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Bell (Lai Zhong)
Unknown maker (China), c. 800–700 BCE
In ancient China, music and ritual had political meaning and were closely linked to the power of states. Bronze bells of the Zhou dynasty were made in sets of eight to sixty. This one, made around 800 to 700 BCE, is the second largest of a set of eight.
It has an inscription of 118 characters about its owner, Lai, and why the bell was cast. According to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Lai's ancestors served the Western Zhou court, and he received a hereditary position from the ruler, the Son of Heaven. To show respect for his father, Gongshu, he commissioned a set of bells as an offering, hoping they would be treasured by later generations.
The museum adds that the inscription is an early example of Chinese calligraphy that highlights the abstract lines and structure of the characters. The bell is about 70 centimetres high.
From the museum record
| Artist | Unknown maker (China) |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 800–700 BCE |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Size | Overall: 70.3 x 37 x 26.6 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund |
| Accession number | 1989.3 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
