The Southern Han Bronze Bell and Its Inscription Stele

The Southern Han Bronze Bell and Its Inscription Stele

The Southern Han Bronze Bell and Its Inscription Stele is a cultural relic protection unit of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Southern Han Bronze Bell was cast in the 16th year of the Qianhe era (958 AD) during the Southern Han Dynasty, funded by the eunuch Wu Huai’en. Originally placed in the Ganbao Temple, it was later moved to the Bingyue Pavilion of the Guangxiao Temple (also known as the Daxiong Temple). In 1931, the 20th year of the Republic of China, it was relocated to the Morning Bell Pavilion in Zhongshan Park, where it was once used to mark the time for citizens.

The bell is shaped like a suspended chime, with an animal head, standing 120 cm tall, with a diameter of 56.7 cm, and weighing 250 kg. The surface of the bell is adorned with decorative patterns separated by cross lines and inscriptions. The inscriptions recount the history of “the eternal stability of the dragon’s design” as described by Wu Huai’en, totaling 87 characters.

Among the ancient bronze bells in Guangxi, apart from the Tang Dynasty bell at Kaiyuan Temple in Rong County, the Southern Han Bronze Bell at Guangxiao Temple in Wuzhou is the most notable. Despite being over a thousand years old, the Southern Han Bronze Bell remains intact and produces a resonant sound when struck.

In February 1963, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit of Guangxi.