Preserving the space so that the gong culture of the Central Highlands living with time

Keywords: Preserving and promoting; The cultural space value of gong music; Central Highlands.

1. Introduction

The gong culture of the Central Highlands is a unique socio-cultural entity, organically linked to the living space, religious life and community structure of the local ethnic groups. Gongs exist not only as musical instruments or forms of artistic performance, but are also present in life cycle rituals, agricultural festivals, community activities and the relationship between humans and the supernatural world. Therefore, the existence and continuity of gong culture depend closely on the cultural space where the heritage is practiced, taught and recreated through generations.

In the current context, urbanization, changes in livelihoods, the impact of the market economy and cultural exchange are shrinking, even destroying, many traditional spaces associated with gongs. Many conservation activities still focus on collecting and preserving artifacts or organizing performances, while not paying enough attention to preserving the living space, a core condition for the continued existence of gongs as a “living heritage”. As a result, gongs risk becoming detached from community life, turning into mere performance art.

From that perspective, the issue of preserving the space so that the gong culture of the Central Highlands can “live on through time” becomes urgent both theoretically and practically. This approach requires shifting the focus from static to dynamic conservation, from emphasizing physical artifacts to preserving the social and cultural environment that nurtures the heritage. This article aims to clarify the significance of preserving cultural spaces as a foundation for maintaining the long-term vitality of gong music, at the same time contributing to guiding conservation solutions that are community-oriented and sustainable in the contemporary context.

2. Research results

2.1. The cultural space of the Central Highlands’ gong culture and its role in the preservation of the heritage

The cultural space of the Central Highlands' gong culture is a holistic entity encompassing the physical, social and spiritual environment where gongs are practiced, transmitted and their meaning recreated through generations. The gong heritage therefore cannot exist independently outside this space; On the contrary, it is the cultural space that determines the vitality, continuity and depth of value of the heritage. Gongs only truly “live” when placed in an organic relationship with the village, rituals, community structure and local belief system.

Firstly, the physical space of the village, the communal house, the water landing, and the fields and gardens serve as the setting for gong performances. This is not just a place, but also a repository of collective memory, where life cycle rituals and agricultural festivals are celebrated in harmony with the ecological rhythm. When the physical space for gongs shrinks, is restructured, or disappears, the gongs lose their context of practice, leading to a decline in the frequency and quality of cultural expression.

Secondly, social space, village structure, kinship ties, and the roles of village elders and artisans play a crucial role in maintaining order in practices and transmission. ong music is a communal art form that emphasizes collective cooperation and social norms. The weakening of traditional institutions leads to a breakdown in the vocational training mechanism, diminishing the role of cultural actors and reducing the motivation of the younger generation to participate.

Thirdly, the spiritual space and rituals give gongs their profound meaning. The sound of gongs is associated with the belief in the connection between humans, deities and nature. Therefore, separating gongs from rituals would diminish their sacredness and transform the heritage into a purely performance art. When rituals are simplified or replaced, gongs lose their core social function, making them difficult to maintain as a “living heritage”.

Fourthly, cultural space is a condition for heritage recreation. Through practices within living spaces, communities not only preserve but also naturally adapt the gong culture to contemporary changes. Therefore, preserving cultural spaces is not about freezing traditions, but about maintaining an environment where heritage can continue to evolve over time. From this perspective, sustainable preservation of gong culture must begin with the preservation and restoration of cultural spaces, a vital foundation for the survival of the heritage.

2.2. The current situation of transformation of the cultural space of the Central Highlands’ gong culture.

In recent years, the cultural space of the Central Highlands’ gong culture has been undergoing profound changes under the combined influence of socio-economic and cultural factors. These changes not only alter the context of gong playing practices, but also directly affecting the continuity and vitality of the heritage in community life, such as:

(1) The narrowing and restructuring of traditional village space is the most noticeable change. rbanization, population planning, and infrastructure development have altered the structure of villages, shrinking community spaces such as communal houses, village squares, water sources and central locations for gong performances. When physical space is fragmented, rituals and activities associated with gongs are difficult to perform completely, leading to a decline in the frequency and scale of practice.

(2) Changes in livelihoods and lifestyles strongly impact the social space of gongs. The shift from a subsistence economy to a market economy, along with labor migration and seeking work elsewhere, has led many members, especially young people to participate less in community activities. The traditional social structure, based on kinship ties and the roles of village elders and artisans, has weakened, disrupting the mechanisms for transmitting and organizing gong music practices.

(3) The decline of ritual and spiritual space is a fundamental change. Many agricultural rituals and life cycle practices, as well as the natural environment in which gongs are played, have been simplified or replaced due to changing beliefs, economic conditions and working hours. When rituals no longer hold a central place in life, gongs lose their core social function, gradually shifting to a symbolic performance form.

(4) The impact of tourism and theatricalization has given rise to a separation between gongs and living spaces. While incorporating gongs into performances for tourists and at festivals and events contributes to promoting heritage, a lack of control can distort the context of practice, shorten rituals and diminish their sacredness. Performance spaces have become “externalized” from the community, causing heritage to exist more within the performance space than in everyday life.

(5) Changes in the perception and reception of the younger generation reflect the combined consequences of spatial changes. When traditional cultural spaces weaken, younger generations lack opportunities to experience gong music in its natural setting, leading to a gap in transmission and reduced motivation to engage with the heritage.

Overall, the current state of transformation of the cultural space of the Central Highlands’ gong culture shows that the heritage is facing the challenge of "spatial existence”, meaning it exists primarily in performance and storage, rather than in regular community life. This highlights the urgent need to shift the focus from preservation to the restoration and maintenance of cultural spaces, a fundamental condition for the gong culture to continue to thrive over time.

2.3. Preserving the space is essential for the Central Highlands gong culture to endure over time

Preserving cultural spaces is a prerequisite for the long-term vitality of the Central Highlands’ gong culture and its ability to adapt to the changes of the times. Unlike the static conservation approach, which views heritage as an object to be preserved in its original state, spatial conservation emphasizes maintaining the living environment where gongs are practiced, taught and their meaning is recreated in community life. Only when existing within the appropriate cultural context can gongs truly be considered a “living heritage”.

(1) Preserving space helps maintain the continuity of cultural practices. The village space, communal houses, water sources, and ceremonial sites are where activities associated with gongs take place, following the ecological rhythm and traditional cultural calendar. Protecting and restoring these spaces will allow gongs to continue to be present in community life, instead of only appearing in occasional performances. The continuity of practice is a core element in ensuring that heritage does not break down over time.

(2) Preserving space is the basis for natural intergenerational transmission. In traditional living spaces, the younger generation embraces gong music through observation, participation and practice with the community, linking learning with cultural experiences. This method of teaching not only helps maintain performance skills but also transmits the values, social norms and spiritual significance associated with gongs. When space shrinks, the natural process of transmission is disrupted, weakening the foundation of heritage preservation.

(3) Preserving the space contributes to preserving the sacredness and cultural depth of gongs. The space dedicated to rituals and beliefs is where the sound of gongs signifies communication between humans, deities and nature. Separating the gongs from this space would diminish their sacredness, transforming the heritage into a purely performance art. Conversely, preserving the space allows gongs to continue fulfilling their inherent social and spiritual functions.

(4) Preserving the space allows gongs to adapt to time without losing their identity. The preserved cultural space allows the community to proactively adjust its practices, select new and suitable elements, thereby helping the heritage to evolve flexibly in contemporary life. Thus, preserving the space is not about freezing tradition, but about nurturing the environment so that the gong culture of the Central Highlands can continue to “live on through time”.

2.4. Orientation and solutions for preserving the cultural space of the Central Highlands’ gong culture

Firstly, it is necessary to integrate the preservation of cultural spaces into regional and local development planning. Planning for residential areas, infrastructure, and tourism in the Central Highlands needs to take into account the protection of community spaces such as traditional villages, communal houses, water sources and ceremonial sites. Preserving spatial structures not only serves heritage conservation but also contributes to maintaining cultural identity and community cohesion.

Secondly, empowering and enhancing the role of the community as stakeholders is a key solution. The community needs to be genuinely involved in the decision-making process related to the use, restoration and exploitation of cultural spaces. Establishing community conventions on protecting the space dedicated to gong music, along with policies to reward artisans and holders of indigenous knowledge will create a long-term impetus for preservation.

Thirdly, it is necessary to restore and maintain traditional rituals and activities associated with gongs. The state and local authorities can provide initial resources, but the organization and maintenance of the ritual should be based on the needs and initiative of the community. This helps to preserve the natural and sacred nature of the practice space.

Fourthly, integrating education and teaching with living spaces. Gongs should be incorporated into local cultural education activities, encouraging the younger generation to participate in community life and learn within a traditional context. Digital technology applications can support storage, documentation and connectivity, but they cannot replace the direct experience within the village space.

Fifthly, developing community-based cultural tourism models on an appropriate scale to generate resources for spatial conservation. Tourism needs to be strictly managed, respecting traditional spatial structures and ensuring fair benefits for the community. Implementing these directions and solutions in a coordinated manner will contribute to preserving the Central Highlands gong culture as a living environment, helping the heritage continue to “live on through time” in contemporary life.

3. Discussion

Preserving cultural space is a crucial condition for the Central Highlands’ gong culture to maintain its vitality and adapt to the changes of the times.

(1) A conservation approach that focuses on individual instruments or performances is insufficient and may even lead to the “de-contextualization” of heritage. On the other hand, the spatial conservation approach places heritage within the overall socio-cultural environment, allowing for the viewing of gong music as a living practice, closely linked to community life and traditional values.

(2) The important issue is the relationship between space conservation and development. In the context of a market economy and integration, traditional cultural spaces face significant pressure from planning, tourism and commercialization. At the same time, development is not necessarily opposed to conservation if development strategies are designed to respect traditional spatial structures and the rights of the community. Community-based development models, with appropriate scale and transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms, can become tools to support the preservation of the gong culture space.

(3) Preservation of cultural space plays a central role in determining the boundaries of intervention and the form of adaptation of heritage. Preserving the space does not mean freezing traditions, but rather creating conditions for the community to proactively adapt its gong-playing practices in the face of social changes. In this process, digital technology and cultural exchange can support the preservation, connection and dissemination of heritage values, but they cannot replace the experience of living in a real cultural space.

Overall, preserving the cultural space of the Central Highlands' gong culture is a continuous dialogue between tradition and modernity, between the community and external stakeholders. The success of this process depends on the ability to establish flexible, community-centered governance mechanisms that are geared towards sustainable development.

4. Conclusion

Preserving cultural spaces is a core condition for the Central Highlands gong culture to maintain its vitality and continue to be present as a “living heritage” in contemporary life. Research shows that gongs cannot sustainably survive if they are separated from the village space, rituals, community structure and spiritual environment that nurtures them. In the context of social change and integration, spatial conservation needs to be approached dynamically, with the community as the central stakeholders and linked to sustainable development. Only when cultural spaces are preserved and restored as a living environment can gong music be practiced, passed down through generations and adapted flexibly to the times, thereby continuing to affirm the value and cultural identity of the Central Highlands in the current development process.

* Nha Trang Central Ethnic Preparatory University

* Journal of Ethnic and Religious Research

References

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