History of Baju Kurung

History of Baju KurungThe baju kurung, a kind of regional clothes for Malayan female, includes baju and kurung. In Malay language, baju means clothes and shirts kurung means confinement, imprison. Baju is a kind of apparel coat, whose sleeve aloofness is to the wrist kurung is a kind of skirt, which is of the ankle length. Additionally, with a 200-year-long history, the baju kurung was invented by Sultan Abu Babar, who is the father of Modern Johor. In 1800s, when aiming at creating the baju kurung, he considered two main factors conforming to the rules of their theology and being aesthetically pleasing. As the time goes by, the baju kurung has developed into three main kinds of styles. The original style is the Taditional Baju kurung. The hemline comes beneath the knees. A nonher style is the Baju Kurung Kedah. It is similar to the conventional one, but its kurung is cut shorter in the hem so that it is below the waistline. The last style is the Baju Kurung Moden. It is the r ed-brick conventionality for women. There are many an(prenominal) differences between the modern cut and the traditional cut, for example, the collars in the modern one is comm however accessorized with some sumptuous buttons, fleck the tradition one seldom has this kind of decoration. Since Malaysia is an Islam country, Islam requires that a charwomans clothes should surmount the whole body except hands and face. Consequently, compared with modern clothes, the baju kurung may guess conservative. However, many Malay women still prefer the baju kurung.As Malaysia is an Islam country, the baju kurung not moreover meets the requirement of the religion, but as well battle arrays the unique culture of Malaysia. To conform to religion duty is one of the reasons why Malay women wear the baju kurung. Islam, with a to a greater extent than 1300 years long history, has a great influence on the Islamic and a stringent requirement about womens clothes. As record book, the holy with stand of the Islam, says, Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the women of the faithful, to draw their wraps a little over their faces. They will frankincense be recognized and no harm will come to them. deity is forgiving and kind (Koran, chapter33, verse59). Furthermore, The clothes for the Muslim women should not be so glamorous that it can attract the attention of men(Asma and Paul, 2003, pg189). Meanwhile, an attire of the baju kurung with a sleeve-length clothes coat and a long blouse, covering the whole body of a woman, loose enough and not revealing the figure, just fits the requirement. As a fact, 64.3% of Malay women pointed out they wore the baju kurung because of their religion. Besides, as a unique part of Malay culture, wearing the baju kurung among Malay women has been considered as a common way to show their cultural identity. As one Malay woman said, Not only Malay women, but also many Malaysia-Chinese girls enjoy wearing the baju kurung to defend that the y are in Malaysia, which indicates that they are really proud of their culture.Whats more, with the development of Malay culture, the baju kurung, which combines the merits of tradition and modern fashion, brings Malay women, peculiarly young women many benefits. First, the modern baju kurung adds more beauty, elegance, and safety to Malay women. The baju kurung is gradually modernized as the shut up on the right side of the skirt are varied, boarded, they do not always start from the waistline, and may be shorter and various in length the modern attire of the dress moves great individually(Broch-Due, Rudie, and Bleie, 1993, pg297). With the development of modern fashion, and many kinds of colours and embroideries to choose, various kinds of the baju kurung are designed to meet the requirements from individuals. In fact, 90% of Malay women said that the baju kurung was beautiful, and they enjoyed wearing the baju kurung. Additionally, The Baju kurung is loose enough, the ladies wh o are fat or pregnant can look elegant when they wear baju kurung(Anonymous, para.9). Covering the whole body but not wrapping up womens body, the baju kurung makes women more elegant. Meanwhile, the baju kurung brings oft safety. It must be loose enough, so as not to hound the shape of a womens body. So wearing the baju kurung makes me feel comfortable and safe, especially from naughty eyes which love to stare at womens body(Broch-Due, Rudie, and Bleie, 1993, pg199). While in some extent, the baju kurung may cover womens physical beauty. With a consideration of safety, the baju kurung is matter-of-fact and acceptable. Second, as a kind of national clothes, the baju kurung is widely worn in musket ball occasions, such as wedding, and funeral. One Malay young woman said, When a woman is wearing the baju kurung, she is generally considered polite, respectable, and genteel. From this view, the baju kurung is a kind of formal dress for certain occasions in Malaysia. Third, the baju kurung is comfortable and cool. It is true that Malaysia is a tropic country, when Malay women are wearing the baju kurung, it may be considered vehement and stuffy. However, 80% of Malay women explained that it was not hot at all. Made of cotton wool or silk, women who wear the baju kurung no longer feel hot and uncomfortable.In short, due to bringing mental and practical benefits, the baju kurung, as an unique traditional clothes, is acceptable by many modern Malay women. Moreover, to a Malay Muslim woman, wearing the baju kurung not only expresses her loyalty to Islam, but also displays Malay culture to foreigners. At the same time, the baju kurung makes women beautiful, elegant, safe, formal, and comfortable. Thats why the baju kurung, as a kind of traditional clothes, can be developed and inherited until today. entirely in all, if one traditional clothes intends to last longer, it can hit the books from the baju kurung, to make a successful combination tradition and moderniz ation.ReferencesBooksGeorge Sale (1764). The Koran commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed. Britain Bavaria LibraryVigdis Broch-Due, Ingrid Rudie, Tone Bleie (1993). Jendered Symbols and Social Practice Cross-cultural Perspectives on Women. Britain Berg paperAsma Abdull Ah, Paul Pedersen (2003). Understanding Multicultural Malaysia delights irritations. America Pearson PublisherLaurence Goldstein (1991). The Female body figures, styles, speculations. America University of Michigan squashBeng Huat Chua (2003). Life is not complete without shopping consumption culture in Singapore. Singapore NUS PressJohn Nguyet Erni, Siew Keng Chua (2005). Asian media studies politics of subjectivities, first edition. America Wiley-BlackwellInternetRetrieved fromhttp//web.singnet.com.sg/hsh17/sect1baju.html on 26th October 2009http//www.101cookingrecipes.com/malaysia-cooking-recipes/malaysia-melayu-malay-baju-kurung-kebaya-cloth.php on 26th October 2009http//www.pahang-delights.com/baju-kurung.htm l on 28th October 2009http//www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation on 3rd November 2009