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Bells of Ancient China and Beyond

Thousands of years ago, Chinese musicians worked with foundry technicians to cast matched sets of bronze bells of different sizes to produce a range of tones. They developed oval-shaped bells that, depending on where they were struck, produced two distinct pitches with an intentional interval between them. Here you will find bells in the collections of the National Museum of Asian Art.


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Miniature bell

One of a pair of bells (bo) with felines and dragons; probably from a set of four

Bell (bo) with felines and dragons; probably from a set of four

Bell (bo) with dragons; probably from a set of four

One of a pair of bells (bo) with felines and dragons; probably from a set of four

Bell in the form of a fish

Miniature bell and ornament

Suspension bell with masks (taotie) and birds

Bell (bo) with mask (taotie), birds, and tigers

Altar bell with carved wooden handle

Incense container in shape of bell amulet

Evening Bell at the Temple Kotokuji, from the series Eight Views from Five Tales of Warriors (Bidan musha hakkei) 光徳寺の晩鐘

Funerary replica (mingqi) of a bell

Funerary replica (mingqi) of a bell

Funerary replica (mingqi) of a bell

Funerary replica (mingqi) of a bell

Bell

Bell

Bell

Benkei And Bell

Great Bell Of Chion-In-Temple

Cizhou ware bell

Bell Tower At Night

Altar bell

Miniature bell

Mirror with Six Bells

Pendant or bell clapper

Morning bell at Mount Jing

Cizhou ware bell

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