Hikayat Misa Melayu, A Malay Masterpiece from the State of Perak
Many of us are aware of the existence of classic masterpieces that elevate the history and dignity of the Malay people, such as the Sulalatus Salatin (Malay Annals), Hikayat Raja Pasai, Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, and many others.
However, it is unfortunate that many of us who hail from the state of Perak are unaware of the existence of a masterpiece that chronicles the grandeur and prestige of the Perak Sultanate: the Hikayat Misa Melayu. In this article, orangperak.com wishes to touch upon the Hikayat Misa Melayu, a text that every one of us should know, especially those who are children of Perak. Hikayat Misa Melayu is the work of Raja Chulan ibni Raja Abdul Hamid ibni Yang DiPertuan Muda Raja Mansur Shah, produced during the reign of the 15th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Iskandar Dzulkarnain, from 1754 to 1764. Misa Melayu recounts the history and events that occurred within the Perak Sultanate and is written in chronological order. This work also details the life of the society in Perak, as well as the traditional practices and customs observed at the time. Because of this, Misa Melayu is classified under the historical literature genre. This masterpiece has been studied by many scholars such as R.O Winstedt (1919), Buyong Adil (1972), B.W. Andaya (1979), P. Sullivan (1982), Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Basri (1992), Abdullah Zakaria Ghazali (1994), A. Ceridwen (2001), Arbai'yah Mohd Noor (2011), and Mardiana Nordin (2011).
Scholars who have studied this work hold differing views regarding the meaning of 'Misa', which serves as the title of the hikayat. W.E. Maxwell stated in 1878 that the title likely stems from the influence of the Javanese Misa tales, which were already well-known in Perak when the Hikayat Misa Melayu was written. In Javanese stories, 'Misa' refers to a title for respected dignitaries in Javanese society.
According to J.M. Echols and Hassan Shadily in the An Indonesian English Dictionary, 'Misa' means 'Great' or 'Grand'. This aligns with the Hikayat Misa Melayu, which recounts the greatness and majesty of the Malay kings, particularly Sultan Iskandar Dzulkarnain. Among the topics covered in this hikayat are the structure of the economic system, political structure, the appointment and bestowing of titles upon dignitaries, state administration, arts, and the customs practiced at that time. This hikayat does not merely chronicle the history of Malay Perak; it is also a meaningful symbol for the Malay people.
The original manuscript of the Hikayat Misa Melayu is believed to no longer exist today. To date, at least six copies have been discovered and are named Manuscript A, Manuscript B, Manuscript C, Manuscript D, Manuscript E, and Manuscript F. These manuscripts have slight differences from one another. Manuscript A is a copy of the Misa Melayu manuscript stored at the Cambridge University Library, dated December 21, 1909. This manuscript copy was a gift from Sultan Idris Murshidul Azam Shah to R.J. Wilkinson, who was serving as the secretary to the British Resident in Perak at the time. This manuscript was later handed over by Wilkinson to the Cambridge University library. Manuscript B is a copy of the Hikayat Misa Melayu believed to have belonged to Raja Muda Yusuf and is currently at the Royal Asiatic Society, London. This manuscript is dated 1877. Manuscript C is a Hikayat Misa Melayu manuscript currently kept at the Royal Institute of Linguistics and Anthropology, Leiden, Netherlands. There is a pencil note on this manuscript stating it was written on March 11, 1886. Finally, Manuscript D is a copy of the Hikayat Misa Melayu stored at the National Library of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
This manuscript is dated 1252 Hijrah, corresponding to the year 1836 AD. Then, Manuscript E is a copy of the Misa Melayu located at the Central Museum of Jakarta, and the last one, Manuscript F, is a copy of the Hikayat Misa Melayu manuscript found at the SOAS library, London. Hikayat Misa Melayu is a Malay masterpiece that must be read by the people of Perak so that they may better understand the history and past events that occurred in the state of Perak. There are so many great stories told in this hikayat.
