What is a Tibetan gong and what is it used for?
A Tibetan gong is more than a sound instrument. It is a keeper of thresholds. Its sound marks the beginning and the end of a practice, clears the atmosphere of a room and invites stillness. Gongs have been used in Tibetan monasteries for centuries to call monks to meditation and to open ceremonies. That tradition continues today, well beyond monastery walls.
Tibetan gongs are made by hand, from alloys that vary according to the family of artisans and the region. The metal is heated, hammered and shaped, a process that calls for experience and a sure touch. The sound of a handmade gong is many-layered. It begins strongly and opens out into overtones that carry on in the room for a long time.
In modern sound work the gong is used more and more, often as a way of settling into deep relaxation and quietening the mind. Its sound reaches frequencies that are felt in the body as much as heard.
Whether you use the gong in meditation, in sound work or simply as a strong presence in your home, a Tibetan gong is a piece you buy for the long term. At tibet-markets.ch we choose every gong personally, for sound, finishing and origin. Only pieces we are convinced by ourselves find their way into our shop.
