Thousands of hard work, one final touch, this is the jargon of the gong industry. Few people know that Wuhan gongs have been quietly exported to more than 40 countries and regions around the world, and have been selected by well-known symphony orchestras around the world, enjoying a world-renowned reputation.
In June 2020, the production skills of Han gongs were rated as the sixth batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage projects.

Sixty percent of the products of the largest gong factory in Wuhan are exported

After the outbreak of the epidemic, the famous musician Tan Dun prayed for Wuhan and created "Twelve Gongs in Wuhan". The big gongs used in the live performance came from Wuhan. "When I hear the sound of the propeller on the plane, it always feels like the sound of the Wuhan gong." In the documentary, Tan Dun told himself that he was inspired to write "Wuhan Twelve Gongs" during the flight.
Tan Dun held the baton in the Belgian Concert Hall, and "Wuhan Twelve Gongs", which expressed the feeling of "love without borders and harmonious coexistence", made the world cry. Then Tan Dun returned to Shanghai with "Wuhan Twelve Gongs" and used 3D and 5G technology to make 6 gongs in New York and 6 in Shanghai played at the same time.

The 6-sided gongs rented by Tan Dun for the performance were transported back to Huangpi, and the destination was Wuhan Haiping Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the protection unit of Han Gong skills. The 12 Wuhan gongs used in the premiere of "Wuhan Twelve Gongs" were provided by the Brussels Symphony Orchestra. The words "Wuhan Gaojiahe Gong Factory" are printed on the body of the gongs, which is the predecessor of Haiping Musical Instruments.
Haiping Musical Instruments is currently the largest gong-making factory in Wuhan, producing wind gongs, copy gongs, Bao gongs, cloud gongs, Feng gongs, moonlight gongs, etc., with diameters ranging from 10 cm to 186 cm. The annual output is more than 300 tons, 60% of which are sold overseas and exported to more than 40 countries and regions.
All media reporters from Hubei Daily drove here. The fire in the factory was booming, and the hammer was clanging. Orders in the United States, Canada, and Germany have been placed until August. Chairman Wang Zhiping introduced that from copper to musical instruments, it needs to go through processes such as smelting, forging, forming, leveling correction, polishing, and tuning, especially forging and tuning are the most technical. If the forging is not in place, the gong cannot even make a sound; the tuning is a high degree of cooperation between the hands, eyes and ears in a very short time.
"By repeatedly beating the central part of the gong, determine the thickness and elasticity, and listen while tapping. If it is thick, pull it apart, and if it is thin, tighten it, find the resonance point of the whole gong, and finally set the tone. Wang Zhiping said.

Wuhan gong left its name in the world

"The major orchestras I have worked with all over the world use the Wuhan gong without exception." Tan Dun praised that the Wuhan gong has left its name in the world.
Ding Chengyun, a guqin performer who often goes abroad to perform, introduced that at the end of the 18th century, my country's big gongs spread to Europe. "The big gong is the only musical instrument among the Chinese national musical instruments that has entered the symphony orchestra. The gong is from China, and it can be said that Wuhan is the main one."

Zhao Feng, the band manager of the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, saw with his own eyes that the gongs used by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra came from Wuhan. "Although the performance of the gong is not much, it is very important every time it appears, and it can often set off a strong atmosphere."
Why is Wuhan famous for gongs? Wang Jianjun, director of the intangible cultural heritage department of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, introduced that the first is raw materials, the Daye Copper Green Mountain, the place where ancient copper was produced, forged weapons and musical instruments with the characteristics of Chu; the second is craftsmen. There are 7 gong factories in Wuhan. The Gaojia River in Huangpi is the source. The so-called "no-pi" is not a town, which is an affirmation of Huangpi's "nine brothers and eighteen craftsmen". During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Wuhan was already one of the national brass ring instrument production centers.

Centennial Gao Hongtai established the status of Wuhan gong

When it comes to the gong, I have to say Gao Hongtai. "If you buy medicine, you should buy Ye Kaitai, if you buy an umbrella, you should buy Su Hengtai, and if you buy gongs, you should buy Gao Hongtai." These are three famous time-honored brands in Wuhan. As the representative of Han Luo, Gao Hongtai is well-known both at home and abroad for his pure sound quality, loud pronunciation, flexible start and accurate tune.
According to the data, in 1914, Gao Qingan, a native of Gaojiahe in Huangpi, came to Han and operated a loudspeaker in the name of Gao Hongtai on Changdi Street. In 1946, at the request of the Mei Lanfang Opera Troupe, he successfully developed the Huyin Gong, creating a fine piece of opera percussion.
In 1979, the famous orchestra conductor Seiji Ozawa led the Boston Symphony Orchestra to visit China. The Central Orchestra presented a large gong with a diameter of 1 meter made by Gao Hongtai. The Boston Symphony Orchestra premiered at the Capital Gymnasium. When the gong rang, it sounded like a tiger descending from a mountain, and the audience shook. The Boston Orchestra brought the gong back to the United States, and this was the first time that the gong of Gao Hongtai went to the world.
The reform and opening up made Han Luo regain its glory.
In 1984, Huangpi Gaojiahe Gong Factory was born and gradually opened up the market. In 1998, Gaojiahe Gong Factory obtained the right to export by itself, and changed its name to Haiping Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. four years later.
From 2005 to 2010, Haiping Musical Instruments participated in the NAMM Musical Instrument Exhibition in the United States for 3 consecutive years, and participated in the Frankfurt Musical Instrument Exhibition in Germany for 5 consecutive years. On June 15 this year, the list of "Top 30 Chinese National Musical Instrument Manufacturers, Top 10 Entrepreneurs, Top 10 Producers, and Top 10 Reformers" was announced. The only Hubei company on the list is Haiping Musical Instruments.

The important thing is to pass it on

"There are no successors, and this century-old Wuhan specialty is unsustainable." Zhu Hanqiao, manager of Wuhan Gaohongtai Tongxiang Musical Instrument Co., Ltd. sighed.
Zhu Hanqiao is 62 years old this year. In 1978, he entered the factory to learn gong making, and later became engaged in management. "I have already retired, and I don't know who to give it to next. No young people are willing to learn." Zhu Hanqiao said that after taking over in 2000, Mrs. Gao ended the loss. Today, the annual output value is more than 4 million yuan, most of which are supplied to domestic professional theater groups, with only a slight profit. . The gong factory is struggling to support, just to keep the golden signboard of Gao Hongtai.
Wang Jianjun appealed that for intangible cultural heritage, the important thing is to pass it on. Please help the traditional craftsmanship from all walks of life, so that the Han Gong will be passed on for a longer time and the sound of the gong will be louder.