As a kind of wealth shared by mankind, bells are scattered in
various parts of the world. Ancient bells have been found from
Pompeii, an ancient city in Italy, and from ancient remains in
Egypt and Cyprus.
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Bells appeared in churches, monasteries and convents in Europe
in the 4th century. With the growth of cultural exchanges between
various countries and regions of the world, bells have been playing
an ever greater role as a carrier of culture.
There are evident differences between Oriental and Occidental
bells. Occidental bells refer to those made in Europe and areas
influenced by European culture. They mainly consist of church bells
and ship bells. Such a bell is usually shaped like a cup. A clapper
fixed loosely inside the bell produces a crisp and sonorous sound
when it strikes the side of the bell. Most of the Oriental hells in
the early days were musical bells. Then Buddhist bells became
popular in Asian countries. Such a bell is fairly long. When it is
struck from outside, it produces a deep and lingering sound.
