China is hailed as a kingdom of bells and Chinese people have always been found to have a bell complex. Numerous bells of different dynasties have existed in the vast country ever since ancient times. Over the centuries, Chinese people have instilled political, history, ethnical and religious implications into the bells, which have been seen as the incarnation of people's wisdom and energy.

  A brief history of Chinese bells

Taozhong, or pottery bells, which appeared in the Neolithic period of primitive Chinese society, is considered the earliest kind of bells in China and was used as a play instrument by people after work. During the Shang Dynasty (1766-1121BC), the introduction of bronze led to the creation of a series of bronze instruments, including Tongnao (bronze cymbals-a bronze percussion instrument resembling an inverted bell, sounded by a hammer); Tongling (small bronze bells); and Tongzhong (bronze bells), which evolved into Biannao (a chime of bronze cymbals).

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  Categories of Chinese Bells

Function wise, Chinese bells fall into four types: musical bells, such as the Chime of Bells dating back to the Warring States Period (476-221BC); imperial court bells, such as the Qianlong Bell; bells for sounding the night watches, such as the Big Bell in Beijing Bell Tower; and religious bells, including the Buddhist or Taoist Bells, such as the world-famous Yongle Bell dating back to the Ming Dynasty .

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  Bells in ancient China

From the Neolithic pottery bells to the bronze cymbals of the Shang Dynasty (16-11 century BC); from the hand-holding bells of the Pre-Qin times to the court bells of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC); from "the bell ringing; the food in pot-tripod well done" which symbolized the rigid hierarchy in the Zhou Dynasty (1027-777BC) to the Yongle Bell which represented the sovereign power of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), China's time-honored bell family is giant and unique.

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  Bells in modern China

While the bells were used in ancient China for various practical purposes, such as for musical effect, religious activities, and sounding night watches, bells in modern China has in fact become a symbol of an idea, a spirit and a culture. A case for example is the "Admonish-the -world Bell", which always admonishes people to pay attention to historical lessons and experiences.

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Author: Jessie