A LIVING MUSEUM

Looking to get a first-hand look into Peranakan culture? Katong Antique House on East Coast Road is the perfect place to experience life in a Peranakan family home. Something of a best-kept secret until now, this private gallery offers tours to help people learn about the unique cultural practices of the Peranakan Chinese. Curator and owner Peter Wee has spent decades collecting a wide range of items to reflect the unique facets of Peranakan daily life. I recently took a group of clients and students to look more closely into this fascinating culture.

These colourful enamel plates and kueh sweet molds are very practical and collectable!

THE PERANAKAN HOME

Also known in the Peranakan community as Baba Wee, Peter inherited the some 100-year shophouse from his grandfather and has since successfully recreated a typical household setup of a bygone era. Visitors will find a casual display of Batik Sarong, Kebaya blouses, Kasut Manek beaded slippers, Nyonya ware ceramics and Peranakan tiles. From the entrance hall to the kitchen, each room has been carefully restored to reflect the customs and practices of a typical Peranakan family at the turn of the century.

Baba Wee's ancestors going back seven generations!

PERANAKAN RELIGION

During the 45-minute tour, Peter explained that the Peranakans are descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Malacca and around the coastal areas of Java and Sumatra as early as the 15th century. In the early 20th century, many Peranakans were educated at missionary schools and some even converted to Catholicism. Due to this, common features of a Peranakan home included a Catholic home altar, Taoist deities and Buddhist religious decorations - all side by side!

See the Catholic altar behind...along with the three Star Gods namely Fu, Lu and Shou.

A HYBRID CULTURE

According to Peter, about 80% of Peranakan culture has its roots in Hokkien and Teochew traditions. The rest comes from English, Dutch, Malay and Indian sources. The flexible outlook of the Peranakans and their interest in adopting and integrating bits and pieces from other cultures is an admirable trait needed more than ever in our often-troubled world. The tour was wrapped up over a spot of tea served with Peter's quaint antique tea cups. The delicious pineapple tarts also went down well, and were again another example a Western cooking tradition combined with local ingredients.

Tea and time to chat!

A PERANAKAN GEM ON EAST COAST ROAD

As President of the Peranakan Association of Singapore, Peter often has copies of the association's highly collectable and still free magazine, The Peranakan. If you're looking to enjoy this magazine, please join the association while they are still offering life-time membership! Specialist books on Peranakan culture, and out-of-stock copies of museum catalogues can also be found. You can also enjoy locally made kueh sweets and Peranakan inspired gifts including my original greeting cards. Don't miss the chance to experience the real-life essence of Peranakan culture - book your tour soon!