Phước Kiều

Phước Kiều lies inland from Hội An, in Điện Bàn. Bronze casters settled here around four hundred years ago, and for much of that time they made bells, gongs and ritual objects for the temples and pagodas of the centre, along with household brass. Their most famous customers were the peoples of the Central Highlands, whose gong ensembles are central to their ceremonies, and who came down from the mountains to buy or had gongs carried up to them.

The village is still a working foundry street. Several households cast, though the number is smaller than it was, and much of the trade is in gongs, bells and temple pieces rather than domestic ware. Gong-making in particular depends on a few experienced tuners whose ears cannot be replaced by a machine. Highland communities still bring gongs to be retuned, and you may hear them being tested. Casting is done in the open yard in small batches, and a pour is over in minutes after hours of preparation of the mould and the metal.

A good Phước Kiều gong has an even, clean casting with no pitting, a raised boss that is well centred, and a long sustained note. In a set, each gong should sit clearly in relation to the others. Hold a gong by its cord and strike it gently; it should ring evenly without buzzing or a dead spot.