Mysterious sacral instrument---bronze drum  Symbolizing wealth and power, bronze drum is a long lasting percussion instrument for worshipping among the southern Chinese ethnic groups. It came into being as early as 2,700 BC in the Spring and Autumn Period among the Baipu nationality in mid-Yunnan area, and later spread around, accepted, used and inherited by many nationalities in Southwest China, mid-Southwest China and Southeast Asia. Even today, it is still in use among many nationalities in those areas, such as Miao nationality, Yao nationality, Zhuang nationality, Dong nationality, Buyi nationality, Shui nationality, Gelao nationality and Wa nationality.
Zhuang nationality is among the earliest nationalities that has found and used bronze drums. According to the records in Ling Biao Lu Yi by Liuxun in the Tang Dynasty, Gui Hai Yu Heng Zhi by Fan Chengda and Ling Wai Dai Da by Zhou Qufei in the Song Dynasty, the bronze drums had been unearthed in succession in south of the Five Ridges areas as early as the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty. The number of unearthed bronze drums has been on the rise recently. At present, the Chinese cultural relics protection institutions have a collection of 1,500 bronze drums. Guangxi alone has unearthed more than 560 of such drums, most of which are from the Zhuang area. One bronze drum unearthed in Beiliu is the largest of its kind with a diameter of 165 centimeters and is hailed as the "king of bronze drum". Besides, the bronze drums are also collected and used among the people.
Bronze drum was developed from bronze kettle. Hollow and floorless, it looks like a round stump, with flat surface and curled middle part. Bronze drums are founded from copper and differ in size and weight. The largest one exceeds one meter in diameter and the heaviest weighs over several hundred kilograms while the smallest only over 10 centimeters and the lightest only several dozen kilograms. Its shape is dignified, delicate and decent.
Most of the bronze drum tops are branded with lines simulating the sun, plumes, clouds, combs and flags. Some of them are founded on the sides with frogs, tortoises, cattle and horses. The bodies of bronze drums are also decorated with many lines, drum ears and commissures. According to their shapes, the line decorations and the foundry craftwork, the bronze drums can be classified into eight kinds, namely, Wanjiaba type, Shizhaishan type, Lengshuichong type, Zunyi type, Majiang type, Beiliu type, Lingshan type and Ximeng type. Among them, Beiliu, Lingshan and Lengshuichong bronze drums, founded by the ancient Zhuang people, are the prime achievements of bronze drum foundry and demonstrate their outstanding craftsmanship in metal smelting and foundry.
Bronze drums are the artistic treasure of the Zhuang nationality and are also considered as apparatus with magical power. The use and function of the drums can be diverse. In the ancient times, they were mainly used for religious rites and mostly they were hidden in the caves or embedded under the earth and cannot be knocked on casually. Later they gradually became the indication of power for the rulers. They could be used to gather people for a meeting or even as military music instrument to encourage the soldiers. The rulers were still in power as long as the bronze drums were kept. Without them, the rulers would no longer hold power. In addition, these drums were also regarded as property that could tell the rich and noble from the poor and humble. It was not until the Ming and Qing dynasties that the bronze drums began to be used as instruments.
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