Gong

Chinese

Primorsky Oblast, Ussuri Krai, Sikhote-Alin ridge, river Tadushu

late 19th - early 20th century

Museum of the Peoples of the USSR

Metal: iron

diameter 16.0; height 8.0

РЭМ 8761-11157

Shaped as an inverted round metal bowl with three round slit openings. On river crossings and ridge passes the Chinese set up small joss houses, built from stones or wood. They placed inside plaques pasted with paper, and pieces of paper with inscriptions. By ringing the “oozoo” gong, a man drew the gods’ attention to his plea for successful hunting or ginseng harvesting.