bianzhong

The bianzhong (編鐘) is an ancient Chinese musical instrument consisting of 65 chime bells. Because it was only used for performances at the imperial court, it came to be known as the “instrument of kings” (王者之器).

…of zhong in graduated sizes - called bianzhong (“set of bells”) - were arranged according to size and pitch, suspended on a wooden frame from the lug at the top, and sounded by striking the exterior of the bottom rim with a mallet.

Throughout history, Bianzhong Bells were used by the Imperial Royal family, during times of entertainment. The ancient Bianzhong bells within the Tomb of Marquis Yi , dated 433BC. Chinese Chime bells are used within Chinese musical and cultural performances both on a national and international basis.

Bells are considered auspicious according to Chinese tradition. During major ceremonies they are often rung 108 times. This is because the Chinese lunar calendar comprises 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 hou (five-day period), the sum of which is 108.

Bianzhong is an ancient Chinese musical instrument consisting of a set of bronze bells, played melodically. China is the earliest country to manufacture and use musical chimes.

History. While the oldest clapperless bells in China date to as early as 2100 BCE, the organization of zhong bells into bianzhong (literally “arranged zhong”) developed in the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE).

China Bianzhong (編鐘) is an ancient Chinese musical instrument consisting of a set of bronze bells, played melodically. China is the earliest country to manufacture and use musical chimes. They are also called Chime Bells.

The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng (simplified Chinese: 曾侯乙编钟; traditional Chinese: 曾侯乙編鐘; pinyin: Zēnghóuyǐ Biānzhōng), or Zenghouyi Bells, is the name given to an ancient musical instrument made of bells (called bianzhong) unearthed in 1978 in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Leigudun Community (擂鼓墩社区), Nanjiao ...

Bells can symbolize beginnings and endings, a call to order, or even a command or a warning.

The shape of the bell is closely related to the vault of HEAVEN. A bell's pendulous motion can represent the extremes of good and evil; death and immortality. They are also integral to rituals of exorcism and excommunication, and they are a widspread mechanism for summoning (often even a call of Christ).

The bianqing in the Shang Dynasty are made of stone, jade and bronze. The tiger shaped stone bianqing unearthed from the Yin tomb in the village of Wu Guan in Anyang, Henan Province, is made of marble and has a history of more than 3000 years. Its timbre is as clear as that of bronze musical instruments.

Bianqing, China, Qing Dynasty?, inv. 3003 The bianqing consists of a double row of sixteen suspended stones of varying thickness, each of which produces a different tone when struck with a hammer. The existence of lithophones was documented in China from as early as the end of the third millennium BC.