Exploring Gong Culture in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

The gongs are closely linked to the life of the Central Highlands people. They are the voice of the human spirit.

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Gong is a musical instrument made of copper alloy, sometimes mixed with gold, silver or black copper.
Gong is a type with a knob and a gong has no knob. Gongs can be used alone or in a set. One set has 2 to 20 pcs.

Gongs can be the origin of the Lithophone.

Before Gong Culture the ancients used the stone tools like stone gongs, bamboo. From the very beginning, gongs were beaten up to celebrate new rice crop and go to the fields. They were also used as a means of communication with the supernatural. All festivals during the year must have the sound of gongs to connect people in a community.

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The gong is a musical instrument exclusively for men. That is the case with ethnic groups like Gia Rai, Ê Đê Kpah, Ba Na, Xơ Đăng, Brâu, Cơ Ho. However, there are ethnic groups that both men and women can use like Mạ, M’Nông.

According to the concept of the Central Highlands people, behind each gong, there is God. The older the gong, the higher the power of God. Gong is also a valuable asset, a symbol of power and wealth. On November 25, 2005, the Central Highlands gong culture of Vietnam was officially recognized by UNESCO as the Intangible cultural heritage