HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

A gong gives such a timelessness to an archway or home.  In fact, the first reference found of  gongs dates to 500 A.D. Documents indicate that they were originated from somewhere in between Tibet and Burma, and migrated across the area.  At the time, it was referred to as the Hsi Yu region.

Some of the grand gardens I have visited have had a water feature or a gong.  I found that the carefully edited, spare, but impressive gardens tended to favor a gong rather than water.  Perhaps the uncluttered surroundings implied that it was meant as a meditation gong. The meditative part of the gong is not necessarily the initial clang, but the reverberating sounds that follow. In other words, they aren’t meant to be played like a drum. The last garden I was in that featured one, of course, my friend couldn’t resist commenting on a witticism I made and “gonged” me.  I absolutely deserved it, so don’t worry about my pride.  It is still intact.

What I wondered is if the gongs would go unheard if they were in a quiet corner of the garden.  Of course, that probably brings to mind all sorts of analogies of trees falling in the woods and bears….well, you know the old joke.

I found that there are gongs that actually share some attributes with wind chimes, such as the one at left. I happened to see this one on Outdora.com. As the wind blows, or it is disturbed by passing wildlife or people, the clapper hits the bronze. The sound varies with the intensity of the strike. You will hear the sound pleasantly carried over the garden.   It is very visually interesting, too.   The sound is a sharp contrast to a small tinkling chime and it is not only soothing, but makes ears take notice.   I notice when there is a lot of commotion in the air from the wind, and tree limbs thrashing about, a noise that has a lower resonance to it carries farther and the higher and more delicate tones get lost.

Have you ever purchased a gong as a decorative element in your home, or have you considered one for the garden?  If so, I am curious as what drew you to a particular one, or what the overall decor of your place is.  Are your tastes eclectic, and it meshes right in, or is it a conversation piece among overstuffed chairs?

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