Drumming up interest
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Holding 15-25 kg bronze drums with their teeth, villagers from Donglan county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, perform bronze drum dances. [Photo/ China Daily] |
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Young villagers from Sanka village with bronze drums on back.[Photo/ China Daily] |
In recent years, bronze drum performances have become fashionable and he has appeared at events such as the Golden Rooster Awards for Films and the Ancient Chinese Music Show, in Shanghai.
Bronze drum culture in southern China and bordering countries like Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam has evolved, from being a part of daily life, to being seen as sacred, says Chen Yaoling, a collector of bronze drums.
In Chen's private museum in downtown Donglan, there are more than 100 bronze drums of various shapes and styles, with the oldest dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
The scenes on the drums usually describe legends or historical events, Chen says.
"They used to have many functions, such as worship, amusement and communication during war," Chen says. "Only very wealthy families could afford them and the poor used to share."
The bronze drums of Donglan were under threat in the 1950s when China launched the "Great Leap Forward", which called on people to provide metal to the State, says Huang Xianchang, the county mayor.
"But people cherished (their drums) so much they bought other metal materials so they wouldn't have to hand in their drums."
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