The Bujang Valley or Lembah Bujang is a sprawling historical
complex and has an area of approximately 224 square km. Situated near Merbok,
Kedah, between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south, it is the
richest archaeological area in Malaysia.
These archaeological remains show that there was a
Hindu-Buddhist polity here. The name itself is roughly translated into
"Dragon Valley". The area consists of ruins that may date more than
2000 years old. More than fifty ancient tomb temples, called candi (pronounce
"chandi"), have also been unearthed. The most impressive and
well-preserved of these is located in Pengkalan Bujang, Merbok. The Bujang
Valley Archaeological Museum is also located here. In the area of Bujang Valley
known as Sungai Batu, excavation have revealed jetty remains, iron smelting
sites, and a clay brick monument dating back to 110AD, making it the oldest
man-made structure to be recorded in Southeast Asia.
Legends thrive, but there is little tangible evidence about
dozens of Malay kingdoms, which are said to have flourished long before the
emergence of Melaka in the late 14th century. The Bujang Valley in South Kedah,
for one, is Malaysia’s richest archaeological site. The valley is the guardian
of countless hidden tales which are waiting to be unveiled. Here, the beliefs
of the Malay ancestors were centered upon nature and the spirits which permeate
every aspect of their lives. These beliefs have been passed down to the next
generation by the elderly.
They have valuable information to share about their families
and ethnicity of which written evidence is often scarce. Such tales may perish
if they are not well documented. Oral history, adopted as its testimony,
permits us to gather data not available in written records. Oral history
techniques are able to elicit facts, feelings, and descriptions, contributing
to social history.
Moreover, this technique is able to reveal how individual
values and actions shaped the past, and how the past shapes present-day values
and actions. Findings include offerings made to appease the spirits of the
rivers and lands. Other findings include the revelation of the Bujang Valley as
the centre of knowledge. The establishment of madrasah – “sekolah pondok”
brought about a better understanding of Islam resulting in the inherent beliefs
in the supernatural to slowly diminish. All these recollections form a body of
knowledge that is priceless and worth recording. Knowledge published in
tangible forms is a key factor to worldwide recognition. Therefore, these
efforts to safeguard oral history and family stories should be a top priority
for new knowledge development and commercial enhancement for generations to come.
MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Lembah Bujang was said to be the richest museum in South
East Asia with its oldest artifacts found years ago. But sadly, my trip
recently to Lembah Bujang gave me a shock on how well it is kept. Well, the
place, the surrounding of the museum is not bad though. But what sadden me was
the way leading to Lembah Bujang museum was not properly taken care off.
As I was coming from Alor Setar I have used the old road to
the museum. At one moment I was driving
looking a signboard to lead us to the place. Sadly there are not even one signboard indicating the distance or direction. After a while driving I saw a signboard
saying its 17km away from the place we were and the signage towards the
museum were broken, grown with grasses and trees.
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