya kebaya is an outfit mostly associated with women of the Chinese Peranakan community. It may have developed from the Malay long dress and usually consists of an embroidered blouse paired with a batik sarong.
Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013). “Nyonya Kebaya"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
The sari is a traditional attire for women of South Asian descent and consists of a long fabric that is draped around the body and is worn together with a short fitted blouse, known as a choli, and a long petticoat.
Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013). “Sari"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
The tudung is a Malay term for a headscarf or veil worn over the head to cover the hair, neck and chest areas, and is considered an important part of the Islamic dress code for Muslim women.
Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2013). “Tudung"Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, January 11.
Books
Costumes through time, Singapore
Khoo, Betty L. (ed.). (1993). Costumes through time, Singapore.Singapore: National Heritage Board and Fashion Designers Society. (Call no.: RCLOS q391.0095957 COS -[CUS])
This well-illustrated book covers various costumes through time, dressed for special occasions or events. It showcases items from the Chinese, the Peranakan, Indian, Malay, the Europeans and Eurasians communities.
Costumes in ASEAN
Khunying Maenmas Chavalit and Maneepin Phromsuthirak (editors). (2000).Costumes in ASEAN.Bangkok: The National ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information of Thailand. (Call no.: RCLOS 391.00959 COS)
This book has essays on the costumes of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Ang Meow Wah’s contribution on Singapore (pages 190-240) gives a vast overview of Singapore’s costume wear from the colonial period to the 21st century.
The Nyonya Kebaya: A Century of Straits Chinese Costume
Datin Seri Endon Mahmood. (2004).The Nyonya Kebaya: A Century of Straits Chinese Costume.Singapore: Periplus Editions. (Call no.: RSING 725.21095957 FUN)
This is an introductory book on the nyonya kebaya with chapters describing the history of the kebaya, as well as the types and silhouettes. It also has detailed images and descriptions of various kebaya in the author’s own collection; the making of the kebaya; various accessories that match the kebaya; and kebaya-inspired designs.
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Traditional Performing Arts
Playlist: Traditional Performing Arts
Singapore's traditional performing arts showcase our multi-ethnic society's rich cultural heritage. These displays of tradition and history, often featuring intricate movements and melodious music, offer a glimpse into the customs and beliefs of the diverse communities in Singapore.
Check out these resources to find out more about traditional performing arts in Singapore.
10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT DIKIR BARAT (2 mins)
This video provides 10 facts about dikir barat, a popular form of entertainment for the Malay community in Singapore.
Source: ArtsEquator (2020, October 12). “10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT DIKIR BARAT.” ArtsEquator. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
ROUTES | Unpacking Traditional Dance (17 min)
The video consists of one-on-one interviews with local dance instructors and practitioners. Each individual shares their perspective on traditional dance and discusses the importance of cultural values, traditional music, traditional costumes, ethnic identity, and the pure form within their respective dance practices.
Source: National Arts Council Singapore (2021, July 16). “ROUTES | Unpacking Traditional Dance.” National Arts Council Singapore. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
Chinese Puppetry: Performance for the Gods (11 mins)
“Chinese puppetry (also known as puppet theatre) is performed in various Chinese dialects, depending on the region it originated from. Traditionally, puppet performances are staged mainly for deities. In recent times, secular shows are increasingly staged for the general public. Practitioners share on the five main types of Chinese puppets found in Singapore: Hainanese rod puppets, Teochew iron-stick puppets, Hokkien string puppets, Hokkien glove puppets and Henghua string puppets.“
Source: Roots Sg (2019, March 19). “Chinese Puppetry: Performance for the Gods.” Roots Sg. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
ROUTES | Unpacking Traditional Dance (17 min)
The video consists of one-on-one interviews with local dance instructors and practitioners. Each individual shares their perspective on traditional dance and discusses the importance of cultural values, traditional music, traditional costumes, ethnic identity, and the pure form within their respective dance practices.
Source: National Arts Council Singapore (2021, July 16). “ROUTES | Unpacking Traditional Dance.” National Arts Council Singapore. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
Leaning Package: Traditional Performing Arts
Singapore's traditional performing arts encompass a wide array of art forms, including the vibrant art of Chinese opera, the rhythmic movements of Malay dance, and the captivating storytelling of Indian classical music. These art forms have been passed down through generations and are performed at cultural and/or religious events such as festivals, celebrations, and weddings.
Did you know...
In Singapore, five traditional Malay folk dances—namely, asli, inang, joget, masri, and zapin—are actively practised. These dances have a rich history, having been featured in bangsawan performances during the early 1900s and showcased in Malay films of the 1950s and 1960s.
This set of articles and books will help you understand more about traditional performing arts in Singapore.
Articles
Dikir barat, a versatile form of Malay choral singing, has gained popularity in Singapore and Malaysia. Traditionally associated with rural festivities and competitions, it has now expanded to urban areas and television screens. Beyond entertainment, it serves as a platform for social commentary and education. The art form gained traction in Singapore in the 1980s, with the inaugural dikir barat competition for schools organized by the Malay Literary, Debating and Cultural Society of Nanyang Junior College in 1984.
Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2015). Dikir barat Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
Dondang sayang by Stephanie Ho
Dondang sayang is a traditional poetic art form mainly associated with the Malay and Straits Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia. The term is derived from the Malay words dondang or dendang, meaning “to sing”, and sayang, which encompasses a range of meanings that include “love”, “longing” and “dejection”.
Source: Ho, Stephanie. (2015). Dondang sayang Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association by Alvin Chua
Established in 1931 and registered as a society in 1962, the Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association continues to present Waijiang and Teochew music and opera concerts. It also played a role in popularising Chinese orchestral music in the 1950s, known as huayue in Singapore.
Source: Chua, Alvin. (2016). "Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association."Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
Wayang kulit is a traditional shadow puppet theatre art form originating in Southeast Asia, possibly influenced by Indian shadow play. These performances often draw inspiration from the renowned Hindu epics, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana, which are widely celebrated across Java, Bali, the Malay Peninsula, and mainland Southeast Asia.
Source: Endon Salleh. (2018). “Wayang kulit.”Singapore Infopedia.Singapore: National Library Board. Retrieved 2024, March 15.
Books
Malay Dance in Singapore: the Som Said Journey
Som Said. (2017). Malay Dance in Singapore: the Som Said Journey. Singapore: Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd. (Available via PublicationSG)
This book chronicles the history, evolution, and future of Malay Dance in Singapore, as observed through the perspective of Singapore's cultural figure, Som Said. It also serves as an educational tool on Malay dance for the community, arts activists, and stakeholders in the arts and culture sector.
A Malay-language version of this book is available too: Som Said. (2017). Seni Tari Melayu di Singapura: Perjalanan Som Said. Singapore: Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd. (Call no. RSING 793.3195957 SOM)
Kala Manjari: Fifty Years of Indian Classical Music and Dance in Singapore
Seshan Ramaswami (ed). (2015). Kala Manjari: Fifty Years of Indian Classical Music and Dance in Singapore. Singapore: Sun Media Pte Ltd for the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society. (Call no. RSING 780.899141105957 KAL)
This book features the memories of pioneering, established, and emerging artistes and arts administrators. It covers the development of North and South Indian classical music, various classical dance styles, and the roles played by temples, the government, and the media.
Traditional Chinese Music in Contemporary Singapore
Michelle Loh and Lum Yan Sing (eds). (2020). Traditional Chinese Music in Contemporary Singapore. Singapore: Pagesetters Services Pte Ltd. (Call no. RSING 781.62951 TRA)
This book is a collection of essays by 12 esteemed contributors deeply involved in the development of traditional Chinese music in Singapore. These essays, authored by musicians, lecturers, and conductors, offer diverse perspectives and insightful observations, serving as an informative introduction for curious readers and valuable companions for experienced enthusiasts.