CRAFTSMAN OR MAKER GONG

On the Road Pancasan No 17, not far from the city center of Bogor, the oldest standing gong factory and could be the only one in West Java. It is rather difficult to distinguish this plant with the houses on the edge of the huddle Pancasan Road and solid on the banks of the hustle and bustle of the City of Rain. The gong factory is about 2 kilometers from Bogor Botanical Garden Botanical Garden adjacent to the Bogor Zoological Museum.

"Gong Factory", written in clear red yellow wall that has almost faded. Yes, much of the gong factory is named Gong Factory popular but people know him as Gonghom Bogor. Under the writings of greenery lined indicating there is still life in the building.
The old old mill run by Haji Sukarna with the help of his son Krishna. This place standing with a myriad of beautiful works of cultural modernization amid the crush of modern capitalism which also can be easily uprooted roots tradition.Gonghom forge tin boom boom for mixed copper, down time since nearly 300 years ago. This is where the skill of creating gong for 6 generations passed down from father to son and never change lanes descent, as well as its location.

Pancasan road itself is so dense suitable for vehicles that come and go leaving the city of Bogor. Gong factory parking lot is only enough for two cars. That too must be worn hanging kenyi, namely mold clay to create a gong, bonang, and saron, the types of percussion from a set of gamelan.
Unpainted wooden door swung open, allowing the sound boom from the raging out of space. Bursts appear and spotting flames soared in the dark without lights. When it's too hot to burst, making a dress feels too thick.

Workers gathered inside holding a sledge hammer, forge a large circle turns red white, then later removed from the coverage of the fire burning. Not even a piece of clothing worn these craftsmen due to the heat of the room. Iron circle was again put in a furnace temperature of 400 degrees Celsius.
One day, two large gong can be generated. Start of mixing tin and copper as basic materials, then print it with the help of a clay mold, forge, until cleared from the oxidation of blackened crust. That is, to solve a set of ready-made complete with gamelan gong holder, bonang, and saron who carved it needs a full month to work every day.



    To generate a set of gamelan need more than just dedication. The gong artisans show how their skills ingrained derived from father to son. There are traditions and burst with pride pounding iron and spotting flames in the darkness of the room factories.

At the end of the room an old look to pound the rock hard black. Black rock called Karawa it comes from the first mold clay that has been burned by high temperatures. The resulting ground powder can be re-used to make molds. Beside him, undisturbed by noise or people passing by, a gong penyerut filing with shavings.
Dark black forged a new gong then planed surface until golden color appears behind the blackened crust. Sparkling gold granules accumulate in between her toes clamped one hand gong. He rarely looked up, because it should be able to finish day two gongs. The tool is very simple, although now has aided smoothing machine. In fact, shavings are tools that are older than two hundred and fifty years and is used in this place.In the other building, the base table gamelan makers are busy foot pole lathe and also forms a gong pillar. In the window that the sun emits, a sculptor carving work with wood hammer, bend to follow the pattern of images carved mahogany scratch above. Young colleagues, polish it carefully, so that the wood look more beautiful without losing the curve when colored engraving.                                                                        

    Workers at the plant this gong is a combination of a craftsman as well as an artist. All the work of the breath, the rhythm, and harmony played wonderful attractions such as the gamelan sound melodious and full of value.
Because here's the gong artisans dedication Sundanese and Indonesian society still have and get to know one of its cultural wealth. If only there were some places making gong like this then maybe we are not so concerned about the threat of the loss of Indonesia's cultural gems.                                                                                                   

However, this may be just one place, so it is necessary to whoever would help maintain and preserve their work like a baby. No doubt, this is one of the so-called emerald surviving cultural heritage of Indonesia, a living heritage.