The History and Legal Position of Confucianism in Post-Independence Indonesia
The History and Legal Position of Confucianism in Post-independence Indonesia
(By: Heriyanto Yang)
Pre-independence historical background The Chinese are believed to have landed on Indonesian soil, the then Nusantara archipelago, as early as the third century BC. As is the case with almost all groups of immigrants in the world, they brought along with them, in the course of the centuries, their culture, beliefs, values, and a sense of affinity with the motherland. The idea that Confucianism started taking root in Indonesia long ago may have arisen on this basis. However, in earlier times it was in the form of loose individual belief and practice, and in the code of conduct, rather than as a well-organized community religion, belief, way of life, or social movement. It was not until the early 1900's that efforts to make Confucianism a well-organized social movement began taking shape. The year 1900 saw the founding of “Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan” (THHK) in Batavia (the present Jakarta). The island of Jawa (or Java in English), that is, the main island of Indonesia and the island where Batavia was located, was then a Dutch colony, as were most parts of today’s Indonesia. These territories, taken altogether, were called the Dutch East Indies and governed by a Dutch Governor-General stationed at Batavia. Chiefly aiming at promoting and rejuvenating Confucianism within the Chinese community in the Dutch East Indies, the foundation of the THHK was approved and officially validated by the Governor- General on June 3, 1900. In 1942, the Dutch were forced to leave. That year witnessed the beginning of the Japanese occupation over the Dutch East Indies which lasted through the next three years. Confucianism in post-independence Indonesia The atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 marked the defeat of Japan in World War II. The leaders of the fighters for Indonesian independence seized this moment to proclaim independence on August 17, 1945.
(By: Heriyanto Yang)
Pre-independence historical background The Chinese are believed to have landed on Indonesian soil, the then Nusantara archipelago, as early as the third century BC. As is the case with almost all groups of immigrants in the world, they brought along with them, in the course of the centuries, their culture, beliefs, values, and a sense of affinity with the motherland. The idea that Confucianism started taking root in Indonesia long ago may have arisen on this basis. However, in earlier times it was in the form of loose individual belief and practice, and in the code of conduct, rather than as a well-organized community religion, belief, way of life, or social movement. It was not until the early 1900's that efforts to make Confucianism a well-organized social movement began taking shape. The year 1900 saw the founding of “Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan” (THHK) in Batavia (the present Jakarta). The island of Jawa (or Java in English), that is, the main island of Indonesia and the island where Batavia was located, was then a Dutch colony, as were most parts of today’s Indonesia. These territories, taken altogether, were called the Dutch East Indies and governed by a Dutch Governor-General stationed at Batavia. Chiefly aiming at promoting and rejuvenating Confucianism within the Chinese community in the Dutch East Indies, the foundation of the THHK was approved and officially validated by the Governor- General on June 3, 1900. In 1942, the Dutch were forced to leave. That year witnessed the beginning of the Japanese occupation over the Dutch East Indies which lasted through the next three years. Confucianism in post-independence Indonesia The atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 marked the defeat of Japan in World War II. The leaders of the fighters for Indonesian independence seized this moment to proclaim independence on August 17, 1945.