Mr. Con Bat performs a gong dance - Photo: HOANG TAO
With 200 bronze gongs still preserved in households, Ta Rut commune (Dakrong district) is considered the mountainous commune with the most gongs in Quang Tri.
Losing gongs is like losing human souls
On weekends, Mr. Ho Van Phieng's house (residing in Ta Rut commune) is crowded with people, both old and young. They come to immerse themselves in the sound of gongs, reliving the sounds in the middle of the majestic Truong Son mountain range.
On the wall of Mr. Phieng's house hang many traditional musical instruments, including 1 gong, 6 cymbals, cymbals, drums, trumpets... His family is one of the few that still preserves bronze gongs.
The elderly come to visit to play gongs and reminisce about the folk songs they sang by the stream when they were young.
Young people come to listen and bathe their souls in folk songs along with the deep and deep sounds of gongs.
"In the past, only families with status and wealth could have gongs because they were made of bronze and were expensive. Each one was worth a full-grown male buffalo. If I had gongs in my house, I would be respected wherever I went," Mr. Phieng said.
However, the years of war and chaos caused a part of the gongs to be lost. Then 20 - 30 years ago, people from the plains came to buy a lot of gongs.
"Many Pa Ko people sell everything for food. As for me, I only buy more gongs left by my ancestors, but I absolutely refuse to sell them. Losing gongs means the Pa Ko people lose their soul," said Mr. Phieng.
In addition to expressing status in the village, gongs are used in many spiritual ceremonies. "There are gongs used exclusively for worshiping ceremonies, but customs do not allow them to be played for other purposes. Without the resounding sound of gongs, ancestors will not come to attend the ceremony with their descendants," Mr. Phieng said.
In daily life, when friends come to visit, gongs are brought out to sing in celebration, and boys and girls are brought to the stream to sing love songs.
Determined to preserve the gong soul of the mountains and forests
Mr. Con Bat also kept 4 gongs and 4 cymbals from his grandparents. Looking at the gongs on the wooden wall, Mr. Bat said that in the past, he was able to marry a beautiful wife because his family had many gongs.
"According to custom, when getting married, there must be a gong or a bronze pot given to the bride's family," he recounted, then used his hands to play the gong and his mouth to sing a passionate love song. After singing, both he and his wife smiled brightly.
He and his wife have five sons. Over the years, he has not only preserved the gongs in terms of material, but has also tried his best to teach his children and grandchildren how to play traditional musical instruments and sing Pa Ko love songs that make any girl who hears them feel nostalgic.
"This is a fortune. I'm old now, now I'm passing it on to my children and grandchildren," said Mr. Con Bat.
Mr. Con Bat and his wife with the family's gong heritage - Photo: HOANG TAO
Artisan Kray Suc (residing in Ta Rut commune) said that gongs are a bridge that helps the Pa Ko people communicate with their ancestors and invisible gods, and have been deeply ingrained in the subconscious of the Pa Ko people.
"To preserve gongs, we must let young people know, understand, see, hear and practice gongs," said Mr. Kray Suc.
Mr. Ho Van Ngo - cultural officer of Ta Rut commune - informed that Ta Rut commune still preserves 200 gongs of all genres.
"The commune keeps track of each family and encourages them not to sell gongs for any reason. Every year, the commune organizes folk song and dance classes with about 40 students participating to preserve the cultural traditions of the Pa Ko people," said Mr. Ngo.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giu-linh-hon-cong-chieng-phia-nui-truong-son-20240510091106007.htm
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