A Large Iron Bell from the Ming Dynasty

A Large Iron Bell from the Ming Dynasty

A Large Iron Bell from the Ming Dynasty

Cast during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1620 AD), the bell was originally hung in the worship hall of the Guan Di Temple (now a theater) on Daoqian Street in the county town. It is made of iron and was cast in a single piece. The bell stands 2.49 meters tall, has a mouth diameter of 1.47 meters, and a thickness of 0.08 meters, weighing a total of 3.06 tons. The bell’s knob is a dragon-shaped design with two dragons intertwined, standing 0.60 meters high. The top of the bell has eight holes, and the lower rim is a wide, wavy mouth. The body of the bell is adorned with various relief patterns, arranged from top to bottom: scroll patterns, entwined lotus, honeysuckle flowers, and the Eight Trigrams. In the middle section of the bell are the eight large characters “Long Live the Emperor” and “Ministers Prosper Through the Ages.” In 1987, it was moved to the courtyard of the county guesthouse, then hung in Tianchi Park in 1995. In 2002, it was relocated to the Stone Carving Museum in Daming County, where a pavilion was built to house and preserve it. In 1983, it was designated as a key county-level cultural relic under protection by the Daming County People's Government.