Among mountainous districts in Binh Dinh, Van Canh is one of districts where a large number of cong chieng (Gong) have been preserved by ethnic minority groups and the Gong performances are frequently organized.
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Ha Van Tren’s villagers perform a set of 12 Gongs together. Photo S.L
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Thanh Vinh, a Cham person living at Canh Thanh hamlet, Canh Hoa commune, is still keeping 4 sets of Gong as one of his invaluable properties. On a long shelf built along the wall see 4 sets of Gong. All are carefully preserved. “They are my treasure,” he said. “I spent my life preserving them and my son will continue the preservation in the future.”
In Van Canh district, Canh Thuan commune is the locality seeing many valuable gongs, particularly some originated hundreds years ago. According to the statistics, Canh Thuan now has 70 sets of Gong which belong to 7 hamlets, particularly Ha Van Tren hamlet where there are 30 sets of Gong.
“I don’t know how many years my three sets of Gong have gone through, but four generations have possessed them so far,” said 70-year-old Dinh Khuyech. “After my father passed away, I’ve been preserving them.”
Besides two existing sets of Gong, the Ha Van Tren’s villagers raised a fund and bought a set of 12 Gongs in 2008. Under the national target programme on the culture at grass roots level, the Dak Dam village was aided with VND20 million to buy a set of 12 Gongs in 2009.
The Cham H’roi artisans had a chance to perform their valuable sets of Gong at the international Gong festival taking place in Gia Lai on November, 2009.
The number of Gongs in Van Canh hasn’t been given an accurate figure so far. However, according to a rough estimate, except for villages of Canh Hien and Canh Vinh, 28 ethnic villages in Van Canh see an average of 5 sets of Gongs, particularly in Canh Thuan, Canh Hoa, and Canh Lien.
According to head of Van Canh district’s Culture-Information Office, Nguyen Tan Liem, totaling up the number of Gongs is not necessary as the Gong preservation has still proved effective. Also, the relevant bodies haven’t asked for the statistics.
However, the district should plan to total up the number of Gong in detail and organize some art performances, helping to boost the preservation of Gong culture.
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