Bronze Bell of Youmin Temple

Bronze Bell of Youmin Temple

The Bronze Bell of Youmin Temple is a cultural relic protected at the provincial level in Jiangxi Province.

The Bronze Bell of Youmin Temple (Bell Tower) is located in the southeast corner of the small garden within the compound at No. 37 Huanhu Road, Nanchang City (residence of the Jiangxi Provincial Radio and Television Department).

The Bronze Bell of Youmin Temple was cast in the fifth year of the Qiande era (967 AD) by Lin Renzhao, a prominent general of the Southern Tang Dynasty (who served as the Southern Pacification Commissioner and Magistrate of Nanchang, and was later poisoned by the last ruler of the Southern Tang). It weighs 10,064 jin, stands seven chi tall, and has a circumference of fourteen chi and eight cun. It bears the inscription “Recast in the fifth year of Qiande, the cyclical year of Dingmao, during the Southern Tang Dynasty.” It is the only surviving treasure among the “Three Treasures of Nanchang” (the Iron Statue of Puxian Temple, the Bronze Buddha of Youmin Temple, and the Bronze Bell from the Song Dynasty). The bell features double suspension loops, three raised rope-patterned bands on the shoulder, a central section decorated with large square grids alternating with vertical stripes, four symmetrically arranged nipple-like knobs in the mid-lower part, followed by more large rectangular grids and vertical stripes along with two raised rope-patterned bands, and a wavy lower edge.

In the eighteenth year of the Republic of China (1929), Nanchang lay Buddhists such as Yao Guomei and Zeng Feiyu, together with Master Hengding, the abbot of Nanhai Royal Palace, jointly initiated the restoration of Youqing Temple. The temple’s name was changed to “Youmin Temple,” and the original bronze bell, which had been housed in Puxian Temple, was moved to the west side of Youmin Temple. A square, four-story bell tower made of granite was specially constructed to protect the bell, which remains there to this day.

The bell tower faces east and measures four meters per side, with a total height of 12.5 meters and a hemispherical roof. A lightning rod is installed on one side of the roof. The bottom three floors of the bell tower are hollow, with only stairs leading to the fourth floor. The fourth floor is octagonal, with four diagonal sides left wall-less to allow for light and ventilation. The bronze bell is suspended inside.

In July 1957, it was designated as one of the first batch of provincial-level cultural relics protected by Jiangxi Province.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protected in Jiangxi Province