Tokong Keramat CHENG HO

A surprise Cheng Ho temple situated in a Malay kampung.

This temple is also known as the Sampoh Kong Keramat Temple, built hundred years ago to commorated Admiral Cheng Ho with 28,000 men and 63 ship arrival in Terengganu during the 4th Ming's Ocean Expedition to Hormuz (1413-1415). It's a small but well-maintained temple, and there's not much to see of see in terms of architecture and religion. Nothing impressed, despite it impressive history.

Scanning history -Lacamana Cheng Ho is the beloved and trusted person of Emperor Yung Lo of the Ming Dynasty who ruled China at that time. He who was born in 1371 started his journey in 1400-1433 when it was the age of 30an to the early 60's. Although he is a Muslim known as Mohd.Ho, he is still friendly and is in the midst of non-Muslim Chinese people as a voyage with him. In china, Cheng Ho was a great hero with the title of Sanpo or Sanpokhong or Cheng Ho Sanpokong. It is said that Cheng Ho was commissioned by Emperor Yung Lo / Yok Lok (the 3rd Emperor of the Ming Dynasty) to find a king's nephew named Kian Wan, the early 20's who had disappeared from the palace in 1402. Cheng Ho thinks Kian Wan has fled to Terengganu based on old Chinese history books that mention a place called Fo Lo Ann or Ting Yang Nung or Ding Jia Lu and Pai Jai, Ku Du Kun and Koli in some previous dynasties. There are so many names in Terengganu in the Chinese version. Laksanama Cheng Ho learned about Fo Lo Ann (Kuala Brang) an earlier Chinese, Arabic and Indian business center. Then Cheng Ho's navy stopped over Kuala Terengganu sea and ruled his crew into the Terengganu river. Then they reached the very beautiful Jeram River Nerus area and they landed there in awe of beauty. A temple was built by some members of his group who had not yet been a Muslim and the temple remained until this, a temple for so long history, but has gone through several process of repair and reconstruction. Starting with the arrival of Cheng Ho in the 1400s, thereafter more people from mainland China came to Terengganu. They are engaged in economics and agriculture, especially pepper and sugarcane such as in Bahagia Island and also in Tepoh, to the Tirok area and surrounding areas.