A Confucian Altar in Kutuarjo
A number of Javanese are not only practicing Confucians but also spiritual leaders of this religion which originated in China. They remained true to their religion even after the New Order government forbade them to write the word ‘Confucian’ as their religion when filling in their identity cards.
February 9, 2011
THE simple altar with a statue of Confucius on it stands in the middle of a small house on the outskirts of Kutoarjo, a township in the Purworejo regency of Central Java. The building has simple walls and is inconspicuous compared to the other wooden houses surrounded by shady trees. It stands on a barren plot of land which is almost certainly very muddy when it rains.
The owner of the house showed Tempo the altar. “I pray here every morn
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