Line #13 Myth/MalaysianMythology


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/severalmalaysianlegendarycreatures.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Several Malaysian legendary creatures.]]
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4	Malaysian mythology is a diverse mix of influences- the original animism of the islands, then Buddhism and Hinduism from the 1st century onward, then finally Islam from the 14th century onward. As such, folk religion is a blend of numerous different belief systems, with people seeing little problem intergrating them into a more-or-less cohesive whole.
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6	!!Tropes from Malaysian mythology:
7	* AnimalStereotypes: Malaysian fables frequently star an animal called a mouse-deer, regarded as heroic and skilled at overcoming obstacles.
8	* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: The weakness of the ''toyol'' is that they can be easily distracted with coins, marbles, buttons, toys or sweets.
9	* BigfootSasquatchAndYeti: The ''Orang mawas'', a 10-feet tall jungle-dwelling ape. ''Santu sakai'' are now often regarded as such.
10	* BlobMonster: The ''orang minyak'' (oily man) is a cryptid made of crude oil, who can shape-shift between human and oily man form. It has been depicted in numerous Malaysian films and [[Film/OilyManiac at least one Hong Kong]] production.
11	* BloodMagic: A variant of {{Familiar}} referred to as a ''polong'' can be conjured by keeping the blood of a murderer in a jar and chanting spells over it for seven to fourteen days. Once created, it has to be fed on blood from its master`s neck.
12	* CannibalismSuperpower: One of the proposed ways to become a [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent weretiger]] is to drink a potion made of a corpse`s innards.
13	* CulturalTranslation: Common in Malaysian versions of Hindu epics such as the ''Ramayana'', with priests becoming Malay shamans.
14	* {{Familiar}}: Ghosts often function as this, taking the form of animals, being kept in jars, offered food [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and attacking people the sorcerer dislikes.]] They are commonly compared to ''[[{{UsefulNotes/Onmyodo}} shikigami]]'' in that they are a spirits belonging to a person and passed down through the family line.
15	* FetusTerrible: The ''toyol'' is a demon born from an aborted or stillborn child, who harbors a grudge on humans but can be controlled by the sorceror or witch who summons it.
16	* {{Fingore}}: Legends tells of the ''pelesit'', a tiny vampire who sucks blood not from necks, but from the fingers of it's victims. With the help of it's sentient cricket pet, no less!
17	* FrazettaMan: The ''santu sakai'' in more traditional depictions- a race of hairy, degenerate mountain dwellers who descend after heavy rainfall to raid villages and kidnap people to eat.
18	* TheGreatSerpent: Malaysia's equivalent to having a StockNessMonster is often depicted as serpentine beasts:
19	** The myth of Tambuakar, a large, black, water serpent monster dwelling either in Sabah's Papar river or Sarawak's Balleh river. Said monster allegedly WasOnceAMan - specifically, a ruthless river-king - who continues living after death as a gigantic aquatic snake.
20	** The Nabau serpent from Iban (a tribe from East Malaysia) mythology some 100 feet in length. Allegedly, seeing the Nabau can bestow fortune, and consuming it's scales can grant SuperStrength. It was allegedly sighted [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1149743/Picture-100ft-long-snake-sparks-fears-mythical-monster-Borneo.html as recently as 2009]].
21	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: How to defeat a ''puaka'', a pig demon with a razor-sharp tongue. When running across a stream, the puaka will attempt to lick up the water on itself and in the process will slice itself to pieces.
22	* OurBansheesAreLouder: The ''Lang Suir'', ghosts of mothers who died in childhood who perform this role in Malay culture. They can fly and turn into owls, eat fish and be turned into humans by plugging the whole in the nape of their neck.
23	* OurElvesAreDifferent:: The ''Orang Bunian'', a race of beautiful but invisible people with a society parallel to that of humans.
24	* OurGhostsAreDifferent: Ghosts are referred to as ''hantu'', usually function as {{Familiar}}s, are frequently kept in jars and eat food. Some specific variants:
25	** ''Bajang'', vampiric ghosts of stillborns in the form of polecats who eat milk and eggs and are blamed for pregnancy difficulties and the death of children.
26	** ''Hantu Raya'', superhumanly strong doppelgangers of their master.
27	** ''Pelesit'', ghosts of stillborns in the form of crickets who eat saffron rice.
28	** ''Pontianak'' vampiric ghosts of mothers who died in childbirth who appear as hideous women with long fingernails and like ''Lang Suir'' can be turned into humans by plugging the hole in the nape of the neck.
29	** ''Toyol'', thieving ghosts of babies who appear as naked babies and [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny can be distracted with coins, marbles, sweets, toys or buttons.]]
30	* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: In modern representations ''toyol'' are often given pointed ears, large fangs and brown or green skin.
31	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: ''Penangalannan'', witches whose head detatches at night, entrails dangling as it flies off to look for victims. It can be killed by burning the body, stuffing the insides with glass or exposing it to sunlight.
32	* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: The ''Santu Sakai'', a degenerate tribe living in the highlands who can turn into apes with huge mouths and spiked underarms.
33	** Weretigers (referred to as ''Harimau Jadian'') can be created through a variety of means, from chanting a spell while wearing a tiger skin to drinking a broth made from a corpse`s entrails. They are usually heroic and help to protect crops.
34	* ThePhoenix: Close enough, but Malay legends tells of the Cenderawasih, a mythical bird from the heavens who feeds on dews and clouds, and ''never'' need to land. Allegedly the Cenderawasih have gold-feathered heads, four wings, two dangling tails, and emits an aura of beauty so powerful it will stun the eyes of any mortal who looked upon it.
35	* PowerPerversionPotential: One of the stated uses for the ''hantu raya'' (a ghost that is physically identical to its master) is adultery, with it posing as the sorcerer while its master is off sleeping with another man`s wife.

Context Myth / MalaysianMythology