Chinese students use Malay to understand Malaysian history, society

The deepening ties between Malaysia and China are being vividly illustrated through the academic pursuits of young scholars, particularly those immersing themselves in the Malay language at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). For these students, mastering Malay is not merely an academic exercise; it's a profound journey into the heart of Malaysian culture, history, and societal nuances.

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The relationship between the two countries is very close, especially through the heritage of the Hokkien community.

BFSU students, such as Wu Yitong, who is of Hokkien descent with ancestral ties to Malaysia, find a remarkable resonance between their heritage and Malaysian traditions. The 'wangkang' ceremony, a ritual honoring the sea deity, serves as a powerful example of this cross-cultural connection, especially since China and Malaysia jointly promoted it for UNESCO recognition in 2023. This shared cultural heritage underscores the close bonds that transcend borders, making the study of Malay particularly meaningful for students like Wu.

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The wangkang tradition, known as the 'royal ship' sending ceremony as respect to the sea god, is a clear example of cross-border cultural relations.

While the linguistic journey presents its challenges, notably in mastering pronunciation like the 'R' sound, students like Sun Zichang, who has studied Malay for six years, view language as a vital 'bridge of civilization.' Sun and fellow student Zhan Puyuan observe that despite differing origins, Malay and Chinese cultures share universal values. They point to the Malay concept of moderation, akin to the Chinese 'zhongyong' (balance and moderation), and find parallels in proverbs and life philosophies, such as 'where there's a will, there's a way' in Malay and its Chinese equivalents. This shared wisdom, passed down through generations, highlights a deep, underlying harmony between the two societies.

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The most difficult thing for me is to pronounce the letter 'R'. I practice every day with my lecturers and teachers, they help me a lot to master the pronunciation better.