Here I attached a short video on what Cik Nor has commented on Labu Sayong indigenous knowledge. I have asked his personal opinion on why youth is less likely to have the interest to know labu sayong indigenous knowledge. The reason why is it outdated is because of rapid modernity.
Labu sayong is one of the unique and special indigenous knowledge evolving from the old Malays. As mentioned, we should preserve and safeguard this knowledge as it reflects our national identity. The greatest challenges to sustain its continuity is definitely to attract the public and increase youth awareness.
I
have learned about this knowledge and I hope as this craft industry continues to
progress not just locally but on a national level, more people (especially Malaysian) will become
aware and appreciate this heritage knowledge. With more exposure and sincerity
in doing work, I am sure pottery makers can go out of their comfort zone and
succeed.
Most importantly, I would like to thank Cik Nor, an Adiguru Kraf that was willing to be interviewed virtually by me via Whatsapp. Despite the difficulties of using an online medium, he was very kind and determined to help me doing this research! Thank you so much Cik Nor.
Nowadays, everything is online. Including buying and selling labu sayong. Easy.
However, the process of packing, making sure it does not break during the shipment process is so hard and it takes a lot of time. As well as faith (during the shipment). During the interview session, Cik Nor told that there are still a lot of people who came by his shop to peep or see and sometimes buy the labu sayong. Roughly about 15 labu sayong is sold in a month. But in this pandemic situation, less of that was sold. It is mainly because no freedom to travel between states.
There are some organizations that currently help to preserve the labu sayong knowledge which is the Pusat Kemajuan Kraftangan Negara and Institute Kraf Negara.
Pusat
Kemajuan Kraftangan Negara helps the seller by promoting labu sayong not just by
locally but onto a national level. They encourage progress, commercialize it
through the bigger markets and help entrepreneurs by providing online skills as
nowadays, everything is online.
While Institut Kraf Negara
provides various skills for the youth. They can pursue studies on pottery making
if they are interested. For example, they can take a Diploma in Seni Kraf
Seramik, Seni Kraf Batik, and other arts as well. Efforts to preserve this
heritage knowledge should be continuously done so it would not be forgotten
especially by the younger generations.
While
researching and interviewing Cik Nor, the Adiguru Kraf, there are mainly 2
challenges that he addressed. Firstly, the lack of public awareness and
publicity. The second is the younger generation is not aware of this indigenous
knowledge.
Lack of public awareness and publicity. We know that labu
sayong is used to store water on a daily basis by the older people in old
times. However, in this globalization era, the number of users is decreasing
because its functions have been taken over by modern solutions such as refrigerators
which can keep any food and drink cool all the time, with the help of
electricity. Also, the aesthetic value of traditional pottery now is less
appreciated by the public thus resulting in less demand for this product.
Besides that, it is difficult to pass on this traditional knowledge to the younger generation as they are becoming more interested in Western culture. Labu sayong is considered outdated. Not only it considered as outdated, but the thought of its process where it requires high skills has also made youth show disinterest in the knowledge. The process is true, a tedious job. This could jeopardize its continued existence.
These are some of the importance of preserving Malay indigenous knowledge, Labu sayong. This knowledge should be safeguarded as it is very unique and special.
1. TRADITIONAL
HERITAGE
It is
believed that pottery-production has started by the Malays thousand of years
ago. This traditional heritage must be kept alive as it is one of the evidence
from the history of Malay civilization. It is irrefutable evidence of the origins
of the primal communities referred to as the Malays.
2. NATIONAL
IDENTITY
As we
all know, a pottery-making was introduced by Tuk Muluk, a “migrant” from
Sumatra. This means we should understand that the people of Sumatra, which is
Sumatra Malays shared a common identity, ancestry, and ethnicity with the
peninsular.
3. REDUCE
INVENTION OF PLASTICS
Nowadays, the usage of pottery products has
been declining due to the increase of plastics products. We should attract back the
society in using the pottery products, such as labu sayong. It can reduce the
invention of plastics which is good.
There are many types of ornaments used in designing a labu sayong.
In this post, we will be discussing on the process of making labu sayong.
The process is divided into 5 main processes which are:
settling down the soil, moulding, shaping & designing, drying and lastly, baking.
Settling down process.
A very fine clay soil taken along the riverbanks is left under
the sun for days, and then pounded into extremely fine powder. After so, the
powder is mixed with water and then kept into a sealed container for few days.
The mixture is then carefully kneaded and wedged to remove all water bubbles.
This is to avoid the pot to break when exposed to intense heat. Indeed, it is a
tedious process.
Nowadays, the clay soil is mixed with sodium and water to
produce a batter.
Moulding
The batter or mixture is then poured into the mould. After
that, let it set aside for 3 hours or so depending on the weather. The pot is then
removed from the mould and turn upside down to dry.
The interesting process is shaping and designing. It simply
done on a board wheel by a highly skilled craftman. The motif / ornaments
either being decorated by hand or simply stamped onto the surface of the clay. Some
common ornaments are bunga padi, bunga tanjung and so many more.
Drying & Baking
The pots are then dried in the sun for 3 days or so to
harden the surface. It will also increase its durability.
Usually in the old days, the pots then are fired in open
trenches fill with some firewood, coconut husks, dry rambutan trees until they
are red hot. After that, they are immediately removed and placed on a pile of
paddy husk or saw dust for 20 minutes to impart the black sheen. The base of
the pot is brushed with liquid resin or wax to render it waterproof.
In this new generation, the pots now are baked in a machine
at a temperature of 1000 centigrade for 10 hours or so..depending on the size.
reference: http://leisuretoursmalaysia.blogspot.com/2011/05/educational-tour-of-labu-sayong-cottage.html
Labu sayong is typically been used to store water, by older people. It keeps the water cool even you put the labu sayong under the hot scorching sun. Villagers believe that drinking from it has health benefits. It is even believed that drinking from it can cure common health problems, like cough and fever.
There are many types of labu sayong. We can buy them mostly in Kuala Kangsar Perak. Some including
Labu Pana, Labu Tela, Labu Tanah, Labu Pucong
The most common ones are below:
Labu Lepap
Labu Gelugor
Labu Geluk
While some still use labu sayong to store water, many prefer
to display this beautiful handicraft at home.
Hello everyone. Thank you for coming to my blog! Before exploring other things inside this blog, I would like to explain what is 'Labu Sayong'. bear with me ^_^
Labu Sayong is a gourd-shaped pitcher or jars that traditionally used to store water. Usually, the water stored will always cool (just like if you put it inside an electronic fridge). Nowadays, labu sayong can be found as decorative pieces in many homes as well as preferred storage for drinking water.
It was believed that labu sayong making was initiated by Tuk
Muluk, an old man that came from the Minangkabau area in Sumatera to Perak. He
introduced clay pottery around 1810 during the reign of Sultan Abdul Malik
Mansur Syah. He contributed his skills in making “labu sayong” to the residents
of Kampung Kepala Bendang, Sayong.
Over the
time, the residents become skillful and later it was passed on the present
generation. It was one of the earliest Malaya’s handicraft during civilization.
Where did labu sayong came from?
It was early originated in Kampung Kepala Bendang, Sayong,
Kuala Kangsar. This town is well-known with small enterprises that specialize in
pottery making especially labu sayong.
The majority of people there are Malay people. Most of them
are highly skills craftsmen. The people are brought by the Sultan during old
times from Hilir Perak to Kuala Kangsar due to replacement of the palace and
also assassination of J.W.W. Birch in 1875 in Pasir Salak. All of them are
expert in many arts including ceramic and furniture arts.
Sayong region is long known to possess a high-quality clay
soil, hence a good quality labu sayong came from there. The art of pottery making
in Perak was indigenous to the Malays. Usually, the best clay soil can be found
along the banks of the Perak River, considering the moisture of the soil there.
Quality clay is a must in pottery production, a highly skilled craftmen should
know every details of the process precisely to produce excellent labu sayong.
Most people there own are a labu sayong shop. Besides that, their main income are mostly from agriculture. This is because Sayong possesses several natural resources such as paddy, latex and kelapa sawit.
I have interviewed an adiguru kraf, Encik Zulkafly bin Pandak Bedin or he prefers to be called as Cik Nor. He is a kind old man and I felt like talking to my atuk. He learnt ceramic arts from generation to generation, and told me that labu sayong was believed came from a royal generation.
That’s the origin of Labu Sayong and a brief story of the region where it came from as well as their community.
