2 - Sam Poo Kong temple and Zheng He expeditions: did Wang Jinghong really die in Semarang?

Sam Poo Kong temple is a famous historical and religious cite in the city of Semarang, Indonesia. According to a famous local folk legend this temple was founded by Zheng He 鄭和 and his companions in 1416 while sailing along the Indonesian archipelago. The second in command after Zheng He, Wang Jinghong 王景弘, fell ill. It is said that Zheng He anchored and left Wang Jinghong in a cave with several crew members to take care of him. They founded the first Chinese settlement, built a temple to commemorate their travels, married local women and spent the rest of their lives on Java Island.

Although there is no biography of Wang Jinghong in any Chinese sources, scattered evidence exists which enables us to trace his life after the expeditions. Moreover, Wang Jinghong’s land deed was unearthed in Nanjing in 2014. According to it, Wang purchased a piece of land near Chongyinsi temple 崇因寺 in Nanjing in 1436. Such purchases were commonly made for future burial of oneself and other family members. What is more, the last mention of Wang Jinghong in the Chinese sources occurs in Ming shilu 明實錄 (“Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty”). This entry is dated 24th of November 1437 and implies that Wang Jinghong with several other officials were to conduct an examination of the Nanjing guard. These two facts cast certain doubt on the common belief that Wang Jinghong died and was buried in Semarang.