Moko drum
Encyclopedia
Moko are bronze
kettledrums, whose design and decorations have their likely origin in the area around Dongson
in Vietnam
. While they have been found in several different locations in Indonesia
, they are most famously associated with the island of Alor, where they have long been prized in ceremonial exchanges. Later moko were made in China
and Java
and were brought to Alor in the 19th century. However, it remains a mystery as to how the older Dongson moko arrived in Alor. Local origin stories describe the discovery of mokos buried in the ground, and it is still common to hear of moko being uncovered in this way.
Moko remain important symbols of status and are particularly important is their ritual value. Moko are still generally required as part of the bridal dowry, though the short supply of moko today means that moko must often be borrowed or mortgaged for this purpose.
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
kettledrums, whose design and decorations have their likely origin in the area around Dongson
Dong Son, Thanh Hoa
Đông Sơn is a rural district of Thanh Hoa province in the North Central Coastal region of Vietnam. the district had a population of 109,819. The district covers an area of 106 km². The district capital lies at Rung Thong.-References:...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. While they have been found in several different locations in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, they are most famously associated with the island of Alor, where they have long been prized in ceremonial exchanges. Later moko were made in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
and were brought to Alor in the 19th century. However, it remains a mystery as to how the older Dongson moko arrived in Alor. Local origin stories describe the discovery of mokos buried in the ground, and it is still common to hear of moko being uncovered in this way.
Moko remain important symbols of status and are particularly important is their ritual value. Moko are still generally required as part of the bridal dowry, though the short supply of moko today means that moko must often be borrowed or mortgaged for this purpose.