We all know that the culture of Dong Son is the summit of the culture of the ancient Viets, a culture of the age of bronze – the beginning of the age of iron, which lasts from the 3 rd century before the christian era to the 1 st century after the era. Since its discovery (1924), some ten years have elapsed, the vestiges of the culture of Dong Son continued to be discovered, explored, and to give us many wonders. In occasion of the 85 th anniversary of the discovery and of the study of the culture of Dong Son, and also to celebrate the day of liberation of the South 30/4 and the Internatuonal Labour Day 1/5/2009, the National Museum of Vietnamese History organizes the exhibition under the theme “Echo of Dong Son – Newly discovered objects in 2004 – 3009
We all know that the culture of Dong Son is the summit of the culture of the ancient Viets, a culture of the age of bronze – the beginning of the age of iron, which lasts from the 3
rd century before the christian era to the 1
st century after the era. Since its discovery (1924), some ten years have elapsed, the vestiges of the culture of Dong Son continued to be discovered, explored, and to give us many wonders. In occasion of the 85
th anniversary of the discovery and of the study of the culture of Dong Son, and also to celebrate the day of liberation of the South 30/4 and the Internatuonal Labour Day 1/5/2009, the National Museum of Vietnamese History organizes the exhibition under the theme
“Echo of Dong Son – Newly discovered objects in 2004 – 3009”.
In the set of more than 100 objects exposed in the exhibition hall, beside remarkable objects such as the lampadaries in the shape of man, elephant, stag, the jars, the reservoirs… we cannot ignore the bronze tambour, newly discovered in Dak Lak, in the High Lands.
This drum is classified in the class of drums number 1 according to the classification of the Austrian scholar Heger. The drum belongs to the culture of Dong Son, aged of about 2000 – 2500 years. The drum is 63cm high, the diameter of the face of the drum is 73cm. The diameter of the foot of the drum is 80cm. The drum has a gap on the body spreading to the foot, that has been soldered.. Around the body and the foot of the drum, ther are little holes, traces of the mouldering.
Characteristics of the decorations
Face of the drum: In the middle of the drum is the image of sun with 12 wing-shaped rays, the wings are long and tall, between the wings are peacock feather-shaped decorations. From the middle to the exterior are decorations formed by 12 rings and smooth lines.
Ring 1: Sawtooth shaped decoration
Ring 2: Decorations with short parallel lines
Rings 3,4: Concentric circles
Ring 5: Parallel short lines
Ring 6: S letters square, double, standing
Ring 7: Feather decorated rowers
Ring 8: Decorated with 12 Lac birds with long bill, square wings, flying counter-clockwise, with 2 geometric cases
Ring 9: Parallel short lines
Rings 10,11: Concentrical circles
Ring 12: Parallel short lines
Body of the drum: There are 4 garlands of flowers and of smooth lines
Ring 1: Parallel short lines
Ring 2: Concentrical circles
Ring 3: Parallel short lines
Ring 4: Decorated with 6 boats, each boat have feather decorated rowers. The prow is decorated with birds and fishes.An image showspeople drawing boats and holding the tails of birds, another shows a boy and a girl holding hands of each other and drawing boats.
Trunk of the drum: Divided in 8 cases, adorned with feather decorated men. Between cases are decorations with parallel short lines in the two sides and with concentric circles in the middle. Below the cases are 5 flower garlands. Above are drawings in S styled in bands of interweaved lozenges, followed by rings of parallel short lines, by 2 rings of concentrical circles, ended by a ring of parallel short lines
Pedestal of the drum: Discarded, without decorations
Rings of the drum: There are two couples of double rings, symetrically disposed, linking the body to the trunk of the drum. The ring are decorated with rice ears.
One can say that this is a big type drum, having not usual decorations such as men drawing boats which have never been met with in the bronze drums of Vietnam. This drum has been discovered in the High Lands, which proves the power of propagation of the culture of Dong Son, as well as the unity in diversification of this culture on the territory of Vietnam and still farther.
Nguyễn Văn Hà