Temple bell

Temple bell

Chinese, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912)
Bronze

Our Object of the Month for June is this temple bell which is on display in the castle’s Buddhist Room. This medium-sized bell was cast from bronze and is decorated with studs, raised lines, and a swirling cloud pattern along the lower edge towards the rim. The handle is in the form of two dragon heads facing away from each other. Dragons are believed to be protectors or guardians. The bell has Chinese characters inscribed into panels around the side. Based on inscriptions usually found on these types of bells, it is likely that the text describes how the bell was cast, any sponsorship or donations towards the casting of the bell, and Buddhist prayers or wishes. Translation of the inscription may help us identify exactly when it was made, and for which temple.

Unlike Western bells, Chinese bells traditionally do not have a clapper inside. Instead, they are struck from the outside, for example with a wooden mallet which hangs next to the bell on a rope. The point at which the bell would have been struck, towards the lower edge, is decorated with a round lotus blossom and is slightly raised.

A bell of this size may have been hung in a temple prayer hall for use during ceremonies or the chanting of Buddhist scriptures. It may also have been hung in a small tower or outbuilding in the courtyard in front of the prayer hall. Temple bells were used to mark time and make announcements, but they also had an important sacred meaning. The fading sound of the bell is said to be a reminder of the Buddhist belief that nothing lasts. This idea is expressed in the famous opening line to the 12th-century classical Japanese text ‘The Tale of Heike’, which reads ‘the sound of the Gion Temple bell echoes the impermanence of all things’. Bells have been made in China since as early as the Neolithic period, around 10,000 to 4,000 years ago. Ancient bells were used as part of rituals or as musical instruments. They were made from a variety of materials, including jade or other stones. Large bronze bells for use in Buddhist temples began to be made during the period when Buddhism spread in China, around 1,500 years ago. This bell design, with the dragon handle, decorative bands, and open flower motif, spread out from China to Japan, Korea, and other surrounding countries along with Buddhism.  

Japanese bell, ca. 1856, Metropolitan Museum, object number 89.4.1619

Listing the names of any donors towards the making of the bell would have been very important, as donating towards such a project would have been considered an act that builds merit. The concept of building merit to ensure a good rebirth is an important Buddhist belief. It is thought that if you accumulate merit in your life, you will be reborn into a good next life. The inscriptions on temple bells can record who contributed to the bell’s casting, as well as any specific prayers or wishes they might have. This way, their merit or positive action is recorded for eternity, and is visible by others visiting the temple.

Large temple bell in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, Wikimedia commons

This object is just one of the many objects that form part of Denys Eyre Bower’s five impressive collections which include Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist, Stuart and Jacobite, and Books. For more information on these objects, review our Object of the Month series, visit the Historic House and Collections or contact our Curator, Naomi Collick by email or by calling 01892 870347.