Hang Tuah 

(Jawi: ‫ )هڠ تواه‬was a warrior who lived in Malacca during the reign of Sultan Mansur
Shah in the 15th century.[1][2] He was supposedly the most powerful of all the laksamana, or
admirals, and is considered by the Malays to be one of history's greatest silat masters. Hang
Tuah is held in the highest regard, even in present-day Malay culture, and is arguably the most
well-known and illustrious warrior figure in Malay history and literature.

Contents

 1Early life and background

 2Career
 3Legacy
 4In popular culture
 5Places and things named after Hang Tuah
o 5.1In Malaysia
o 5.2In Indonesia
 6See also
 7References
 8Further reading

Early life and background[edit]

While historical facts regarding the early life and background of Hang Tuah are limited and his
ethnicity is the source of some dispute; it has been reported that he had aboriginal
Malay ancestry.[3] 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 self-defense and meditation.
Hang Tuah's 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 companions. He rewarded them
and presented them to Sultan Muzaffar Syah.[4]

Career[edit]

Hang Tuah's Well in Kampung Duyong, Malacca.

Hang Tuah Mausoleum

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)[5] 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 then
Singhavikramavardhana, the ruler of Majapahit, bestowed upon him Taming Sari’s 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 then 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 sultan’s orders and hid
Hang Tuah in a remote region of Melaka.