Malacca, the colorful city

Dòng sông Malacca như chia đôi 2 dòng văn hóa Á-Âu

Malacca (Melaka in Malay) is a state of Malaysia, located in the southern part of the Malay peninsula, next to the Malacca Strait. Since the end of the 14th century, after the wars between the kingdom of Srivijaya on Sumatra and the kingdom of Majapahit on the island of Java. The kingdom of Srivijaya gradually weakened, and Prince Parameswara of Srivijaya court crossed the strait to the east to flee on the Malay peninsula. 

Đền Cheng Hoon Teng là một trong những địa danh được chú ý nhất ở Malacca trong khu phố người Hoa.

One day, around 1404, Parameswara was hunting when one of his dogs was kicked by a deer, who was a gentle and shy animal so he saw this unexpected courage as a sign. luckily and named his kingdom Malacca, after the malacca tree he was sitting resting under its root. 

Những ngôi nhà cổ của người Hoa tại Malacca

At that time, in order to expand its influence, in the countries where the Chinese diplomatic mission went through, Malacca was especially noted by the Ming: The purpose of wanting to embrace Malacca was to make this place a base to open. influence to the south, blocking the power of India and the West through the Strait of Malacca, and a place to supply goods of Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia for the Chinese market. 

Nghệ sĩ đường phố tại một con đường nhỏ khu người Hoa sát bờ sông Malacca

Therefore, when Malacca was just established, it had a good relationship with China. That also has a special meaning for Malacca when always threatened by two great empires, Majapahit and Ayuthaya (Kingdom of Java and Thai people).

Ngôi nhà có phong cách kiến trúc cổ Hà Lan

According to Anthony Ried in "Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce": Southeast Asia's commercial roots began in 1400 and culminated in 1450-1680. At that time, Malacca had a glorious century, a large trading center and acted as the "inter-world center" in Southeast Asia. With the support of the Ming then, China became an important trading partner of Malacca, more and more Chinese people came to live and trade in Malacca. 

Một bán sao cối xay gió Hà Lan đặt tại Quảng trường đỏ Malacca

Forming a Baba Nyonya community (also known as Peranakan) is a union between Chinese men and Malay women, it is considered as a descendant of the Chinese people and this number is increasing rapidly, and people Baba Nyonya has become a specialty of Malacca society, even though they have a language of their own but are not widely developed.

Phía đông dòng Malacca với những ngôi nhà theo phong cách kiến trúc Hà Lan

Malacca's golden age ended after about 111 years, in August 1511 when Portuguese troops besieged the city, Malacca officially became a Portuguese colony. By 1641, the Portuguese surrendered to the Netherlands. Over the next 150 years, the Dutch occupied Malacca but did not focus on developing this potential harbor but focused their attention on Batavia (Jakarta - Indonesia) to build an administrative center there. 

Bên dòng sông Malacca gần Quảng trường đỏ Hà Lan 

Later, the Netherlands exchanged Malacca for the British for Bencoolen in Sumatra (Indonesia) with the Anglo-Dutch Treaty signed in 1824. Since becoming a British colony, trade in Malacca was gradually dispersed into 2 nearby islands are Singapore and Penang. Nevertheless, Malacca still held an important position in the formation of the Islamic state of Malaysia later, when the British colonial period ended in 1957.

Art Gallery tại Quảng trường đỏ Hà Lan - Malacca

Located at the most important traffic hub in Southeast Asia, Malacca has always been a busy gathering place for traders from many countries around the world. The international trade as well as the invasion process of the great powers has made Malacca possesses a unique multicultural and colorful stamp in the life, architecture and religion ... 

Nhà thờ Melaka được xây hoàn toàn bằng gạch đỏ mang sang từ vùng Zeeland của Hà Lan

The beautiful Malacca River beautiful and gentle as if to split the city into two parts, the East is the center of the city in the shape of the old European style and bustling around Dutch Square dyed in red rose. The West is the bustling and bustling Chinese business district on the pretty streets, along the simple old roofs, dyed in mossy green and blue ... 

Pháo đài Middelburg tại thành phố Malacca nằm ở cửa sông Malacca.

The harmony between indigenous culture and Countries such as China, Portugal, Netherlands, England ... have created Malacca a very special beauty, very unforgettable. This ancient city on the Malacca Strait has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage since July 2008. 

Bản sao con tàu Flor de la Mar nổi tiếng của Bồ Đào Nha có tải trọng 400 tấn, hạ thủy năm 1502. 

References :

- Trade relations between Malacca and China during the period 1400-1511 - Pham Van Thuy.

- Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce - Anthony Reid

- Malacca, Malaysia's charming colorful land - Architecture Magazine.

- Kingdom of Malacca - Wikipedia