Chinese Bells - London, England, UK
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 51° 31.131 W 000° 07.573
30U E 699376 N 5711441
These bells are located just inside one of the side entrances to the British Museum (which does not charge an entrance fee.)
Waymark Code: WMDFBM
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/08/2012
Views: 10
There are three Chinese bells just inside the Bedford Square side entrance to the British Museum.
The accompanying placard reads:
"Chinese bells
During imperial times in China, massive bronze bells were hung
in temples and city bell towers. They were used to announce
the hours and to call people for gatherings, including monks for
worship. The resonant sound of temple bells was believed to
have the power to 'wake up' a person on the wrong path of life
and also to cleanse sins and drive away demons.
Most Chinese bells lack a clapper and are struck on the exterior.
Smaller ones are struck with rods and larger ones, like these, by
wooden rams suspended by double ropes. A small dragon-like
creature known as a pulao, known for its piercing roar, is depicted
on top of many temple bells. According to a 7th century text,
the pulao is afraid of attack by whales and roars loudly in their
presence. Therefore bell-strikers are sometimes made in the
shape of a whale."
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