北部ヴェトナム銅鼓をめぐる民族史的視点からの理解

Abstract

Recent progress in the data collection and typological classification of bronze drums of northern Vietnam and its surroundings have made it possible to recognize the geographical distribution and chronology of bronze drum types (Pre-Heger I to Heger IV). All types show a limited distribution range and some have been played an important role as a ritual or prestige good in several ethnic societies. Therefore, combining archaeological advances with ethnography, historical documentation, and legend can provide a key to understanding the formation of present-day ethnic groups. The Heger I type of Dong Son tradition drums (2nd century BC to 1st century BC), which were cast in the local Dong Son cultural sphere, are almost all concentrated on the hilly area and lower plains to the south of the Red River. Furthermore, the distribution of the later Heger II type (3-4th to 8-9th century AD) and Pseudo Heger II type (11th to 15-16th century AD), some of which are still used by the Muong ethnic group, overlaps with the distribution of the former type in the mountain range. Heger II were cast in Guangxi and Pseudo Heger II were very possibly cast in the Thang Long or surrounding lowland area of the Red River Plain on behalf of mountainous ethnic groups. Although the area and people that produced bronze drums were changed in its long history, the people that used the drums remained the same in the Northern Vietnam. Furthermore, while the Viet-Muong ethnic group have a long-term tradition of using bronze drums, the Thai and Tay, the major Thai ethno-linguistic groups of northern Vietnam, have not retained such a continuous tradition. This is one contrast between the Thai/Tay and Viet/Muong groups. Another ethnic group that has retained a long term tradition of bronze drum usage is the Lo Lo (Tibet-Burma) of the northernmost area of Vietnam.