Hmong Ritual Gong

The Hmong ritual gong, nruas neeb (droua neng), played expressly for spiritual ceremonies, is a bronze percussion instrument forged as a disk with a turned rim, which, when struck with a beater, emits a reverberating tone. The traditional Hmong nruas neeb is recognized by its curvilinear surface with no central boss, which is either burnished smooth or displays hammered geometric markings. In some Hmong communities, however, nruas neeb may appear with a raised boss.

The gong’s mallet, qws nruas (keu droua), is constructed of wood or bone, such as the thighbone of a gibbon, whose striking end is wrapped in cloth to create a deep, resonant tone.

Once a shaman is seated on his ritual bench poised to travel to the spirit world to recover a patient’s lost souls, a family member launches the Hmong healing ceremony, ua neeb (ua neng), by beating the nruas neeb in a forceful, steady pulse. This creates mighty reverberations able to carry long distances that energize the shaman, rally his helper spirits, and drive the healing journey.

When all shaman ancestors, benevolent guides, and spirit warriors have arrived, the tones of the gong decrescendo and slow to a stop. With his regiment now in tow, the shaman takes charge, leaps atop his ritual bench, and ascends to the spirit world.

The nruas neeb is also sounded for protection, when a shaman requests through ritual verse that his assistant beat the gong around a patient once his souls have returned to his body. The gong is no longer simply an instrument that heralds, assembles, energizes, or sets the beat. The gong is also able to create a vibrational soundscape that acts as a physical barricade that protects the souls.

Recording Title:
Ua neeb healing ceremony

Hu qhua neeb, “summoning shaman helper spirits,” sacred song, nruas neeb gong, txiab neeb ritual spirit scissors, and tswb neeb ritual ring rattles (Hmoob Dawb)

Rhiav Lis and Tsav Theeb Muas, Ban Nam La, Luang Nam Tha Province, Laos, July 2005

Ethnic Group: Hmoob Ntsuab (Hmong Njoua) – Blue Hmong

Local Name: Nruas neeb (droua neng)

Type:  Gong

Class: Struck Idiophone

Tuning:

Age: Late 19th c.

Materials:
Gong: Bronze, hemp, chicken feathers
Mallet: Gibbon bone, cotton

Dimensions: 2.5 x 29.5 dia. cm / 2″ x 11.6″ dia.

Location:
Ban Huay Kham
Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Owner:
This nruas neeb gong, part of a full ritual shaman set, was passed to Hmong shaman Ba Ja (1908 – 1993, aged 85), from his father.  Ba Ja then passed the set on to his son Dong Pia, 64 years, who passed it to his son, Daw Paw, aged 41.

Catalog Number: 5083