Traditional Games

1. TRADITIONAL GAMES

Malaysia is rich in a very unique and interesting cultural heritage. Cultural heritage includes food, customs and traditional games resulting from the assimilation of various races of Malaysian society. Traditional games generally consist of anjung games and yard games. Anjung games include Batu Seremban, Congkak, Tutup Botol, Dam Aji and others. Meanwhile, yard games include Galah Panjang, Ketinting, Gasing, Baling Selipar, Konda Kondi, Rebut Negeri and others.

Most games are played in groups, this creates social interaction and strengthens relationships between community members. In the past, game activities were a leisure activity that was carried out with great enthusiasm like a party. Villagers regardless of age would come down en masse either to participate in competitions or as supporters in a healthy competitive atmosphere. Most of the games in the past also provided many benefits to individuals and society. In addition to building social skills, they also provide physical and mental benefits. Strategy games such as Dam Aji and Congkak will stimulate a person's mind to think critically and help improve calculation skills and always focus on a task.

In today's era of gadgets and technology, traditional games known as people's sports are receiving less attention among the community. Today's new generation cannot enjoy the fun of running around in a wide field and working up a sweat. The constraints of play space and concerns about social crime mean that children are no longer free to play like previous generations.

List of Traditional Games that have been designated as National Heritage:

Among the games that have been designated as National Heritage:-

1.            Congkak

Congkak is a type of porch game or indoor game that uses a hollowed-out oval stick or hole on the ground. The fruit consists of tamarind seeds, saga seeds, salak seeds, seashells, rubber seeds or small rocks. This game is believed to have been brought in by Malay-Polynesian traders in the 15th century. The Congkak board is made of a wooden stick designed in the shape of a fishing boat with holes punched on the surface of the board. Today, Congkak fruit has been replaced with marbles because it is easier to find and play. This game can sharpen skills in mathematics and train the mind to make decisions or strategies quickly.

2.            Gasing

The game of top is very popular in Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the states of Terengganu and Kelantan, as well as Melaka. There are many types of top in Malaysia, including top heart, top plate or flat, top kelamar, top egg, top berembang, top Malay, top Chinese, top book thread and top pinang. Adults and children can play top according to the size of the top that is appropriate.

Top is played in two ways, namely as top pangkah or top uri. Top pangkah is played by throwing it so that it knocks over the opponent's top. Top uri is competed to test its durability in spinning.

3.            Wau Tradisi Malaysia

Wau is a leisure game of the people that has its own artistic characteristics. For the fishing community, wau is played as a preparation for going to sea, to find out whether the weather is good or not. The same thing is done by farmers to prepare for the next rice season.

According to Malay history, wau began in Melaka by the Prince of the Sultan of Melaka. There are three famous types of wau, namely Wau Bulan, Wau Kucing and Wau Jalabudi. Wau is made of bamboo that is woven to make the frame, spine, wings and tail of the wau. Colored paper is also pasted on the wau frame to determine its beauty. The colored paper can be painted with motifs with the appropriate color of choice. All three of these wau have a tear-type aesthetic that is patterned with bayur tendrils, larat clouds, bamboo shoots, geometry, flora and fauna and so on.

In addition, the emergence of the name wau is also associated with the sound produced by the bow tied to the wau. When raised into the air, the ibus leaves attached to the bow will produce the sound "wau', "wau', "wau' rhythmically.

4.            Dam

This game is played by two people sitting facing each other using equipment such as checkers and tir fruit. It is often played by men during their free time in coffee shops. This game maintains the function of the game with a war and defense system. Players need to be smart in planning their steps, so that the planned efforts bear fruit. This game really tests the mind and intellect to be efficient in planning strategies.

5.            Galah Panjang

Galah panjang is a traditional game played on a court drawn on the ground and involving two opposing teams (attacking and blocking teams) determined by a coin toss. It is an adaptation of the national defense system, which is to infiltrate and turn back, and requires strategic skills and speed. Each team has at least 4 players. The court is made up of two (2) columns and several rows depending on the number of players. When playing, the attacking team must always stay within the line and try to infiltrate the next box without being touched or caught by the blocking team. The movement and attack of each member will be determined by the strategic planning efficiency of the team leader. The leader of the blocking team will control the center line, while the other members will guard the horizontal lines and prevent the attacking team from passing them. If a member of the attacking team is touched, the roles of the two teams will switch.