Sam Poo Kong (Gedung Batu), Semarang三宝垄三保洞
- Type
- Overseas Daoist Temples
- Location
- Indonesia · Central Java Province · Semarang · Jl. Simongan No.129, Bongsari, Semarang Barat
- Coordinates
- -6.9964, 110.3981 Map ↗
- First built
- c. 1400–1416 · Traditionally founded at the time Zheng He's fleet landed; destroyed by a landslide in 1704 and renovated in October 1724
- Heritage status
- Cultural Heritage of Central Java Province (national Cagar Budaya registration number pending)
Overview
Sam Poo Kong (called the Sam Poo Temple by the Chinese) is located in Semarang, Central Java, and is traditionally said to be the site where Zheng He's Ming-dynasty treasure fleet landed and moored during its voyages to the Western Ocean. It is dedicated principally to Zheng He (honored as "Sam Poo Tay Jin"), with subsidiary worship of the Earth God (Tudi Gong) and Zheng He's deputy Wang Jinghong (honored as "Tay Jin Kong"). It occupies about 3.2 hectares, comprising five halls — the Sam Poo Cave, the Earth God Temple, the Tay Jin Temple, the Anchor Temple, and the Fortune God Temple — built in a style blending Chinese and Javanese elements; an ancient well within the cave is said never to run dry. The nature of worship at this temple is quite distinctive: because Zheng He himself was a Muslim, both Chinese and local Muslims come to pay their respects, making it a site of multi-faith worship, and strictly speaking it belongs to Chinese popular religion (the cult of Zheng He) rather than to Daoist temple tradition. The Sam Poo Kong Foundation (Yayasan Sam Poo Kong) was established in 1924 to manage the site, and major renovations took place in 1937, 1950, and 2002–2005, during which the main hall was expanded from 16 by 16 meters to 34 by 34 meters.
Highlights
- The central site of the cult of Zheng He (Sam Poo Tay Jin)
- Architecture blending Chinese and Javanese styles
- A site of multi-faith worship by both Chinese and Muslims
- Renovated in 1724, with a large-scale expansion in 2002–2005
- Legends of Zheng He relics within the cave, such as an ancient well and an anchor