Hang Tuah

Hang Tuah (Jawi: , from Malay or ()) was a Malay warrior and admiral who lived in Malacca during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah in the 15th century. He was supposedly known as a diplomat and a silat master. Hang Tuah is the most illustrious warrior figure in Malay literature. However, he is somewhat a contested figure and there is dispute in regards about the factual basis on Hang Tuah's true life story.

Historicity

thumb|right|A bronze mural of Hang Tuah that exhibited at the [[National Museum (Malaysia)|National Museum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.]]

The veracity of Hang Tuah has been the subject of debate of historians for a century. In 2012, historian Khoo Kay Kim noted that there was no historical evidence for Hang Tuah's existence.

Since 2016, some historians have suggested that Hang Tuah is referred to in the Rekidai Hoan, an official record from the Ryukyu Islands. The document spans the period from 1424 to 1867 and records the arrival of a certain admiral from Malacca. The document mentions the word "Lezoumana" or "Lo-hsi-ma-na" (Laksamana), Hang Tuah's title, according to the Malay Annals.

Afonso de Albuquerque's commentaries, titled The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque, Second Viceroy of India, mention a Lassamane (Laksamana) who was eighty years old at the time of the capture of Malacca in 1511 by the Portuguese, described as “a good soldier, of good repute and great knowledge,” as follows:

Nevertheless, since Hang Tuah is not explicitly named in these documents, the identification remains unproven.

Ethnicity

Regardless of the historicity of Hang Tuah, his ethnicity is the source of some dispute. Legend has it that Hang Tuah had aboriginal Jakun ancestry from Bintan Island.

Biography

Hang Tuah's life and career as a laksamana (admiral) includes tales of his accomplishments and unfaltering loyalty to his sultan, some of which are chronicled in the Sejarah Melayu (the semi-historical Malay Annals) and Hikayat Hang Tuah (a romantic collection of tales involving Hang Tuah), both being written in the 17th century in its earliest versions.

According to legend, Hang Tuah learns silat together with his four comrades, Hang Kasturi, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. Their teacher is Adi Putra, a renowned master who lived a hermetic life at the top of a mountain. The comrades encounter and deal with a man running amok. Following this incident, Hang Tuah is presented to Sultan Muzaffar Shah by his bendahara, Tun Perak.

Hang Tuah is given the title of laksamana when he accompanies his lord Sultan Mansur Shah to Majapahit where the sultan is to marry a Majapahit princess. Hang Tuah is shown to be the most courageous and closest servant to the sultan as he rescues a royal horse from a cresspool. However, later, his laksamana title is taken away from him as he is accused of slander and is forced to go into hiding. When Hang Kasturi starts a revolt, Hang Tuah is called back to the Malacca court and he manages to kill Kasturi, this results in him retaking the title of Laksamana and he again becomes the sultan's closest servant. but the Hang Jebat story, as the more romantic tale, remains more popular.thumb|Hang Tuah Mausoleum, located in [[Tanjung Kling|Tanjong Kling]]

Later life

Sources show that Malacca kept the peace as Hang Tuah protected the common man and was considerate to the oppressed. The Hikayat Hang Tuah describes that not only Malacca falls apart but also that Hang Tuah makes a long journey to Mecca and 'Rum' and he continuous to live in peace and becomes a wandering darwish. He eventually falls with fever and headaches, showing that his end was near.

Legacy

Hang Tuah remains popular in Malaysia, embodying the values of allegiance and loyalty. The legend of the tragic friendship between Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat represents the conflict between loyalty and justice.

Hang Tuah is associated with the saying, "Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia" meaning, "Never shall Malays vanish from the earth". The saying is a rallying cry for Malay nationalism. It was popularised by well known local author Abdul Ahmad Samad in his 1950 literary work, Dosaku. However, there is no historical record attributing the saying to Hang Tuah, nor is the quote found in the Hikayat Hang Tuah.

Popular culture

Film

Hang Tuah is a prominent figure in Malaysia's popular culture and his story has been adapted into several movies. Famous portrayals include:

P. Ramlee in Hang Tuah (1956)
M. Amin in Hang Jebat (1961)
Pak Yem in Puteri Gunung Ledang (1961)
Jamal Abdillah in Tuah (1990)
Jalaluddin Hassan in XX Ray 2 (1995), a science-fiction film made by Aziz M. Osman about modern scientists who were sent back to the 15th century, when Hang Tuah was alive. The film imagines the hero getting his attributed quote Takkan Melayu Hilang Di Dunia from one of the scientists from the future
Khairudin Samsudin in Singapore's first kids drama Robbie And The Book Of Tales (2000), Season 1 Episode 2
M. Nasir in Puteri Gunung Ledang (2004). Nasir also portrays Hang Tuah in a Kit Kat commercial where the warrior (unrelated to the character in the Ledang movie) enters a modern convenience store.
Saiful Apek in Magika (2010)

Comics

In 1951, Indonesian author Nasjah Djamin wrote Hang Tuah (Untuk Anak-Anak) ("Hang Tuah for Children") published by Balai Antara, making it the first locally published comic book in the country.

Places and things named after Hang Tuah

thumb|[[Hang Tuah Jaya]]

thumb|Admiral Hang Tuah Jamek Mosque

Malaysia

Five roads in Malaysia are named after Hang Tuah: Jalan Hang Tuah in Kuala Lumpur, and similarly named streets in Johor, Malacca, Muar, and Ipoh.
The Royal Malaysian Navy has two frigates named after Hang Tuah, and .
A strip along Jalan Hang Tuah has been renamed Hang Tuah Mall and popularised as a tourist attraction.
An LRT station and Monorail station in Kuala Lumpur is named Hang Tuah. It is an interchange station.
Medan Hang Tuah, a major food court and hawker centre is located at Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur.
Hang Tuah Stadium, a stadium in Malacca City.
Hang Tuah's Well, a water well in Hang Tuah Village in Kampung Duyong, Duyong, Malacca.
Hang Tuah Jaya, a municipality and parliamentary constituency in Malacca.
Admiral Hang Tuah Jamek Mosque, a mosque in Malacca.
Hang Tuah Centre, an attraction in Malacca.
Hang Tuah Village, a village in Kampung Duyong, Duyong, Malacca.
Hang Tuah Bridge, a bridge in Malacca City across Malacca River.
Hang Tuah Hall, a building in Malacca City beside the Hang Tuah Bridge.

Indonesia

Certain roads in several major cities are named after the warrior as Jalan Hang Tuah: in Pekanbaru, Jakarta, Batam, Tanjung Pinang, Medan, Surabaya, Palembang, Padang, Palu, Denpasar, and Bandung
Hang Tuah University, a major university established by the Indonesian Navy in Surabaya
The Indonesian Navy has two ships named after Hang Tuah, RI Hang Tuah and .
Hang Tuah Park, a Park in Riau Main Stadium in Pekanbaru
Hang Tuah Stadium, a green space in Masjid Agung An-Nur in Pekanbaru