Resounding through the ages

Ethnic unity

The bronze drum is a traditional musical instrument used by the Zhuang people and other ethnic groups in the region, and has a history of more than two millennia. Its influence extends from Guangxi to neighboring provinces, including Yunnan and Guizhou, and into Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam.

The drums, with their religious, animal and ritual symbols and designs, were used to showcase power and wealth in ancient times and are believed to bring good luck and ward off calamities. Today, they remain popular among the ethnic groups and are used for ceremonial and decorative purposes at festivals and community events.

Hechi is home to over half of the more than 2,400 major bronze drum artifacts recorded worldwide, and many consider the area to be a hub of the traditional heritage.

In late April, President Xi Jinping visited the Anthropology Museum of Guangxi in the regional capital Nanning, where major exhibits of bronze drums are displayed. A highlight of the museum is a rare Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) drum with cloud and thunder motifs, weighing 299 kilograms and 165 cm in diameter.

Guangxi is a national demonstration area for ethnic unity and the region should continue to give play to its exemplary and leading role, said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

During a visit to Guangdong province in October 2020, he also noted that proactive efforts should be made to train inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.

Wu Weifeng, head of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum, said the bronze drums are the only items of their kind still in use and should be preserved and passed on for future generations. "The ethnic drums can help deepen cultural understanding, strengthening cooperation and exchanges," he said.

From master craftsmen like Wei, to contemporary musicians and educators, Guangxi's ethnic groups are increasingly working toward the protection and promotion of their intangible cultural heritage.

Wei, who is striving to pass on his forging, molding and drum imprinting techniques to a handful of young apprentices, acknowledges the importance of keeping the drums relevant to future generations.