The Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam marks_1
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  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001174
    Country Vietnam
    ICH Domain Performing Arts Social practices, rituals, festive events Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe
    Address The Space of Gong Culture covers 5 provinces of the Central Highlands, namely Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Lâm Đồng.
    Year of Designation 2012
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Description The tradition-bears of the gong culture are the seventeen Austro-Asian and Austronesian ethno-linguistic communities living in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Gong music is an integral part of the life cycle of each person and important agricultural events of the community, performed in a wide range of ceremonies and rituals, such as ear-blowing for babies, weddings, sacrifice buffalo, abandoning grave, worshipping water troughs, celebrating new rice, closing rice storehouse, celebrating new communal house, so on. It is believed there is a god in each gong, a protecting shield for the family. Having gongs represents wealth and power. Gong ensembles in the Central Highlands are communal, each performer plays one note. Every member in the ensemble must remember the rhythms and melodies so that they can harmonize with other performers. Depending on the ethnic groups, the gongs are played by hand or with wooden sticks wrapped in cloth, leather or rubber strips. Each gong ensemble has between 2 and 13 flat and knobbed gongs with a diameter ranging from 25 to 120 cm, played by both men and women. Peoples in the Central Highlands often buy gongs from Kinh people in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai provinces, or even in Laos and Cambodia. The gongs are re-tuned in order to have the desired sounds. In the past, almost every village had a gong tuner. Today, there are only a few remaining gong tuners in the region. Economic, social and religious transformations have dramatically affected the lives of the local communities here. The safeguarding of gong space in the Central Highlands is thus more challenging. Senior tradition-bearers are passing away, while few people master the traditional rituals. Some major rituals with gong performance are no longer practiced. Younger generations are is less interested in traditional culture. Buffalo sacrifice is banned in many localities. Rice cultivation is altered with industrial crops. The instruments become trade items for other purposes. Nonetheless, the government is doing its best to ensure its practice and transmission.
Social and cultural significance Gong music is not an art of everyday life. To fully feel the vitality of gong music and its socio-cultural value, it is necessary to directly immerse in the highlanders’traditional festivals where human emotions are getting in high spirits. Gong music is closely associated with everyone’s life cycle of life from birth to death. At present time, the art of gongs remains its intense vitality for the urban residents in urban space where the performing art of gong players and dancers is always attractive to the hearts of many people. It is the quality of a masterpiece of humanity.
Transmission method Transmission of this way of life, knowledge and know-how was severely disrupted during the decades of war during the last century. Transmission of gong performance is taking place. Gong clubs and festivals are organized at provincial and communal levels. There is a need to increase the number of gong tuners in the region. It is also vital to encourage communities to revitalize major ceremonies and rituals, such as new rice celebrations, closing rice storehouse, to ensure gongs music is practiced.
Community The bearers of gong culture are the ethnic groups living for a long time in the Central Highlands, namely Bahnar, Mnong, Coho, Jarai, Gie-Trieng, Ma, Sedang, Romam, Brau…
Type of UNESCO List Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Incribed year in UNESCO List 2008
Keyword
Information source
Vietnam National Institute Culture and Arts Studies (VICAS)
http://vicas.org.vn
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