Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesian, Religious Tourism that Has Interesting Facts

For steemian who are in Surabaya, Indonesia. Muhammad Cheng Ho Mosque Surabaya or better known as Cheng Ho Mosque is a religious tourism destination that you must visit.

Indonesia is a country that has several religions that live side by side without discrimination in any one religion. The majority of Indonesians are Muslim. Islam has grown in Indonesia for a long time. There are various races in Indonesia. Including from the Chinese. In fact, some areas in Indonesia are similar to Chinese buildings.

In Surabaya, there is a typical oriental-style mosque of the Chinese Bamboo Curtain. It was built as a form of respect for Admiral Cheng Ho, a Chinese admiral who spread Islam through trade routes.

Below, I will write some interesting facts about the Cheng Ho mosque in Surabaya, I will summarize for you as information that wishes to visit Indonesia.

1. The Origin of the Cheng Ho Mosque Name

The Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya is the first mosque in Indonesia that uses the name of Chinese Muslims and is a symbol of peace for religious communities. The name of the mosque is derived from a tribute to Cheng Ho, a tall Muslim who had sailed from China to the coast of Africa. Cheng Ho's arrival at that time was welcomed because he respected the area he was visiting.

He has several missions through trade channels, such as making friends and spreading the teachings of Islam. Therefore, to appreciate the figure of Admiral Cheng Ho who carried the good mission, Cheng Ho Mosque was established.

2. History of the Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya

The Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya was built by administrators of the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association (PITI) and administrators of the Haji Muhammad Cheng Ho East Java Foundation and Chinese community leaders in Surabaya. The construction of this mosque was made to look like a temple as a form of respect for the figure of Admiral Cheng Ho who carried a peace mission and a devout Muslim. And, make monumental notes and facts of historical travel as a famous and praised marine missionary.

3. Cheng Ho Mosques in Indonesia

In fact, the Cheng Ho Mosque building is widely spread in urban Indonesia. In 2002, the earliest Cheng Ho Mosque was established in Surabaya.
Then followed by the cities of Palembang (2006), Kutai Kartanegara (2007), Purbalingga (2011), Jambi (2012), Gowa and Banjarmasin (2014), Batam (2015), Banyuwangi (2016), Samarinda (2017).

4. Building Architecture

Uniquely, the architecture of the mosque was inspired by the Niu Jie Mosque in Beijing. While the main door of the mosque has a Middle Eastern nuance, and the walls are Javanese.

When you visit the Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya, you will be greeted with various ornaments from Chinese calligraphy and script that adorn the ceiling of the mosque. Every corner of the mosque building has philosophical significance such as the roof of an eight square-shaped mosque that resembles a cobweb.

The existence of the eighth element is believed to be a lucky number because it has no dead angle. Meanwhile, the spider's web is an animal that saved the Prophet Muhammad from the pursuit of the Quraysh.

In the corner of the north wall, the mosque is the relief of the admiral with a miniature of his ship, which means that Cheng Ho is a Muslim sailor from China and a peace envoy. The steps on the right and left of the mosque have 5 and 6 which symbolize the pillars of Islam and the pillars of faith. And, the mosque door does not have a door that symbolizes that the mosque is open to anyone.

5. Quirky Color

The result of the combination of styles in this mosque was obtained by the dominance of four colors such as red, yellow, blue and green. In Chinese culture, the four colors are symbols of happiness, fame, hope and prosperity. This is immediately the main attraction for tourists who are passing through this region.

6. Address and Route

The address of the Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya is in the center of Surabaya, precisely at Jalan Gading No. 2, Ketabang, Genteng, or about 1,000 meters north of the Surabaya City Hall Building. This facilitates access for tourists or Muslim worshipers to go to the mosque.

To get to the location, you can pass Jalan Kusuma Bangsa - the direction of the Kusuma Bangsa Heroes Cemetery. Cheng Ho Mosque is located in the multipurpose building, Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association (PITI) Surabaya, East Java.

Best Regards,
Al Kautsar (@jack.river)

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