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WALI SONGO PILGRIMAGE - An
Introduction |
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Indonesia is fast
becoming recognized as an exciting country to be visited. Of course, many
of the
nation's attractions are already world famous and some, like Java's Temple of
Borobudur, Sumatra's Lake Toba, and Island of Bali, have for years been
compelling
destinations.
More recently, the
Province of East Java has begun to reveal a wealth of cultural and natural
resources, among them the spectacular volcanic regions of Mt Bromo and Kawah
Ijen, the rugged southern coastline, and in the field of history, the rich
cultural heritage to be witnessed at sites such as Trowulan, ancient capital of
the Hindu Kingdom of Majapahit. The purpose of this book is to expose yet
other of Indonesia's hidden treasures; the as yet little known area of
Java's
north coast, in particular the legacy left to us by the island's first
Muslim
missionaries, who have come to be known as the Wali Songo, or 'Nine Saints
of Islam'.
According to tradition,
there were nine outstanding figures who together were largely responsible for
the dissemination of the Islamic faith. Known as the Wali Songo, they are
recognized today as having been especially influential in the transformation of
Javanese religion and culture.
The tombs of the wali
Songo, as those of many other important historical figures, can be found
scattered along Java's north coast between Surabaya and Cirebon. Below is a list
of nine walis and the locations of their graves.
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THE
WALI SONGO
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Aside from the above-listed walis, there were numerous
other 'minor' saints and missionaries, many of whose graves can still be
visited,
among them Sunan Prapen, Sunan Bejagung, Sunan Sendang, Syekh Siti Jenar,
Maulana Ibrahim Asmoro, and Maulana Ishak, to name a few.
As the final resting places of holy men, these tombs were
naturally made to look beautiful and were invariably built to a high artistic
standard. Lovers of art and culture, therefore, will certainly not be
disappointed when exploring some of these locations. Those inclined to history,
too, will be excited by many of the original structures which, though frequently
displaying a great variety of foreign elements, remain ever loyal to the
Javanese aesthetic. Judging by the ever increasing number of visitors to
the ancient
temple sites of Central and East Java, it is evident that one does not need to
be a Buddhist in order to appreciate the grandeur of Borobudur. Likewise, the
rich heritage of the Wali Songo is open to admiration from people of all races
and creeds.
It is hoped, then, that the
following pages will fulfil their
purpose by offering a glimpse of yet other of Indonesia's great cultural
assets and will inspire readers to undertake the Wali Songo Pilgrimage
themselves.
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The Winged Gateaway of
Sendang at Paciran, Lamongan |
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Further
information will be provided as soon as possible.
Any comments can be directed to webmaster@petra.ac.id
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