Cirebon historical tourism 
Talang Temple Cirebon is the second oldest temple in Indonesia, after Hong Tiek Temple in Surabaya. The temple, estimated to have stood for five centuries, stands on Jalan Talang, in the Lemahwungkuk District of Cirebon City. At first, this Talang Temple Cirebon was a mosque for Muslims, especially those from the Tionghoa ethnicity. In addition, this building also serves as a stopover for merchants who come from afar as well as an administrative center for ethnic Tionghoa living in Cirebon. However, as the number of ethnic Tionghoa Muslims decreased, the mosque eventually turned into a temple.
Tan Sam Cay, also known as Mohammad Syafei, built this temple. The temple symbolizes cultural diversity and tolerance deeply rooted in the people of Cirebon. Tan Sam Cay, an ethnic Tionghoa, received the title Tumenggung Aria Diap Wiracula from the Sultanate of Cirebon.
History of Tionghoa Muslim in Talang Temple Cirebon
Tan Sam Cay and all Tionghoa Muslims who live in Cirebon use Talang Temple as a place of worship for Hanafi Tionghoa Muslims, the influx of Hanafi Tionghoa Muslims originated from the preaching done by Admiral Haji Kung Wu Ping, a descendant of Khonghucu who established a lighthouse on the evidence of Gung Jati, which is in Gunung Jati District Cirebon.
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From there, three groups of Tionghoa Muslim communities practicing the Hanafi madhhab emerged in the Sembung, Serindil, and Talang areas, each accompanied by its own mosque. Tionghoa Muslims in Sembung developed rapidly, but not in the other two areas, Serindil and Talang. This condition makes Tionghoa Muslims choose to concentrate their activities in Sembung.
The name “Talang” itself comes from the word ‘Toa Lang’, which means “great man” or “great master”. The word originally referred to three envoys from the Ming Dynasty, namely Chengho, Fa Wan, and Khung Wu Fung. They played pivotal roles in the region’s history and received titles that depicted greatness and honor as rewards.Talang Cirebon Temple also played a role in the journey of the nation’s fighters to achieve independence during the colonial era. Until now, this temple still stands and is a symbol of tolerance in Cirebon.
Written by : Hazna AS
