zhong
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What is a zhong in Chinese culture?
A zhong is a clapperless bronze bell from ancient China, mainly produced during the late Zhou dynasty (c. 600–255 BCE), and used as a percussion instrument.
Originally made of clay in Neolithic times, the zhong was later crafted in bronze during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1066 BCE). Early versions were hand-held or placed on a seat and struck with a mallet. Suspended bells are categorized as yongzhong (suspended slantwise) or niuzhong (vertical suspension). Sets of zhong in graduated sizes, called bianzhong, were arranged by size and pitch on a wooden frame and sounded by striking the exterior of the bottom rim with a mallet.
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What does a zhong look like?
A zhong is a clapperless Chinese bronze bell, mainly from the late Zhou dynasty (600–255 BC), used as a percussion instrument.
Zhong appearance:
* Made of bronze
* Sets of zhong in graduated sizes are called bianzhong
* Suspended bells have a straight handle plus a lug at the top (yongzhong) or a ring for vertical suspension (niuzhong)
* The shape is like a squashed cylinder or two tiles attached on three sides
* Later, the two-tile type was replaced by the round-shaped bell
* Often adorned with boldly modeled handles in the form of animal heads
* Each side of the body has 18 blunt spikes arranged in three double rows of three
* Oldest recovered specimen dates to the 9th century BCE3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What materials are used to make a zhong?
A zhong is a Chinese bell that is made of bronze. During the Neolithic period, zhong were made of clay, but during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1066 bc) they were crafted in bronze. Bell metal, or bronze, is an alloy of copper and tin. The tin content ranges from 13 to 25 percent by weight.
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How is a zhong used in music or ceremonies?
The zhong is a Chinese clapperless bronze bell mainly produced during the late Zhou dynasty (c. 600–255 bc). Although the term also denotes the religious bells used daily in Buddhist temples, the zhong discussed here are the ancient bells rarely used today.
Sets of zhong in graduated sizes called bianzhong ("set of bells") were arranged according to size and pitch, suspended on a wooden frame, and sounded by striking the exterior of the bottom rim with a mallet. The most impressive bianzhong discovered to date is a set of 64 bells excavated in 1978 from the tomb of Zenghouyi (Marquis Yi of Zeng) in Hubei province.
From the Song dynasty (960–1279) onward, complete sets of round-shaped bells were used specifically to perform yayue (“elegant music”) in the royal courts, and their use gradually diminished.
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What makes the sound of a zhong unique compared to other bells?
The unique sound of the zhong, or Chinese bell, comes from its construction and use. These clapperless bronze bells, mainly from the late Zhou dynasty, differ from Western bells, which have a sound bow (a bulge near the rim) and are rung by a metal striker.
Zhong often lack a sound bow and are typically struck with a wooden mallet. The ancient Chinese used sets of zhong in graduated sizes, called bianzhong, arranged by pitch to play melodies. The most impressive bianzhong is a set of 64 bells unearthed from the tomb of Zenghouyi, with a total range of five octaves.
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How did the zhong influence ancient Chinese society and traditions?
The zhong, a clapperless bronze bell, was significant in ancient Chinese society and traditions, especially during the Zhou dynasty (c. 600–255 BCE). Originating in the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1066 BCE), these bells evolved from clay to bronze, playing a vital role in rituals and court activities.
Zhong were often arranged in sets called bianzhong, with bells of graduated sizes hung on wooden frames to produce different pitches. The most impressive set, discovered in the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (c. 433 BCE), contained 64 bells with a five-octave range, demonstrating the sophistication of ancient Chinese music. By the Tang dynasty (618–907), round-shaped zhong were used in royal courts for yayue ("elegant music"), highlighting their cultural importance.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
zhong, Chinese clapperless bronze bells produced mainly during the late Zhou (c. 600–255 bc) dynasty and used as a percussion instrument in ancient China. Although the term also denotes the religious bells used daily in Buddhist temples, this article treats only the ancient bells rarely used today.
Made of clay in Neolithic times, the zhong was crafted in bronze during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1066 bc). In performance the early zhong was either held by hand or placed on a seat with its mouth upward and struck with a mallet. This kind of zhong is also called nao in order to differentiate it from the suspended type.
The suspended bells fall into two main categories: those with a straight handle plus a lug at the top, which are suspended slantwise on a wooden frame, are called yongzhong; those having a ring that allows for vertical suspension are called niuzhong. The earliest known yongzhong dates to the 10th century bc, and the earliest niuzhong to the 8th century bc. At the time, the shape of both the yongzhong and the niuzhong was not round but rather like a squashed cylinder or two tiles attached on three sides. A large and single zhong, usually of the bo variety (having a loop top, a flat bottom rim, and a rounder body shape), is considered a tezhong (“special bell”).
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Sets of zhong in graduated sizes—called bianzhong (“set of bells”)—were arranged according to size and pitch, suspended on a wooden frame from the lug at the top, and sounded by striking the exterior of the bottom rim with a mallet. Naos of the Shang dynasty (16th–12th century bc) were mostly arranged in sets of three, but the zhong of the Zhou dynasty were mostly grouped in 9, 11, 12, or 13 pieces.
The most impressive bianzhong discovered to date is a set of 64 bells excavated in 1978 from the tomb of Zenghouyi (Marquis Yi of Zeng) in Hubei province. Dated about 433 bc, the bells were mounted on an L-shaped frame in three tiers. The largest bell weighs 447 pounds. The instrument’s total range is five octaves in a key close to the key of C in Western music, and chromatics are found in the middle octaves. The set also includes a bo bell, a gift from the duke of Chu (a larger state), suspended at the centre in the lower tier. The names of the pitches are carved at the two striking places (the mouth and the right side of the bell) on each of the 64 pieces.
By the Qin dynasty (221–206 bc) the two-tile type of zhong had been replaced by the round-shaped bell, which could produce only a single note. According to historical records, complete sets of round-shaped bells in the Tang dynasty (618–907) were made in combinations of 14, 16, and 24 pieces. The 14-piece combination is arranged in a seven-note scale while the other two are in scales of 12 semitones. From the Song dynasty (960–1279) onward, complete sets of round-shaped bells were used specifically to perform yayue (“elegant music”) in the royal courts, and their use gradually diminished.
With the unearthing of the Zenghouyi bells in 1978, the manufacture and performance of sets of dual-pitch bells have been revitalized. Replicas of ancient instruments are also used in programs that feature reconstructed ancient music and dance.
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