The hot harbour city Semarang, famed for its old buildings and cultural diversity, reminds us to a chinese muslim explorer, Zheng He and a remarkable Sam Poo Kong Temple.
Why is it red?
You may wonder, after parking your vehicle in a wide parking area, when you walk into the location surrounded by red buildings and shrines.
Red colour in Chinese, traditionally symbolic of good fortune and happiness, it refers to fire (there are five elements believed by traditional Chinese are: wood, fire, metal, and water which must balance for better life).
So, during Chinese New Year, family gatherings and in special occasions, commonly dominated by red colour.
Its history
The third emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, Zhu Di, ordered Zheng He (whose originally born name was Ma He) who was an admiral, diplomat and explorer, accompanied by hundreds of troops, to do voyage to control over the Indian ocean trade in the year 1405 to 1433.
While admiral Zheng He was sailing over Java sea, many of his crewmen got sick, so he decided to anchor in Simongan, Semarang and found a cave inside a stony hill (the locals called it as "Gedung Batu" or stone building) and stayed in it to remedy their illness using traditional herbs. Then Zheng He, who was a moslem, built a mosque and left his deputy Wang Jing with several crewmen to look after the sick people and he continued his voyage.
The building is now in the middle of Semarang city due to a sedimentation toward the north.
The Indonesian Chinese descent then constructed a statue of Sam Po Tay Djien, although he was a moslem, for in the philosophy and Confucianism believe that the spirits of their ancestors still protect and look after them.
Nowaday, The Sam Poo Kong Temple complex, which is in a mixed of Chinese and Javanese architectural style, becomes a place of worship, pilgrimage and memorial.
It consists of five temples : Sam Poo Kong, Tho Tee Kong, Kyai Juru Mudi, Kyai Jangkar and Kyai Cundrik Bumi Temple.
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| Reliefs describe Zheng He's journey |
Joss stick burning
Pilgrims and worshipers who come to the shrines bring Chinese incense sticks or commonly called joss sticks.
Joss stick burning is a part of traditional Chinese religion and ritual, which believed bring their prayers to heaven faster. And the other functions are to help concentration, to calm the mind, to chase away any negative influences and as a timekeeper.
When i was near the shrines i could smell fragrance from the burned incense sticks. Although there was un fragrance joss stick as well.
After finish pilgriming and worshipping, they usually burn some banknotes (not original money said someone whom i met there) inside a "hoolo".
According to traditional Chinese belief that universe is devided into two dimentions, earth (when human is still alife) and sky (when a human has died). Burning banknotes as a preparation for human spirit after dying. It has been done since the era of Jin Dynasty in China (265-420).
Adult IDR 8,000
(Lion dance/Reog/Music/Bazar/etc)
During weekends and national holidays
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| Bottom left is a "hoolo" |
Giant candles and a statue of turtle
Candle is a part of traditional Chinese ritual and worship, also a light for life and sustenance and symbol of successfulness.
What made me amazed was, i found giant candles there, you can see them near the statue of Admiral Zheng He inside a small pond.
Traditional Chineses assume that turtles, despite as slow animals, are big, strong and long-lived animals whose mark on their shells considered contains of a mistery of the sky and they can protect the earth as well.
The Chain Tree
Opposite the worship place of Kyai Jangkar Shrine you will see a unique tree called a chain tree which used in case of emergency situation as substitute for the hawser.
Costume photo
If you are really fond of Chinese movies, you can pose at the shrines while wearing traditional Chinese costumes as if a Chinese movie star for IDR 80k (USD 6) up to IDR 150k (USD 11.25).
Sam Poo Kong
Location
129 Simongan Raya Street, Semarang, Central Java Province, Indonesia
Public Service Hours
Daily 08.00 am to 08.00 pm
Entrance Fee
Local
Weekdays ( general ticket)
Child IDR 3,000
Adult IDR 5,000
Weekends / National Holidays (general ticket)
Child IDR 5,000Adult IDR 8,000
Weekdays (favorite ticket)
Child IDR 13k
Adult IDR 25k
Weekends / National Holidays (favorite ticket)
Child IDR 15k
Adult IDR 28k
Foreign
Weekdays (general ticket)
Child IDR 5k (USD 0.40)
Adult IDR 10k (USD 0.75)
Weekends / National Holidays (general ticket)
Child IDR 8k (USD 0.75)
Adult IDR 15k (USD 1.15)
Weekdays (favorite ticket)
Child IDR 20k (USD 1.50)
Adult IDR 40k (USD 3)
Weekends / National Holidays (favorite ticket)
Child IDR 23k (USD 1.75)
Adult IDR 45k (USD 3.40)
Bonus
Also get a nice entertainment(Lion dance/Reog/Music/Bazar/etc)
During weekends and national holidays