Surabaya Cheng Ho Mosque: A testament to the history of Sino-Indonesian cultural exchange.

Hidden in the city of Surabaya on the eastern part of Java Island, Indonesia, is a mosque full of history and cultural integration - Cheng Ho Mosque. This mosque is not only the pride of Chinese Indonesians, but also a symbol of friendly relations between China and Indonesia. This article will take you into this unique mosque to explore the stories and cultural connotations behind it. Cheng Ho Mosque, officially known as "Muhammad Cheng Ho Mosque", was completed and officially opened to the public on May 28, 2003. This is the world's first mosque named after "Cheng Ho", and it is also the first mosque in Indonesia named after the Chinese Muslim "Cheng Ho". The mosque was funded and built by the Indonesian Hui Cheng Ho Foundation in 2002, and the funds mainly came from donations from Chinese Indonesian Muslims. The plaque "Cheng Ho Mosque" with five golden characters was written by Lu Shumin, the former Chinese ambassador to Indonesia. This not only reflects China's recognition of the spirit of Cheng Ho, but also highlights the deep friendship between China and Indonesia. The architectural style of Cheng Ho Mosque is unique and full of Chinese characteristics. Its appearance is full of flying eaves and painted buildings, red pillars and green tiles, and octagonal pavilion roofs. The decoration is magnificent, which is completely different from the typical Arab-style mosques or the common Malay and Javanese-style mosques in Southeast Asia. It is said that the design of this mosque refers to the Niujie Mosque in Beijing, China, with red, yellow, and green as the main colors. It not only shows the style of ancient Chinese architecture, but also integrates the architectural characteristics of Indonesia. The roof of the mosque is designed in an octagonal shape, which implies the homophonic "fa" of the traditional Chinese number "8", symbolizing "prosperity and prosperity". On the right side of the mosque, there are bas-relief portraits of Cheng Ho and models of his sailing treasure ship, vividly reproducing the magnificent scene of Cheng Ho's voyage to the West. On the side wall of the mosque, the story of China's Cheng Ho's voyage to the West is depicted through bas-reliefs and landscapes, including Cheng Ho's treasure ship, the eunuch Cheng Ho, and the appearance of ancient Indonesian ports and villages. These details not only enrich the cultural connotation of the mosque, but also allow visitors to have a deeper understanding of Cheng Ho's historical achievements and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia during the visit. The establishment of Cheng Ho Mosque is not only a respect for Cheng Ho as a messenger of peace, but also an expectation of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence of various religious cultures. The front wall of the mosque's prayer room is carved with a door that looks like a Christian church, which symbolizes that Islam recognizes and respects the Christian God's messenger Jesus and his Bible, and also shows that Islam is willing to live in peace with other religions and mutual respect. The belief in. This kind of exchange and integration of multi-religious cultures is perfectly embodied in Cheng Ho Mosque. In addition, Cheng Ho Mosque also has facilities such as kindergartens, sports fields, gymnasiums, Chinese internships, and libraries, which are open to Indonesian tribal Muslims. This open and inclusive attitude further promotes the unity and cultural exchange of the local community. On many stone tablets near the mosque, a large number of Chinese characters can be seen, which are a kind of inheritance and commemoration of the spirit of Cheng Ho by the Chinese Indonesian community, and a kind of affirmation and celebration of friendly relations between China and Indonesia. Cheng Ho was a peace messenger sent by Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty to neighboring countries. He led the Ming Dynasty fleet to successfully complete the imperial mission of the Western Ocean seven times in a row, and established trade with neighboring countries. Cheng Ho's voyage not only promoted trade between China and other countries, but also strengthened cultural exchanges and friendly relations. During Cheng Ho's seven voyages to the West, he visited the Central Java Sanbao Ridge and Surabaya in East Java, Indonesia many times, leaving a profound historical impact. As a Hui Chinese, Cheng Ho's religious beliefs and identity characteristics have a certain affinity with countries dominated by Islam, which also laid the foundation for his spread of Islam and cultural exchanges in Indonesia. As the world's first mosque named after "Cheng Ho", Surabaya Cheng Ho Mosque is not only a memory and commemoration of Cheng Ho, a great navigator and peace messenger of goodwill and friendship, but also a symbol and historical witness of friendly relations between China and Indonesia. This mosque, with its unique architectural style and profound cultural connotations, attracts many tourists to visit and learn. It allows us to more deeply understand the importance of cultural exchange and integration, and also allows us to cherish the deep friendship between China and Indonesia.