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Abstract
The Gasiang Tangkurak song held an important place in the cultural life of the Minangkabau community. It combined oral storytelling, shared beliefs, and artistic creativity, allowing it to endure and remain meaningful over time. Many people remembered the song for its links to supernatural rituals, especially the use of a gasiang, a spinning top made from a human skull to influence another person’s emotions. Yet its role extended far beyond these mystical associations. It expressed how the community understood its world, preserved moral values, and reinforced social bonds. This study aimed to understand the song from the perspective of intangible cultural heritage. The analysis focused on its historical background, symbolic meanings, cultural roles, and continuing relevance. The research drew on lyric transcription, library sources, and conversations with cultural practitioners who carried deep knowledge of Minangkabau traditions. The findings suggested that the song was not merely a record of magical practices but a form of living heritage. It preserved cultural values and ways of thinking that have shaped the community across generations. Reinterpreting the song through a cultural heritage lens provided a meaningful way to recognize and safeguard it as part of a living legacy rather than as a relic of the past.
Keywords: Gasiang Tangkurak, Minangkabau culture, intangible cultural heritage, traditional songs, cultural values