Page 136 - JCAU-6-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Chinese cemeteries in Semarang

assigned localities of residence (Rush, 1983). According to cultural reasons and the opportunity provided by the
a colonial map from NILLMIJ 1859 (published in 1920), Agrarian Law of 1871, which allowed them to rent land for
wealthy Chinese-Indonesians controlled large swaths of 99 years, they gained control of vast lands on the outskirts
land from the colonial city border to the foothills where of the city. Ultimately, the Dutch colonial government’s
the Chinese cemeteries were located at the time. Due to measures failed to achieve their primary goal of limiting the
Chinese community’s movement and property possession.

5.3. Chinese cemeteries in post-colonial Indonesia
Masa Bersiap was a turbulent period in the Republic of
Indonesia’s history, spanning from the Declaration of
Independence in August 1945 to the Dutch recognition
of their former colony’s independence in December 1949.
During this period, massacres targeted European, Eurasian,
Chinese, and some native communities that supported the
Dutch. The chaotic situation drove many refugees to big
cities, where they occupied vacant land, including Chinese
cemeteries (Husain, 2015), and settlements previously
occupied by Eurasians (Colombijn, 2014).
After Indonesia’s independence was acknowledged, the
influx of migrants into cities continued. Local authorities
faced significant pressure to provide shelter for migrants
and improve city infrastructure. In urban kampungs, it was
customary for newcomers to seek approval from elders
or community heads before relocating (Winardi, 2020),
bypassing the need for local government permission. In
Semarang, a few leaders of kampungs situated near the
Chinese cemeteries permitted newcomers to squat there.
The map of the city of Semarang in 1945 shows that the
Figure 6. The timeline of Chinese-Indonesian cemeteries (A – I) and majority of Chinese cemeteries were still on the outskirts
Chinatowns. Source: Drawing by Kezia Dewi of the city, while the map of Semarang in 1955 shows how

Table 1. List of the Chinese cemeteries in Semarang

Chinese Name of the Location Type Year Year of disappearance New purpose
cemetery cemeteries
A Simongan - Bongsari Hill Public 1700s Unknown Still active, also cemeteries for
- Gunung Brintik- non-Chinese peoples, since 1816
Bergota
th
B Mugas Hill Public 1797 Early 20 century Housing (kampung)
C Petolongan Low land Public 1714 1797 Housing, downtown
D Siranda Hill Family 1850s 1923 Housing
E Wonodri Hill Family 1796 (one grave), 1950s Housing (kampung)
became family
cemeteries since
1850s
F Tegalsari Hill Family 1870s 1950s Housing (kampung)
G Candi Hill Mixed Unknown 1917 New settlements for the European
and the rich Chinese people
H Cinde and Mrican Hill Mixed 1832 1986 Housing (kampung)
I Kedung Mundu Hill Public 1900s Unknown Still active, also cemeteries for
non-Chinese peoples
Source: Table by the author based on the literature about the Chinese community in Semarang and the fieldwork conducted.

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3254