tezhong

The tezhong (meaning "special bell") refers to a large, single Chinese bell, typically of the bo variety. These bells are characterized by a loop top, a flat bottom rim, and a rounder body shape. The bo bell is a type of zhong, which are clapperless bronze bells produced primarily during the late Zhou dynasty (c. 600–255 BCE) in ancient China. Initially made of clay in Neolithic times, the zhong evolved into bronze during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1066 BCE). These bells were used as percussion instruments and in ritualistic contexts. Sets of zhong in graduated sizes, known as bianzhong, were arranged by pitch and suspended on wooden frames, played by striking the exterior of the bottom rim with a mallet.1