Malaysian legends

Legends as defined by Yahoo Education are unverified stories handed down from earlier times, especially ones popularly believed to be historical. Looking at our own local legends, with our colourful cultures and believes it is not really a wonder that each legends differ from others, with different stories to tell.

But, most of these legends are dominated by feminine images of beautiful princesses and maidens- Mahsuri, Mambang Sari and Puteri Gunung Ledang from the Western shores, the seven Bunian princess and Princess Saadong from the east coast, while from the East Malaysia are the infamous Puteri Santubong and Puteri Sejinjang. However, there are also male characters such as Laksamana Bentan, Monsopiad, and Raja Bersiong. These male characters are portrayed as notorious, rough, warrior-like, cruel, and their striving reputation is the result of their wicked deeds. Just like in the classic chinese yin and yang contrast, the female was depicted as pure, loving, kind-hearted and compassionate, even though their jealousy might be a misgiving that brought some of them their downfall. It made me wonder how in those days of patriarchal dominance when women were often second-rated, in this fictional stories women were idolised. It seems like there is a disparity between the value they held in reality and the value the cherish in their pastimes.

Apart from that it is also evident that there is a strong influence of mystical elements in these stories. This is best proven by the way some of the stories evolved around mythical characters as this mythical beings were put into focus as the main character, as evident in the story about the brawl between the giants in Langkawi legendary brawl and the touching love story between two dragons in Naga Tasik Chini. In some other stories these mythical beings were the pivotal element in the plot, given the role as aides to the human main character or the way round. In this legends human beings are endowed with supernatural powers and experienced unique and adventurous or wonderful experiences. This shows how people of ancient times belief in the existence of sacred beings whose mere existence affects their own, and they tend to depend on them believing that they hold some power to change the way things were. This seems to me a desperate measure to keep them intact in enduring their bleak hard life, these fantasies act as the light of hope, a chance for miracle.

These characteristics are not distinctive to Malaysian legends only, they extend to the other legends existing in the other parts of the world also. It seems like despite the geograhical and cultural differences, subconciously the essence of human existence- our thoughts and feelings vibrating with the same frequency.