framing

history kampung bukit cina

Negeri Melaka or also known as Melaka Negeri Bersejarah or Negeri Hang Tuah is a state in Malaysia located in the west of Peninsular Malaysia facing the Straits of Malacca in the west bordering Negeri Sembilan in the north and Johor in the southeast. It is the fourth smallest state in Malaysia, the second least populated state in Malaysia and the 4th most populous state in Malaysia.

Kampung Bukit Cina is a village located a few kilometers north of the historic center of Melaka but nowadays it is surrounded by modern cities around it. Its area is approximately 1940502 hectares / 5070 square meters.

It is a village that has several historical elements in it. Due to its location not far from the river, this village area has the effect of a legacy that is centuries old.

introduction

In the city of Melaka, the largest traditional Chinese cemetery in the world has become a historical park. Bukit Cina, spread over forty-two hectares of undulating land along the southeastern edge of the city center. The site has been a burial ground for local Chinese since the 16th century, and because land pressure has forced the relocation of similar cemeteries in China and elsewhere, Chinese Hill may be the oldest surviving traditional Chinese cemetery in the world. Yet it took the controversy over the future of Bukit Cina to focus attention on the burial mound. Almost a decade ago, an urban development scheme threatened the cemetery. Today, local community groups have transformed Bukit Cina from a cemetery into a multi-use site in a locally defined version of open space that incorporates historic monuments and urban public park amenities. Efforts to preserve this cemetery are examined in the context of the dynamic concept of landscape and space that is rapidly developing in contemporary geographical analysis. Malay history tells that the Emperor of China wanted to strengthen relations with the Malacca empire around the 15th century.

History OF poh san teng tEmple

POH SAN TENG TEMPLE

Malacca, which is the traditional trading center of the region, has a wide variety of building styles, from Islamic and Chinese styles to those brought by European colonists (Portuguese, Dutch, British). In Kampung Bukit Cina there is a temple called Poh San Teng Temple. Poh San Teng Temple is dedicated to Tua Pek Kong (Guardian God of the land and 12,500 tombs on a nearby hill called 'China Hill'). It is often mistakenly assumed that the temple is associated with Admiral Zheng He, a Ming dynasty navigator. In fact, there is no evidence of Zheng He's involvement in the temple's history. The temple's name literally translates as "Precious Hill Temple", but it is also known as Sam Po Keng Temple in reference to a legendary fish that saved one of Zheng He's ships from sinking but used its body to plug a leak.

historic approach and treatment plan

According to Cheng Hoon Teng Temple Incorporated chairman Lung Heng Jim, the temple was built by the 8th Chinese Kapitan of Malacca in 1795. The standing committee of Cheng Hoon Teng Temple Incorporated, the management body of Poh San Teng temple, had embarked on the project to restore the temple in the middle of March, he said.

The Poh San Teng temple undergoing restoration at the foot of Bukit Cina in Malacca recently. Hoardings had been put up for restoration to be carried out at the front and visitors could use a side door on the left to gain access to the temple.

It was destroyed by foreign powers and rebuilt on the site. It is a place for Chinese children to take care of their hearts in Southeast Asia. It is a world cultural heritage and is very historical.

An inscription on a stela commemorating the founding of the temple reads: "Bukit Cina is the place where early traders from China were buried. Many Chinese traders came to this country with high expectations of success. Sadly, some died before fulfilling their dreams. Without a family with them, there was no one to pray for their souls. As such, the Chinese Kapitans initiated prayers on their behalf. However, these were always hampered by strong winds and heavy rainfalls because there was no proper shelter.

phase 1 of restoration of poh san teng

Outer Prayer Pavilion & Main Prayer Building

Prior to this, the last major works were completed in 1963. Unfortunately, they were ill advised, leaving much to be desired. Time and weather aggravated the conditions. By the 1990s, the state of the temple had become a matter of serious concern and the Board of Trustees felt it was necessary to carry out a major restoration to the temple. The collapse of a beam in 1997 underscored the urgency and a restoration committee was set up to ensure the building’s successful restoration. The greatest challenge lay in the fact that the Temple was fully functioning, with resident monks and nuns serving the daily spiritual needs of the Chinese community in Malacca. None of these could be suspended, even temporarily. So, for the entire period of the restoration, the services had to continue, without interruption. The restoration took two years to complete. Preliminary work included a dilapidation study and a full inventory check. Tender documents and contracts were signed in early 1999. An auspicious date was chosen for relocating the deities from the Main Hall to temporary locations in the ancillary buildings. In April 1999, work started. Completion was scheduled for December 2000. This would include original finishes, and functional as well as decorative features, from tiles and chien nien sculptures on the roof to copper caps for the main purlins, murals, carvings, doors, and gold gilding.

phase 2 of restoration of poh san teng

Auxiliary Buildings & Main Entrance

With the main temple fully restored, the trustees embarked on restoring the auxiliary buildings and the main entrance under Phase 2 of the restoration works. Work commenced in April 2003 and was completed in May 2004. The auxiliary buildings are located in the temple's courtyard encompassing the main temple building.

A simple prayer ceremony was conducted to mark the commencement of Phase 2. The same restoration methodology as in Phase 1 was applied throughout the restoration process.

The artisans scraped off layers of paint and plaster and discovered these old frescoes underneath them. The frescoes were then skillfully restored. Damaged tiles (right) were carefully removed and replaced with new tiles. The pavilions have subsided due to differential settlement, causing the ridge to crack. The committee decided to strengthen the column bases to resolve the problem.

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