The first known Chinese bell was the ling. It was a small clay bell with a circular cross section and a smooth surface. These bells were often used as percussion instruments to signal the end of a laborious day.
Ling bells made of bronze were cast in 16th century B.C, as China made its way into the Bronze Age. These lings still exhibited clean surfaces, lacking any decorative patterns. The sound produced, as the clapper of the ling was moved to strike the inner wall, was devoid of controlled rhythm.
Larger in size bells began to appear in some parts of China. These bells were struck from the outside to produce a controlled rhythm. Unlike the lings, these bells were covered with rich and emotional inscriptions and images that symbolized the Chinese culture. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn Period, and the Warring States Period, only the aristocrats had the advantage of owning such bells. The number of bells and their suspension from a ceiling surface symbolized the aristocrats’ position and power.
The Qianlong Court Bell
The Qianlong Court Bell is a large bronze-cast bell, which stands 2.54 meters tall and weighs a mighty 3,108 Kg. This piece of history of the Chinese culture is located in The Great Bell Temple of China. A quick fact about this temple is that it is surrounded by tall walls that block out the hustle and noises of a lively city, allowing the chimes and deep tones of the bells to resonate the space.
The bell itself is richly decorated with the twisted three-dimensional bodies of twenty-two dragons with piercing eyes, flowing beards, dangerously sharp claws and protruding venomous fangs. The dragons are blanketed with layers and ribbons of clouds, seas and cliffs.
The period during which the Qianlong Court Bell was cast is unknown. However, a symbol of “qian” near the mouth of the bell, as well as the image of the dragons (also known as “long” in spoken Chinese language), lead to the assertion that the bell was produced during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. While a bell’s main function is to announce time, the elaborate and elegant castings on the bell may suggest that the period during which the emperor ruled was prosperous, wealthy and secure for its citizens.
Concluding Thoughts
Bells in the Chinese culture evolved over the decades, and were used in different functions of the society. Some were used as celebratory instruments, to announce a successful harvest, a New Year’s celebration, or a grand event in the imperial court. Bells are even known to have been used in war times and times of cultural desperation. In all these instances, a strong emotional output was often the outcome of the sounds produced by a ringing bell. The deep, forceful and coherent chime of a traditional Chinese bell, always heard from a great distance, continues to tell the rich history of the culture.
Iva Mihaylova
No comments:
Post a Comment