First impressions of the Great Bell Temple.
The Great Bell Temple, also known as the Big Bell Temple, was a pleasant surprise. I visited this place out of curiosity to see the temple buildings rather than because of an interest in bells. Surprisingly, I left this site … interested in bells! There was an incredible number of bells on display. Moreover, most explanations were written in English. If you love bells, or think you might like bells, this is the place for you!
The rise and fall of Juesheng Temple as a royal temple
The Big Bell Temple was originally called the Juesheng Temple. It was built during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in 1733 A.D. during the Qing Dynasty. The royal temple was used to pray for rain from the Qianlong Period through to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Yongzheng was a devout believer in Buddhism. Consequently, he ordered several temples to be built in Beijing, Juesheng Temple being one of them. After the Qing Dynasty ended, Juesheng Temple became well known for its temple fair. It gradually began to lose its religious function and was called “Dazhongsi” which means the “Great Bell Temple.”
Dazhongsi (The Great Bell Temple), now the Ancient Bell Museum.
Of the 15 buildings constructed during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, 12 are currently used as exhibition halls for the history of everything related to bells in China. One of these exhibition halls shows how bells were cast in ancient China. It explains how tin bronze and iron were used as common materials for bell casting in ancient China. Craftsmen realized how the different levels of tin content impacted the characteristics of copper alloys. At the Ancient Bell Museum, there are also explanations on how bells were shaped in ancient China. Their shapes determined whether they were musical bells or sound bells. Musical bells could make two tones, whereas sound bells only one.
In ancient China, craftsmen used two methods of casting bells. Firstly, there was the clay-mold method, where clay was used to make the inner and outer mold of the clay. After carving patterns and inscriptions, workers would combine the two molds together and fill the space between the inner and outer mold with liquid metal. The molds would then be demolished, revealing the cast bell.
Secondly, craftsmen used the lost-wax method. A wax was used to create a model. This would then be covered in a fine mud, and a refractory method on all the surfaces. The wax was melted down, and the space could then be filled with liquid metal. The lost-was method was used for complex shapes and patterns.
The prize of Dazhong Temple: The Yongle Great Bell
The most magnificent bell at the Ancient Bell Museum is the Yongle Great Bell. The Yongle Great Bell is an impressive sight, reaching almost seven meters in height, and over three meters in diameter. It was originally cast in the 1400s during the Ming Dynasty and was housed in the Temple of Longevity (Wanshousi). During the reign of Qianlong, it was moved to the Bell Tower at the rear of Juesheng Temple, where it resides today. The size and weight of this bell is astounding. It is also inscribed with thousands of Buddist mantras.
The Marquis Yi’s chime bells
Another very interesting display at the Ancient Bell Museum is a replica of the Marquis Yi’s chime bells found in Hubei Province in 1978. This is one of the most important set of bells ever to be discovered in China. Yi was a ruler during the State of Zeng. Wooden beams supported 19 bells at the first level, 33 bells at the second level, and 12 at the third level. The total weight of the bells was 2,500kg. Inscriptions on the bells showed that they used a twelve-tone musical system in the Warring State Period.
Dragons found on the top of the bells at the Great Bell Temple
Views of the Great Bell Temple
How is Dazhongsi (The Great Bell Temple) written in Chinese?
Dazhongsi is written in Chinese as 大钟寺.
The Great Bell Temple opening hours and price
Price: 30 RMB
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00. Ticket sales end as 16:30. The Great Bell Temple is closed on Monday.
Getting there:
Address: The Great Bell Temple, Number 31, North Third Ring Road, Haidian District, Beijing (大钟寺古钟博物馆，北京，海淀区，北三环西路甲31号).
Closest subway: Dazhongsi Station, Line 13 (大钟寺地铁站，13号线).
