Who discovered America? Almost everyone will answer by Christopher Columbus. Have you ever know an Admiral Cheng Ho?
Recalling the story, Admiral Cheng Ho is known as the explorers from Tiongkok. His expeditions conducted in 1405 up to 1433. In less than 28 years, Admiral Cheng Ho has conducted seven expeditions cruise. His expedition generate a navigation map that includes 24 map navigation for cruise direction, distance, and various ports. Navigation map that created by Admiral Cheng Ho which is widespread throughout the world now. Life magazine put Admiral Cheng Ho as an important person in the last millennium in order fourteenth.
Christopher Columbus becomes famous because its voyage across the Atlantic ocean and discover a new world that became known as the American continent today. According to historical records, Christopher Columbus found America continent on October 12, 1492. Until now, there are still many who believe that the discoverer of America was Christopher Columbus. A book entitled "Who Discovered America?" written by Gavin Menzies reveal different things about the discoverer of the Americas. According to Menzies in his book, American inventor is Admiral Cheng Ho.
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Sam Po Kong Shrine
image source: http://cityonehotel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sam-poo-kong.jpg |
Apart from the problem of discoverer of the America, expeditions Admiral Cheng Ho left a trail of history which are on the island of Java, Indonesia. The historical heritage in the form of a shrine. The shrine known as the Gedung Batu Sam Po Kong (Gedung means building, Batu means stone). The shape of this shrine was originally in the form of a large rock cave located above the rocks so-called as Gedung Batu. In 1724, followers of Admiral Cheng Ho who still live in Java making the shrine as a form of gratitude. Now, the complex of buildings consist of a large shrine and cave of Sam Po Kong, also four shrines (kyai juri mudi, kyai jangkar , kyai cundrik bumi, and kyai tumpeng). Until now, the building is known as Kuil Gedung Batu Sam Po Kong. Indonesian adding name of "Kuil" (means shrine) because the architect of the building resembles a pagoda. Initially, this place is located on the seaside. The process of sedimentation on the northern coast of Java makes increasingly extensive land towards the north. Finally, relics trail of expeditions Admiral Ceng Ho is now in the middle of the Semarang city.
The existence of the shrine now serves as a place of worship and pilgrimage. The tomb of one of the captains in the expedition of Admiral Cheng Ho exist around this shrine. In the 19th century, the area around the area Sam Po Kong Shrine controlled by landlords who are very greedy. Every visitor who will worship at the temple of Sam Po Kong are required to pay dearly. There are a lot of pilgrims who can not pay then they the switch their activities to Tay Kak Sie Shrine in Gang Lombok (outside the complex of buildings Sam Po Kong). In Tay Kak Sie temple there is a replica statue of Sam Po Kong. Every 29th or 30th of the sixth month according to the Chinese calendar, is held ritual of parading a statue of Sam Po Kong into the Gedung Bati Sam Po Kong with the aim to get a blessing from original statue to replica statue.
In 1879, Oei Tjie San bought complex of Gedung Batu Sam Po Kong. Oei Tjie San liberate every visitors who wish to visit or pilgrimage at the shrine without paying anything. Handling of the shrine was then submitted to local foundations Sam Po Kong. Starting in 1937, the statue of Sam Po Kong re-done to parade from Tay Kak Sie shrine toward Sam Po Kong shrine. This parade has become one of the fascination from this shrine as object tourism beside of as worship place.
For tourist,
Location: Jl. Simongan, Semarang city, province of Center Island, Indonesia
Entry free for around the shrine of Sam Po Kong: IDR 3000 or USD
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Entry fee for inlet to the shrine: IDR 20.000 or USD 2
