KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesian Heritage Agency opened a temporal exhibition on Chinese Indonesian heritage at the Indonesian National Museum, Jakarta on Monday (10/2/2025). The exhibition, titled "Kongsi: Chinese Acculturation in Nusantara" (Kongsi: Akulturasi Budaya di Nusantara), features artifacts across Indonesia, including sculptures, fashion, and historical items, influenced by the Chinese. The name "Kongsi" is rooted from the Hokkien "gongsi" (公司), meaning "partnership".

Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon said that Indonesia has been a meeting point for civilizations, including Chinese, whose presence in the Nusantara archipelago dates back over a thousand years through trade migration and cultural exchange. The exhibition showed the significant influences of Indonesia's Chinese communities on the country's life.

"This exhibition is a testament to a long history of cultural fusion (of Indonesian and Chinese culture) that has enriched our traditions, language, arts, cuisine, and way of life," Fadli said in his remarks.

Fadli Zon added that the exhibition is not just a reflection of the past, but also a reminder that Indonesia's strength lies in its diversity. According to him, the word "Kongsi" is a concept that has shaped not only trade and communities, but also the shared identity Indonesians embrace today.

"May this event inspire us all to continue preserving and celebrating the beauty of cultural acculturation, as a bridge for unity, resilience, and the national identity," he said.

The exhibition's title. (Photo: RRI VOI/Rama S. Pratama)

"Kongsi: Chinese Acculturation in Nusantara" shows various collections about blended Chinese and Indonesian heritage. Most are taken from the museum, but some are from other sources. They included Benteng Heritage Museum in Tangerang, Banten - just west of Jakarta - and Fadli Zon's personal possessions.

Collections include a copy of Sin Po magazine, a Chinese Indonesian-owned media published from the Dutch colonial period through the 1960s, that published an early version of the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya. An early phonograph record of the song is also exhibited.

A copy of Sin Po with a sheet music of Indonesia Raya. (Photo: RRI VOI/Rama S. Pratama)

Other collections are a Majapahit-era statue of a Chinese and a dance costume of a prominent Chinese Indonesian artist, Didik Nini Thowok. Several notable young Chinese Indonesians are also highlighted, including filmmaker Ernest Prakasa.

The Indonesian National Museum is in Central Jakarta, west of the city's landmark National Monument (Monas). The exhibition is planned to last for three months to come, according to Fadli Zon.

Source : VOI