Java Trip: The Glory of Admiral Zheng He

This is an adventure that I would like to dream and imagine all the time, going from the beautiful port of Suzhou, in 13th century Zheng He also known as Cheng Ho embarking to the exotic kingdom, filing the boat with zebra or even giraffe , fighting against the fiercest gang of pirates, and making good friendship diplomacy with kings all over the world. Unlike the colonization of western, Zheng He create fair trading,  exchanging wisdom and knowledge and create world map.

The Grand Sampokong Temple

Where did Zheng He go? He made seventh voyage from China and have been to all over Indian Ocean, from Champ, Siam, Java, Malacca, Aceh, Aden, Muscat, Mogadishu, Palembang, , Andaman Islands,Ceylon, Calcutta, Hormuz and going to Arab. Zheng He bring trading like porcelain, and silk and even more is legacy.

The entrance of Sampokong Temple

There is cult of Zheng He, He was commemorated by Chinese in South East Asia as a guardian, as a god and also as a teacher. The strong cult and admiration came from Semarang, Indonesia and and this Java Trip, going to the prayer of Zheng He is a must.  Chinese Indonesian called him as Sampokong, his prayer place is in Gunung Batu Semarang and people pray in this place. He is not only idol of Chinese and surprisingly the Muslim in Indonesia also have deep admiration of him. Some people also belief that the branch of Islam of Indonesia also initiated by Zheng He.

Here come, we are sailing

Why is Zheng He is famous? He was a pacifist, he often helped local people to eradicated pirates, he bring great item and also teach knowledge and moral with local kingdom. In short he was a diplomat of education, religion, trading and also culture. He bring huge fleet consisting 300 ship and also 28.000 crew. 

His story in Semarang was far away in 1400 . After disembarking from his ships, Zheng found a cave in hillside and used it for a prayer. One of his deputy Wang Jing fall in love in this place and decied to live here and built an temple there. This temple is an unique place, I can't say it Chinese temple because I never seen the temple like this in China. The prayer is different between Chinese and Javanese, the Javanese used we called kemenyan as prayer and incience for Chinese people to pray.

Nice combination between chair and tree

To enter the place is only 30.000 IDR, but for praying in this temple prepare to be ripped off, They sold the incience and you also guided by the local official to tell how to pray, and of course with pay on negotiation. And going to the cave where Zheng He pray you need paid. I feel the energy in this place is heavy, and somehow confusing.

The Guardian is Javanese

My heart couldn't fully immerse with this belief, the God here's is crew member of Zheng He, his weapon, and his anchor. Also some of respected local people. I suggested that better not do a prayer here but this is so interesting to really looking the assimilation of culture. This unique building of Chinese architecture, blend with animism and totems,  with the smell of Javanese incience and a piece of Al Quran verse. This was unlike I expected, I suggest to follow the story of Zheng He and then visit this magnificent unique blend.

Hellow Turtle

How to Get There:

Sam Poo Kong Temple is located on Simongan Road, approximately 3 kilometers south west from Simpang Lima and about 20 minutes from the city center.

The temple is open to the public 24 hours a day at an entrance fee of 30,000 rupiah