Residents of Semarang ask, Zheng who?

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

Despite the plan to grandly celebrate the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's journey around the world, the majority of Semarang students and residents are still uninformed on the great Chinese explorer.

The anniversary will be celebrated in Semarang between 1 and 7 Augusts in Sam Poo Kong Temple, Tay Kak Sie Temple and the Central Java's Trade and Promotion Fair in Marina Beach in the city. "I don't know who is Zheng He. I never heard about him," said Ratna Anggorowati, a native Semarang who currently studies at the Social and Political Sciences Faculty at the Diponegoro University.

Susmoko, a student at a senior high school in the city, who is also a Chinese Indonesian, said that history lesson taught at school never explained on Zheng He.

He knew about Zheng He as he was sometimes asked by his family to pray along at Sam Poo Kong Temple in Simongan area, Semarang, which is believed to be built by Zheng He.

"Although I have frequently visited the temple, I know little about Zheng He," said Susmoko.

Setya, a teacher at a Canisius elementary school who is some a kilometer from Sam Poo Kong temple, said that the story about Zheng He was never discussed at the history lesson taught at school. Thus far, the story about Zheng He was considered as a legend so that Zheng He subject was never taught at school.

Semarang historian Indriyanto of the Diponegoro University said that the story on Zheng He was never taught at school because the history on Zheng He himself was still disputable.

Some historians had different versions on Zheng He story, he said. One topic being hotly debated was the presence of an anchor at Sam Poo Kong temple. Some historians believed that the anchor was Zheng He's ship anchor, but others said that the anchor was believed to be an anchor of a Dutch trading ship.

Zheng He, locally known as Cheng Ho, landed in Semarang city in 1413. His entourage consisted of 252 ships and 27,800 crew members. Zheng He traveled around the world in the 15th century, including in Semarang, as parts of a mission assigned by an emperor at Ming Dynasty. Zheng, a Muslim, was reportedly sailed to what is now Indonesia after being sent by Yung Lo Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1643) to promote frienship and trade between China and South and Southeast Asia. He also went as far as Madagascar in Africa.

The large number of ships and entourage he brought during his 28-years journey back forth between China and other countries has made him named the King of the Seas.