Ceramic Tang Drum - Sacred in the religious activities of the Cao Lan people

Unique musical instruments of the Cao Lan people

The Tang drum has a simple but sophisticated structure. Unlike wooden drums, the body of the Tang drum is made of terracotta, a musical instrument with a special shape with two drum faces of different sizes. The drum is cylindrical, with a waist in the middle, about 40cm long. The drum face is usually made of animal skin (buffalo skin, cow skin, deer skin, goat skin, etc.). The drum strings are hooked to iron hooks around the drum face and crisscrossed along the drum body, wrapped across the waist in the middle to keep the two drum faces always tight. When playing, the sound is transmitted through the waist, creating different highs and lows. Currently, there are not many artisans making Tang drums, the drum making technique has also been lost, so making a Tang drum with the right technique is not simple, it takes a lot of time. To create a tight drum face, to make it ring loudly and have soul, people often soak the Tang drum in water for 1 to 2 days before using. People do not beat the drum with straight wooden sticks but with curved bamboo sticks, so when talking about the ceramic Tang Drum, people understand that it is a very strange and attractive drum, creating its own unique look.

Terracotta Tang drum of Cao Lan ethnic group

Making a ceramic drum is like nurturing a type of musical instrument of a nation. It not only shows the technique and skill of the artisan but also shows the soul of a nation. We must find suitable soil to make the drum, such as termite soil or ceramic clay, because not all soil can be used. The soil must be smooth without sand or gravel; the smoother the soil, the better. When firing the drum shell, we use deerskin, cowhide or buffalo skin to shape the drum surface, then carve and sew. When the drum sounds, the sound combines with the echo of the ceramic material to create a sacred and heroic symphony in the mountains and forests.

Preserving and promoting the cultural value of ceramic Tang drums

The Tang drum is a musical instrument that always has the power of the gods, showing the sacredness in community activities. This musical instrument is commonly used in religious ceremonies. According to the Cao Lan people's concept, only male shamans can use the drum because it has become an indispensable musical instrument in the Cao Lan people's rituals of praying for rain, crops, and luck. The drums create a magical attraction in the ceremonies. When performing the ceremony, the shaman sits with the drum between his two ankles and then beats. Each beat of the drum symbolizes an invitation for the gods to come down and celebrate with the village.

The Cao Lan people also use ceramic Tang drums to accompany dances in festivals.

In addition to spiritual rituals, the ceramic Tang Drum is also used by the Cao Lan people to accompany dances. The sacred, heroic drum beat blends with the dances of the Cao Lan people, creating a jubilant, bustling atmosphere throughout the village. The ceramic Tang Drum not only becomes a musical instrument to accompany the dance but also plays an important role in controlling and leading the rhythm for the dancers. When dancing, the drummer uses a cloth string tied to both ends of the drum, hanging it around the neck across the waist and creating rhythm for the dance. When the drum sounds, the dancers and singers follow each beat, creating a unique harmony of the Cao Lan people. When the drum beats, everyone cannot help but come immediately to join in the fun because it has a very special attraction.

Throughout the nation's history, spiritual beliefs have been deeply rooted in the lives of the Cao Lan people. Because of the inherent sacredness of the earthenware Tang Drum, the Cao Lan people highly respect and preserve it. For them, the earthenware Tang Drum is not only a national musical instrument but also a cultural symbol, the soul of the Cao Lan people. Preserving the earthenware Tang Drum well means preserving the colors and ritual activities of the Cao Lan people well. Because protecting the drum means protecting the beliefs, rituals and activities of the Cao Lan people, and at the same time preserving the unique timbre, because only the Cao Lan people have this type of drum with a drum body made of terracotta.

Crystallized from the earth and human hands, encapsulating the sacredness of the origin, the ceramic Tang Drum still radiates a spirit, a cultural feature of the Cao Lan people. From a common musical instrument, the sacred drum sound has become a historical thread connecting the past and present. The ceramic Tang Drum is not only a traditional musical instrument but also a soul, a cultural symbol, solidarity, pride in origin, helping to maintain and develop the core traditional values of the Cao Lan people, so that it resonates far and wide.

Hieu Anh ( Synthesis )

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202509/trong-tang-sanh-linh-thieng-trong-hoat-dong-tin-nguong-cua-nguoi-cao-lan-5e21f8c/