Klenteng Cu An Kiong, Lasem拉森慈安宫
- Type
- Overseas Daoist Temples
- Location
- Indonesia · Central Java Province · Lasem, Rembang · Jalan Dasun, Soditan, Lasem
- First built
- 18th century or earlier · Generally traced back to around 1700; the exact date is yet to be determined
- Heritage status
- Listed as a Cultural Heritage Site (Cagar Budaya) of Central Java Province
Overview
Klenteng Cu An Kiong is the oldest Chinese temple in the town of Lasem on the north coast of Java, generally traced back to the early eighteenth century or earlier. Lasem is known as 'Little China' (Tiongkok Kecil) and is one of the best-preserved Chinese settlement towns in Java, with rows of Qing-dynasty Chinese mansions (rumah kapiten), batik workshops, and temples forming a complete historic quarter. Cu An Kiong is dedicated mainly to Mazu, with Guanyin, Guandi, and Fude Zhengshen worshipped alongside her. The temple preserves a large body of Qing-dynasty painted murals, drawing their subjects from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Twenty-four Exemplars of Filial Piety, and tales of immortals; it is one of the most important surviving groups of Chinese temple murals in Indonesia and is of very high art-historical value. The temple is built as a Southern Hokkien-style courtyard compound, with its timber framework and painted decoration well preserved. It is now registered under Indonesian law within the Tridharma temple system. Lasem's Chinese-influenced batik (batik Lasem) is also famous for combining Chinese motifs with Javanese techniques.
Highlights
- The oldest Chinese temple in Lasem, the 'Little China' of Java's north coast
- Dedicated mainly to Mazu, with Guanyin, Guandi, and Fude Zhengshen worshipped alongside her
- Preserves one of the most important groups of Qing-dynasty painted murals in an Indonesian Chinese temple
- The murals draw their subjects from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Twenty-four Exemplars of Filial Piety, and tales of immortals
- Located in the old quarter of Lasem, one of the best-preserved Chinese settlement districts in Java