| Description |
Pantun is a form of Malay verse used to express intricate ideas and emotions. It is the most widespread oral form in maritime Southeast Asia and has been used in many parts of the region for at least 500 years. Pantun has a clear a-b-a-b rhyme scheme. The four-line variety is the most common. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Pantun offers a socially acceptable way to express oneself indirectly in a polite way. It is also an instrument of moral guidance as verses often contain religious and cultural values such as restraint, respect, kindness and humility. Pantun has also been used as a diplomatic form of conflict resolution as it offers a way to gently evoke important issues. Harmony with nature and flexibility in human relationships are also lauded ideals. Pantun is formally taught in schools, artistic workshops, and through informal means. |
| Transmission method |
Pantun, as an oral tradition, is transmitted both through the activities of daily life, and also through the more formal channels of ritual and custom. In communities, Pantun are taught by the elders and customary chiefs to younger apprentices and children. However, this method of transmission is being progressively weakened as by social change that has eroded local rituals and customary practices, caused by creating friction between the values of the past and the present. Nonetheless, the formal channels of transmission of Pantun continue to be relevant, and Pantun transmission continues through formalized schools and the media. In maritime Southeast Asia, many cultures do not express emotions or strong opinions directly. It is more socially acceptable to express oneself indirectly to be polite and avoid direct confrontations. Pantun is taught as part of Malay language and literature in all levels of education, including university. |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2020 |
