Cheng
Hoo Mosque:
Islam, Java and Chinese Architecture
 The
Architecture of Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque, which located in Gading
Street Surabaya, is enough artistic. It is built by allying Islam
culture, Java, and Chinese that predominated by green color, turned
yellow, and squeezed. The form of the building is typical of Chinese
with 'Joglo' Java. This is show tightly between Chinese cultures
and Java, which have intertwined since former. Cheng Hoo is also
inspiration name of 'Admiral Cheng Hoo', which become a Moslem
when admission to Majapahit empire. The Chinese Moslem community
had built this mosque wish to remind again that Chinese also propagates
Islam taught.
Cheng Hoo Mosque inspired from Niu Jei Mosque
in Beijing, China, being built in 996 A.D. But, the development
of new Cheng Hoo mosque executed by 10 March 2002 and opened in
13 Octobers year past. As a whole, the mosque is capable to accommodate
200 pilgrims, fairish 21 x 11 meters with main building 11 x 9
meters
This mosque building has eight sides on the top
building. The third measure or number is having separate meaning.
Numeral 11 symbolizing new Ka'bah measure that just built. Numeral
nine is depicting 'Wali Songo' as Islam spreader in Java Island.
While figure of eight symbolize pat kwa that mean luck or glorious.
The historian Sie Hok Tjwan have ever written,
before arrival the colonialist from Europe, the relation of Chinese
with resident in Indonesia region don't show race problem. Islamic
Religion in Java and in Palembang, South Sumatra, finite Sambas
in West Kalimantan come it from China. The concept is Islam-Hanafi.
The Mosques in upstate Java Island are clearly showing China architecture.
 Sie
Hok Tjwan tell, in 1451 Bong Swee Ho is coming Champa built the
Islamic center in Ngampel, East Java, for local resident. Bong
Swee Ho is hereinafter known as 'Sunan Ngampel'. Bong Swee Ho's
son named Bong Ang is one of 'Wali Songo' titled 'Sunan Bonang'.
The Empire enforcer of Islam Demak, Raden Patah (Jin Bun), also
a Chinese or Chinese - Indonesian (TNA/Mohammad Khodim and Winanto)
This religious service place is expected can become unifier media
for 'mualaf' from Chinese ethnical. Because, many 'mualaf' from
Chinese, who still hesitating to implement religious service together.
This mosque is built to memorized China Soldier
to believe in Islam who first entrance to Indonesia, namely 'Laksamana
Cheng Hoo'. 'Cheng Hoo arrival is the evidence that Islam is not
new thing for Chinese public. Even, before Java admission Islam,
this religion particularly come step to China.
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