The national cultural identity through the mysterious sound of Khanh Son lithophone has become the pride not only of the Raglai people but also of the people of the whole country. Carved from natural rocks, each sound emitted from the stone is not only a sound, but also a bell of history, echoing stories, legends and beliefs from ancient times. The recognition of this set of stones as a national treasure is not only an important turning point in preserving and honoring cultural heritage, but also opens a new chapter for future generations in understanding and appreciating traditional values.
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| Lithophone performance |
On the days before the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024, reporters returned to Khanh Son, where the Raglai people have long lived, to enjoy the sounds of lithophones. Hidden in the mysterious mountains and forests of Khanh Hoa, located at an altitude of 1,800 m above the deep blue sea, this place is not only a stop for those who love to explore and "hunt clouds" but also the homeland of mysterious bustling sounds. The most famous are the stone slabs - "singing stones" in the legend of the Raglai people. They are not just ordinary rocks but also contain magical melodies, but also the secret "whisper" of the mountains and forests through each resounding sound, like gongs in traditional music .
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| Introducing Khanh Son lithophone set |
Mr. Bo Bo Hung - an officer of the Center for Culture - Information and Sports of Khanh Son district, shared: “I am also a Raglai ethnic person, since I was a child I have loved playing musical instruments such as the ma la, the chapi, the trumpet and then the lithophone. The lithophone has great significance in the cultural life of our people, so the preservation and promotion of it is highly valued by the local government as well as the community. When the Khanh Son lithophone was honored as a national treasure, joy and pride spread widely in the Raglai community. For us, this is not only the recognition of a cultural artifact, but also the recognition and honor of the cultural identity and long-standing historical traditions of our people. The lithophone is not only a musical instrument, it is also a symbol of the spirit, intelligence and creativity of our ancestors, passed down through many generations”.
Musician Nguyen Phuong Dong, former Director of Khanh Hoa Cultural Center, said: “The first two lithophones found in Khanh Hoa province are of great value, surpassing other lithophones in circulation. Only the two Khanh Son lithophones can carry out human intentions. If they are called lithophones, they must carry out human-intended melodies. If they cannot carry out melodious sounds, they are just artifacts of display value.”
The two sets of Khanh Son lithophones mentioned above were discovered, buried and kept for many years by Mr. Bo Bo Ren's family, a Raglai ethnic group in To Hap town, Khanh Son district, Khanh Hoa province. After the liberation of his homeland, Mr. Bo Bo Ren handed over these two sets of lithophones to the local authorities and coordinated the search for all 12 bars in the two sets. These are two sets of lithophones dating back thousands of years, and are typical artifacts closely associated with the cultural life of ethnic minorities in the mountainous areas of Khanh Hoa province. On January 18, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 73/QD-TTg recognizing 29 artifacts and groups of artifacts as national treasures (12th batch, 2023). Among them is the Khanh Son lithophone collection, dating back about 2,500-3,000 years. |
The historical values of Khanh Son lithophone can be affirmed. On the stone bars of the Khanh Son lithophone, scientists have found very “characteristic” traces proving that it has been passed down and existed for thousands of years.
Musician Nguyen Phuong Dong emphasized that only the Khanh Son lithophone can express some of the unique elements of the local people and culture. Although there was a period of stagnation due to historical and economic fluctuations, recently, thanks to the province's attention, the lithophone has been returned to the Khanh Hoa Museum and is considered for recognition as a national treasure. In particular, Khanh Son district has focused on training the younger generation, opening classes for students from primary to secondary school.
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| The author talks with village elders in Khanh Son |
Mr. Phan Huu Quan, a young craftsman specializing in making stone musical instruments, said that all the stones used to create these musical instruments are taken from the mountains in Khanh Son district. These stones are found and transported by the indigenous people of this area. Through the skillful hands of the craftsmen, the stones are meticulously carved and tuned, turning them into lithophones, each of which produces a unique sound. The “production” process is a wonderful combination of natural materials and manual skills, creating musical instruments that are not only culturally significant but also unique in terms of sound.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cao Minh Vy - Vice Chairman of Khanh Son District People's Committee said: After the Government recognized the Khanh Son lithophone as a national treasure, the people in the area were very happy to receive this joy. After 40 years, the lithophone has returned to its birthplace and been recognized as a national treasure. This is a good cultural value, a spiritual value of the people, especially the preservation, conservation and promotion of the cultural values of the Raglai people in the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region. In the past, the lithophone was used to scare away wild animals and was also a musical instrument used in cultural festivals of the Raglai people. In the past, the district has opened 2 lithophone classes with about 120 children, and now they can all play the lithophone very skillfully. From here, the children continue to promote the beauty of culture. In particular, the district wishes to go further by having a lithophone Festival, to exchange lithophones with each other between districts and towns nationwide.
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