The resounding sound of the drums of the Red Dao people echoes.

The wedge drum is a traditional musical instrument, the "soul" of the Red Dao people in Ta Phin commune, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province. During Tet (Lunar New Year), the drum's sound is used to ward off bad luck and misfortune from the old year. In festivals, the drum's sound adds to the joy and happiness, filling people's hearts with excitement, and the whole village enthusiastically dances to the rhythm of the drum...

The unique feature of the wedge drum lies in the wedges that are crisscrossed around the drum body.

This year marks his seventies, an age when many people choose to rest and enjoy time with their children and grandchildren; but for artisan Chảo Quẩy Vạng, a Red Dao ethnic minority from Tả Phìn commune, Sa Pa town, Lào Cai province, he remains dedicated to the craft of making wedge drums. Mr. Vạng says that making wedge drums is not just a profession, but also an art.

According to him, making a complete wedge drum requires many steps, each demanding meticulous attention to detail. For example, the drum body must be made from light but sturdy woods such as cypress or pine, which are abundant on the hillsides of the Dao people. The wood is carved, planed smooth, and then joined together with old rattan vines to ensure durability and flexibility.

"The drumhead is the most important part. For a long time, I've only chosen the hides of old cows over 5 years old because the older the cowhide, the more durable it is and the louder the sound. The hides are dried over a fire for 7 days and 7 nights to ensure their tightness and toughness, then soaked in spring water overnight to soften them. Next, the hides are cut to size, stretched over the drum body, and secured with rattan ropes using a twisting technique, instead of nailing them like many other types of drums...", Mr. Vang explained.

The drum body is made from lightweight yet sturdy wood such as cypress or pine.

However, the unique and distinctive feature of the wedge drum lies in its wedges. Each drum requires approximately 200-300 wedges, each hand-carved and shaped to be "uniform," then woven diagonally around the drum's body. According to artisan Vang, these wedges not only keep the drumhead taut but also create the shape of a radiant sun, a symbol of life, faith, and strength.

"Thanks to these wedges, even if the drumhead becomes loose during use, simply adding more wedges will tighten it immediately," Mr. Vang shared.

The traditional culture of the Red Dao people still preserves many unique and sacred rituals and festivals. And, in all traditional rituals, the sound of the drum is indispensable. Whenever the festival drum sounds, old and young, men and women, take turns beating the drum. The drum's sound dispels the bad luck and misfortunes of the old year. The drum's sound adds to the joy and happiness, filling people's hearts with exhilaration, and the whole village enthusiastically dances around the large bonfire...

Cowhide is dried over a fire for 7 days and 7 nights to wrap the drums.

According to Mr. Vang, the Red Dao people consider the wedge drum a sacred musical instrument, indispensable in all important rituals such as the Put Tong ceremony, coming-of-age ceremony, wedding ceremony, funeral ceremony, or exorcism ceremony. The sound of the drum not only signals the beginning of the ritual but also serves as a spiritual bridge, warding off bad luck and bringing peace and good fortune...

Previously, Mr. Vang's wedge drums were only used during village festivals and celebrations. However, in recent years, with the development of tourism and Ta Phin becoming a favorite destination for tourists, the wedge drum has become a unique cultural product, attracting the attention and exploration of visitors. They enjoy learning about the drum-making process and listening to stories about the Red Island people's culture surrounding the wedge drum. Because, as Mr. Vang says, "The sound of the wedge drum is not just a sound, but a story about history, culture, and national pride."

The wedge drum is a sacred musical instrument, indispensable in all important rituals of the Red Dao people.

It is an honor and a source of pride that the traditional drum-making craft of the Red Dao people in Sa Pa was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2020. This is not only a joy but also a motivation for Mr. Chao Quay Vang to continue passing on the craft to the younger generation. Therefore, despite his advanced age, Mr. Vang still diligently teaches the drum-making techniques to the younger generation in his village and commune.

"The wedge drum is the voice of our ancestors, the sacred soul of the Red Dao people. If we don't preserve this craft, if we don't keep the drum, we will lose a part of our identity," Mr. Vang affirmed.

Trong Bao (Ethnic Groups and Development Newspaper)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ngan-vang-tieng-trong-nem-cua-dong-bao-dao-do-230047.htm