RUMAH ABU DI JAKARTA

 THE ASH HOUSE

 “Histories ,Praying , Nostalgia”

The words that I can say about The Ash House.The house that was  built since the end of 19^th century is used as the saving place of  The ashes of Chinese people who passed away  and already been cremation process. The Ashes which kept there  must be come from the same surname. The Ash House also built as the place for keeping relationships of Chinese people especially for the same surname.

“With striking color and Chinese traditional style are the symbols of The Ash House”Among of buildings and houses, The Ash House has unique symbols from the structure that used Chinese traditional styles with striking color around the house sides. The reasons of making the Ash house with those symbols are giving different impressions to  everyone who sees The Ash House, also guidance for family if they want visit Ash House as well for praying, meeting with another family with the same surname also nostalgia about their family histories.


The Ash House will be crowded of people when one of their family  is passing away. The family will do some special rituals after cremation process then put the ash into a special jar. The rituals are praying during first 7 days, 7 days at second time then continue with a year and 2 years of praying. The aim  of those rituals are sending best prayers for their family who passed away as for the best at the afterlife.




Don’t worry if you want to visit and feeling different of historical explorations, there are many Ash Houses in Jakarta. One of them are in Pinangsia Street No.3 The Ash House of Tan Family Name or The Ash House of Nio/ Liong , Nio Sie Tjiong Se  across of Beos Railway Stations. When you visit The Ash House, you will invited to see  around the House. Starting from the praying place, then going to see the Family Photos. After that you will be explained of the family ancestral which display on the walls. Yup, not all of The Ash Houses are opened to public because they don’t want everyone comes to their Ash House even though just sightseeing, only family with same surname is allowed to visit. 

Beside praying, the Chinese family with same surname periodically gathered together for keeping relationship among them. Sometimes they organize performing arts that supported by local associations. Finally The Ashes Houses give another  histories of Jakarta as well inform us about our nation cultures that must be keep all the time.





Created by: Handoko Dwi

Reference : Book of Wisata Kota Tua Jakarta

Photos : Google.com / budaya-tionghoa.net