The History of Asian Bronze Rain Drums

The earliest bronze rain drums discovered were found in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, and have been accurately dated as being circa. 1,500B.C., it is however widely acknowledged that in fact they originated from Yunnan Province, China up to 1,000 years earlier!.

Dating as far back as 1000 BC, the Dong Son culture of Vietnam was arguably the earliest civilization in Southeast Asia to enter the Bronze Age. In some of the most ancient burial sites of this culture are examples of these cast bronze drums.

Over the next three millennia they spread throughout the area and stylistic variations were created by artists from Indonesia to Burma and southern China.

In primitive societies, ownership of these drums, which were also used in religious ceremonies, implied influence over hidden forces believed to govern events, as well as providing a status symbol signifying material wealth for those powerful families able to afford large cast bronze pieces.

Some civilizations may have pounded the drums to multiply the sound created by armies on the march in order to frighten and impress enemies.

Following their arrival in Vietnam, the bronze rain drums then started to be seen throughout Southeast Asia including Laos, Burma, Malaysia,Thailand and extensively throughout Indonesia in all these countries they can still be found in use today.

The drums are believed to contain an array of Lucky Spirits ,that range from fertility, through death (they were often placed in the burial mounds along with the corpse) to providing luck that will ensure that a good harvest prevails each year.

The reason that frogs are depicted on many of them is because the Thunder God is afraid of frogs because the frogs subdue the God !.

Others believe that the frogs also represent rain: "during April the frogs croak loudly, and people feel happy !".

There is certainly an eerie sound created when they are struck by the heavy monsoon rains of Southeast Asia.
The drums are recognised under several different names, in Thailand they are known as Thai Bronze Rain Drums, in Vietnam as Dong Son Rain Drums (after the area they were first discovered in), In Laos they are called Laos Style Rain Drums.

The best examples of modern day reproduction bronze rain drums are made by the use of a cast with the same lost wax technique as the ancients employed, allowing sculpturing & perfection down to the smallest detail.

Each piece is made individually by master artisans and the remarkable details on the bronze rain drums is due to the meticulous and labour-intensive care taken by the craftsmen to produce these unique sculptures of exquisite detail and timeless durability.

The level of personal craftsmanship involved creates slight variations in color, finish, size, and shape - a quality considered to add a touch of uniqueness & exclusivity to each bronze rain drum !.

Buffing, polishing, and patinising give each piece its final green-grey verdigris or bronze lustre.

The bronze rain drums are now supplied all around the world, and are typically used as either garden features, or as a base for a glass topped table within the home, utilising the frog embellishments that are an integral part of the Bronze Rain Drum construction
For full details of this article, including how to order the Bronze Rain Drums please: Visit Chiang Mai Online

Author: Kevin Butters
Email: kevin.r.butters@gmail.com
Website: http://www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com