Raden Makhdum Ibrahim, or Sunan Bonang, was the eldest son of Sunan Ampel of Surabaya. As a young man he travelled together with Raden Paku (Sunan Giri) to North Sumatra, where he received religious education from Syekh Maulana Ishak.

Following his return to Java he settled at Bonang on the north coast. It is said that Sunan Bonang did not marry and left no descendants, preferring instead to devote his life to spreading the religious message. He is also believed to have been the first Imam of the Great Mosque in Demak, which he assisted in constructing.

According to one story, Sunan Bonang was responsible for the conversion to Islam of another member of the Wali Songo, Sunan Kalijaga. Not suprising then that he, like his famous student, is highly venerated.

An account of the death of Sunan Bonang, apparently in A.D. 1525, records that it had been planned for his remains to be shipped from Bonang to Surabaya, where he was to be buried alongside his father. Due to the rough conditions at sea, however, it was impossible to sail further than Tuban. for which reason his grave is found there today.

Sunan Bonang, within the tomb complex	Ancient porcelain set into the wall of the tomb