Gong culture in Bo: Old traditions inspire young people!

Gong culture in Bo: Old traditions inspire young people!

What's going on in the small town of Bo, deep in the heart of Vietnam? Here, at the entrance to the town, we find a house where the ancient and venerable craft of gong tuning is practiced. Mr. Van, an experienced gong tuner, makes gongs sound again with great skill and dedication. He goes to work with a small hammer, in the tradition of his father, who introduced him to the art of tuning the gong. Mr. Van is the only one in the village who maintains this important tradition.

Village life and culture are strongly intertwined with gong practice. A dedicated Gong team from Bo is already preparing for the 2024 Gong Cultural Festival in Ia Grai District. Mr. Ro Cham Oi, a man over 60 years old with decades of experience, regularly attends the practice sessions and motivates the young generation to carry on the gong culture. His son, a three-year-old boy, already follows him to the games, a sign that interest in this cultural heritage is not going away.

Gongs: More than just instruments

The importance of gongs extends far beyond their function as musical instruments. According to information from UNESCO Gongs are a central part of life in the high-altitude provinces of Vietnam. They are part of a mystical belief system and act as a special language between humans and deities. Every family has at least one gong, and it symbolizes not only wealth, but also authority and prestige.

Gongs play an irreplaceable role in traditional ceremonies. Whether for ritual sacrifices or mourning rites, the main ceremonial instrument is and remains the gong. Different arrangements and rhythms reflect the context of the ceremony, with several gongs being used simultaneously in the village stakes. Loud Vietnam.vn The Bo Gong team took second place at the last Gong Cultural Festival, a respectable achievement that underlines the continued existence of this tradition.

Challenges and future

But what does the future of gong culture look like? Despite the great commitment of people like Mr. Van, Mr. Oi and Mr. Hit-Chi, there are serious challenges. The change in social structures, the disappearance of old craftsmen and the growing interest in Western culture are putting the gong tradition in danger. Gongs sometimes lose their sacred meaning and are sold by subsequent generations for recycling or traded for Western products.

The transfer of knowledge and skills was severely disrupted, particularly by the war years. In a world that is changing rapidly, it is crucial that committed people continue to preserve cultural identity through traditional practices such as playing the gong. Mr. Van clearly recognized this and emphasized the importance of keeping gongs alive in everyday life to protect cultural heritage.

It is to be hoped that the love for gong culture in Bo and beyond will not only be preserved, but will continue to flourish in future generations. The dedicated members of the Gong team are a living testament to Vietnam's cultural diversity and heritage that radiates far beyond the borders of their small village.