Bell

The earliest bell founding (i.e., the casting of bells from molten metal) is associated with the Bronze Age. The ancient Chinese were superb founders, their craft reaching an apex during the Chou dynasty (c 1122-221 BC). Characteristic were elliptical temple bells with exquisite symbolic decorations cast onto their surfaces by the cire perdue, or lost wax, process. Bells had an important ceremonial role in ancient China during the Chou Dynasty. The earliest Chinese bells, of Shang Dynasty (c 1600-1123 BC), were mounted mouth upwards and struck. Later bells hung mouth downwards.

The earliest bell founding (i.e., the casting of bells from molten metal) is associated with the Bronze Age. The ancient Chinese were superb founders, their craft reaching an apex during the Zhou/Chou dynasty (c. 1122-221 bc ). Characteristic were elliptical temple bells with exquisite symbolic decorations cast onto their surfaces by the cire perdue or lost wax process. Bells had an important ceremonial role in ancient China during the Zhou/Chou dynasty. The earliest Chinese bells, of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1123 bc ), were mounted mouth upwards and struck. Later bells hung mouth downwards.