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The bell tower is an important building in Han Chinese Buddhist temples.[1] Together with drum tower, they are usually placed on both sides of the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings.[1] It is usually on the left side while the drum tower is on the right side.[1] Generally, bell towers are three-storey pavilions with a large bell hung inside.[1] The loud and melodious sound of the bell is often used to convene monks.[1] Sounding the bell 108 times every morning and night symbolizes relief of the 108 kinds of trouble in the human world.[2][3][4]
| Bell tower | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Bell tower at Yunju Temple, in Beijing. | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鐘樓 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 钟楼 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Bell tower | ||||||
| |||||||
Examples
Bell tower of Xiantong Temple
The Bell tower of Xiantong Temple was built in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).[1][5] A biggest copper bell is stored in the tower.[1][5] It was cast between 1621 and 1627 during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).[1][5] Weighing 4,999.75 kilograms (11,022.6 lb), it sounds deep and sonorous when beaten, which can pass away for 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) and last for several minutes.[1][5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Zi Yan 2012, p. 61.
- ^ Zi Yan 2012, p. 34.
- ^ Wei Ran (2012-06-01). Buddhist Buildings. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press. ISBN 9787112142880.
- ^ Han Xin (2006-04-01). Well-Known Temples of China. Shanghai: The Eastern Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 7506024772.
- ^ a b c d Wang Jia 2012, p. 97.
Bibliography
- Zi Yan (2012). "Xiantong Temple in Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province". Famous Temples in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-3146-7.
- Wang Jia (2012). "Mount Wutai: Xiantong Temple". Famous Mountains in China (in English and Chinese). Hefei, Anhui: Huangshan Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5461-2704-0.
Further reading
- Wang Guixiang (2016-06-17). 《中国汉传佛教建筑史——佛寺的建造、分布与寺院格局、建筑类型及其变迁》 [The History of Chinese Buddhist Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press. ISBN 9787302427056.
- Zhang Yuhuan (2014-06-01). 《图解中国佛教建筑、寺院系列》 [Illustration of Chinese Buddhist Architecture and Temples] (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN 9787515401188.
