Published July 21, 2020 | Version v1
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Bo bell from the Bronze Age China

  • 1. Politecnico di Torino

Description

In the image we can see a bo bell (Shaanxi, Eastern Zhou, first half of the 5th century BC, bronze).  It has on its surface 18 bosses formed like coiled snakes. This bell would have likely been among the largest bells of a graduated set of bell (carillon). It would have produced deep tones during the ritual ceremonies in which it was used. The tones produced by the large bells were able of resonating longer than those produced by smaller ones. The bell is at the Museo d'Arte Orientale, MAO, Torino. On the chinese carillons, see Von Falkenhausen, L. (1993). Suspended music: Chime-bells in the culture of Bronze Age China. Univ of California Press.

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