CHIA SUE YI

0315334

FNBE April 2013

English 1: Writing Assignment

Differences between Malay and Chinese Traditional Houses

Tradition is the collective knowledge, experience and behaviour of our ancestors.

These traditions although considered primitive by modern generations have in many ways

influenced the construction of different types of traditional house in different countries.

Traditional houses have many good aspects, socially and environmentally. These aspects

are unknown territory and should be explored and adopted in the modern contemporary

built environment .One significance of traditional house is that they are built in harmony

with the climate and natural environment .Now, let us explore the many differences

between the types of architecture, materials and history of Malay traditional houses and

Chinese traditional houses.

The first difference between Malay traditional houses and Chinese traditional

houses is architecture. The architecture of Malay traditional houses is designed based on

tropical solutions in building design. The traditional Malay houses are an important source

for the creation of Malaysia’s identity in architecture and exhibits the creativity and

aesthetic skills of Malays. For example, “ Rumah Terengganu” was built entirely from

Chengal wood and without the use of a single nail. However, Chinese traditional houses

are made by Chinese architecture and the designs practiced by them tends to make the

houses face south because Chinese people believe in Fengsui which harmonizes the

interaction of people with their living space and natural environment. The use of bright

colours such as red, orange and yellow has become a characteristic of the Chinese

buildings in which these colours represent an ethnic rite. For example,“Shieyuan” is a

traditional house Chinese architecture has had a major influence on the architectural styles

of Korea, Vietnam and Japan.

The second difference between Malay traditional house and Chinese traditional house

is that they are made of different materials. Most of the Malay traditional house is made by

lightweight natural construction material especially wood , bamboo and leaves are used for

floors and walls for protection against rain. For example, the materials used for construct

‘Rumah Limas Bugis’ include ‘Cengal’, ‘Keranji’, ‘Penak’ and ‘Meranti’ wood that can easily

found in Malaysia In a traditional Malay house. Malay traditional house is also designed to

suit the warm and humid to suit Malaysia climate and for the multifunctional use of space

which can ensure suitable natural vegetation in the surroundings to provide a cooler

environment. However, Chinese traditional house despite the different geographic

conditions, it dwellings are usually designed around the common value. The most common

building materials for houses in China are earth and wood, both of which have positive

associations. Most of the Chinese traditional house is made by brick and stone because it

gradually became more common and replaced wooden edifices. For example, the high-

grade building material in “Forbidden City” located in Beijing is glazed tile was used

exclusively on palace buildings of the regal house of the big mansions of nobles.

The third difference between Malay traditional houses and Chinese traditional

houses is the ancient history. Most of the ancient Malay peoples of South-East Asia

maintained a form of self-regenerating environmental culture. The Malay architecture

has been influenced by Indonesian Bugis, Riau and Java from the south. For example,

‘Rumah Limas Bugis’ is the traditional house style is influenced by the Bugis of

Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nevertheless, the historical factors play an important role in the

Chinese architecture to emphasis of ornamentation on the temple and association

buildings is considered important among Chinese believers. For example, The Chinese

house type, “Siheyuan”, is deemed to be the embodiment of the Confucian institution

which has ruled the traditional Chinese society. The people historically developed

diverse housing styles that adapted to each particular region and climate.

In conclusion, there are many differences in Malay and Chinese traditional houses,

such as the types of architecture, materials and history. The conservation of these

traditional values in the context of conservation and revitalization of architectural heritage

is in a sense the preservation of culture. The different aspirations of people from different

regions can be seen when we look at houses in different regions. The difference between

the houses in every state shows that Malays itself is not the same. Each of them has their

own perceptions in designing of the house influenced by a different factor culture and

tradition is an identity to a society that needs to be preserved for future generations.