Adat Raja-raja melayu : a critical edition together with a commentary on court ceremonials described

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is two-fold. Firstly, it attempts to present a critical edition of an eighteenth century work on traditional court ceremonials in the Malay Peninsula, called Adat Raja-raja Melayu. Secondly, this thesis attempts to present a systematised structure of the ceremonies. This is to facilitate examination, leading to a consideration of those customs which are specific to the court and which contribute to the central and pre-eminent role of the king. The thesis is presented in three parts. Part One deals with the importance of the Adat Raja-raja Melayu, seen from a sociological and historical point of view. There are various works which include reference to Malay royal customs and traditions. In the Adat Raja-raja Melayu, however, the whole of the text is devoted to traditional customs and ceremonies in Malay courts. As the Adat Raja-raja Melayu has come down to us in a considerable number of versions, this part of the thesis includes a discussion on the origin of the text, the variant versions and their inter-relationship. Part Two presents a critical edition of the text, preceded by a discussion on the language of the MSS and an explanation on the principles of the text edition. Part Three presents a systematic summary of the ceremonies described, followed by an examination of each of them. Considerable attention has been given to details of the ceremonies which involve royalty and the king. Show more