In fact, as early as 2008, "little nyonya" directed by Minyang Xie and Lu Yanjin * * * was first broadcast, and it became popular all over Southeast Asia. Two years later, it was broadcast on several TV stations in China, becoming a classic in the hearts of the audience.
Gorgeous mansions, gorgeous costumes, exquisite clothes, delicious dishes ... elements full of Nanyang characteristics are interspersed in the whole play, which makes people unforgettable for a long time. Aside from the plot, the human feelings in the play are believed to be mysterious and unfamiliar to young China people. Nowadays, the popularity of the drama has brought the long-standing "Nyonya culture" back to attention.
What is a bitch?
"Baba and Nyonya", translated in Chinese as "Ga Niang Ra", is also called "Peranakan Cina", which means "native Chinese" or "overseas Chinese". The origin of Chan Chan and Nyonya can be traced back to at least the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
In the early Ming Dynasty, Zheng He, the eunuch of Sambo, made seven voyages to the western seas, with a fleet of up to tens of thousands of people, which lasted for about thirty years.
During this period, a large number of China people from Guangdong and Fujian also came to Southeast Asia to settle down and engage in business and farming. Fujian and Guangdong are located in the coastal areas, with a large number of fishermen, well-developed shipbuilding and navigation industries, and convenient sailing. Many fishermen were recruited by Zheng He as helmsman, boatman or attache, which has long formed a tradition of communicating overseas and seeking development overseas.
In the Qing Dynasty, a large number of China people "went down to South Asia" and migrated to Southeast Asian countries, especially Britain's "Strait Colony".
With the increasing number of Chinese immigrants, the phenomenon of intermarriage and reproduction between Chinese and local aborigines has also increased, and finally they have formed a cultural and linguistic integration and developed into a "mother-in-law" group. It is generally believed that the descendants of Chinese and local aborigines are called "Baba" by men, and "Nyonya" by women of the Chan ethnic group, which means miss and madam.
In that era when Putonghua was not popular, after China people with southern dialects intermarried with Malays or local aborigines who spoke Malay, the language pattern of Cantonese and Fujian dialects+Malay became the special language of Chan Chan and Nyangra-Chan Chan Malay.
For example, in the TV series "little nyonya", do you still remember that there was a porcelain named "Kamcheng" in the play? This porcelain for holding food is of special significance to the women, because "Kamcheng" is "emotion" in Fujian dialect, which symbolizes eternal and close feelings. Therefore, ladies cherish this special object very much.
In addition to language, Chan Niangya also shows the integration of China traditional culture and Malay culture in dress, diet and wedding ceremony.
In fact, Nyonya costume is to change the traditional Malay costume into western-style low-cut shoulder-lining, and add traditional lace decoration in China. Its color is not only the bright red and pink of China, but also the auspicious color of Malays-Turkish green. The decorative patterns on the clothing are the traditional flowers, birds, fish, insects and dragons and phoenixes in China.
It is reported that up to now, in Singapore, many wives of political dignitaries and some celebrities will choose some modern Nyonya clothes when they want to go abroad or entertain VIPs, because they think that wearing Nyonya clothes can represent Singapore.
Nyonya embroidered beaded shoes. (Singapore Lianhe Zaobao)
Niangs are very particular about not only their clothes, but also their shoes. Nyonya's shoes were called Kasut Manek. At that time, they were hand-made. One hand embroidered about10.8 million beads to weave flowers, birds, peacocks and goldfish.
Kasut Manek was not a shoe ornament exclusively for women at first. In the early years, a pair of embroidered beaded shoes not only symbolized the identity of the wife, but also showed the social status of her owner. Until today, embroidered bead shoes are still regarded as synonymous with the ethnic group and traditional clothing.
My mother is well dressed and well eaten.
In terms of food culture, the native Chinese in Southeast Asia have a unique form of family banquet called "long table banquet", which integrates Chinese, Malay and western food and beverage cultures, and is often used in birthday banquets or wedding banquets. Its dining form is similar to that of European and American countries, using a rectangular dining table that can seat more than 8 people, paying attention to table manners, and the food has a strong Chinese and Malay eating style.
Before the banquet officially begins, longan tea, Nyonya cake and betel nut will be served as a "warm field". In the first episode of TV series little nyonya, Huang Yuan, a businessman from Malacca, hosted a "long table banquet" at home to entertain guests.
Adhering to the tradition of China people that "men are the masters of the house and women are the masters of the house", Nyonya people study diet, and all of them are experts in cooking. Because many classic dishes are made by women, they are called "Niangjia dishes".
Nyonya takes advantage of the unique geographical position in the Straits of Malacca, and cooks traditional Chinese food with various spices and ingredients from India, Malaysia and the West, which has become the characteristic of "Nyonya diet".
For example, the seasonings for curing meat include not only traditional Chinese prickly ash, star anise and cinnamon in China, but also cymbopogon leaf in Malaysia and cumin in India. "Niangjia" cuisine combines sweet and sour, spicy, slightly spicy and other flavors, and has a strong taste. It is one of the most special and exquisite delicacies in Nanyang.
In 20 1 1 year, Laksa, a "Nyonya" dish, was selected as the 7th among the top 50 delicacies in the world by CNN's travel websites. Nasi Lemak (coconut milk rice), the highlight of Nyonya cuisine, is also known as the national treasure cuisine held by the people of Malaysia and Singapore.
Golden cassava cake is the most pleasing cake, which is brown and fragrant on the outside. Although there are many production processes, it is supplied every day because of high demand. (Sin Chew Daily, Malaysia)
In addition to the aroma, spicy, sour, salty and sweet taste in food, the visual colorful of Niangjia cuisine has always been talked about. In the play "little nyonya", the delicious Nyonya noodles, the soft and glutinous Nyonya cakes and the lovely turtle shells are mouth-watering.
According to reports, in the eyes of the local elderly, the craft of "making cakes with mothers" is an important standard for scoring new wives, which is also a compulsory course for married mothers.
In marriage, the "mother-in-law" retains a large number of Chinese traditional customs. For example, when the groom rides a horse to marry the bride, the couple must bow down to their elders, burn incense to worship the Buddha and ancestors, and go back to their mother's house for tea after marriage 12, and so on.
Some customs have long since disappeared in Chinese mainland, but "chastising women" still remains.
In the TV series "little nyonya", at the wedding ceremony of Jadin Wong and Chen Sheng, the bride "twisted her steps" and the groom "shook her fan" made people curious.
In fact, the groom must always hold a paper fan during the whole wedding, folding it when sitting and opening it when standing. The bride's "twisting steps" is introduced to look more elegant and generous.
The groom's robes and mandarin jackets and the bride's crested gown are all manifestations of Chinese marriage customs in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Up to now, there are still some Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia who, when preparing their children's weddings, have spared no expense to hire etiquette teachers, a traditional wedding, to hold a wedding that follows traditional customs.
The funeral of the "mother-in-law" also comes down in one continuous line from the Chinese tradition. Family members are required to wear linen in Dai Xiao, and the form of burial is basically the same as that of the southern provinces of China.
Today, we can still feel the traditional Nyonya culture in Singapore, and Malacca and Penang in Malaysia also retain traces of Nyonya culture. "Chan Chan" and "Niangjie" have become a symbol of being close if far away.