Instruments & Ritual
The Himalayan Gong: Reading Its Symbols and Learning to Play It
A struck gong marks the beginning and end of practice across the Himalayas. Here's what the etched motifs mean, and how to play one properly.
Journal
The Artisan Journal
Discover the stories, traditions, craftsmanship and knowledge behind our handcrafted Himalayan instruments.
All articles
Himalayan CultureInside the Newari Metalworking Guilds of Patan
For over a thousand years, one community in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley has shaped the bronze objects at the center of Himalayan ritual life.
CraftsmanshipHow Singing Bowls Are Handcrafted in Nepal
Inside the Patan workshops where a flat disc of bronze becomes a resonant singing bowl — hammered by hand, annealed by fire, and tuned by ear.
Buying GuideChoosing Your First Singing Bowl
Size, tone, and intention. A practical guide to picking a bowl whose voice actually matches how you plan to use it.
CraftsmanshipThe Seven Metals Myth: What Singing Bowls Are Really Made Of
Nearly every listing claims seven metals aligned to seven planets. Metallurgical analysis tells a simpler and more interesting story.
Care & MaintenanceCaring for Bronze: Keeping a Bowl's Voice Bright
Bronze is forgiving until it isn't. Simple habits that protect tone, plus the three well-meant mistakes that permanently damage an instrument.
