A Reconstruction Study on the 30-Wheeler Ceremonial Vehicle of Melaka Sultanate

Abstract

Portuguese historical sources mentioned the existence of a 30-wheeler ceremonial vehicle that belonged to the Sultan of Melaka embedded in the 1511 war narrative. This report documented several measurements on the vehicle but was rarely analyzed academically. This project's fundamental goal was to reconstruct the arguably historical and extinct vehicle. It employed narrative analysis in dealing with textual clues involving components and measurements of the vehicle. Moreover, each component was carefully scrutinized as an integrated whole. Visual anthropological research was applied to cross-compare related historical visuals involving a Dutch Melaka sketch of a similar concept vehicle. It also investigates the route to where the vehicle was driven which has direct and indirect implications on its design. Subsequently, design thinking was applied to pursue the design process to achieve the research's reconstruction objective. The analysis and design process of the reconstruction consider the context in which the vehicle was used. According to the findings of this study, this Malay Sultanate ancient vehicle has a unique form and has complex mechanical design and maneuvering capability. Nevertheless, it is not comparable to the Malay royal vehicles that existed during the Dutch Melaka period. The study has limitations since it relies on English translation in dealing with ancient Portuguese texts. The long-term goal of this reconstruction study is to promote historical Melaka identity tourism, which is in line with SDGs 8.9 and 11.4.

The Primary Gate of the Melaka Sultanate

“…Generally it displays the cosmopolitan city of Upeh and the Royal compound. The position of trading territories (warehouses) of the Malay, Indian, Chinese and Javanese appears preserved in their original names based on Eredia Melaka municipal plan [8]. It is important to note that the Indian, Chinese and Javanese territories 1613 (which surround the Malay trading territory) were untouched during the 1511 war as they cooperated with Portuguese administration [14].…”