Bukit Cina

In the Cemetery on Bukit Cina

Bukit Cina (Malay: "Chinese Hill") is a hillside of historical significance in the capital of Malaysian state of Malacca, Malacca Town. It is located several kilometers to the north from the historical center of Malacca (Dutch town and Chinatown), but these days, it's surrounded by the modern city on all sides.

History

In the garden of the San Poh Teng Temple. The memorial in the back honors the local Chinese residents who perished during WWII

According to the local tradition, in the mid-15th century, princess Hang Li Po, the great granddaughter of the Chinese Yongle Emperor, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was sent to be married to the sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mansor Shah, to seal relations between the two countries. She brought with her a vast retinue (500 sons of ministers and a few hundred handmaidens). The hill, Bukit Cina, a gift from the sultan, was established as their residence. Marine archeology of a shipwreck (Royal Nanhai wreck from about 1460 AD) suggested royal gifts from China, shipped during Sultan Mansor Shah's reign [1] [2].

The Well of Hang Li Po, which is next to the San Poh Teng Temple) (also known as Sam Po Kong Temple) at the foot of the hill (2.1966°N 102.2562°E / 2.1966; 102.2562), was constructed by Hang Li Po's followers for her personal use but was also an important source of water for much of the town. It was also a prime target for opposition forces, which either poisoned it or tried to hold it for their own use. It was reputed never to have dried up even during droughts. Today, the well has acquired the reputation of a wishing well and it is believed that anyone who throws a coin into the well will return to Malacca.

Fragment of the decor of the Sam Poh Teng Temple, located at the foot of the hill

Bukit Cina and two adjoining hills today form a Chinese graveyard covering over 250,000 square metres. With over 12,000 graves, some of which date to the Ming Dynasty, it is said to be the largest Chinese graveyard outside China.

Admiral Cheng Ho's Seven Dragon Wells

A typical grave

Admiral Cheng Ho's Seven Wells lie in the foot of the Bukit China, beside the Sam Poh Teng Temple. These wells were dug by Admiral Cheng Ho's Expeditionary Naval Force during their stopover in Melaka during the Ming Dynasty. Bukit China was chosen by the Admiral to be used as the base for his expeditionary force. The Seven Wells are also known as the Dragon's wells according to Feng Shui principles. The local government bulldozed some of these wells during the 50-60s on the excuse of road building. To-date only three wells are left intact and they have never been dried even in the worst of draught.

The Admiral's naval visit is recorded in verified Chinese history as compared to the fabled lore of Hang Li Poh's wells. The local government cooks up a legendary tale whereby the wells were dug by the Malay kingdom for the princess bride from China as per the Hikayat Melayu (a local fairy tale book full of legends) as the actual historical details (Admiral Cheng Ho's Expeditionary Naval Force) puts the Malay kingdom's sovereignty in a bad light.

See also

• Chinese Malaysian
• Overseas Chinese
• Hang Li Poh
• Peranakan

References

Notations

• De Witt, Dennis (2010). Melaka from the Top. Malaysia: Nutmeg Publishing. ISBN 9789834351922. 

External links

• Discovery of Zheng He’s Guan Chang ( 官厂 )in Melaka