Klenteng (Temple) Poncowinatan is the common name of Zen Ling Gong Temple located at Jalan Poncowinatan 16, Kranggan, Yogyakarta.
The north of Tugu Yogyakarta was appointed as the chinese region (de Chinese Bevolking) by Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta in 1860s. On that land that Sultan gave, Chinese built their place of worship, Kauw Lang Teng (later the pronunciation shift to Klenteng) means place to educate people. Sri Sultan gave 6.244 sqm to chinese to erect Vihara or Temple. The oldest temple on the north of Tugu Yogyakarta was built in 1881.
In 1907, Chinese built first chinese school in temple area names Tiong Hoa Hak Tong, under Tiong Hoa Hak Tong in Batavia. This temple was ever lent by some temple area lent by Temple External Independent Institution. THHT building stands on the west pagoda, since 1923, also known as the Chinese Temple, and then divided into three parts: the middle for worship area covering 2000 sqm, the west for school covering 1200 sqm, and the rest is sport and cultural area. In 1940 THTT halted to employe the asset of the temple as it failed to compete Holland Chinesche School (HCS). HCS is an East Indies school to demise THTT, as it advance its existence is deemed evoking nationalism spirit. Finally THTT returned the building to the temple and used as dorm for temple clergies and caretaker. The advent of Japanese occupation in Indonesia forced all Dutch schools closed, and in reverse Chinese school opened. Temple assets then lent to Chinese Community School (Ri Re Zhong Hua Di Yi Xiao Xie, or abbreviated as Di Yi Xiao) that was managed by Education institution Chung Hwa Yogyakarta. The management kept changing since Dutch established HCS (Holland Chinese School) that later banned School management by Chinese ethnic. In 1970, the management of the school was Yayasan Budaya Wacana (YBW)
Poncowinatan Temple is managed by Yayasan Bhakti Loka. It has many interesting distinctions that other temples. This temple is one of cultural reserve of Yogyakarta, stated officially by Regulation of the Minister of Culture and Tourism Number PM.07/PW.007/MKP/2010 signed by Jero Wacik,Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Every Chinese New Year and other great days of Chinese, this temple always is visited by people from Yogyakarta or outside. One of Chinese New Year ritual in this temple is preparing red and white tumpeng (rice shaped like cone) ritual and praying together. This red and white tumpeng is held to pray for Indonesia and the prosperity of the world. Typical ChineseNew Year celebration as in other temples can not be seen in this temple. The celebration nuance in this temple is a la Javanese. So acculturation between Chinese and Javanese culture is strong, that can be seen in tumpeng ritual which is a typical of Javanese culture. Other Javanese culture touch in the celebration is in the way the people eat together on a long table and pray.