Hang Tuah (Jawi: ) is a legendary Melakan warrior who lived during the reign of

Sultan Mansur Shah in the 15th century.[1][2] He was the most capable of all the
laksamana, or sultan's admirals, and is considered in Malaysia to be one of history's
greatest silat masters. Hang Tuah is held in the highest regard, even in present-day
Malaysian Malay culture, and is arguably the most well-known and illustrious warrior
figure in Malaysian history and literature.

Contents

1 Early life and background

2 Career
3 Legacy
4 In popular culture
5 Places and things named after Hang Tuah
5.1 In Malaysia
6 Further reading
7 See also
7.1 References

Early life and background

Hang Tuah was born in Kampung Sungai Duyong, Melaka. His parents were Hang
Mahmud and Dang Merdu Wati.His parents owned a small shop near Kampung
Bendahara. As a young boy, Hang Tuah worked as a woodcutter in his parents' shop.
His grasp of spiritual concepts and potential as a fighter were apparent from a
young age. At ten years old he learned silat together with his four comrades Hang
Kasturi, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. Their teacher was Adi Putera, a
renowned master who lived a hermetic life at the top of a mountain. Under the

guru's tutelage, Hang Tuah and his four compatriots were taught the arts of selfdefense and meditation.

Hang Tuah appearance in the history of the region began when some men ran amok
near Kampung Bendahara. Tun Perak came with a party of guards to investigate the
incident, but was also attacked. His guards fled but when Hang Tuah and his friends,
who happened to be at a nearby stall, saw what was happening, they rushed to
save Tun Perak. They fought the group and, because of their ferociousness, they ran
away.

Tun Perak was amazed by the courage of Hang Tuah and his friends. He rewarded
them for their gallant service with a suit of clothes each and appointed them as
commanders. They were also presented to Sultan Muzaffar Syah and they became a
well known legend in the history of Melaka [3]
Career

Hang Tuah's illustrious career as an admiral or laksamana includes tales of his

absolute and unfaltering loyalty to his Sultan, some of which are chronicled in
Sejarah Melayu (the semi-historical Malay Annals)[4] and Hikayat Hang Tuah (a
romantic collection of tales involving Hang Tuah).

Hang Tuah became the sultan's constant aide, accompanying the king on official
visits to foreign countries. On one such visit to Majapahit, Hang Tuah fought a duel
with the famed pendekar Taming Sari. After a brutal fight Hang Tuah emerged as
winner, and the ruler of Majapahit bestowed upon him Taming Saris kris or dagger.
The Keris Taming Sari was named after its original owner, and was purported to be
magical, empowering its owner with physical invulnerability.

Hang Tuah also acted as the sultan's ambassador, travelling on the king's behalf to
allied countries. Another story concerning Hang Tuah's legendary loyalty to the ruler
is found in the Hikayat Hang Tuah, and involves his visit to Inderaputra or Pahang
during one such voyage. The sultan sent Hang Tuah to Pahang with the task of
persuading the princess Tun Teja, who was already engaged, to become the sultan's
companion. Tun Teja fell under the impression that Hang Tuah had come to persuade
her to marry him, not the Sultan, and agreed to elope with him to Melaka. It was
only during the voyage home that Hang Tuah revealed his deception to Tun Teja.

The Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu each carry different accounts of this
incident. The Hikayat records that it was Hang Tuah who persuaded Tun Teja to
elope with him, thus deceiving her.

Perhaps the most famous story in which Hang Tuah is involved is the fight with his
closest childhood companion, Hang Jebat. Hang Tuah's deep loyalty to and
popularity with the sultan led to rumours being circulated that Hang Tuah was
having an illicit affair with one of the sultan's dayang (court stewardesses). The
sultan sentenced Hang Tuah to death without trial for the alleged offence. The death
sentence was never carried out, however, because Hang Tuah's executioner, the
bendahara (chief minister), went against the sultans orders and hid Hang Tuah in a
remote region of Melaka.

Believing that Hang Tuah was dead, murdered unjustly by the king he served, Hang
Jebat avenged his friend's death. Hang Jebat's revenge allegedly became a palace
killing spree or furious rebellion against the sultan (sources differ as to what actually
occurred). It remains consistent, however, that Hang Jebat wreaked havoc onto the
royal court, and the sultan was unable to stop him, as none of the warriors dared to
challenge the more ferocious and skilled Hang Jebat. The bendahara then informed
the sultan that the only man able to stop Hang Jebat, Hang Tuah, was still alive. The
bendahara recalled Hang Tuah from his hiding place and the warrior was given full
amnesty by the Sultan and instructed to kill Hang Jebat. After seven gruelling days
of fighting, Hang Tuah was able to kill Hang Jebat.

It is notable that the two main sources of Hang Tuah's life differ yet again on the
details of his life. According to the Hikayat Hang Tuah, it was Hang Jebat who
avenged his friend's death, only to be killed by the same friend, but according to
Sejarah Melayu, it was Hang Kasturi. The Sejarah Melayu or the Malay Annals are
unique in that they constitute the only available account of the history of the Malay
Sultanate in the 15th and early 16th century,[5] but the Hang Jebat story, as the
more romantic tale, remains more popular.

Hang Tuah continued to serve Melaka after the death of Hang Jebat. Later in his life,
as Hang Tuah progressed in his years, the warrior was ordered by the successive
Melakan ruler to court a legendary princess on the sultan's behalf. The Puteri
Gunung Ledang (Princess of Mount Ledang) was so named because she resided on
Mount Ledang at the Melaka-Johor border. According to legend, the Princess met

with Hang Tuah, and only agreed to marry the sultan if he satisfied a list of
requirements, or pre-wedding gifts. The list included a golden bridge linking Melaka
with the top of Gunung Ledang, seven trays of mosquito livers, seven jars of virgins'
tears and a bowl of the sultan's first-born son's blood. Hang Tuah knew the tasks
would not be fulfilled, and was said to be so overwhelmed that he failed his king
that he flung his kris into a river and vowed only to return to Melaka if it resurfaced,
which it never did. It was also said that he then vanished into thin air. According to
other sources, Hang Tuah lived to an old age, and his body is said to be have been
buried in Tanjung Kling in Melaka, where his tomb can still be seen today. Although it
is to be believed that his tomb is just a representation of his name and his body is
actually buried elsewhere.
Legacy

Hang Tuah is famous for quoting the words "Takkan Melayu Hilang di Dunia"
meaning "Never shall the Malay(s) vanish from the earth". The quote is a famous
rallying cry for Malay nationalism.[6][7]

He remains an extremely popular legend in Malaysia, embodying the values of

upper-class Malay culture at the time, when allegiance and loyalty to the ruler were
paramount above all else. Although its historical accuracy remains disputable, the
legend of the tragic friendship between Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat represents a
paradox in the Malay psyche about loyalty and justice, and remains a point of
debate among students of Malay history and literature.[citation needed]
In popular culture

Hang Tuah is a prominent legendary figure in Malaysia's popular culture and his
story has been adapted into several movies. The more famous of these movies
include Hang Tuah, starring P. Ramlee in the titular role, and Puteri Gunung Ledang,
which starred M. Nasir as Hang Tuah. In 1995, XX Ray 2, a film by Aziz M. Osman
was made and tells about modern scientists were sent back in Hang Tuah's era. In
the film, Hang Tuah (played by Jalaluddin Hassan) got the quote Takkan Melayu
Hilang Di Dunia from one of the scientists from future (played by Aziz M. Osman).
Another film is the 1990 Malaysian film, Tuah, which starred Jamal Abdillah as Hang
Tuah.
Places and things named after Hang Tuah
In Malaysia

Four roads in Malaysia are named after Hang Tuah: Jalan Hang Tuah in Kuala
Lumpur, Ipoh, Malacca, and in Taman Khalidi Bharu, Muar, Johor
The Royal Malaysian Navy has a frigate named KD Hang Tuah.
A strip along Jalan Hang Tuah has been renamed Hang Tuah Mall and popularised
as a tourist attraction.
An important LRT station and Monorail Station in Kuala Lumpur is named Hang
Tuah. It is an interchange station.
Medan Hang Tuah, a major food court and hawker centre is located at The Mall,
Kuala Lumpur.
Hang Tuah Stadium, a sport stadium in Malacca.