Friday, October 21, 2011

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

Hang Jebat mausoleum is an old Malay grave at Jalan Kampung Kuli, Malacca.

The grave itself is Achinese in style and is of the type normally used to mark the burial places of high ministers and Sultans of the period 

Here lies Hang Jebat, a warrior labelled a traitor, all for the love of a friend.

During the rule of Sultan Mansor Shah (1456-1477 A.D.), there lived 5 young men who grew up together. Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu were inseparable and became known as the "Five Companions" in the epic "Hikayat Hang Tuah". The lives of the five "blood brothers" who were expert exponents of martial arts, took a turn when they saved the live of Bendahara of Melaka, Tun Perak.

Sultan Mansor Shah was so impressed with the skills of the five that he immediately gave them positions at his court and Hang Tuah became his favourite. Sultan Mansor presented Hang Tuah with a beautiful keris, the Taming Sari, said to possess magical and mythical powers.

However, the sultan's undisguised appreciation and favouritism of Hang Tuah did not augur well with other court officials, namely Patih Karma Wijaya. They plotted his downfall and accused him of seducing the Sultan's favourite consort. The Sultan, upon hearing the rumour immediately ordered Hang Tuah\s execution. Tun Perak, who believed in Hang Tuah's innocence spirited him away to a secret hideaway.

Hang Jebat could not understand why the Sultan ordered his brother's execution without first giving him a chance to prove his innocence. Disillusioned and broken hearted, Hang Jebat ran amok and sought revenge, killing everyone that tried to protect the Sultan. Fearing for his life, the Sultan approached Tun Perak and expressed his regret over Hang Tuah's hasty execution.

When the Sultan agreed to pardon Hang Tuah, Tun Perak told him the truth. Hang Tuah's joy at being pardoned turned to dismay when told his new mission and after an extended soul searching, went in search of Hang Jebat. In the ensuing fight, which was said to lasted 3 days and 3 nights, Hang Jebat enlightened his childhood friend on why he turned against the Sultan, but being a man ingrained with the convention that the Sultan deserved absolute loyalty, Hang Tuah refused to accept Hang Jebat reasoning. finally he drew his keris, the "Taming Sari" and fatally stabbed Hang Jebat and the later died in his arms.

Hang Tuah went down in history as a hero who made a worthy sacrifice while Hang Jebat was labelled a traitor, all for the love of a friend