The Perpatih custom is originally originated from
Minangkabau, Sumatra, founded by a Minang leader named Sutan Balun or also
called Dato 'Perpatih Nan Sebatang. This customary practices and rules of life
are determined for the Minangkabau people who mostly are farmers. There is no
exact date was recorded when the custom was established but Perpatih had been
brought to the Malay Peninsula (nowadays Peninsular Malaysia) by the
Minangkabau immigrants, in the 14th century.
In Malaysia, this Perpatih custom still exists and is
practiced by the Malays all over Negeri Sembilan except in Port Dickson and
Linggi. This custom is also practiced in Naning and Alor Gajah of Malacca. Most
of all the Malays that practiced Perpatih custom are descendants of the
Minangkabau immigrants.
For more than 600 years of the practice, this custom had
gone through a few eras of colonial powers but its philosophies, elements, and
principles are still firm and they does not change, not even the slightest
change. The philosophy that contained in the Perpatih's famous saying still
remains. The saying goes like "Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat," or
in English it literally means "let the child die, but not the
custom." For more information on this saying, check this out:
As time goes by, now in modern days, those who
practice Perpatih assimilate it to their modern way of life and they also
assimilate it to the Islam's views. The Perpatih custom consists of two rules;
the fundamental rules that can not be changed and the non-fundamental rules
that may be modified according to times. This means this custom is not static
and can accept the elements of adjustment in any age and cond
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