Bronze Bells
Bronze bells were popular musical instruments in the Zhou Dynasty. The book “Poetic Classic” (诗经) has such a line, “She is a graceful woman, and I will get her smile by my bell and drum.” A set of bronze bells were expensive, so only nobles had a complete set of bronze bells with various musical scales. A set of bronze bells were mainly for formal occasions, such as banquets and sacrificing ceremonies. Even until the Spring-Autumn Period, a formal war was usually started with the sounds of bells and drums. If an army didn’t take bells, the war couldn’t be called a war, and it should be called a sneak attack.
Bronze bells show the gentle and stable characters of the people of the Zhou Dynasty. When we listen to the performance of unearthed bronze bells, we can feel the noble style of the Zhou Dynasty.
Many bronze bells have been unearthed now, but there are only several complete sets of bronze bells. In 1978, in Hubei Province, a set of bronze bells were found in the tomb of Yi (乙), a monarch of the Zeng (曾) State in the early days of the Warring-States Period. The set includes sixty-five bronze bells. In the same year, in Henan (河南) Province, a set of bronze bells were found in the tomb of Prince Wu (王子午), the prime minister of the Chu (楚) State in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The set of bronze bells were designed by Wangsun Gao (王孙诰), the son of Prince Wu. This set includes twenty-six bronze bells, and every bell has the same inscription, “The harmonious bells are made for happy banquets to the Chu’s King, the monarchs from other states, honored guests, and to my father, my brothers, and warriors.” In 1990, in Henan Province, a set of bronze bells were found in the tomb of Guo Ji (虢季), a monarch of the Guo (虢) State in the Western Zhou Dynasty. The set includes eight bronze bells.
The following photos were taken in the Historical Museum of Shaanxi Province. In the photos, the set of bronze bells are named “Zuo Bells” (柞钟). In 1960, they were unearthed from a secret cellar of the Western Zhou dynasty in Fufeng (扶风) County, Shaanxi Province. The set includes eight bronze bells.
