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Grand Reception Hall (Thia Besar)

The Peranakan-Chinese community spoke a language known as Baba-Malay which is a mix of Hokkein dialect and the local Malay language.

Even though Malay customs (adat) were adopted, keeping an identity as Chinese was still important. This grand reception hall was where honoured guests would beentertained, and business negotiations conducted by the men of the household.

The setting of this room is a typical Straits-Chinese reception hall. Its symmetrical layout mirrors a mandarin official’s home in China of the Qing dynasty.

Here, everything in the room must be balanced, organized, and the furniture comes in multiples of two.

Silk Embroidery
(wall facing North)

The centerpiece showcases the Three Abundances of blessings, good fortune and longevity – Fu Lu Shou. The three abundances are symbolized in this artwork by images of bats (blessings), deer (prosperity) and cranes (longevity).

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum Silk Embroidery (Wall Facing North)
Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum Silk Embroidery (Wall Facing South)

Silk Embroidery
(wall facing South)

This centerpiece depicts the Phoenix or Feng Huang. The phoenix is second among the four supernatural creatures in Chinese symbolism. It is a motif that was adopted by the Empresses of China. It is believed that this embroidery symbolizes the citizens of China paying respect to the Empress during a time of peace and prosperity.

Wooden Sign on Top of Door

The placard on top of this door was given to Chan Cheng Siew when he moved into the house, in 1896. It reads “Congratulations to Mister Cheng Siew, on the new home. A glorious and magnificent house!” It was made in a shop called Quan Shun.
wooden sign (cleaned) lg

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Introduction to the Peranakans

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