The Traditions and Rituals of the Muslim People in Sam Poo Kong Temple (Kelenteng) in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

—Sam Poo Kong Temple is a place where Tridharma adherents (Taoists, Confucians and Buddhists) are believed to have met with Cheng Ho (a Chinese Muslim from China) who arrived on the Indonesian archipelago, especially Semarang, in the fifteenth century. The temple is not only a place of worship for Tridharma adherents, but also frequently visited by Muslims who perform rituals in which they plead for something to Sam Poo Kong manifested in the form of a statue in the temple. This paper explains the practices and traditions carried out by some Muslims in Java, especially in Sam Poo Kong Temple in Semarang in Central Java, which aim to solve the personal problems they face each day. Some Javanese Muslims strongly believe that the Sam Poo Kong god provide help to anyone who needs it. The aid of Sam Poo Kong is sought through a ceremony. Herein lies the uniqueness of Indonesia as a pluralistic, majority-Muslim country where people respect each other's differences to maintain social harmony.