Space of Gong

A cultural space covering several provinces and seventeen Austro-Asian and Austronesian ethnicities exists among the gongs in Vietnam's central highlands. The belief systems of the gongs are closely linked to daily life and the cycle of the seasons, and they develop a privileged language between humans, divinities, and the supernatural world. In Vietnamese cultural history, gongs were played to celebrate a new and prosperous rice season and communicate with supernatural powers. According to several well-known researchers, gongs are descendants of the Lithophone, an ancient musical instrument with 11 slabs of stone. In every family, there is at least one gong, which symbolizes their wealth, authority, and prestige. It also assures protection for the family. The gong is present in all of their rituals and is their main ceremonial instrument. The Highlanders believe that each gong houses a deity whose strength corresponds to it. The older the gong, the stronger its god is. Gongs are used as a connection between men and the supernatural. Vietnam's gongs are played in a variety of ways. Each instrumentalist carries a different gong measuring from 25 to 80 cm in diameter. They also use a variety of brass instruments during their rituals and ceremonies. Village ensembles usually consist of three to twelve gongs. These are played for different ceremonies. Different arrangements are adapted for ritual sacrifices of bullocks, rice blessings, or mourning rites. Their gongs are purchased in neighboring countries and tuned to their own preferences. Although they are not able to cast their own gongs, their sensitive ears and musical souls transform a product into an excellent musical instrument. In the hands of talented folk artists, gongs are used as musical instruments to perform a variety of gong music. Economic and social transformations have disrupted the transfer of knowledge and stripped the gongs of their spiritual significance. As society has changed economically and socially, traditional ways of life have been greatly affected. Gong communities, with their knowledge and skills, no longer offer the original context for the Gong culture. In the last century, wars have severely disrupted this way of life and knowledge. The disappearance of old craftsmen and the young's growing fascination with Western culture has also exacerbated the problem. Some of these gongs have been sold for recycling, and others have been exchanged for other products. The Central Highlands are a cultural center, and gong culture is used to affirm the communities' cultural identities, as well as the identity of ethnic minorities. As time passes, gongs have come to symbolize the Central Highlands and their rich culture.

References

(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/space-of-gong-culture-00120) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_of_gong_culture) (https://vietnamdiscovery.com/culture-arts/cultural-space-of-gong-in-central-highlands/) (https://medium.com/travel-is-to-think-in-terms-of-experiences-rather/a-spiritual-journey-to-explore-the-space-of-gong-culture-in-the-central-highlands-d67fb05984ce