Homecoming

We believe that gongs originated in NW China somewhere on the silk road where metal was first discovered approximately 5-6000 years ago. The Chinese enthusiastically shared their knowledge and instruments throughout Asia with large numbers found in shipwrecks off Indonesia; bogs in Sweden and in Germany too. They quickly spread to Vietnam, India and eventually Turkey. 

The first metal leeched out of the rocks forming bread ovens was copper due to its low melting point.  Next, nickel sourced from meteorites was added to the mix which gave the gongs a cosmic connection. Interestingly enough gong makers and those who played them were considered spiritual leaders in their community. And to this day all indigenous players of gongs in Asia from Korea to Burma are shamans.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to play and teach in a wonderful studio in Guangzhou called Wind Song Yoga. My gracious host Mini, is one of my gong kittens.  She, along with her partner, Gillia and staff offered a warm welcome and full classes where I shared kundalini celestial meditation and performed with my titanium gong for the full moon.  It seems like taking coals to Newcastle however the resonance and depth of harmonics from the shimmering blue gong was unlike anything ever heard there before.

Their warm welcome and sincere interest in all things 'gong' will mean repeated trips in the future for which I am grateful to have the opportunity to share my love of the instrument in the land where it all began.  Thank you.