Gongs have been used for centuries across East and Southeast Asia in temples, ceremonies, theatre, and orchestras, where a single strike could signal a beginning, an ending, or an important announcement. That ceremonial association carried into film, television, and games, where the sound became shorthand for drama, wisdom, or a moment of truth. Short gong samples are now widely shared online as standalone effects, valued because the familiar tone is instantly recognisable even without any visual context.