The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng (simplified Chinese: 曾侯乙编钟; traditional Chinese: 曾侯乙編鐘; pinyin: Zēnghóuyǐ Biānzhōng), or Zenghouyi Bells, is the name given to an ancient musical instrument made of bells (called bianzhong) unearthed in 1978 in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Leigudun Community (擂鼓墩社区), Nanjiao Subdistrict (南郊街道), Zengdu District, Suizhou (then 'Sui County'), Hubei Province, China. The bianzhong were made in 433 B.C.
Zeng-hou-yi Bells
The bianzhong are hung on two sets of wooden racks. One rack is 7.48 metres (24.5 ft) long and 2.65 metres (8 ft 8 in) wide. The other rack is 3.35 metres (11.0 ft) long and 2.73 metres (8 ft 11 in) wide. The two racks are perpendicular to each other.
The instrument contains a total of 64 bianzhong, which are hung at three levels and are divided into eight groups. There are 19 bells in three groups at the top level. 33 bells are in three groups in the middle level. There are 12 bells in two groups at the bottom level.
The biggest bell is 153.4 centimetres (60.4 in) in height and weighs 203.6 kilograms (449 lb) weight. The smallest bell is 20.4 centimetres (8.0 in) in height and weighs 2.4 kilograms (5.3 lb).
Each bell can play two tones with three degrees' interval between them. The tonal range of Zenghouyi Bells is from C2 to D7. In the middle area of the tonal range, it can play all twelve half tones.
The wooden hammers used to strike the bells were also unearthed from the Zeng-hou-yi Tomb.
The original bells are on permanent display at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.[1] Copies have been made for other museums.
Lee, Yuan-Yuan and Shen, Sinyan. (1999). Chinese Musical Instruments (Chinese Music Monograph Series). Chinese Music Society of North America Press. ISBN1-880464-03-9
Shen, Sinyan (1987), Acoustics of Ancient Chinese Bells, Scientific American, 256, 94.
von Falkenhausen, Lothar. (1993). Suspended music: chime-bells in the culture of Bronze Age China. University of California Press.
bianzhong, marquis, zeng, simplified, chinese, 曾侯乙编钟, traditional, chinese, 曾侯乙編鐘, pinyin, zēnghóuyǐ, biānzhōng, zenghouyi, bells, name, given, ancient, musical, instrument, made, bells, called, bianzhong, unearthed, 1978, tomb, marquis, zeng, leigudun, commun. The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng simplified Chinese 曾侯乙编钟 traditional Chinese 曾侯乙編鐘 pinyin Zenghouyǐ Bianzhōng or Zenghouyi Bells is the name given to an ancient musical instrument made of bells called bianzhong unearthed in 1978 in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Leigudun Community 擂鼓墩社区 Nanjiao Subdistrict 南郊街道 Zengdu District Suizhou then Sui County Hubei Province China The bianzhong were made in 433 B C Zeng hou yi BellsThe bianzhong are hung on two sets of wooden racks One rack is 7 48 metres 24 5 ft long and 2 65 metres 8 ft 8 in wide The other rack is 3 35 metres 11 0 ft long and 2 73 metres 8 ft 11 in wide The two racks are perpendicular to each other The instrument contains a total of 64 bianzhong which are hung at three levels and are divided into eight groups There are 19 bells in three groups at the top level 33 bells are in three groups in the middle level There are 12 bells in two groups at the bottom level The biggest bell is 153 4 centimetres 60 4 in in height and weighs 203 6 kilograms 449 lb weight The smallest bell is 20 4 centimetres 8 0 in in height and weighs 2 4 kilograms 5 3 lb Each bell can play two tones with three degrees interval between them The tonal range of Zenghouyi Bells is from C2 to D7 In the middle area of the tonal range it can play all twelve half tones The wooden hammers used to strike the bells were also unearthed from the Zeng hou yi Tomb The original bells are on permanent display at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan 1 Copies have been made for other museums See also EditList of Chinese cultural relics forbidden to be exhibited abroadFurther reading EditLee Yuan Yuan and Shen Sinyan 1999 Chinese Musical Instruments Chinese Music Monograph Series Chinese Music Society of North America Press ISBN 1 880464 03 9 Shen Sinyan 1987 Acoustics of Ancient Chinese Bells Scientific American 256 94 von Falkenhausen Lothar 1993 Suspended music chime bells in the culture of Bronze Age China University of California Press References Edit Hubei Provincial Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng amp oldid 921198563, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
