A set of bronze musical bells excavated from a tomb of the Chu kindom more than 2000 years ago.

With the collapse of the ritual and musical institutions during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the musical bell, which had served as a typical instrument of the ritual and musical institutions, gradually exited the stage of history.

From the very beginning the bronze bells in China were endowed with strong emotional coloring and cultural connotations. In his Explanation and Study of Principles of Composition of Characters, Xu Shen of the Eastern Han Dynasty said, "The zhong (bell) is the sound of the Autumn Equinox. All crops have been zhong (cultivated)." In Chinese, zhong (bell) and zhong (cultivate) are pronounced similarly, but in different tones. Harvests were the result of toils in our ancient agricultural country with its yellow soil. The stroke of the bell at a feast conveyed feelings of joy for the bumper harvest as well as the emotion of a man with a heavy heart. A Chinese bell produces a slow sound that can be heard far away. This was a choice made carefully and inevitably by our ancients in the light of environmental and social factors.

Tang dynasty polo

March 23, a group of lifelike posture of different copper “polo sculptures” emerged in the central area of Beijing Olympic appearance.

Polo is thought to have originated in China and Persia around 2,000 years ago. The name of the game may well come from the word “pholo” meaning 'ball' or 'ballgame' in the Balti language of Tibet.

Polo, also called "jiju" in ancient China, was most popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). All the 16 monarchs from Emperor Zhongzong, who took power in the year 705, to Emperor Zhaozong, who ascended the throne in 889, were polo enthusiasts. Some of them were even highly skilled players. Many high-ranking officials had luxurious polo fields in their own gardens. Measuring 1000 paces long and 100 paces wide, the field was sprayed with oil to prevent the galloping horses from kicking up dust. There were also many polo lovers among groups of scholars . According to historical records, a polo match at the Moon-light Chamber was one of the gala events for celebrating success in the highest imperial examination. Being favored by emperors, nobles and scholars, polo became fashionable in those days.

A group of copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) are erected in the sunken garden of the Olympic Garden.

Polo also served as a military exercise for the army. All prefectural governors had standard polo fields for training troops. The use of polo for military training lasted for many generations, and the game was always played in reviewing troops. It was not until the Oing Dynasty (1644-1911) that polo gradually declined in popularity.

Editor: Liu Fang