Gao Xiaosong described the collection in the China Gallery of the Royal Ontario Museum as "shocking". Today, let’s talk about the big bronze bell placed at the entrance of the China Gallery.
Wei Bin Bronze Bell is a large bronze bell cast for the grand ceremony by Wei Bin, the eunuch in charge of rituals in the 13th year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty (1518). It is 2 meters high. The Zhengde Emperor and the people at that time seemed to love bells. In the sixteenth year of his reign, two bells with thirty-five Buddha names were built. Among them, the one donated by the eunuch was cast in the seventh year of Zhengde and was 105.3cm high. The other one was The smaller one is 97cm tall. At the same time, there are Zhengde Iron Bell (Zhengde 3rd year, 120cm high), Crane Pattern Bronze Bell (Unknown year, 169cm high), Cloud Pattern Bronze Bell (Zhengde 8th year, 118.7cm high), Zhanghuai Bronze Bell (In the 15th year of Zhengde's reign, it is 124 centimeters tall and was donated by eunuchs). Wei Bin Bronze Bell is the largest. The big bell was built in Weigong Temple, and Wei Bin himself was later buried there.
Wei Bin's bronze bell has a double dragon shape on the top for hanging. It is Called as dragon, but actually he is the son of dragon. Legend says that Dragon has nine sons, each of whom is different. In fact, the main reason is that the dragon mothers are so different. Usually entrenched on the top of the bell is the dragon's fourth son, named Pulao, who was born to a toad. Pulao lives by the sea and is fond of singing and roaring. Although he is a son of a dragon, he is afraid of huge whales. When a whale attacks, it screams in fear. This is why people cast Pulao on the top of the bell and make the wooden pillar into the shape of a whale for hitting the bell to make sound. It should be noted that Pulao does not have two heads. The symmetrical shape is for the convenience of hanging.
Wei Bin's bronze bell is engraved with Buddhist scriptures all over the body. It is said that the bell ringer hit the bell each time finishing reading one Buddhist scripture. There are obvious signs of impact on the clock, and some places are even cracked. The bell was also engraved with the words "Long Live the Emperor", but the Emperor could not withstand their multiple bell gifts, and died three years later.
The bottom edge of the clock is decorated with Bagua Yao symbols and sea water and auspicious clouds, which is very beautiful.
Don’t miss this bell when you go to ROM.
* In Chinese, "give a bell as a gift" and "see someone’s in the last moment before they die" have the same pronunciation.