Pati is a regency in Central Java, bordered to the north by Jepara and the Java Sea and to the south by Grobogan and Blora. Nasi Gandul and Bakaran Batik become two of many things of regional uniqueness. However, Pati is not limited to these two things, for the town that once became the point of Nusantara Spice Routes now has many more attractions to see.
The geographical location of Pati that is directly bordered by the Java Sea gave a significant impact on the town’s history. So it is no surprise that Pati left various traces of the past, for it is one of the influential places in the spice and other crop trades in Nusantara, especially Java.
The bustling trade activities on the north coast of Java led Juwana Port as one of the ports in Pati, widely known since, at least, the 16th century AD. The port became a significant point of the spice trade on the north coast of Java, for it connected the central points of Nusantara spices and provided trading vessels, charter ships, and becoming the best shipyard.
The port was located in the town of Juwana—today, it is known as a district, part of Pati Regency. Located in the Juwana River, which once was a strait between Java Island and Mount Muria separated from Java Island. The port had been established since the Juwana River was still a strait when the Chinese merchants came and dominated the area.
Until today, Juwana Port is still bustling with fishers who moor their ships and sort the fish. Further, we can also see other traces of acculturation heritage of the Chinese and ancient kingdom of Nusantara through the buildings and objects registered or verified as cultural heritage.
Tjoe Tik Bio Temple
Chinese played a significant role in the existence of Juwana Port. When Mount Muria was separated from Java Island and Juwana River was still a strait, the Chinese had seen the trade potential in the area. So they built a port and soon the settlement around it.
Besides the Juwana Port, we can see the trace of Chinese in Pati through the three temples in Juwana’s Chinatown. One of them is the cultural heritage in Pati called Tjoe Tik Bio Temple. This temple was built by the Chinese who escaped from the Batavia Massacre in 1740. According to the people around the area, the temple was built in 1870 to respect the Goddess Kwan Im, while the oldest year we can see from evidence on the nameplate inscription and a poem hung on the temple doors is 1875.
Today, besides a worship palace, the Tjoe Tik Bio temple is often visited by tourists, students, and scholars who want to see the Chinese trace in Pati.
The giant milkfish monument, both an icon and identity of the city with the nickname Pati Bumi Mina Tani
Juwana Shipyard, one of the best shipyards in the past and is still active today
Port of Juwana, the entry point of spices into Pati
The story of the Spice Routes presented in the form of ketoprak show
Nasi Gandul is one of the cuisines of Pati that is rich in spices
The making process of Batik Bakaran, an iconic regional batik of Pati
Known for the dark colors on the Batik Bakaran, the design has an influence from the Majapahit Empire
The Majapahit Door is one of the traces of the Spice Routes in Pati
The Benteng Portugis cultural heritage site was used in the past as a center of defence from the threat of the VOC
Juwana Police Station Building
Juwana police station building is located in front of a legendary restaurant in Juwana—Warung Makan Sederhana Bu Marni (Spesial Kepala Ikan Manyung)—which never runs out of customers to serve. Retaining its original structure with the ancient architecture on the roof, Juwana Police Station once was a house of a Chinese Lieutenant named Go Tat Thiong.
The building once shifted its role into a Japanese Secret Police known as Kempeitai when they conquered Juwana. It started to be used as a police station after Indonesia gained its independence, until today.
Gate of Majapahit
Majapahit kept moving its central government and no record mentions Pati as one of the places. However, we need to highlight that Majapahit was a great kingdom in Nusantara that played a significant role in trading.
It is not surprising, for Majapahit was both an agrarian and maritime kingdom located in the middle of the Nusantara shipping route, between the east and the west. Spices became one of the commodities that were traded during the glorious era of the kingdom. Through its ports on the north coast of Java, Majapahit had the ambition to dominate the trade.
Today, in Muktiharjo Village, Margorejo, the gate stands behind the glass installation protected by the fence. The gate of Majapahit that we can find in Pati witnessed the glorious era of Nusantara in the past. It has been verified as a cultural heritage in Pati since April 2018.
The tangible cultural heritage with historical value and a cultural linkage in Pati became a legacy of acculturation from the past, thus making pluralism treasured by the people who live with it. We can see the glory of Pati through the buildings and various cultural heritage, and other historical sites spread within the regency.
Sources:
Andi T. 2017. Perubahan Morfologi Pemukiman Pecinan (Studi Kasus: Kauman, Juwana Kabupaten Pati). Thesis. Unpublished. Faculty of Engineering. Sultan Agung Islamic University: Semarang.
Berkala Arkeologi vol. 29, no. 2, 2009, p. 11. ResearchGate. Accessed on 8 March 2021.
patikab.go.id. (2018, 9 Maret). Kondisi Geografis. Accessed on 2 March 2021 dari https://www.patikab.go.id/v2/id/kondisi-geografis/
Utomo, Bambag Budi. “Majapahit dalam Lintas Pelayaran dan Perdagangan Nusantara”.
Text: Dhiani Probhosiwi
Editor: Doni Ahmadi
Translator: Dhiani Probhosiwi
