APIFantasy | Myth and Folklore Anthology

Malaysian Mythology - Folktale #1: Gunung Ledang Princess

Once upon a time, a princess lived on Mount Ledang. The Princess of Mount Ophir was a celestial being who resided in a palace on top of Gunung Ledang, the highest mountain in Johor, Malaysia. She was so beautiful that her radiance could be seen from afar. She had many admirers, but none of them could reach her abode, which was guarded by magical creatures and hidden by mists.

One day, Sultan Mahmud Shah of Melaka, who had heard of her beauty from traders and travelers, decided that he wanted to marry her. He sent his most loyal and brave warriors, Hang Tuah and Tun Mamat, to find her and deliver his proposal. He gave them a golden ring as a token of his love.

Hang Tuah and Tun Mamat embarked on a perilous journey through the dense forest of the mountain. They faced many dangers, such as wild animals, poisonous plants, and hostile spirits. Along the way, they met Sang Setia, another warrior who had been sent by the Sultan earlier but had lost his way. They decided to join forces and continue together.

After many days of hardship, they finally reached the summit of the mountain. There, they saw a magnificent garden filled with exotic flowers and fruits. They also saw a hunchbacked old woman who was tending to the plants. They approached her and asked her if she knew where the Princess lived.

The old woman said that she was the Princess's servant and that she would inform her of their arrival. She asked them to wait in the garden while she went to the palace.

After a while, she came back with a message from the Princess. She said that the Princess had agreed to marry the Sultan provided he fulfilled her seven conditions. According to the old woman, the Sultan must:

1. Build a golden bridge from her home in the mountains to Melaka;

2. Build a silver bridge for her to return from Melaka to the mountains;

3. Give her seven large clay jars of maidens' tears;

4. Give her seven large clay jars of young betel nut juice;

5. Give her seven trays filled with hearts of fleas;

6. Give her seven trays filled with the hearts of mosquitoes; and

7. Give her a bowl of the blood of the Sultan's young son.

Hang Tuah and Tun Mamat were shocked and angry at her words. They realized that she was mocking them and their Sultan. They tried to reason with her and persuade her to lower her demands. But she refused to listen.

She said that those were the Princess's conditions and that they had to accept them or leave. Then she gave them back the golden ring that the Sultan had sent and told them to go back to their Sultan and tell him what happened. After that, she left them alone in the garden.

Hang Tuah and Tun Mamat felt humiliated and defeated. They buried Sang Setia in the garden and prayed for his soul. They then made their way back to their horses. They rode back to Melaka with heavy hearts. They reported everything to Sultan Mahmud Shah, who was furious at their failure. He ordered them to be executed for their incompetence.

But before they could be killed, they escaped from the palace with the help of some loyal friends. They fled from Melaka and went into hiding.

No one saw the Princess of Mount Ophir ever again.

Another version of the legend says, the sultan couldn't see the impossibility of the tasks and in his pride, tried to complete them. He was able to complete the first six tasks, but when it came to killing his only child, his resolve faltered. And the fairy princess didn't marry him. Setting such ridiculous tasks was her subtle way to refuse his proposal, to begin with.

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