When we’re talking about legendary women of wonders, Puteri Gunung Ledang is synonymous

with local citizens. A heroine at the top of Gunung Ledang, she reigns reverence all over Tanah
Melayu. Born with the brain of a philosopher, the beauty unlike any others and magical powers
akin to a mage, she secludes herself at the highest peak of the mountain.

Before we engage with the story, we should give our attention to the point of interest. Gunung
Ledang or Mount Ophir is located at Tangkak, Johor. It is a tourist attraction where many locals
and tourists may come to visit. The mountain is climbable with 3 entry points though one is
currently closed. The entry point from the North-South highway has the view of the Ayer Panas
waterfall on the right side and Estet Ledang Baharu on the left side. The place is very popular to
locals as not only is it a wonderful landmark, it carries a powerful folktale that many others know
well. Now that the point of interest has been told, let’s continue with the princess’ tales.

As with Asean folktales, every lone female is inevitably sought after by their male counterpart.
Knowing that she may forever lose her life’s worth of freedom and independence, she would be
wise to make sure that whoever it is that wants her is truly capable of being a proper husband
and a leader to the family. Ever the intelligent lady, she challenges those who would like to put
their hands on her and laid down many rules and conditions that are impossible for them to do.
The story of Puteri Gunung Ledang begins with the benevolent Sultan Mahmud Shah, the ruler
of Melaka, who was enamored by her beauty and decided to take it upon himself to marry her.

After hearing of the beautiful princess at the top of Gunung Ledang, Sultan Mahmud Shah sent
Tun Mamat, Sultan’s advisor to send his proposal to her, seeking her hand in the marriage.
Upon knowing of this, she would set seven difficult conditions for the sultan before she would
agree to the marriage.

Sultan Mahmud Shah was to create a golden bridge from Melaka to Gunung Ledang and
another bridge made of silver from Gunung Ledang to Melaka of which the distance covers a
total of 45 km, bring seven trays filled with the hearts of mosquitoes and germs, seven large
urns filled with juices of young betel nut and the tears of virgins and the final wish, bring over a
bowl of blood from the son of Sultan himself.

Ultimately, Sultan Mahmud Shah refused to complete Puteri Gunung Ledang’s task as not only
does it cost a fortune as building a golden and silver bridge will cost more than a lifetime and
seemingly undoable as seven trays filled with hearts of mosquitoes and germs and another
seven large urns filled with young betel nut juices is next to impossible, Sultan Mahmud Shah is
unable to accomplish the final task which is to spill the blood of his own son. As such, Sultan
Mahmud Shah, accepting his defeat, failed to wed Puteri Gunung Ledang and the princess
remains unmarried to this day.

Thus, the story of Puteri Gunung Ledang ends there. However, with every legendary tale, the
tales would be told time and time again to make sure the story is not forgotten. As such, the
story of Puteri Gunung Ledang was to be told in many other media in Malaysia.
In 1961, a black-and-white film was released under the name of Puteri Gunong Ledang and
stars Elaine Edley as its heroine. In 2004, yet another tale of Puteri Gunung Ledang, aptly titled,
‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’, was released to the public. Starring Tiara Jacquline as Puteri Gunung
Ledang and M. Nasir as Hang Tuah, the story garnered a lot of popularity in Malaysia. So much
so that it won a Special Participation Award at Venice International Film Festival. It was also
nominated for Best Film award. The movie was also adapted to theater performance due to its
influential success. The theater release was in 2006 starring Tiara Jacqueline and Stephen
Rahman-Hughes as Hang Tuah.
While the tales of Puteri Gunung Ledang are well-known and are fondly remembered by
Malaysian citizens, it seems that there are differences as to how the story goes. The differences
happen with the conditions set by the princess and the aftermath of the failed proposal. For now,
let’s focus on the condition of the wishes. While the amount of wishes stays the same, the
difference is in terms of what is needed for the marriage to happen.

In Malay Annals or Sulalatus Salatin/Sejarah Melayu in Malay, a book translated by Dr. John
Leyden in 1821 based on a book of tales certified in 1612 by regent of Johor, Yang di-Pertuan Di
Hilir Raja Abdullah, the wishes are exactly as stated previously. In the 2004 movie however, the
princess asks for the red and white blood of the citizens of Melaka instead of the two golden and
silver bridges from Melaka to Gunung Ledang. The movie however emphasized that the sultan
was more than ready to sacrifice his citizens, to show how bloodthirsty the sultan can be, but
only stopped himself after realizing the final wish of which he is required to spill his son’s blood.
There is also a translation misunderstanding as to whether the princess asks for the hearts of
moths or germs. However, many citizens believed that the princess asked for the hearts of
germs to further show the impossibility of her wishes.

Now that we are finished with the wishes of the princess, let’s move on to the aftermath of the
wishes. Going back to the 2004 movie, it is said that the princess had her heart on Hang Tuah
instead. She is not the only one however who is moved by Hang Tuah as he is a man of duty,
honor and power in the movie and throughout his chronological life. Another unknown source
however, tells the story of when the princess knew of Sultan Mahmud Shah’s rejection of her
wishes, she would send punishments and curses to the sultan’s kingdom. After hearing of this
bad news, Tun Mamat advises the sultan to take upon her proposal and after bringing her to his
land, they would have her killed to end the curses sent by her. Sultan Mahmud Shah agreed to
the idea and the wishes of her were promised to be fulfilled. Under the assumption that her
wishes would be done, she would begin on her exodus to Malacca. Upon the realization that it
was a trap by using her wits, she would cancel her migration and stay secluded at the top of
Gunung Ledang, never to be seen by another being again.

Another unknown source states that after years of her being seclusive, an unnamed
Portuguese explorer was to present himself as a potential husband to the princess. Puteri
Gunung Ledang straightforwardly rejects the idea without any wishes for him to accomplish.
Angered by the cold and heartless nature of the princess, the Portuguese explorer aggravates
to violence and extortion to harm the princess. As a response, she uses her magical powers to
retaliate against the Portuguese explorers and whisked the boats away from Gunung Ledang.
While Puteri Gunung Ledang may forever remain in Malaysian's hearts and minds, it seems that
the story has many versions of its own. Who knows, it may as well be the works of the
princesses’ magical powers that continue to lurk on this land of Malaysia. With a story as
marvelously and beautifully told, perhaps it is better to leave it to the interpretation of the reader
so that it may further nurture on and many more would be told time and time again of the ever
magnificent Puteri Gunung Ledang, a legendary woman of wonders.

Sources:

1. https://books.google.com.my/books?id=XCwUDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA386&dq=2,107+jerai&
hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiutZuoyorSAhVIppQKHQg1Av0Q6AEIGTAA#v=onepage&q
&f=false
2. https://johorkaki.blogspot.com/2021/06/7-conditions-of-puteri-gunung-ledang.html
3. Brown, C. C. (1952). The Malay Annals. Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal
Asiatic Society, 25(2/3 (159)), 5–276. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41502950