Total height including yong: 40 cm; distance between the two xian: 22.4 cm Total height including yong
In 1759, a farmer in Jiangxi unearthed 11 ancient bells while plowing his field. These bells shared the same shapes and ornamentation, arranged in a set from largest to smallest, forming a chime bell ensemble. The Jiangxi provincial governor presented this set to the imperial court, and Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1735–1796) specially designated the Yungu Hall to store it and recorded it in Xiqing Xujian Jiabian. Today, most of these bells have been lost, and two of the remaining bells are housed in the National Palace Museum.
These two bronze bells originated from the late Spring and Autumn period and belonged to the state of Wu. They are yong bells and feature cicada and coiling dragon motifs on the cylindrical stems. The lower bodies and middle bands are decorated with coiling hui-snake patterns, while the main drum sections are intertwined with coiling dragon motifs, flanked by three beast heads on each side. The fronts of the drum section are adorned with shallow relief patterns, while the backs lack relief carving, featuring only protruding beast eyes. Inscriptions are cast on the striking areas and both decorative flanges. Although the number of characters varies, the inscriptions on both bells convey the same content: “On the auspicious January 1 of the lunar calendar, Zhejian, a craftsman and son of King Pi , selected fine bronze to cast this bell. It is flawless, not , and harmonious with sacred music. May it bring blessings of longevity and prosperity to the esteemed ancestors, reverberating with tones, resounding above and below, heard far and wide, and preserved by descendants for generations to come.”
From the second sentence of the inscription, the owner of the bell “Zhejian” is identified as the son of King Pi of Wu during the late Spring and Autumn period. Their names are both recorded in phonetic script. The inscription primarily consists of blessings and praises for the bell’s melodious sound. The Zhejian Bell is currently one of the earliest known inscribed bronze artifacts from the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period. Since the inscription includes the names of a Wu king and his son, it confirms that the bell belonged to Wu’s high-ranking nobility. This artifact reflects the ritual and musical culture of Wu and provides valuable insight into the development of Chinese characters in the lower Yangtze River region.