Transmissibility of Traditional Techniques through Verbalization: A Case Study of Gong Making and Tuning in Central Vietnam

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00162
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01050:Aesthetics and art studies-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2021-2023); Doshisha University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Yanagisawa Eisuke 京都大学, アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科, 特任助教 (00637134)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 櫻井 直樹 広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科(生), 特任教授 (90136010)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ゴング / 調律 / ベトナム / 伝統技術 / 音響分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An analysis of the metal composition of a gong set acquired from a gong tuner of the Jarai ethnic group, combined with field research, revealed that two types of gongs are utilized in the Central Highlands of Vietnam: those produced through bronze casting and those crafted via brass sheet metalworking. Additionally, interviews with gong tuners, along with the study of their tuning techniques and the analysis of the tuning process through video and audio recordings, allowed for a detailed elucidation of the theory and methods of gong tuning. This included the criteria for what is considered a 'good sound' by the gong tuners, the tuning procedure, specific tuning points, and their effects.

Free Research Field

民族音楽学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

東南アジアのゴング文化の研究は、これまで主にインドネシアやフィリピンなど島嶼部に焦点が当てられており、大陸部のベトナムのゴング文化はその存在が知られていたもののこれまでほとんど研究が行われてこなかった。本研究によって、ベトナム中部高原のゴング文化を支えるゴング調律師の調律の理論と方法をはじめて明らかにすることができた。これはゴング文化研究の地域的な空白を埋めるだけでなく、ベトナムのゴング調律技術の継承問題を考えるために、また東南アジアのゴング文化の総合的な理解に向けた地域間比較を行う上で重要な成果と言える。