Hang Tuah << hang too wah >> is a Malay folk hero believed to have lived in the 1400’s. Malays are a Southeast Asian people, most of whom live in Indonesia and Malaysia. Hang Tuah is said to have embodied the traditional Malay ideals of bravery, cunning, and skill as a warrior. He is also celebrated for his loyalty to his ruler.
Stories of Hang Tuah are found in several sources. The Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), which were compiled in the 1500’s, describe him as a young man who served a sultan and became laksamana (admiral) after many adventures. The Hikayat Hang Tuah (Romance of Hang Tuah), which was probably written in the mid-1600’s, features many supernatural elements. In this version of Hang Tuah’s tale, he carries a magical dagger that makes him invincible.
Several stories besides the ones in the Sejarah Melayu tell about Hang Tuah’s adventures. The stories differ in their specific details, but mostly agree that Hang Tuah was sentenced to death after he offended the sultan he served. However, an adviser to the sultan—and a friend to Hang Tuah—had Hang Tuah imprisoned instead of executed. Hang Tuah’s childhood friend Hang Jebat heard that Hang Tuah had been killed. He attacked the sultan’s court to avenge Hang Tuah’s death. The sultan learned that Hang Tuah was still alive and ordered him to kill Hang Jebat. After performing this act, Hang Tuah was rewarded with the title of laksamana. Hang Tuah then used his knowledge of warfare to defeat Javanese invaders. The Javanese are a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to the island of Java.
Scholars regard these stories about Hang Tuah as a mixture of fact and fiction. Some scholars believe that Hang Tuah may not have ever really existed. Others believe he was a historical figure (or perhaps several historical figures), but that the stories about him have been expanded and become more elaborate over the centuries.
