In the ruins of the Ancient Capital City of the Zheng and Han States in Xinzheng, Central China's Henan province, a total of 24 perfectly preserved Chinese bianzhong (chime bells) from the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) were discovered in two sets.
This unusual find, which has major scholarly importance, was made next to some palace ruins in a sacrificial pit.
An antique Chinese musical instrument called a bianzhong is made up of a series of melodically rung bronze bells. They were utilized as polyphonic musical instruments, these sets of chime bells. They were hammered with a mallet after being hung in a wooden frame.
Despite the fact that tuned bells have been developed and employed by numerous societies for musical performances, Bianzhong cast bells stand out from all other varieties in a number of ways. They have an unusual "cutaway" profile on the bell mouth, a lens-shaped (rather than circular) section, and 36 studs or bosses symmetrically arranged around the body in four groups of nine on the outside surfaces of the huge bells.
Bianzhong bells are unique in that they can produce two distinct melodic tones depending on where they are struck thanks to their unique design. "One bell, two sounds" is another name for them.
According to Guan Ping, a historian based in Beijing, "he bianzhong symbolizes rank and power, and represents a high achievement in both the art and culture of ancient China."
"The bianzhong were used at the kingdom palace as part of the ritual system. The discovery will help experts to examine cultural development in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period", Guan continued.
According to Guan, "music is strongly linked to rituals, and in ancient China, it played an important part in the ritual and music system to maintain social order."
Photo shows bronze chime bells excavated from a tomb of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) in Suizhou City, central China’s Hubei Province. Photo: Xinhua
The bianzhong sacrificial pit at the location measures 0.8 meters deep, 2.6 meters wide, and 1.4 meters long, according to Yu Jie, a member of staff at the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
“There are three rows of bell frames in the pit, with a total of 24 chime bells. The chime bells are well preserved, without any signs of looting, and the wooden frame is clearly visible,” Yu explained, adding that the frame can be “dated back to the middle and late Spring and Autumn Period”.
With sets of these instruments being employed in rituals, galas, and concerts, the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC–256 BC) was the first to establish laws for rites and music.
Bianzhong have been discovered in numerous places across China in recent decades. The discovery of bianzhong in the aristocrat Yi of Zeng's tomb in Suizhou, Hubei Province, became well-known throughout the world in 1978. The 3,755 characters on the bells are inlaid with gold. Another bianzhong set was found in the area of Yi's tomb in 1981.
The recently discovered ancient city remains span an area of 16 square kilometers. In addition, two tombs were also found by researchers close to the palace ruin area. Complete metal ceremonial vessels were discovered when the graves, which are shaped like vertical pits, were excavated.
