The gongs of the Central Highlands have long been an inseparable part of the cultural and spiritual life of the ethnic minorities here. The sounds echoing through the mountains and forests not only bring sacred power, but are also the voices of ancestors, of heaven and earth, passed down through many generations. The gong is both a musical instrument and a symbol of power, of the harmony between humans and nature, and between communities.
In the Central Highlands, the gong cultural space spreads across five provinces, including Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong. This is home to more than ten ethnic groups, including the Bana, Xo Dang, Giarai, Ede, Mnong, Coho, Ma, etc. Each ethnic group has its own distinct cultural features, but gongs are the connecting bridge, the common meeting point, where the sounds of gongs and cymbals blend together, creating a unique and rich cultural space.
The people of the Central Highlands believe that behind each gong, there is a god residing. The sound of gongs is therefore sacred, a "language" for people to converse with gods, expressing their thoughts and wishes. From rituals such as naming ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, health ceremonies, to larger rituals such as buffalo eating ceremonies, funerals, gongs always play a central role. Each ritual has its own gong melodies, reflecting the diversity in the cultural life of the ethnic groups.
In the ceremonial space, gongs are often performed around the center of sacred symbols such as the pole, the tomb, or the sacrificial buffalo. The artists, each using only one gong, cymbal or drum, will move in a line, moving and beating the gong, creating a circle of sound around the sacred center. The sound of gongs and cymbals resounds, echoing from the mountain ranges, as if sending messages from humans to the gods, creating a scene that is both mysterious and majestic, highlighting the entire landscape of the Central Highlands mountains and forests.
The Central Highlands Gongs – part of the intangible cultural heritage, are a symbol of community strength, of the connection between the past, present and future. The sound of the gongs has entered the epic, becoming the pride of the ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands. In 2005, UNESCO recognized the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and in 2008, this heritage was transferred to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Faced with the challenges of the times, the preservation and promotion of the value of Central Highlands gongs has become more urgent than ever. UNESCO's recognition has played an important role in helping local authorities and communities better understand the value of the heritage, while also creating resources for preservation. Gong festivals are held annually, providing an opportunity for locals and tourists to enjoy and experience the sacred sounds, both powerful and heroic, and gentle and calm.
Nowadays, the Central Highlands gongs have also become an important cultural element in the tourism industry. Tourists have the opportunity to participate in gong festivals, directly experience and better understand this unique culture. Gong performances are both an opportunity to demonstrate the talents of artisans and a way to introduce and promote the Central Highlands culture to international friends.
In general, the gongs of the Central Highlands are the echoes of history, of the vast land and sky, and the bridge connecting humans with the spiritual world. Preserving and promoting this heritage is not only the duty of the Central Highlands ethnic groups but also the common responsibility of the entire Vietnamese people, so that the sound of gongs will forever echo through the mountains and forests, as an immortal symbol of the culture and spirituality of the Central Highlands.
Hoang Anh
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)