Klenteng Gie Yong Bio, Lasem拉森义勇庙

Type: Overseas Daoist Temples
Location: Indonesia · Central Java Province · Lasem, Rembang · Jalan Babagan, Lasem
First built: 1780 · Built to commemorate those who died in the Java Chinese uprising (Geger Pacinan) of 1750
Heritage status: Listed as a Cultural Heritage Site (Cagar Budaya) of Central Java Province

Overview

Klenteng Gie Yong Bio was built in 1780 and is an extremely unusual temple in Indonesia — the object of its worship is not a traditional deity but the commanders of the combined Chinese and Javanese forces in the Java Chinese uprising (Geger Pacinan, 1740–1743) that broke out after the Red Creek Massacre of 1740, its principal deities being Tan Kee Wie (also given as Tan Pan Ciang) and other martyrs of the resistance against the Dutch. This temple's deification of local historical figures follows the same logic found in China of 'those with merit toward the people are worshipped,' yet it carries the memory of colonial-era resistance, making it an important vehicle for Indonesian Chinese historical consciousness. Guandi and other deities are also worshipped in the temple. The building is a Southern Hokkien-style courtyard compound, modest in scale but well preserved as a whole. It is now registered under Indonesian law within the Tridharma temple system. Together with Klenteng Cu An Kiong, which stands in the same old quarter of Lasem, it forms part of the physical record for understanding the history of Chinese Java.

Highlights

Built in 1780 to commemorate those who died in the 1740–1743 Java Chinese uprising against the Dutch
Dedicated mainly to Tan Kee Wie and other martyrs of the anti-Dutch resistance, an example of local historical figures being deified
Carries the memory of colonial-era resistance, an important vehicle for Indonesian Chinese historical consciousness
A Southern Hokkien-style courtyard compound, in the same old quarter of Lasem as Klenteng Cu An Kiong
Now registered within the Tridharma temple system

References