A lantern that Chuen made which now hangs at a Chinese temple in Brunei. — CHUEN MUN WAI
Stroke by stroke, Chuen Mun Wai meticulously paints the batik-dyed fabric of a lantern. This has been the daily routine of the traditional Chinese lantern maker for the past two decades.
Traditional lanterns have been around for centuries and are at risk of “disappearing” today, said Chuen, 45, from Ipoh, Perak. He is a former draftsman, who now dedicates his life to keeping the traditional craft of making lanterns by hand alive.
“It was first introduced to (then) Malaya through the Ming Treasure Voyages in the 15th century, and has since stood as a symbol of cultural identity for the Chinese, especially the Peranakan Chinese communities in Malaysia.”
After nearly 600 years of existence in this part of the world, the craft is “facing extinction”, he said, adding that people’s dwindling interest in its preservation is the main reason behind this.
A dying craft
Historically, the lanterns served two main purposes. Firstly, they were used to prevent the candles placed within them from being blown out by the wind. Secondly, they were used to identify residences and businesses.
For example, family names were usually hand written or painted on the lanterns. “The brightly illuminated lanterns were hung at the entrance to their homes, making them visible to visiting relatives or friends from afar,” explained Chuen.
Chuen hopes to preserve the traditional lantern making, passing it down to the next generation. — Photos: GISELE SOO/The Star
The Teochew lantern has an oblong shape.
“This was especially effective for people living in remote or hard-to-reach areas.”
The lanterns also functioned as signboards, as business owners would put their establishments’ names on them and hung them outside their stores.
Unfortunately, with the rise of modern inventions, “some people no longer care about our lantern heritage”, Chuen lamented.
His first encounter with traditional lanterns was when he was still a teenager. He was visiting relatives in Penang, and he would often see these lanterns at temples and clan houses, usually flanking the entrances.
Ever since then, he has been fascinated by the intricate workmanship of traditional lanterns. “A few years later, I came across a workshop on how to make lanterns, which was what inspired this undertaking,” Chuen shared.
By then he was already in his mid 20s, but that’s when he decided to take on the “responsibility” of reintroducing the centuries-old tradition to the public.
“I attended the workshop to learn more. My very first assignment was to whittle down the bamboo, an essential material for making lanterns,” he said.
Today, Chuen’s lanterns have become a decorative feature in many business premises like cafes and hotels, as well as temples throughout the country.
Traditional lanterns are also synonymous with the Peranakan culture, as they will be hung at the front porch of houses during Chinese New Year. “These lanterns can be reused over and over,” Chuen said, adding that they are used for other festivities, too, including weddings and ancestral ceremonies.
A few of his latest creations are currently on display at the OldTown Earthcare Cafe in Ipoh. The history and heritage of the iconic coffee brand are beautifully painted on the lanterns.
“People from Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang order the lanterns for their homes, too,” Chuen said, adding that his lanterns have also gained the attention of tourists far and wide.
“These visiting folks will order the lanterns as keepsakes.”
Chuen makes his bamboo lanterns by hand.
Preserving a legacy
True to tradition, Chuen makes each lantern by hand and from scratch. “Alas, only a handful of artisans still practise this today,” he noted.
Decades ago, there were more skilled craftsmen in Peninsular Malaysia – mainly from Taiping (Perak), Penang and Melaka. But many of them have passed on, some without having shared their knowledge with the younger generation, thus leaving their legacy to slowly die out.
The tradition of making lanterns by hand, for example, is fast fading in today’s world. One of the reasons, Chuen said, is the lack of interest among the younger folks.
Convenience is another reason.
Chuen explained, “Factories mass produce these lanterns nowadays. Hence, buying from stores is deemed more convenient as compared to ordering them from an artisan or independent workshop, as it would require us more time to complete each order.”
However, he said that people may not be aware of the quality of a mass-produced lantern versus the quality of a hand-made one. The use of synthetic materials and plastics in factory-made lanterns have a negative impact on their lifespan.
A hand-crafted one, on the other hand, would definitely last longer.
Of the various lanterns found in Malaysia, Chuen focuses on two types – the Teochew lantern, also known as basket lantern, and the “umbrella” lantern, which is typically round in shape.
These fabric lanterns are adorned with intricate designs and motifs, as well as hand-written surnames.
“Those made in factories use printed designs and colours, whereas for traditionally-made lanterns, each one is painted by hand,” said Chuen.
Referring to the construction of the lantern, he said it is built with bamboo strips supported by wire bars. Two wooden blocks are installed at the top and the base of the “skeleton”, which is then covered with a cloth.
Chuen's lantern work can also be seen at the Earthcare Cafe. — CHUEN MUN WAI
Traditionally, the fabric to cover the lantern was plain white. “The colour was favourable back then, as it ‘emitted’ little heat,” he explained. But white is a cultural taboo within the Chinese community, who associated the colour with death, prompting the switch to natural dyes.
Mangosteen peels and turmeric were used to give the fabric a more “vintage” appearance.
However, one noticeable drawback at that time was that the colour would fade, turning it back to white, due to the hot weather.
“Natural dye simply wasn’t sustainable, so we replaced it again with batik dye. It is one of the world’s oldest textile colouring techniques, in which the fabric is soaked in coloured substance.”
After this process, an adhesive layer made with agar-agar will be added to the now-dyed cloth for shaping as well as to prevent the colours from seeping out during painting, while tapioca starch is used as a glue to hold the fabric to the bamboo frames.
Depending on the design and size of the lantern, Chuen said, the whole process takes roughly a month (or more) to complete, including its construction and painting.
Chuen said that one prominent upside of handcrafted lanterns is “with proper care, they can last for a long period of time”.
“I will continue to do this for as long as I can,” he shared. “I hope to provide workshops for people who are interested in learning the art of this handiwork in the future, as these classes give them a chance to discover our lantern heritage.”
For more information and updates, check out Chuen’s Facebook page (search: TJOAN’s lantern workshop).
